Service français de traduction - United Nations Language Careers

Transcription

Service français de traduction - United Nations Language Careers
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DÉPARTEMENT DE L'ASSEMBLÉE GÉNÉRALE
ET DE LA GESTION DES CONFÉRENCES
GUIDE DU STAGIAIRE DES SERVICES DE TRADUCTION,
SIÈGE DE L’ORGANISATION DES NATIONS UNIES
NEW YORK • 2014
Service français de traduction
1.
Bienvenue au Service français de traduction ...............................................................5
Où ? .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Bureaux..................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Personnes à contacter ...........................................................................................................................................................................5
Qui ? ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Quoi, comment ? ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Pourquoi ? ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
2.
Votre stage au Service français de traduction .............................................................7
Le premier jour ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Le déroulement du stage .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Tirer le meilleur parti de votre stage ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Qu’apporter ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Tenue vestimentaire ................................................................................................................................................................ 8
3.Practical information..................................................................................................... 10
United Nations buildings in Manhattan ................................................................................................................................. 10
Arriving in the United States .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Visas ....................................................................................................................................................................................................10
The New York area airports .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Public transport routes and fares ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Addresses ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Taxis and car services ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
Housing .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Money matters ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Identification documents........................................................................................................................................................ 15
Mobile/cell phones ................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Post Office .............................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Eating ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Weather ................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
What to bring (and what not to bring) ................................................................................................................................... 18
Health care ............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
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Safety ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Shopping ................................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Things to do in New York City ................................................................................................................................................. 22
Annex 1. Map of United Nations buildings ........................................................................ 23
Annex 2. UN-related fiction and non-fiction ...................................................................... 24
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Bienvenue au Siège de l’Organisation des Nations Unies. Depuis plus de 60 ans,
les services de traduction du Secrétariat de l’ONU facilitent la communication
entre les États Membres, aujourd’hui au nombre de 193. Produisant des
documents dans les six langues officielles de l’ONU, ainsi qu’en allemand, ils sont
également les moteurs du multilinguisme au sein de l’Organisation.
Les services de traduction sont répartis dans quatre centres de conférence (Siège,
situé à New York, et Offices des Nations Unies à Genève, Nairobi et Vienne) et
trois commissions régionales (Addis-Abeba, Beyrouth et Santiago). Si les sujets
traités et le type de documents traduits diffèrent d’un lieu à l’autre, l’objectif
reste le même : produire dans les délais des traductions, ou dans certains cas des
comptes rendus de séance, de grande qualité.
Nous sommes fiers de servir les principes énoncés dans la Charte des Nations
Unies. Notre travail est exigeant : il requiert diplomatie, intérêt pour les
questions d’actualité, capacités d’analyse et, bien entendu, connaissances
linguistiques hors pair. Non seulement les textes que nous traduisons servent de
point de départ à la prise de décisions et à l’élaboration de politiques au plus
haut niveau, mais ils concourent également à la conclusion d’accords, à
l’adoption de résolutions et à l’approbation de projets ou programmes. Annales
de l’Organisation, ils constituent aussi un témoignage impérissable de son
travail.
Nous sommes toujours à la recherche de traducteurs de talent ayant les
combinaisons linguistiques requises. Nous nous réjouissons de vous montrer ce
que nous faisons au cours de votre stage et espérons que vous aimerez ce travail,
que nous trouvons passionnant et enrichissant. Le présent guide donne des
informations concernant plus particulièrement le service de traduction auquel
vous avez été affecté, ainsi que des conseils pratiques sur la vie à New York et le
travail au Siège de l’ONU. Nous voulons croire qu’il vous sera utile et comptons
sur vous pour nous aider à l’améliorer lors de votre séjour parmi nous.
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1. Bienvenue au Service français de
traduction
Où ?
Bureaux
Les six services de traduction (un pour chaque langue officielle) sont situés dans le bâtiment
Albano, au 305 E46th St., New York, NY 10017 (annexe 1, n° 8), à deux pas du complexe de
l’ONU qui abrite l’Assemblée générale, le Conseil de sécurité et le Secrétariat de l’ONU. Le
Service français de traduction y occupe le septième étage (c’est là que se trouvent l’accueil et
les bureaux du chef de service et du répartiteur) et une grande partie du huitième étage. Pour
savoir comment vous y rendre, nous vous invitons à consulter le site des transports publics de
New York (www.mta.info).
Personnes à contacter
Si vous êtes en retard au travail, ou si vous êtes malade et ne pouvez pas venir du tout, la
première chose à faire est de prévenir le répartiteur (212-963-6722 ;
[email protected]) ou une personne du secrétariat (Marie-Liz Clutario : 212-963-6719 ;
Aïcha Diawara : 212-963-6719).
