The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) has launched a new campaign – called I’M IIBA – uplifting what we know to be the true character and positive contributions of immigrants in the Bay Area.
This week we’re featuring Elisa, a volunteer interpreter at IIBA
I’M Elisa
I’m originally from Mexico City. One of the happiest memories that I can recall were the rainy days. When it rains in Mexico City there are thunderstorms, and it rains for many hours at a time. I always loved the smell of rain afterwards.
The values I was raised with have shaped who I am today. My mom taught me to always be kind to others regardless of who they are and where they come from. I also believe in being myself and letting other people be themselves. Live your life however you want it, but don’t harm other people.
I’M AN IMMIGRANT
I moved to the Bay Area in the ’90s. It’s not easy to come to a different country where you have to learn the language and the rules and the way of life. It’s hard to be away from your family and homeland. But I’ve lived in Berkeley for many years, and Berkeley has been so good to me. I have friends from all over the world. My husband is from California, and I have friends from Afghanistan, Mexico, El Salvador, the Philippines, China, Taiwan — I love that.
I’M AN INTERPRETER
I’m a Spanish and English interpreter. I graduated from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in June 2024 and have one more exam to take before becoming a Certified Health Interpreter.
Interpretation can be challenging because you have to listen and remember what the person said and interpret it as closely to the original message as you can. I cannot add any words, subtract any words, or change the meaning.
The best part about interpretation is that I work with people, and I love helping people. People’s lives depend on interpretation services. Without an interpreter, how would people who aren’t fluent in English be able to fill out their immigration forms? How would they know what to do or how to get the information they need for their case?
I’M A VOLUNTEER
I volunteer with IIBA’s citizenship clinics as an interpreter between the pro bono attorney and the client who is applying to become a citizen. When the attorney asks a question in English, I interpret the question for the client in Spanish, and when the client responds in Spanish, I interpret that to the attorney.
When clients can get this information in their own language, it changes their lives. I think they also feel more comfortable and more welcome. And an interpreter helps the client communicate with the legal staff more effectively. Sometimes it’s not easy to express how you feel or what you mean in English when you’re really thinking in another language. So when an interpreter comes in and helps clients get their message across, they feel happy.
I’M IIBA
The immigration process means a lot to people, so it’s really important for clients to know all the information that they need to know in their own language. We had a client at a citizenship clinic who said, “I understand and speak a little bit of English, but this is a very serious matter, so I’m glad that IIBA has an interpreter here.” As long as clients have this kind of service, I think they will be very thankful to IIBA, so I hope that it continues for a very long time.
If you’re multilingual and interested in becoming a volunteer interpreter for IIBA, please reach out to Volunteer Manager Dani Clark.