Debriefing preparation

Thank you to all the kind words and support, in this blog as well as in private message.

Although the experience was a short one, I have decided to try and make use of it by inviting the other 9 or so volunteers to participate to a debriefing. I hoped I could carry over it in April but schedules are in a mess and business as usual more than ever a wishful hope for the future. Of course, as time goes by, the memory of what happened is already being diluted and warped by perception, by thriving for normality.

The idea yest is still to do one-to-one interviews of each volunteers who are non-professional interpreters, asking them questions about their experience. The following is a framework of the interview I am intending to conduct. I already sent the original in French to the participants in order to have them read it and maybe fix in their mind a few things they may forget in the meantime until I interview them granted they accept. Here is a poor translation of the questionnaire framework. I am no scholar and have no knowledge of field research or whatever.  There are substantially many understatement related to conditions that the people to be interviewed know because there were present there. I cannot inform and explain the background in public. I would appreciate any observations.

Interview framework

Your previous experience of interpreting

- Have you had any previous experience of acting as an interpreter?
- If so, what was the context, professional, on a regular basis or from time to time?
- Have you had any experience of working as an interpreter or else in a crisis, risky situation?
- Have you had any training related to rescue activity?
- Have you had any previous experience of natural disaster situation?

Perception of your role before arriving on the spot

- How did you expect your role and action to be before arriving on the spot?
- Did it differ from what you expected?

During your stay in Sendai camp, did you effectively go with rescuers to the destroyed area?

- If yes, were you requested to do interpretation?
- With whom (local authorities, victims, people living in the area)?
- Did you discuss, without interpretation request, directly with anyone on the spot?

How much did the situation impact your interpreting performance?

- The material, climatic situation.
- The emotional situation.

Did you feel difficulties pertaining to matters of vocabulary?

- Did you bring vocabulary aids with you?
- Did you bring note taking tools?

How would you judge the preliminary briefing explaining your role and mission?

How would you judge the understanding of your role at the beginning of the mission by the people supposed to use you as an interpreter?

How things could be make better, hoping there is no next time, to have you get more prepared.

- From the point of view of prior briefing
- From the point of view of being made of better use by the interpreters users
- From the point of view of being identified as an interpreter.

What is your opinio about the need to receive psychological aid after the mission?