Translation Adventures: Chinese Translator in Los Angeles Interpreting for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Los Angeles Branch (The most mysterious and security tight location in Los Angeles)

One of the most interesting experiences working as a Chinese translator in Los Angeles was back many years ago when I accepted an assignment interpreting for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Los Angeles Branch, when they received visitors from the People's Bank of China, the central bank of China.

It is one of the most memorable experiences that I had working as a Mandarin interpreter in Los Angeles because of the following reasons:

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Los Angeles Branch is so mysterious that it is located in a unmarked building in downtown Los Angeles

Many buildings in downtown Los Angeles are marked with signs and corporate logos, a way of advertising themselves. Not the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Los Angeles Branch. It is located at 950 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015. If you search on Google map, you will see it is an average looking building that people would never associate it with a building of the Federal Reserve Bank.

The tight security there makes it even more mysterious

I was given instructions of providing my full legal name, my driver license number, as well as my vehicle's plate number days before going on this assignment. I was also told to be expected to be searched inside of my vehicle before entering and after exiting their parking garage. Indeed, they searched everything before allowing me in. Yes, they did have metal detectors with advanced technologies. As a Chinese interpreter, this is the tightest security I have ever experienced.

It is an eye opening assignment for me, a Chinese translator in Los Angeles

During this assignment, I heard interesting topics being discussed, conversations that people normally would not be able to have access to. I also saw many interesting things that outsiders normally would not have been able to see. It is such an eye opening experience for me.

Also see: