IW 174: Interview Camilla Eurienus Part 3: The Caring Magical Mentalist Interpreter

Learn to Care, Care to Learn

Camilla from Sweden continues to show us how changing our attitude can help us with self-care, community care, and influence us to embrace ongoing education.

Stayed tuned for next week's finale of my conversation with Camilla.

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Transcript

IW 174: Interview Camilla Eurienus Part 3: The Caring Magical Mentalist Interpreter

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[ROCK INTRO MUSIC STARTS] 

00:00:02 Tim

Good morning, good evening, good afternoon. Wherever you are, this is the Interpreter's Workshop podcast. I'm Tim Curry, your host. Here we talk everything sign language interpreting the ins, the outs, the ups, the downs, the sideways of interpreting. If you're a student, a new interpreter, experienced interpreter, this is the place for you. If you want to know more, go to interpretersworkshop.com.

00:00:28 Tim

Let's start talking... interpreting.

[ROCK INTRO MUSIC ENDS]

00:00:34 Tim

And now the quote of the day by Austrian American author, Ryder Carroll.

00:00:40 Tim

“Knowing where you are begins with knowing who you are.”

00:00:46 Tim

Today, we continue the conversation with Camilla from Sweden and we start off where we left off last episode about self-care and why some interpreters just don't do it. Why it's difficult. We also discuss the reasons for not doing ongoing education, at least in Sweden.

00:01:08 Tim

This may touch all of us thinking about why we need ongoing education as sign language interpreters. We talk more about taking care of ourselves as a community, as society. We may not be able to change everyone or anyone, but we can change ourselves and start by supporting one another. And knowing who we are, as Ryder Carroll says, we understand who we are, we take care of ourselves. We will take care of others.

00:01:43 Tim

And Camilla points out that we need to remember that we – are – important. That's right. Being important to ourselves and to each other. So, let's get started.

[SHORT TRANSITION MUSIC]

00:02:00 Camilla

But I think self-care is very important, but I think most interpreters are not so good doing just that. That's maybe something we can help each other with more. [Tim: Mm-hmm]

00:02:15 Tim

So why do you think that is that they're not good at that?

00:02:18 Camilla

Well, I think because work comes first somehow [Tim: hmm] and instead of thinking I need to take care of me and myself and I to be a better interpreter, thinking that I'm the tool here and I need to be in good shape or need to be mentally where I should be on top.

00:02:37 Camilla

Yeah, I think it's more like. Ohh, we take on work jobs and it's easy to just take on – instead of reflecting, maybe, of should I let go of this one? Do I need to spend time with family or instead of working all evenings?

00:02:57 Camilla

And we can't because what's quality in that way? Yeah. Interesting. [Tim: hmm]

00:03:04 Tim

So why do you think that some interpreters don't do ongoing education? Maybe I misunderstood what you said earlier.

00:03:13 Camilla

No, no, no. I think you did not. I, I don't think you did. [Tim chuckling: Oh, OK] No, I, I think because there's nothing…

00:03:21 Camilla

Well, it's hard to say. I, I think the what's in it for me thing [Tim: hmm] might be when you combine all the life situation [Tim: Mm-hmm] and if there's not really a gain, you can maybe not see it in money or in some health issue or or something.

00:03:40 Camilla

And maybe since the system in Sweden has never been...

00:03:45 Camilla

…that…

00:03:46 Camilla

We need continuous education. Well, I think, I think most people think that we do need it, but it's not out there in the same way as it might be in other countries that to be registered, you need these certain things [Tim: yeah] for a year to continue being a trained professional.

00:04:09 Camilla

Since that's not the system here, it's easy to maybe not put your time into training.

00:04:18 Camilla

I mean, we train a lot for every assignment in some way.

00:04:23 Camilla

That you read up on things and you follow the news, and I mean, you try to be within the game, if I'd say so, I don't know really how to put that, but…

00:04:34 Camilla

Yeah, getting deeper and, and discussing the field and things.

00:04:38 Camilla

Because when it comes to the cost and things and time and getting the whole life puzzle together. That's not what you put the time, maybe.

