misa.j
先輩
- 6 May 2004
- 1,423
- 85
- 64
It is true.
I though it would be impossible to lose my ability to speak my native language even if I don't use it, but I was wrong.
There are some Japanese athletes staying in my town for some events. One of them got injured yesterday and was sent to an emergency room. The doctor who was a friend of mine called me up and asked me if I could be an interpreter over the phone.
I said "yes" of course, being a nurse in the past, I thought it would be easy.
Well, it wasn't at all.
Wow! I felt frustrated the whole time. I said, "Umm~" "And" "OK" "She says..." in between some Japanese. Used gestures so much that my dog kept staring at me. They told me that I sounded as if I forgot how to speak Japanese after all...
I was very careful not to scare the patient and tried to choose the right words, but she started to cry which made me feel even more nervous and helpless.
Gosh, it lasted for about 40 minutes until she felt comfortable enough to receive a treatment.
This phone conversation made me realize how much Japanese I've lost. I guess I'm semilingual now.
I though it would be impossible to lose my ability to speak my native language even if I don't use it, but I was wrong.
There are some Japanese athletes staying in my town for some events. One of them got injured yesterday and was sent to an emergency room. The doctor who was a friend of mine called me up and asked me if I could be an interpreter over the phone.
I said "yes" of course, being a nurse in the past, I thought it would be easy.
Well, it wasn't at all.
Wow! I felt frustrated the whole time. I said, "Umm~" "And" "OK" "She says..." in between some Japanese. Used gestures so much that my dog kept staring at me. They told me that I sounded as if I forgot how to speak Japanese after all...
I was very careful not to scare the patient and tried to choose the right words, but she started to cry which made me feel even more nervous and helpless.
Gosh, it lasted for about 40 minutes until she felt comfortable enough to receive a treatment.
This phone conversation made me realize how much Japanese I've lost. I guess I'm semilingual now.