Today, I had to go to the bank to get my new bank card activated. So Mark the Bank Guy and I had the following conversation:
Me: So, you need two pieces of ID, right? (wallet is emptied of receipts from a grocery run conducted two weeks ago)
Bank Guy: (Flabbergasted at the pile of papers) One is fine. So, what other languages do you speak?
Me: (completely thrown off by this simple question) Uhmn, English and Spanish. . . Say, why do you ask?
Bank Guy: Because it is on your card, see? Translation Service
Me: (silence due to not feeling very smart)
Bank Guy: How does that work? Do you work for a company?
Me: No, this is freelance. I do some freelance projects for companies, and I have done some interpreting in court. I even got to go to jail . . .
Bank Guy: (turns red)
Me: For work! I mean, for work-related reasons!
Bank Guy: Ah, yes, an important clarification.
The rest of the conversation was not particularly memorable, but considerably less awkward. Small talk does not come easy to me.
Tags: Conversations
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