00:04:51 Tim

Yeah, hmm, sounds like the two, like you said, the self-care and the ongoing education are both kind of tied together some somehow or could be.

00:05:02 Camilla

Yeah, but I'm thinking also maybe it depends also in what form you are employed.

00:05:11 Camilla

If you're self-employed, or if you're at the agency, or if you're employed by a bigger company with a lot of interpreters. I mean, then you can have training within the company.

00:05:23 Tim

Mm-hmm.

00:05:24 Camilla

And in one way I'm thinking when somebody invent a wheel or have a lecture or something within an agency, and there's self-employed people working for that agency, maybe giving the possibility for those to connect. I think we could do so much more [Tim: Mm-hmm] together somehow, because also with the technology that's here now, or record, yeah. Share more things. I think that could be a way of doing it.

00:06:04 Tim

If that agency has a culture of ongoing education training for their staff, then it's easier for them to, to do the ongoing training because it's part of the culture there.

00:06:17 Camilla

I'm thinking since a lot of people actually participated in the sign language interpreter organization’s conferences before, and that's not the case, I think anymore.

00:06:30 Camilla

Also, COVID affected us as well. So, money wise, as well. And I think actually I've discussed it with one of my friends that participated last year at efsli conference that some of the, the bosses on the different agencies, they should actually be also at these conferences, to know what, what's in the field, what's talked about. [Tim: Mm-hmm] But there's a difference between the ones who are out in the field and the one who's on the decision-making level.

00:07:05 Camilla

So, and the lack of knowledge on what we're doing and how the research is going in the field. [Tim: Mm-hmm] I can feel that is sad in one way because absolutely that would be nice. [Tim: Yeah]

[ROCK TRANSITION MUSIC STARTS]

00:07:19 Tim

It is nice to learn about the field to know what each of us are doing. That's why I do the podcast, support my work by clicking on the links of Buy Me A Coffee and donate to this worthy cause. Thank you.

00:07:34

Now let's go back.

[ROCK TRANSITION MUSIC ENDS]

00:07:36 Tim

OK. So, it's like we've been…

00:07:38 Camilla

All over the place. [chuckling]

00:07:39 Tim

Yeah, but it's good. That's good. It's, it's a good conversation. I like it, OK.

00:07:43 Tim

Let's have a little bit of fun. Let's do some word association where I give you a word or short phrase, what have you. And then you just tell me the first thing that comes to your mind, a story or Swedish folk dance. Whatever.

00:07:57 Camilla

Yeah, that's right. [both chuckling]

00:07:59 Tim

It's going to be hard for the transcript, but yeah, we can try. OK, so the first, as always, comfort food.

00:08:08 Camilla

Ohh yummy, candy! [Tim: candy] Comes to mind. Yeah, my sweet tooth is a little bit too big [Tim: ah] to be good. Yeah.

00:08:19 Tim

So, what flavor do you prefer?

00:08:22 Camilla

Yeah, I think I'm very different in that way, those more like, marshmallow thingies but with not that fluffy [Tim: ah] maybe, but with strawberry taste, mmm, really good.

00:08:39 Camilla

Yeah, something I should bring when I meet you next time. Maybe you won't appreciate that much, but…

00:08:45 Tim

Well, my daughter would [Camilla: She might] and my, my wife, they would love strawberry. I absolutely cannot stand strawberry. [Camilla: Ohh!] yeah.

00:08:55 Camilla

Not even the real strawberries?

00:08:58 Tim

No not at all. [Camilla: Ohh!] They smell really bad to me. I can't. [Camilla: Ohh!] Can't do it. I used to be allergic to them when I was younger but…

00:09:06 Camilla

Maybe that's connected then? Yeah, I just love fresh strawberries from Sweden. Umm, yeah.

00:09:12 Camilla

Different associations. Sorry for that. Yeah, yeah.

00:09:15 Tim

No, that, that's your comfort. So, candy. Yeah, sweet stuff.

00:09:19 Camilla

Sweet stuff.

