This is something all interpreters have in common – the absolute urge to be punctual. If in doubt, I always take the earlier train and end up sitting around in the conference venue 2 hours before the event starts. If I need to drive by car into the city center of, say, Frankfurt or Stuttgart, I switch on the engine at dawn to avoid the daily traffic jam. For me, punctuality does not mean to be there “just in time” but to allow for a generous dose of extra time, just in case…meaning that I am relaxed and certain to be on location early, talk to the customer and install myself in my beloved booth. More often than not manuscripts and presentations are handed over at the eleventh hour, so I take my time to look at these, drink a cup of conference coffee – and I am ready to face the day!