Si vous avez besoin d’aide pour trouver un médecin, dentiste ou autre spécialiste, ou de tout
autre renseignement pour votre vie quotidienne, adressez-vous à n’importe qui dans le
Service.
Qui ?
Le Service français est dirigé par Mme Martine Azubuike, mais c’est le « répartiteur »
(fonction occupée à tour de rôle par des réviseurs hors classe) qui attribue les documents aux
traducteurs et assure la bonne marche du Service au quotidien. Composé d’une cinquantaine
de membres permanents et d’un nombre important de temporaires, il s’agit de l’un des plus
gros services de traduction du Siège.
Quoi, comment ?
Nous traduisons en français des documents rédigés en anglais, arabe, chinois, espagnol et
russe : des rapports, des lettres, des discours portant sur des questions politiques, juridiques,
sociales, économiques, budgétaires, financières, etc. La longueur des documents va de
quelques mots à plus de 1000 pages ; les documents longs sont divisés en tranches qui font
rarement plus de 25 pages (les stagiaires traduisent des morceaux courts, de 5 pages
maximum). Nous ne traduisons pas les sites web de l’ONU, les communiqués de presse et les
brochures.
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Certains documents, par exemple les résolutions du Conseil de sécurité, sont très urgents ; le
Service ne dispose parfois que de quelques heures pour les traduire (pas de panique : ces
textes ne sont pas confiés aux stagiaires !).
Dans certains cas, les textes à traduire ressemblent beaucoup à des documents déjà traduits
(les « précédents ») ; nous disposons de divers outils pour retrouver ces précédents et nous
les reprenons en tout ou en partie, ce qui nous permet d’assurer la cohérence de la
documentation. Nous disposons aussi d’une base de donnée terminologique générale,
UNTERM, qui couvre toutes les langues officielles de l’ONU (et est en usage public - taper «
UNTERM » dans n’importe quel moteur de recherche pour la trouver), ainsi que de plusieurs
bases en anglais-français seulement, notamment pour la phraséologie. Nous utilisons en
outre une nouvelle plateforme mise au point en interne (« e-Luna »), qui combine ces
différents outils et des systèmes de traduction assistée par ordinateur et de traduction
automatique. Vous découvrirez tout cela à votre arrivée, en compagnie de vos maîtres de
stage, qui vous aideront à déterminer quels sont les outils les plus appropriés pour chaque
texte.
C’est le répartiteur qui décide qui fait quoi et dans quel délai, en fonction des impératifs qui
lui sont imposés par le Groupe du contrôle des documents ainsi que de la combinaison
linguistique, du domaine de spécialisation et de l’expérience de chacun. Dans le cas des
stagiaires, il essaie surtout de varier les plaisirs pour que chacun découvre différentes
facettes du travail de traducteur à l’ONU.
Les traducteurs débutants sont « en formation » pendant deux ans, c’est-à-dire qu’ils sont
encadrés par un formateur qui répond à leurs questions, les oriente dans leurs recherches et
évalue leur travail. Leur travail est systématiquement révisé. Après quelques années, les
traducteurs deviennent normalement « auto-réviseurs » : leur travail n’est plus revu par
quelqu’un d’autre et ils commencent à revoir celui des débutants.
Pourquoi ?
Nous avons tous décidé de mettre nos connaissances et notre énergie au service de la
traduction et de l’ONU car nous sommes fiers de faciliter la communication au sein d’une
organisation universelle dont la mission est de maintenir la paix et la sécurité et de favoriser
le développement. Notre apprentissage n’est jamais terminé, et nous avons la chance de
pouvoir compter sur des collègues d’horizons différents dont chacun connait des choses
différentes. Notre travail nous place parfois au cœur de l’actualité internationale, et souvent
face à des défis linguistiques liés à l’évolution du monde, aux différences culturelles, à la
technicité des textes, etc. Chaque jour, nous allions rigueur et créativité, rapidité et minutie,
curiosité et compétence pour produire des traductions justes et lisibles en français, deuxième
langue de travail de l’Organisation. Nous vous invitons à venir relever ces défis avec nous !
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2. Votre stage au Service français de
traduction
Le premier jour
Sauf indication contraire, vous vous rendrez en tout premier lieu à 9h30 au UN Pass Office, au
801 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 (n° 6), pour qu’on vous y délivre une carte
d’identité ONU, le badge qui vous permettra d’accéder à l’Albano et d’y circuler. Vous y serez
pris en charge par un collègue des services de traduction qui vous aidera à accomplir les
formalités et vous indiquera ensuite comment vous rendre au Service français de traduction.
