I stood in as a Proxy Mum at a Nigerian Engagement Party

There are assignments that remind you this work is a privilege, not just a profession. Yesterday I stood in as a proxy parent at a Nigerian engagement party for a bride whose family couldn't make it over from the States, and I'm honestly still not over it. If you've ever been in a room where everything you are, your background, your culture, your history, shows up to serve the moment without you even trying, you'll get exactly what I mean in this video. I'm sharing what happened yesterday, why it took me straight back to one of my favorite interpreting jobs ever, and the story most people don't know about how I actually learned Yoruba growing up. We're also getting into something I think is really important for interpreters: the reason you do the job well is connected to who you are and where you've been, not just what you've been trained to do. Your lived experience is not separate from your skill. It is the skill. I want to hear from you too. Drop in the comments the assignment that reminds you exactly why you do this work. What's that moment for you? Let's talk about it down there because I genuinely want to know. Timestamps 0:00 — Proxy parent at the party 1:17 — Representing the bride's family 3:31 — The Nigerian wedding flashback 5:33 — What most people don't know 7:38 — How I really learned Yoruba 8:56 — Coming home fluent 10:39 — No goodbyes, chapter closed 11:38 — That wedding felt like home 13:46 — The privilege of this work 15:25 — What is your assignment?