I am an interpreter in Australia. The job of an interpreter is to support communication in various ways. So I work in a variety of places where interpreters are needed to provide support. I sometimes interpret at interview sites, in places where many people work such as companies and hospitals, and sometimes over the phone or through the screen of online tools. Especially since the coronavirus has made it difficult to move people around, we are increasingly doing more of our interpreting online.

In the past, for example, I have conducted interviews at major badminton tournaments. I also interviewed some of the top Japanese players who competed. Another time I worked as an interpreter at an international trade show event. I remember how difficult it was to be on my feet all day with so many people visiting. I also interpreted for visitors at a museum. My job was to inform visitors from overseas about the contents of the exhibition. I also assist Japanese tourists visiting the Sydney airport.

This is both a difficult and interesting point, but even in English-speaking countries, there are words unique to Australia that are not used in the U.S. or other countries. For example, the word "Barbie" may conjure up images of dolls, but in Australia it means "barbecue. It is necessary to understand these unique words while interpreting. It is also very difficult to prepare for work. It is especially necessary to study technical terms that are not usually used. I have to do a lot of preparation before going on the job, so that is a lot of work.

The most rewarding part of my job as an interpreter is laying the groundwork for people to interact with each other and thereby promote mutual understanding. I feel a sense of accomplishment when things go well.
Also, because I communicate with people from various countries and professions, I am able to deepen my own knowledge, and I enjoy improving my human skills.
I am also very happy when, at the end of a job, someone says something like, "Thank you, you really helped me out.