Munissez-vous de votre passeport et des documents qui vous ont été demandés au moment
de votre inscription (offre et accord de stage, attestation d’inscription, etc.). Sachez toutefois
qu’en tant que stagiaires vous n’aurez pas automatiquement accès aux autres bâtiments de
l’ONU.
Le déroulement du stage
La première journée, généralement courte, est l’occasion d’une première prise de contact
entre vous et votre maître de stage. Celui-ci vous présentera le Service et vous expliquera en
détail le déroulement de votre stage (horaires, méthodes de travail, tâches connexes à la
traduction, activités, etc.). Il s’assurera que votre poste de travail est parfaitement configuré
(courriel professionnel, téléphone, etc.) et vous montrera les divers outils de travail que nous
utilisons (e-Luna, DtSearch, Unterm, gDoc). Ce n’est que le lendemain que vous recevrez
votre premier texte à traduire.
Durant le stage, vous serez mis dans les conditions d’un véritable traducteur de l’ONU : les
textes qui vous seront confiés seront de ‘vrais’ textes destinés à être publiés comme
documents officiels de l’ONU. Cela étant, vous ne serez pas soumis à un impératif de
productivité et votre travail sera systématiquement révisé par votre maître de stage, qui
prendra le temps de vous expliquer ses corrections et vous donnera des conseils pour vous
faire progresser. N’hésitez pas à aller le voir, il est là pour s’occuper de vous !
Votre maître de stage et le répartiteur décideront d’un commun accord des textes qui vous
seront confiés en tenant compte de votre combinaison linguistique. Ils s’efforceront
également de vous faire découvrir toute la gamme des textes que nous traduisons car on
n’aborde pas de la même manière une lettre, un rapport du Secrétaire général ou un
discours. Votre maître de stage prendra à chaque fois le soin de vous expliquer la nature du
document que vous avez en main et la manière dont vous devrez procéder (indication des
références, précédents éventuels, etc.).
Vous aurez aussi l’occasion d’assister à des exposés organisés à l’heure du déjeuner par
différents collègues, de participer à des visites (service d’interprétation, complexe de l’ONU,
etc.) et, dans la mesure du possible, d’assister à des séances du Conseil de sécurité ou de
l’Assemblée générale.
À la fin de votre stage, votre maître de stage fera le point avec vous pour recueillir vos
impressions et vous faire part de ses ultimes commentaires et recommandations. Il vous
remettra également votre attestation de stage.
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Tirer le meilleur parti de votre stage
Pour préparer au mieux votre stage, nous vous invitons à consulter le site de l’ONU afin de
vous familiariser avec l’action de l’Organisation et le travail de notre Division
(www.un.org/fr/hq/dgacm/dd), et à vous tenir informés de l’actualité internationale
(www.un.org/news). Une fois dans le Service, n’hésitez pas à faire connaissance avec vos
collègues afin d’en apprendre davantage sur leur parcours et à rencontrer les stagiaires des
autres services de traduction.
Si le stage a avant tout un objectif professionnel et vous permettra, l’espace de quelques
semaines, de vous mettre dans la peau d’un traducteur de l’ONU, n’oubliez pas de profiter de
New York et des nombreux divertissements que la ville a à vous offrir
(www.nycinsiderguide.com).
Qu’apporter
N’apportez de chez vous ni dictionnaires, ni fournitures de bureau, ni ordinateur portable,
tout est fourni. La plupart des dictionnaires sont disponibles en ligne, et vous aurez accès à
toutes les bases de données nécessaires.
Il y a un coin cuisine à chaque étage de l’Albano, avec un évier, un four à micro-ondes et un
réfrigérateur. Vous y trouverez aussi une cafetière Nespresso et une bouilloire communes.
Pendant votre stage, vous pourrez donc apporter de la nourriture pour votre déjeuner ou des
en-cas, des sachets de thé ou des capsules de café. Il y a aussi de la vaisselle et des couverts à
disposition, mais libre à vous d’apporter votre propre tasse.
Tenue vestimentaire
L’ONU est par définition multiculturelle, et le respect de la diversité est un de ses mots
d’ordre. Il n’est pas rare de voir des fonctionnaires ou des diplomates porter la tenue
traditionnelle de leur pays. Il n’y a pas de code vestimentaire à l’ONU, le bon sens est donc de
rigueur. Il faut adapter sa tenue à sa fonction et aux circonstances.
Comme on ne reçoit pas de public dans le Service, on est libre de porter ce que l’on veut,
dans les limites de la correction. Dans un contexte professionnel, on évitera de trop exposer
certaines parties du corps (décolleté, haut des cuisses, ventre) et de porter un attirail trop
voyant ou trop décontracté (claquettes de plage, tenue de sport). Il est acceptable de porter
tee-shirts, jeans et baskets pour autant qu’ils soient propres et en bon état. Comme sur bien
des lieux de travail aux États-Unis, il est acceptable de porter une tenue un peu plus
décontractée le vendredi.
