這次口譯機會是偶然滑IG滑到的。看到S在限動說徵調酒師的翻譯，當下只覺得”嗯!可以試試看。”就將它擱到一邊，直到O再一次提醒鼓勵我去，我才從自己的龜殼中探出頭決定放手一搏，結果它成了我近期最愉快的翻譯經驗。
正式上場之前當然有面試!對於一個不是很懂調酒文化的人要去面試其實蠻挫的。我記得要面試的前一天我找了許多跟調酒相關的網站，熟悉各種酒類相關的中英對照、認識各式雞尾酒的配方、由來，還有任何跟調酒相關的專有名詞，從各種雞尾酒、調法、工具、點綴被我抄滿了好幾頁的筆記本。線上面試那天老闆、闆娘給我一個柯夢波丹(Cosomopolitan)的影片讓我當場即席翻譯，當下一整個覺得幸好我有做作業。很幸運的幾天後我接到錄取通知，所以就展開了初次即席口譯的體驗。
在口譯前一天，意興闌珊點開S傳給我口譯當天的內容，不開還好一開發現哇塞！更多我完全不懂的東西了!甚麼百里香、香茅、檸檬馬鞭草一大堆平常不會接觸到的單字，裡面的終極大魔王—–利口酒(liquere)和費士(Fizz cocktail)，對於調酒一竅不通的我而言只好再次去跟谷歌大神做朋友。口譯當天調酒師Bastien 人超好，當我去跟他對流程時他跟我說他知道通常跟口譯搭配都會事先演練，但既然我們沒辦法那就Chill and enjoy!頓時心中壓力又稍稍減退。站在Bastien 旁邊深吸一口氣開始了今天的口譯，Bastien 講話速度特別快只要一閃神可能就會不小心漏聽，觀眾的表情也千變萬化讓我有的時候需要自嗨來確認他們是否還跟著Bastien 的腳步並把他們拉回現場，Bastien帶著大家一步一步製作自己的利口酒也毫不藏私的跟大家分享他的獨門配方，做完利口酒後就是今天的重頭戲啦—— 調酒。
酸、甜、強度是調酒的三大要素，幫著Bastien 翻譯他每一個步驟細節讓我對調酒更加了解。這次經驗告訴了我翻譯不再只是把文字翻出來，而是要用最簡單的方法讓大家都可以理解。此外，每一場的口譯都有他的專業領域在，每做一場就是對另一個新領域的認識，唯有事前努力的好好做功課跟了解，才可能有一場還不錯的口譯經驗！最後working while drinking 是跟調酒師一起工作的一大福利。
Interpreting for Bastien, a bartender at Oopsy Daisy Garden, was my first try at translation in real time, and it was a wonderful experience! I got the opportunity through a classmate, whose workplace was holding a mixology event. As a non-drinker I knew next to nothing about cocktails and alcohol, so I had to do a lot of preparation. I memorized a lot of cocktail-related words and phrases and watched quite a few videos on how to make cocktails. When the big day arrived, I was a nervous wreck; however, when Bastien started to talk, I focused in. While I interpreted, I wanted to relay Bastien’s ideas clearly to the audience. After a bit, I was able to help the audience understand how to make their own cocktails and liqueurs. I was very lucky to be working with Bastien—not only was he nice and very chill, but he also waited patiently for me to translate everything. Another major perk of working with a bartender: DRINKING is required! I’ve realized that being an interpreter requires you to fully understand your subject matter and be prepared for unexpected challenges. Last rule of interpreting: choose to work with a bartender cause you get free drinks (but not too many, or the interpreting becomes a challenge)! Hire 2B to translate your written words or interpret your spoken ones.