Drawback of My Indian Vacation

This trip to India has made me realized something important... well important in the sense that it could apply to my future.

I can and like teaching a language... I do not like being an interpreter/translator.

Both are actually completely different things. You'd think they'd be similar... but, yeah... I realized they aren't in the least.

When you teach a language to someone... you're giving them the basics and essentials of a language so that they can be able to understand and communicate themselves. Sure you need to translate at times since a student/person doesn't understand something... but it's for the sake of understanding rather than for communication.

When it comes to translating... you are the middle man. The conversation tends to not involve you... yet you have to be completely aware of both sides of the conversation. The conversation rarely includes your own opinions nor thoughts on a matter... you really are just an "object" used for two parties to communicate themselves.

At least... that's how I've felt sometimes on this trip. It's such a tiring job... I'm struggling to have some me time... some quiet just for me to take everything in and enjoy myself properly.

I am having a good time on this trip... but I've realized that being a speaker of three languages has been somewhat of a hassle more than anything.

Everyone... my friends, the driver, people we meet, vendors, tour guides... they all tell me something and then are like... "Now tell them!"

It's come to the point where it's no longer so much a plead, nor a favor, nor a kind request... nope, it's more like a command.

"Japanese Japanese Japanese... tell him."

"English English English... tell them."

"Spanish Spanish Spanish... tell them."

Yup... even in Spanish.

It starts off okay in the beginning of the day... but the various stresses of a day pile upon each other and I become too tired to properly think anymore. The main of these stresses being the wretched heat... along with other small factors, that by themselves aren't bad and migh even be funny at the moment... but, with one small problem on top of another on top of another and other and other... you get the idea.

At that point... I don't want to think to have a conversation. I just want to speak English since that's my main language and I don't really have to put any effort to speak it at all.

Worse yet... is me having to force myself to properly hear and understand two parties so that I can translate and relay the communication between them in their own languages.

All my language switches just shut off and I'm stuck wanting to just have time alone to be able to hear my own thoughts.

But that can't happen cause people are getting to the point where they don't even ask me to translate... but EXPECT me to.

A conversation happens that I'm not even a part of nor that I've properly heard... and I'm met with eyes and expectations of an immediate translate.

I feel bad, but then again... I'm a friend on vacation... I'm beginning to get bitter at the way I'm being treated like an interpreter instead.

I've enjoyed India a great deal... have had good times with friends and an amazing life experience... but I have to be honest when I say I'm ready and glad to head home back in 24 hours...

I need a vacation from this vacation...