Si vous préférez déambuler dans les couloirs du métro et les rues de la ville en claquettes,
voire en bottes en caoutchouc les jours de pluie (vous verrez que ce n’est pas une mauvaise
idée à New York !), libre à vous ; prévoyez dans ce cas des chaussures de rechange à porter
au bureau. Sachez aussi que la différence de température entre l’extérieur et l’intérieur peut
être importante, surtout en été, en raison de la climatisation ; pensez donc à apporter un pull,
un gilet ou un foulard que vous laisserez éventuellement au bureau.
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Si vous devez assister à une réunion, il vous faudra vous habiller de façon plus « classique »,
comme vous le feriez pour un examen oral : pour les hommes, chemise et veste (la cravate
est d’usage, mais pas obligatoire ; pas de jeans) et pour les dames, robe (couvrant les
épaules) ou chemisier et jupe (pas trop courte) ou pantalon (pas de jeans).
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3. Practical information
Please note that the information in this section is provided merely as a courtesy. We have
done our best to ensure it is up-to-date and hope it will be useful, but obviously cannot be
held responsible for any inconveniences caused by inaccuracies.
United Nations buildings in Manhattan
The United Nations Headquarters Building is located in Manhattan, on First Avenue at 42nd
St, right on the East River. The full address is 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY10017. Note
that you should not use this as a mailing address. The building itself – which was constructed
between 1948 and 1952 – has an interesting history, and is just emerging from a major
renovation, having remained mostly untouched since its completion. The Headquarters
complex, which includes Secretariat headquarters, does not have the capacity to house all of
the Organization’s New-York-based staff, so a number are accommodated in buildings in the
surrounding area – see map in annex 1. This includes the translation services, which are a
short distance away on East 46th Street. We will give you a tour of the Secretariat complex
and the Albano Building after you arrive.
Arriving in the United States
Visas
Non-U.S. citizens/residents on a temporary, unpaid internship at the United Nations must
have a valid visa. You are responsible for the application process yourself, and should consult
the website of your nearest Embassy/Consulate as a first step. Application requirements vary
(they depend on considerations including your nationality and place of residence). The most
common categories of visa granted to interns are the B1 Business Travel Visa / B2 Tourist
Visa. The B1 visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign citizens desiring to enter the
United States temporarily for business purposes. The B2 visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa
for foreign citizens desiring to enter the United States temporarily for pleasure or medical
treatment. Even if you are from a country eligible for the US Visa Waiver Programme and
ESTA, you must not enter the country under this arrangement, which covers tourism and
business trips only.
Remember that, like all visas, the one that you obtain does not confer an automatic right to
entry. Admission is at the discretion of the officer at your port of entry.
The New York area airports
The New York City area is served by three main airports: John F. Kennedy (JFK), La Guardia
(LGA) and Newark Liberty (EWR). All are run by the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, whose website contains maps of the terminals, plus information on location, public
transport and taxi access.
If you are arriving directly from an international destination and one of these airports is your
first point of entry to the United States, do not take your time leaving the aircraft. It is in
your interest to avoid being at the back of the immigration queue, which is always slow and
can be very long at certain times of day. Note that some foreign airports (chiefly major
Canadian airports, and Dublin and Shannon airports in Ireland) have US customs and
immigration “pre-clearance”, which means that you clear US customs and immigration even
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before boarding the plane. You will be required to indicate the address at which you intend to
stay after arrival.
Immigration officials will look at your US customs form, so make sure that it is filled in before
landing (before passing through immigration, if you are starting your journey at an airport
with pre-clearance). The immigration counters have fingerprint readers and webcam-sized
cameras. These are used to establish an entry record and compare information against the
data stored in your (preferably biometric) passport. For this reason, the process of clearing US
immigration can be time-consuming.
After clearing immigration, you collect your baggage and carry it through customs. There is no
red/green channel system; you simply hand the customs form, duly stamped by the
immigration officer, to the customs officer at the exit from the customs hall. You may be
taken aside for a spot-check of your luggage. Do not attempt to bring fruit, vegetables,
plants, seeds, meat or dairy products into the US. They will be confiscated immediately.
Once you have passed customs, you have several options for onward transportation. All of
the airports have ground transportation information desks. If you are using the bus or
subway to travel from the airport, see “Public transport routes and fares” below.