00:09:21 Tim

OK, next magic.

00:09:25 Camilla

Mmm. I'm actually reading a book right now with some not magic, but I think the one who's written it it's more like…

00:09:32 Camilla

Like a…

00:09:34 Camilla

How do we say that?

00:09:35 Camilla

When you're not magician, but you are…

00:09:38 Camilla

Mentalist kind of thing who has written it. So, right now that's the thing. But another association I got was that our work is actually magic because we get to be in so many places, and I really appreciate what we do or get to experience through work, [Tim: Yeah] coming back to the field, yeah, I think.

00:10:02 Tim

It is magical.

00:10:03 Camilla

Mm-hmm.

00:10:04 Tim

And I would say we're magical mentalists as interpreters. [Camilla: Yeah] Good connection. I like that. OK, next…

00:10:13 Tim

Funny.

00:10:14 Camilla

A good laugh is what I'm thinking about that we, we really need those in our lives. [Tim: Yeah] To just blast, have a laugh. Yeah, and not maybe be so serious all the time. That is good for us.

00:10:27 Tim

Yeah. OK, next, confusing.

00:10:30 Camilla

Oh, life can be confusing. [both chuckling] I think getting everything in order. Yeah, life puzzle and all those things. I'd like to be more organized as a person. But…

00:10:45 Camilla

Yeah. It's a good aim, but it's never gonna happen. [Tim: Yeah]

00:10:48 Camilla

So, what can we do?

00:10:51 Tim

Exactly. OK, technology.

00:10:53 Camilla

Umm, my field. No, not really. [both laugh] No, I think I've been afraid of technology sometimes. Like when you're doing the, the interpretation, and you know you need to connect the cameras and it's always a worry if it's gonna work or not. I, I think it's pros and cons.

00:11:16 Camilla

And yeah, what the future will bring with AI and all those things can be scary. [Tim: Yeah] I know we need to be involved with it, and I'm not in the front, [both chuckling] to be sure, but still embracing it trying, yes.

00:11:35 Tim

Yeah. OK, Sweden.

00:11:40 Camilla

A lovely country [Tim: That's a good thing.] with a good nature. Yeah, but I do think so. Actually, I thought about it today when I was out walking because we tend to when it's vacation time, we always want to travel. We want to leave this country and due to summer in Sweden, you never know if it's going to rain. It's going to be sunny and nice. And when the sun is here, it’s great!

00:12:01 Camilla

I mean…

00:12:03 Camilla

It's a lovely nature and to just stay also sometimes to appreciate what we have. I don't think we're that good doing that. And so many different parts that you can see from the South and the North. So yeah, we should appreciate it more. And I think maybe some, some of all of us...

00:12:23 Camilla

Uh, appreciated our countries more when we – the COVID struck, and we had to be more home for vacations and or being out to meet people. So, I think…

00:12:36 Camilla

Hopefully we'll keep that. I, I should – I mean, I'm travelling myself as much as I can. [Tim chuckling] So, in one way it's contradicting what I'm saying. But I think to embrace what we have and appreciate it more is also important.

00:12:53 Tim

Yeah.

00:12:53 Camilla

Yeah.

00:12:54 Tim

OK, next… attitude.

00:12:57 Camilla

Hmm, interesting word.

00:13:00 Tim

Yes.

00:13:01 Camilla

Yes. Yeah, I think there's a lot of attitude in the society now. If it's always been, but it's not been as rough before. Maybe as now.

00:13:10 Camilla

People are not taking care of each others as much as they maybe did before. It's more “me, myself and I” attitudes which I think is sad, and especially for younger children. Yeah, I think it's colder now.

00:13:27 Camilla

We'd like to stop that and care about each other more.

00:13:32 Tim

Yeah, OK. Next language.

00:13:36 Camilla

Hmm.

