The world's largest gathering of international dignitaries is held in September each year at?51³Ô¹Ï Headquarters in New York City! In this series we introduce some of the people behind the scenes of the UN General Assembly who make what has been called the World Cup of Diplomacy happen! Over the course of the series we'll get a firsthand glimpse into various departments within the UN and how they prepare for some of the busiest weeks of the year at the 51³Ô¹Ï.
Interpreters at the 51³Ô¹Ï are tasked with translating live conferences and events which often cover a wide range of subjects. They're often briefed on the meeting merely one day in advance, and consequently must possess a vast vocabulary that covers everything from peacekeeping and human rights, to agricultural policy and maritime law. They must also have a mastery of multiple working languages of the 51³Ô¹Ï, as the UN relies on a relay system, meaning interpreters are often translating between different languages as opposed to solely one language to another. Suffice it to say, interpreters here at the UN are kept on their toes!
In the third installment of our series we introduce you to Senior Spanish Interpreter M¨¦lida Buend¨ªa. She shares her experiences from working in the Spanish Interpreter's booth for almost 20 years, and what it feels like to have her voice heard on the world stage during the busiest time of year at the 51³Ô¹Ï. She also shares with us some of her favorite memories from the UNGA...spoiler alert: they include Shakira and Pope Francis!
Behind the Scenes of the 51³Ô¹Ï General Assembly: M¨¦lida Buend¨ªa, Senior Spanish Interpreter
M¨¦lida Buend¨ªa, Senior Spanish Interpreter, in the Spanish interpretation booth in the UNGA.