●
JFK: flat-fare taxi service ($52 plus tip and tunnel toll to/from Manhattan; if you are
not going to/from Manhattan, taxi fares will vary by distance and time), or Air Train and
subway. Use the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport station (served by the
Jamaica-bound AirTrain and subway trains E, J and Z) or the Howard Beach-JFK Airport
station, (served by the Howard Beach-bound AirTrain and the A subway train)– (the fare
is $7.50 plus $1 for a Metrocard if you don’t already have one). Both take about an hour,
but the E train is quickest to Uptown and Midtown Manhattan and Queens, while the A
train is best for Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Another rail option is the Long Island
Railroad, which runs non-stop to Penn Station on 34th St and 7th Avenue from Jamaica
station (the LIRR is one floor below the AirTrain station and one floor above the Sutphin
Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK subway station). There are also Airporter express buses
from JFK to Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, but these, like the taxis, can sometimes
become snarled in traffic, especially on the bridges and in the tunnels.
●
EWR: metered taxi service (can be up to $70 in total) or Air Train and train to Penn
Station in Manhattan ($5.50, plus train fare, which depends on whether you taken an
Amtrak or New Jersey Transit train) or express bus (coach) service to the Port Authority
Bus Terminal in Manhattan and beyond ($16). The trip should take under an hour, but
you may have to wait for a train at Newark Airport station.
●
LGA: metered taxi service (about $45 plus tip) or bus (M60 to 125th St Manhattan or
Q70 to 74th St/Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights, Queens, from where you can connect
to the E, F, M, R and 7 subway lines). Fare is $2.50, plus $1 for the metrocard that stores
the fare – see “Public transport routes and fares” below. There are also Airporter
express buses from LGA to Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, but these, like the taxis,
can sometimes become snarled in traffic, especially on the bridges and in the tunnels.
If you are carrying luggage, do not necessarily be put off taking trains and buses. Increasing
numbers of subway stations, particularly those in Manhattan, have disabled access from the
train platform to the street (i.e. elevators or escalators, though technically you are not
allowed to take luggage on escalators). Go to the MTA website and look for the maps of the
subway lines. A wheelchair symbol will tell you which stations have alternatives to the stairs.
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It may be cheaper to take public transport to the nearest “accessible” station to your
destination, and then hail a taxi on the street.
Public transport routes and fares
Buses and subway trains and suburban trains are run by the MTA, whose website has maps,
apps, fare information and route and schedule alteration notices (particularly important for
weekend travel!). A good place to start is the tourist information section of the site.
Although you can pay your fare using cash on the buses (coins only!) and at subway station
ticket booths, the most common form of fare payment is the plastic Metrocard, which stores
information in a magnetic strip that is read by bus fare machines and subway station turnstiles.
The card itself costs $1. You can then add value or time, as the same card is used as a pay-asyou-go farecard, and a season-ticket type farecard. The MTA website will help you calculate
whether a pay-per-ride, 7-day unlimited or 30-day unlimited card is best value for you.
Metrocards are available from a number of sources. For example, if you arrive at JFK, the Air
Train fare is paid using a Metrocard, to which you can add cash to cover an onward trip on
the subway or bus. There are ticket machines at the exit from the Air Train platform. At EWR
and JFK, you would have to buy a Metrocard inside the airport, at a Hudson News newsstand.
Metrocard vending machines accept cash and debit/ATM/credit cards. Follow the instructions
on the touchscreen. If you use a credit card, the machine may ask you to enter your billing
zipcode (postal code). If your card is billed to an address outside the US, you should be able to
go ahead with the purchase simply by entering “00000”.
When boarding a bus, hold your Metrocard vertically, with the cutoff corner at top left and
the magnetic strip facing you on the right. Insert it into the slot on the machine next to the
driver. The LED display will show you how much value remains on the card.
When entering a subway station, swipe your Metrocard sideways-on through the reader on
the turnstile, with the magnetic strip facing to the left. If the turnstile does not unlock to
allow you through, do not try another turnstile. Try swiping your card again through the
same turnstile. If you still have trouble getting through, there is either too little value
remaining on your card, or your card is damaged.
You are not charged $2.50 for every part of your journey. If your journey has been under way
for less than two hours, you can transfer from the bus to the subway (or vice versa)or to
another bus without an extra fare (known as a “free transfer”, and indicated by the LED
display on the bus fare machine or subway turnstile as “Xfer”.
Make sure you enter the right subway station entrance, check on the white-on-black signs
above the entrance whether they say “downtown” or “uptown”. If they do, you will be able
to access only trains going in that direction (and if you go through the turnstile, you will have
to come out, walk across the street and swipe your card (i.e.) pay again – or if you have an
unlimited ride Metrocard, you will have to wait about 15 minutes before you can swipe
again). If the signs say nothing but the numbers or letters of the lines, you will be able to
access trains travelling in both directions.
