Overall, traveling to other countries isn’t as simple a process as it used to be pre-pandemic, however, it is still very much doable. For instance, Japan allows travelers to use their website to go through their customs declaration, immigration, and quarantine. It makes things very convenient because when you arrive, all you have to do is scan a QR code instead of having to take time to go through the potentially lengthy process with an immigration officer.

The only con to this process is that they require you to show you the QR code from the website itself. You are not allowed to screenshot and show the QR code, meaning that you need to have an internet connection. However, as some might know, airport WiFi isn’t exactly the most reliable. This can lead to some frustration, but it is overall a small hiccup in an overall very smooth process.

One other thing to be aware of is the masking culture of the country. Countries like the United States have removed their mask mandate, meaning that you do not have to wear a mask unless you want to. While countries like Japan, still require masks indoors. In general, you should always be on the safe side and wear a mask. Even in Japan, though masks aren’t required outdoors, it’s very rare that you see anyone not wearing a mask.

It’s always best practice to be considerate of others and make them feel comfortable. You can also help other fellow foreigners be sure that they are following local safety guidelines and cultural common sense. As translators and interpreters, we have the advantage of being more aware and understanding of the country whose language we know.

Most tourists will not have that same knowledge. For example, in Japan there is no tipping culture, so it may be strange for tourists coming from countries such as the United States. They also provide storage options for bags, coats, and other belongings. There are some restaurants that provide storage in the benches, but it isn’t immediately obvious to anyone who isn’t looking for it. As a translator or interpreter, you’re in a unique position where you can help them, telling them exactly what needs to be done, and by doing that, you help bridge the gap between two cultures.

However, being a language professional doesn’t mean that you have to spend your entire vacation helping others. You should enjoy your visit by fully enjoying the things in that country that you can’t experience where you live. Just be sure to be mindful of any kind of regional language differences and customs. For instance, in Japan, the same food can have different seasoning and tastes depending on where you are in the country.

Traveling to different countries is a very exciting experience, but be sure to stay safe and courteous no matter where you go.

That article reminds us of a recent situation we encountered. We had a client seeking asylum in a somewhat remote location in the United States who requested Triqui interpretation. We were about to provide a Triqui interpreter over the phone for telephonic interpretation, given that in-person interpretation in such a remote location was not really possible for the client. However, at the last minute, the asylum office decided that they did not allow telephonic interpretation. There could be any number of reasons for the telephonic interpretation cancellation. Yet, these incidents have got us thinking. What rights do non-citizens have in the United States, especially in regards to translation and interpretation?

According to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, any program that receives Federal funds or financial assistance cannot discriminate based on race, color, or national origin of a person; this also means that these programs must provide access to people with limited English proficiency. Read more about Title VI here and more about Title VI and LEP services here.

However, Title VI does not provide an all-encompassing solution. Service providers are only required to take “reasonable steps” to give access to their programs to LEP individuals. Whatever the case, non-citizens do have the right to request language assistance from Federally-funded institutions. Non-citizen’s rights to have access to translation and interpretation is a basic human need for communication. We at Monterey Language Services are all for supporting the human rights that non-citizens deserve to have in whatever format that interpretation would be conducted, be it in-person, by phone, or over video.

This blog post is our first attempt to look into non-citizen rights to translators and interpreters, so stay tuned for more to come!