Chapter 6 - Linguist in Trouble

It was January 2011; I was supporting a special operation team in the Marjah area. One of our battalion's female officers (D) visited our unit. The team I was working with decided to accompany a Marine's patrol going to the bazaar so our guest may have some glimpses of Marjah.

During the patrol we met various kids, and Officer D talked to them and inquired about their school and new soccer ground. A kid attempted to sell a scarf, and another kid wanted to sell a watermelon to her. It was one of my assignments to stop kids from coming too close to Officer D. I was trying to keep kids busy talking to me by offering candies. The patrol was very pleasing. It was afternoon and the weather was nice. On our way back we took a small zigzag street among the houses, which was leading to the east ECP of our camp.

While walking on the dirt street we saw two females, perhaps they were going to some neighbor's house on the same street, otherwise it was uncommon to see females on a street without an accompanied male. Our guest D decided to talk to them. We did not have a female linguist, so I was asked to interpret their discussion. That was a difficult situation, due to cultural constraints I was unable to go close to those local females, even though I was not supposed to look straight at them. Luckily, the street was not busy, and kids were also not clustering around us. The discussion between local females and officer D was very interesting:

Officer D: Hello, can I talk to you?

Linguist: (Almost yelling, to make it sure that both females can hear him), “greeting, Sisters, this lady wants to talk to you, can you please listen to her? She is our guest from a foreign country”.

Both ladies stopped, and officer D proceeded to them. After exchanging greetings both local females sit down on the side of the street to make themselves comfortable and better covered. It was also an indication that they are willing to talk to her. The old lady was covering herself with a sheet of cloth, leaving her face exposed. While the young lady was wearing a traditional veil. Officer D also sat down close to them. Now it became more difficult for me to hear what they were talking about, because they were sitting, and I was standing at a significant distance. So, I moved a little closer in a pursuit of understanding their conversation but keeping an appropriate distance. I was also keeping an eye on my surroundings to make sure that no local person is noticing me going closer and talking to the local females.

Officer D: Greetings, how are you?

Young lady to Officer D: Greetings, what have brought you here?

Officer D: Your country is beautiful, so I came here to see and help bring peace.

Young lady: (Took a handful of dust from the street and threw it back to the ground). Did you come to see this dirt? There is nothing beautiful here.

Officer D: No, Afghanistan is a beautiful country. It has beautiful mountains, rivers, and fields. People are also great. I like your country.

Old lady: (Referring to SSG H, who was standing close to me to provide cover). Is that man your husband?

Officer D: No, no. My husband is at home in America, and he is staying with my kids.

Old Lady: (With disapproval in her tone), What? You left your husband and kids home and came here to see this remote and unattractive place?

Officer D again insisted that Afghanistan and Marjah are beautiful, and it was a sufficient reason for her visit. Then in a single statement she summarized various developmental projects in Marjah and drew an encouraging picture of Marjah's future, and Afghanistan in general. However, she was not loud enough for me to understand completely.

Once again, I moved further close to them to fully understand and interpret. After interpretation I realized that now I was very close to the local females and looking directly at them. But it was not intentional, I was trying my best to make the best interpretation and use this opportunity to convey our message to the local females.

I moved back quickly, letting SSG H know about my culturally uncomfortable distance from the local females while interpreting. However, ladies did not show any sign of discomfort, maybe due to my grey beard, I was tolerable. SSG H requested Officer D to conclude. We thanked both ladies for their time and patience and started moving back to the camp.