YASMINE

INTERPRETER & MOTHER

“When they see an interpreter, they say ‘Oh, thank God, someone who can help me explain what’s going on.’”

My kids were my first priority as they grew up – I wanted to raise them in the best way. My husband and I both moved here from Lebanon and sacrificed a lot for our kids. I have four kids, but they aren’t kids anymore. My older two have graduated from college, my third is at Belmont, preparing to go to dental school, and the fourth is still at home. 

I started working regularly as an interpreter in 2021 after completing a medical interpretation program. I love meeting new people and helping them through interpreting, which is really what matters – helping. By interpreting, I can help give patients hope just by the way I am there for them. 

Every day, I see people who don’t know English and need help. Sometimes they receive the wrong message, and I can help them get the right message. Sometimes they can’t explain things to the doctor or to the people at their kids’ school – when they see an interpreter, they say “Oh, thank God, someone who can help me explain what’s going on.”

Four years ago, I started working as an interpreter at Siloam in refugee medical screenings, where I learned about Nashville Neighbors. With Nashville Neighbors, you feel like you’re sitting with family you know as friends. I now have American friends through Nashville Neighbors. 

The teams care for the kids and for the parents. If the dad wants to find a job, they try to help him. That is real love. The refugee families are lucky to have these teams because they really care for them.