Addresses
Cross-streets within Manhattan’s grid are numbered in ascending order as you go north
(uptown). Building numbering goes east or west from 5th Avenue, in blocks of 100. Avenues
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(which run north-south) are numbered in ascending order from east to west, but may change
name at several points and have illogical building numbering. In Queens, all house or building
numbers have two components, separated by a dash. The first component gives the cross
street, the second is the house or building number itself.
When providing or looking for addresses, remember to determine the cross street(s). For
example, do not ask a taxi driver to take you to 305 East 46th Street (the address of the
Albano Building). Specify that you are going to East 46th Street between 1st and 2nd
Avenues.
Zip (postal) codes are also important. If you want to find a retailer that is part of a chain, go to
its website, click on the “store locator” link, and type in the zip code (for the area around the
United Nations, 10017).
Taxis and car services
Taxis are hailed in the street, or found outside hotels and railway stations. They are available
for hire when the centre light on top of the roof is lit (it contains the medallion number,
which is also on the licence plate and on a sign in the back of the vehicle; if you ask for a
receipt, it will also appear there). The taxi is not for hire if the light is off, or if the "off duty"
lights on each side of the medallion number are on. There is a night surcharge of 50 cents,
and a peak surcharge (1800-2000) of $1.50. Tipping is customary (15-20%). You can pay by
debit or credit card in all taxis.
Yellow taxis serve all five boroughs. The green taxis are “borough taxis”, introduced to
address the shortage of cabs that would transport people to and from the outer boroughs
(i.e. outside Manhattan). In Manhattan, they are not allowed to pick up passengers south of
110th St on the West side and 96th St on the East side.
Beware the afternoon shift-change (1630-1730), when the taxi drivers all head back to their
garages with their "off duty" lights on. Try to travel before or after those hours.
“Car service” means cars that are reserved by phone or on line. A number of apps, like Hailo
and Uber, are increasingly popular, but there are a number of well-known companies with
memorable numbers that are used, for example, for airport trips:
●
Dial 7: 212-777 7777
●
Carmel: 212-666 6666
Do not be misled by the use of the word “limousine”. While it can indeed be used for the
stereotyped stretch limo, it is more commonly anything from a black Lincoln that is simply a
more luxurious taxicab to a shared minibus or van.
Housing
Unless you are familiar with the accommodation situation in New York City, be prepared for
big differences in cost and standards compared with what you have seen before. Although
living in Manhattan is the most convenient solution, you should also consider Astoria and
Long Island City in Queens (only a few subway stops away), and the nearer areas of Brooklyn,
as a close second in terms of travel time.
The further away you move, the cheaper accommodation will be. Transport will not cost you
more if you are in an area served by MTA buses or subways, as the fare does not increase
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with distance. Travel time, or course, does. Closer areas of New Jersey, such as Jersey City,
and Connecticut, such as Greenwich, also provide a cost saving with little lost in terms of
convenience. Jersey City is served by the PATH train, similar to a subway, and using the MTA
Metrocard as a means of fare payment. It stops in several places in Manhattan, terminating
near Penn Station at 33rd Street and 6th Avenue. Connecticut is served by the Metro North
train, which terminates at Grand Central Station (at 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue).
It is worth doing some research on neighbourhoods even before you arrive. If you have found
likely-looking accommodation, find the zip code (5-digit postal code) for the location and use
it to look for useful information, including the location of the nearest transportation.
The average rent for a shared room can range from $500-750 per month, for a room in a
house or apartment from $600-1200 per month, and for an apartment or studio from $10002000 per month. New Jersey, Connecticut and the outer boroughs of New York City make up
the lower end of these ranges and Manhattan accounts for the upper end. More luxurious
accommodations can be found if you are willing to pay more.
Craigslist is an open, public bulletin board/communication site. Accommodation sites like
AirBnB and (once you have arrived) the United Nations bulletin board and UNDP bulletin
board (ask your colleagues where to find it, outside the lounge area on the third floor of the
DC-1 building) may help. Word of mouth is also a valuable resource, particularly during times
when people are looking for pet-sitters. Additionally, there are many open Facebook groups
that might be helpful. Chinese (or Chinese-speaking) interns may find useful information on
NYU’s Chinese Student Association page here. NYU’s dorm rooms can also be rented for the
summer, from $200-400 per week. For more information, click here.
Please take every precaution when meeting people you contact, and when agreeing on
payments. The United Nations is not responsible for any loss or other harm to you based on
any contacts made through this channel.
Money matters
Make sure you have access to sufficient funds to last you through your internship. Plan for
monthly expenses of a minimum of $1500-$2000.
