A true interpretation story

Believe it or not, I read that the director of Paraguay's Immigration Bureau took part in a standardized training program in Taiwan, for which he was assigned an interpreter. As soon as they met, this public officer rubbed her thigh. Yes! This public officer arrived in Taiwan on Oct. 04 and on Oct. 5 the interpreter filed a report before the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office. Believe it or not, a settlement was reached that same day in private: formal charges wouldn't be filed if this public officer left the country. This is not even science fiction outside Taipei!!! Congratulations!!!

But... I cannot understand this public officer's explanation, can you? :confused: :confused: :confused:

In an interview with Radio ABC Cardinal, Vega said that it was a "misunderstanding" and explained that he had only touched the thigh of the woman to ask her the meaning of a word. He went on to say that it was a difference in "custom" and that he did not realize he had done something wrong.

Taiwan News

Lol! I can picture the situation like this:

The interpreter and the officer were sitting next to each other. The officer leans towards the interpreter and places their hand in the interpreter's thigh.

It might have not been with any hidden intentions but probably someone should have informed the officer about ettiquet and that it's wrong to rub anyone's thigh :p

I have just finished reading the article... it's surprising how he tries to cover it up by claiming ignorance of their laws... Isn't he supposed to watch out for possible international faux pas?

I'm not sure if it's a generalization or not, but aren't Asians really mindful of personal space? And regardless! You just can't go about life touching people's thighs... If he really had been trying to call her attention, he could have gone for her arm. It's just a lame excuse to hide an embarrassing situation. (¬▂¬)

Do women have rights in Taipei?!?!?! But why??? Women don't even need them!! Some weird Taiwanese custom!!

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Well, I think it is really brave what the translator did. I mean sexual harassment happens in everywhere and mostly it exists because sometimes ppl are afraid of speaking it out due to many factors.
However, I do second Uruguay's officer's opinion that it is probably without any malicious intent...

In Asian's culture, you can't touch other person's body (specially one with the opposite gender), regardless it is the thigh, shoulder, forearm or simply the hand.
Ppl are supposed to keep a distance when talking without any physical contact at all.
So I imagine the situation, as agustinab described, they were in the middle of the meeting, sitting next to each other, and then he leaned over to ask for something but maybe she was with something else, so he touched her thigh as to call her attention, and... you know what happened already.
Of course, we are no the interpreter who evidenced that situation, so it is really hard to tell what happened there.

However, I do condemn any kind and form of harassment at work, and that no one should be treated unequally on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed/religion, ***, age, marital/family status, disability, arrest record, criminal conviction(s), gender identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status and/or retaliation. (That was a long sentence, LOL) Therefore, she was very brave to speak out.
On the other hand, I also feel pity of that man... He lost his job, and probably his life won't be the same due to the public opinion and the critics he is and will be receiving for a long time to come.:(

I'm afraid this will let you down, Iyuanobi.

Public officer's own words

Public officer as an attorney-at-law

Oh, I didn't know that. Really bad attitude indeed.:mad:

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¿Qué va a hacer, compadre?