00:13:37 Camilla

Something I like. Yeah. [Tim: Yeah?] I don't. I don't know that many languages, but I think I still like them because it makes the possibility to communicate, and I think we need communication. [Tim: Mm-hmm]

00:13:55 Camilla

And also, that it's interesting communicating when I describe something for you, it's not what I may be described you… if I.... Yeah. Try to describe a round bowl. Maybe you can see it as a square. I mean, those things also within communication is interesting. How, how we miscommunicate sometimes or often in life. And yeah, I think it's a interesting field actually.

00:14:22 Tim

Yeah, it's interesting not only communicating but miscommunicating, [Camilla: exactly] because it sometimes gives us that big laugh…

00:14:30 Camilla

Yes, definitely. [both laugh]

00:14:32 Tim

Or teaches us how to communicate even better.

00:14:35 Camilla

Yeah.

00:14:35 Tim

The next time, right? Yeah.

00:14:36 Camilla

Yeah.

00:14:38 Camilla

That's like the song lyrics that you've thought you've known all your life, [Tim chuckling] and then you're like, ohh, is that what they're singing? Yeah.

00:14:48 Tim

OK. And perhaps the last one.

00:14:52 Camilla

Mm-hmm.

00:14:53 Tim

Important.

00:14:55 Camilla

I think we are important, but we don't maybe feel that important.

00:15:00 Camilla

And we need to maybe see ourselves as just that.

00:15:06 Tim

Yeah, so you started working out, - working out well, OK. Your gym card is not helping you. No. OK. [both laughing]

00:15:19 Tim

So, you started your journey as a sign language interpreter early.

00:15:24 Camilla

Quite, yeah.

00:15:25 Tim

And then with all of the experience that you've had coming and going, what mistakes along the way has influenced you as a sign language interpreter now?

00:15:36 Camilla

Oh, oh, oh.

00:15:41 Camilla

Yeah, I guess we're always, I mean, big, small. I think we learn every day still, I mean.

00:15:51 Camilla

That is a tough, tough question, I'd say.

[SHORT TRANSITION MUSIC]

[ROCK EXIT MUSIC STARTS]

00:15:59 Tim

Ohh, the answer is next week!

00:16:02 Tim

Another fun conversation with Camilla. Let's look at the main points discussed today. There was kind of a common thread about “caring”, self-care, community care, so let's talk about self-care. It's very interesting to talk about how you do it and so forth.

00:16:22 Tim

But why we do it? Or rather, why we don't do it? It's important to realize that so that we can stop it, stop not doing it. We seem to get into a cycle of caring too much for the community, rather caring so much that “well, just one more job. Well, if I don't do it… Well, this person really needs something.” All of those reasons, those excuses that we give ourselves. “Well, it's just another hour. That's all right. It's only one more job this week. I can do it. I'm strong.”

00:16:58 Tim

That kind of attitude has got us to where we are now. It does take its toll. We're not a superhero. And she has come back to the same idea of we need to take care of ourselves, change our attitude, think about others, not just ourselves, especially when we're not even thinking of ourselves in self-care.

00:17:23 Tim

Right? If we start thinking of our own self-care and extend that to taking care of others in a way that we know they also need self-care, give them a hand when we can. If we are able to take care of ourselves, that means we have more energy to help someone else.

00:17:44 Tim

So, it's important to take care of yourself first. And one way I see that Camilla kind of suggested was…

00:17:52 Tim

Be where you are.

00:17:54 Tim

We always think about travel and going to exotic places or fun places. It's always some place that has something I don't have. It's the Facebook culture, the Instagram quickness. We need to focus on where we are now. Notice what is around you, notice what you love about being… home… in your place.

00:18:17 Tim

That can help immensely with your own self-care. The miscommunications can communicate so much to us.

00:18:25 Tim

If we misunderstand something, we learn how to communicate better with someone, that particular person or that particular topic, just like every mistake we can learn from it. It can help us process information better. As an interpreter, it can help us process better as a professional.

00:18:44 Tim

Some wonderful things from Camilla. Thank you again and I look forward to next week. So, until then, keep calm, keep interpreting where and who you are. I'll see you next week. Take care now.

[ROCK EXIT MUSIC ENDS AT 00:19:34]