IMHO, you do not need to:
● Feed the interpreter.
● Offer us a chair.
● Apologize for talking too fast.
● Stare at us while you’re talking to the Deaf person.
We are probably some of the most self-sufficient people out there.
I live in Minnesota, and I don’t think culturally we know how to let people stand while everyone else is sitting.
I don’t know if we are culturally capable of not offering food to everyone in the room.
And I know for a fact that we are culturally obligated to apologize if we feel like we have inconvenienced someone.
So when an interpreter says:
“No thank you, I’m good.”
We really are good.
We have been trained to bring snacks with us.
We have been trained to have comfy yet stylish shoes for long days of standing.
We have learned how to find food, water, bathrooms, parking, and the quickest exit without interrupting anyone.
Most interpreters operate on about the same level as a middle child who grew up Gen X.
We got this.
Now, there are times when we will grab some food.
If everyone has been fed and our client says, “Go eat. I’m fine,” we might actually listen.
If there are two interpreters, we’ll take turns getting food.
If it’s an all-day conference and the participants are being fed, we’ll work that into the contract.
But please don’t feel like you have to take care of us.
And please don’t be offended if we say:
“No, thank you.”
We really do appreciate that you thought of us.
It actually does make us feel loved.
We just might be busy working and doing magical things with our hands.
And when we get back to our cars?
That’s when the snacks come out.