Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I wake up in Saint-Gregoire, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I’m heading down Rue de la Mairie, and I trip over my own feet. Classic me. I’m like, “Great start, genius.” But whatever, I brush it off. I get to the community center for my first gig. It’s a workshop for deaf kids. Super cute, right? But then, I walk in, and it’s chaos! Kids everywhere, signing like they’re in a race. I’m like, “Whoa, slow down, folks!”
So, I’m trying to keep up, but these kids are fast! I mean, I thought I was good, but they’re like little signing ninjas. One kid, Lucas, he’s got this wild energy. He’s signing about his pet turtle, and I’m just trying not to laugh. I mean, who gets hyped about a turtle? But he does!
Then, outta nowhere, the fire alarm goes off. I’m like, “Seriously? Right now?” Everyone’s freaking out, and I’m trying to sign “calm down” but it’s hard when you’re also panicking. We all shuffle out to the parking lot on Rue de la Liberté, and I’m just standing there, thinking, “This is NOT in the job description.”
After the fire drill (which was a false alarm, thank goodness), I finally get to do my thing. The kids are super engaged, and I’m feeling all the feels. They’re signing their dreams, and it’s just beautiful. I’m smiling like an idiot, and then Lucas signs, “I wanna be a superhero!” I’m like, “Dude, you already are!”
But then, I get a text. My next gig is at the local café, Le Café de la Gare. I’m like, “Cool, coffee and interpreting? Sign me up!” But when I get there, it’s packed. I mean, like, standing room only. I squeeze in, and the barista, Marie, is like, “You’re late!” I’m like, “Chill, I just saved a bunch of kids from a fire!”
So, I’m interpreting for this poetry reading. It’s all deep and emotional, and I’m trying to keep it together. But then, this one poet starts talking about heartbreak, and I’m feeling it. Like, I’m not crying, but my eyes are definitely misty. And then, outta nowhere, someone in the back yells, “Get a grip!” I’m like, “Dude, it’s poetry, not a wrestling match!”
After the reading, I’m exhausted. I head down Rue de la Roche, thinking I’ll grab some food. But guess what? The food truck I love is outta my fave dish! I’m like, “Are you kidding me?” So, I settle for a crepe, which is good, but not what I wanted.
Finally, I’m walking home, and I see this beautiful sunset over the Parc de la Mairie. I stop, take a breath, and think, “Wow, what a day.” I mean, it was wild, emotional, and totally unexpected. But that’s life in Saint-Gregoire, right? Full of surprises, laughter, and a bit of chaos.
So, yeah, I’m beat. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just another day in the life of a sign language interpreter. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!