There is no point in opening a new bank account on arrival in New York City. Your existing
cash withdrawal, debit and credit cards should work. Bear in mind that some foreign banks
require you to activate your cards for use outside the country or area of issue. For example,
some European banks will not allow automatic use of their cards outside Europe. It is in any
case a good idea to warn your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling, giving
dates and locations. This will avoid inconvenient blocking of your card.
ATMs (cash machines) are everywhere, including airport terminals on arrival. You are likely to
be charged a fee for withdrawal unless your own bank has made arrangements for the fee to
be waived. The closest machine to the Albano Building is inside the Duane Reade drugstore
on the corner of 46th Street and 2nd Avenue, just opposite the Albano Building. Other nearby
machines are in the lobby of the Bank of America branch on 2nd Avenue at 44th Street and at
street level at 820 Second Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets (the Diplomat Building,
ATM belongs to the United Nations Federal Credit Union). All corner grocery stores (known as
“bodegas” in New York City) also have machines, but withdrawal fees tend to be high –
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sometimes up to $3.75. The machines inside McDonalds tend to have lower fees (as low as 99
cents).
Most machines do not swallow your card while you make the transaction. You need instead
to “dip” it – push it into the slot, and then withdraw it. Then proceed with the operation.
The chip-and-PIN credit card payment system in broad worldwide use is not widely used in
the United States. Even if your card has an embedded chip, you will have to sign your name
when using your credit card (exceptions for smaller amounts). Contactless payment is used,
however.
You can also use prepaid credit cards issued by the major credit card companies. These can
be bought easily for cash if you don’t want to carry money on you. Local vendors include
branches of the drugstore chains Duane Reade, Walgreens and CVS.
Money transfers are common, mainly using Paypal, Western Union, Moneygram or Xoom,
but there are many other services.
Identification documents
There is no population register or national identity card system in the US, so driving licences
are the most commonly used form of identification. If you have a credit-card-sized driving
licence (including US, Canadian, Australian and newer EU models) you will find it useful for
getting into places that serve alcohol. “Carding”, or a check of your photo/date of birth, is
common at all bars and clubs. You may also find it useful to carry with you a photocopy of the
identity page of your passport, and a copy of the visa that you have used to get into the US.
Also, proof of health insurance (see “Healthcare” below).
Mobile/cell phones
You are likely to have brought a phone with you, but beware of high roaming fees,
particularly for data, and the fact that your phone must be technically compatible with one of
the network specifications used in the US (up to 4G LTE for data, GSM and CDMA for voice,
but there are important differences in the frequencies used, particularly between North
America and other parts of the world). If you want a SIM card and a US number, you can get
one from a phone store. The closest one to the Albano Building is the Wireless Warehouse
store at 852 2nd Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets. Basic prepaid phones are also
available from drugstores and mobile service providers (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon
Wireless) and electronic stores (like Best Buy). To find these, go to the company websites,
find the store locator link, and type in the zip (postal) code 10017.
Your work landline will not enable you to make anything other than local calls. To dial, press 9
(for an outside line), followed by 1 and the three-digit area code and seven-digit phone
number. The English Translation Service has a fax machine (212-963 2730).
Prepaid calling cards are available at all drugstores, corner groceries (bodegas) and
newsstands.
Post Office
The closest United States Postal Service branches:
●
Full post offices:
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450 Lexington Ave at 45th St
909 3rd Ave at 55th St
●
Automated kiosk:
884 2nd Ave at 47th Street (no staff, but a machine that weighs items and sells stamps –
note that international mail sent from this location can only contain documents)
The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) sells United Nations and commemorative
stamps – although these can be used on mail, they can only be used on mail posted from
inside the United Nations compound (the postal counter is inside the Dag Hammarskjöld
Library Building).
Eating
United Nations cafeterias and restaurants
●
The main United Nations cafeteria is in the South Lobby of the Secretariat Building,. It
serves breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices. Opening hours are Monday – Friday
Breakfast 8:00AM–10:30AM Lunch 11:30AM–2:30PM Snacks 2:30PM–4:00PM
●
The Vienna Cafe on the first basement level of the Conference Building serves drinks
and snacks from 09:00-16:30.
There are two rather more luxurious options, both located in the Conference Building
between the Secretariat and the North Lawn. Your pass will not get you into this area by
yourself, so you will need to be escorted there.
●
The Delegates’ Lounge is mainly a bar with a large seating area;
●
The Delegates’ Dining Room serves a lunch buffet, and table reservations must be made
24 hours in advance.
