Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
Si el río suena, es porque agua lleva
Babel Fish translation:
Donde hay humo hay fuego
Today was the weirdest! This job definitely goes in my top 10.
First of all I was working on a Saturday and that was very unusual. I had to go to applicant attorney’s office for the signing of couple of C&R’s*. The reason for doing them on a Saturday was because these people are now working and cannot come in during the week. And since I’m such a push-over... well, I agreed to do this on a Saturday.
The first lady was taking forever to decide. I interpreted and we reviewed all the documents with her, answered all her questions and she could not decide if she wanted to sign or not. She stepped outside called someone on her cell… then brought her sister in to have everything explained to her… then brought her mother in, explained it all to her also… FOREVER!!! Finally, well over an hour into this, she decided to sign and so we got it done.
The next guy was a piece of cake. I interpreted his documents, everything was explained and his attitude was “Yeah, whatever… where do I sign?” Just then I hear some shouting out in the hallway. “Is anybody in here??!!?? You must leave the building immediately!!” It was the Fire Department. Apparently there was a fire in the building on the first floor. We were up on the third floor and completely unaware.
We ran down the stairwell and when we opened the door leading out to the lobby there was smoke everywhere, but we made it safely out of the building.
A motor in the elevator, or something or other, had a short circuit. The details were very sketchy. The lady that had been taking forever to sign, together with her family, went to try to use the elevator. Since it was taking a such long time they decided to take the stairs instead. When they got to the lobby and saw all the smoke, they tried to call us upstairs to warn us, but the attorney’s people don’t answer the phone on Saturdays. It wasn't safe to go back upstairs, so the "forever lady" went ahead and called the fire department.
Next thing we know, we’re being evacuated.
Thank God, everything turned out ok in the end. Everyone was safe and the fire was put out in time. No major damage, except for the elevator itself.
Plus, I did get that last C&R signed just before we ran out of the building… cool under fire!
Babel Fish translation: Donde hay humo hay fuego
Today was the weirdest! This job definitely goes in my top 10.
First of all I was working on a Saturday and that was very unusual. I had to go to applicant attorney’s office for the signing of couple of C&R’s*. The reason for doing them on a Saturday was because these people are now working and cannot come in during the week. And since I’m such a push-over... well, I agreed to do this on a Saturday.
The first lady was taking forever to decide. I interpreted and we reviewed all the documents with her, answered all her questions and she could not decide if she wanted to sign or not. She stepped outside called someone on her cell… then brought her sister in to have everything explained to her… then brought her mother in, explained it all to her also… FOREVER!!! Finally, well over an hour into this, she decided to sign and so we got it done.
The next guy was a piece of cake. I interpreted his documents, everything was explained and his attitude was “Yeah, whatever… where do I sign?” Just then I hear some shouting out in the hallway. “Is anybody in here??!!?? You must leave the building immediately!!” It was the Fire Department. Apparently there was a fire in the building on the first floor. We were up on the third floor and completely unaware.
We ran down the stairwell and when we opened the door leading out to the lobby there was smoke everywhere, but we made it safely out of the building.
A motor in the elevator, or something or other, had a short circuit. The details were very sketchy. The lady that had been taking forever to sign, together with her family, went to try to use the elevator. Since it was taking a such long time they decided to take the stairs instead. When they got to the lobby and saw all the smoke, they tried to call us upstairs to warn us, but the attorney’s people don’t answer the phone on Saturdays. It wasn't safe to go back upstairs, so the "forever lady" went ahead and called the fire department.
Next thing we know, we’re being evacuated.
Thank God, everything turned out ok in the end. Everyone was safe and the fire was put out in time. No major damage, except for the elevator itself.
Plus, I did get that last C&R signed just before we ran out of the building… cool under fire!
Spanglish Word of the Week
Sanblás (verb) “Sir, what other companies did you work for besides this one?” asked the defense attorney. I interpreted: “I worked for the San Blas Company”. The deponent looked at me, shook his head and said “NO, NO, sanblás, sanblás!!”
“Interpreter’s correction…” I sighed “I worked for a sandblasting company”.
Boy, you think I’d learn by now.
Boy, you think I’d learn by now.
*C&R: Compromise and Release. Final settlement documents in a worker's comp case.
posted by Doña Marina at Saturday, September 30, 2006
4 Comments:
El rio siempre lleva agua pero cuando suena, piedras lleva.
"Anonymous" Así se dice ese refrán en Colombia?
En España: "Cuando el río suena, agua lleva".
¡Me encanta su bitácora! Me he reído a gusto leyéndola. Creo que le gustará la mía también, con su sección "Spamish translation of the week".
¡Suerte!
Jaime:
¡Mil gracias por su comentario!
En Zacatecas, México así va ése refrán. ¡Qué interesante ver como cambia de un lugar a otro!
I've begun to read your "Spanish Translation of the Week" section. Thank you, I love reading that sort of thing.
Happy blogging!
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