Eating and drinking locally
Here are a few suggested destinations for economical and healthy lunches, not far from your desk:
Price range: $ - 5-10, $$ - 10-15, $$$ - 15-20
Pay by weight, serve yourself (salad, veg., seafood and meat):
Olympia
833 2nd Ave, between 44th and 45th St.
Morton Williams supermarket
908 2nd Ave, between 48th and 49th St.
United Nations cafeteria
401 E 42nd St.
Amish Market
240 E 45th St, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.
Sandwiches, salads, hot food:Plaza Garden ($)
303 E 44 St between 1st and 2nd Ave.
45 Deli ($-$$)
839 2nd Ave, between 44th and 45th St.
Sido Gourmet ($-$$)
849 2nd Ave, between 45th and 46th St.
Pret a Manger ($-$$)
757 3rd Ave. between 47th and 48th St.
Ranch One ($-$$)
918 3rd Ave between 55th and 56th St.
Bakeries:
Le Pain Quotidien ($$-$$$)
937 2nd Ave between 49th and 50th St.
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Brunch:
The Smith ($$-$$$)
956 2nd Ave between 50th and 51st St.
Chinese:
Mee Noodle Shop ($)
Plaza Garden ($)
Our Evergreen Shanghai ($-$$)
Shih Lee Chinese Eatery ($-$$)
922 2nd Ave. between 48th and 49th St.
303 E 44 St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
913 2nd Ave. between 48th and 49th St.
311 E 45th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Cuban:
Sophie’s Cuban ($$)
369 Lexington Ave between 40th and 41st St.
French:
Matisse ($$$)
924 2nd Ave. between 49th and 50th St.
German:
German Bierhaus ($$-$$$)
712 3rd Ave. between 44th and 45th St.
Indian:
Indigo Indian Bistro ($-$$) 357 E 50th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Joy ($-$$)
148 E 46th St. between 3rd and Lexington Ave.
Kati Roll Company ($-$$) 229 E 53rd St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave.
Israeli and Lebanese specialities:
Naya Express ($-$$)
688 3rd Ave, between 43rd and 44th
Chopita ($$)
300 E 45th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Japanese:
Yama ($$-$$$)
308 E 49th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.First and Second
Mexican:
Dos Caminos ($$-$$$)
825 3rd Ave between 50th and 51 St.
Paella:
Socarrat ($$$)
953 2nd Ave. between 50th and 51st St.
Pizza:
Latrattoria ($)
Ocean's Eleven Pizzeria ($-$$)
844 2nd Ave. on the corner of 45th St.
849 2nd Ave. between 45th and 46th St.
Thai:
Dee Daa ($$)
Bangkok Palace ($$)
155 E 44th between 3rd and Lexington Ave.
882 1st Ave. between 49th and 50th St.
Turkish:
Gulluoglu ($-$$)
Sip Sak ($$$)
982 2nd Ave between 51st & 52nd St.
928 2nd Ave. between 49th and 50th St.
Supermarkets:
Morton Williams supermarket
Amish Market
Food Emporium
908 2nd Ave, between 48th and 49th St.
240 E 45th St, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.
969 2nd Ave. between 51st and 52nd St.
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Foodtrucks:
See a map of foodtrucks in the area here.
The Cinnamon Snail. Find it here.
Wafels and Dinges food truck. Find it here.
Great coffee:
Penny Lane
305 E 45th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave. (wifi password “underthebell”)
A google search for “Cheap eats in East midtown” will yield many great locations, with independent
reviews written by fellow midtowners. Websites like www.menupages.com and www.zagat.com
list restaurants by type and location.
Tipping
Please note you are expected to tip double the tax in New York restaurants, i.e. 18%. If you
tip less than that, they will presume you were dissatisfied and ask what the problem was.
Weather
The weather in New York can be quite extreme. You might find yourself fighting your way
through snow blizzards if you are here in January and melting in the heat and the humidity if
you are here in July and August. Temperatures also tend to be extreme indoors: stores,
restaurants and offices tend to crank up the heating in winter and set the air conditioning to
maximum in summer. So bring jackets, scarves, coats, etc. that you can put on and take off
quickly and bring lip balm for winter and suntan screen for summer (see more in the “what to
wear” section). Of course, you can also purchase any of these items very conveniently at any
time of the day or night when you get to New York City.
Predicting the weather in New York City is somewhat tricky because of its geographical
features and location (in other words the forecasters often get it wrong), but the most
recommended sites for checking out short- and long-term forecasts is
www.accuweather.com – use zip code 10017, toggle between degrees F and degrees C.
Note that local news stations (and people) give temperatures in Fahrenheit.
What to bring (and what not to bring)
Most chargers or power supplies for mobile phones, tablets, laptops and e-readers are now
multi voltage. Look on the charger itself for the input voltage and make sure it can be used on
110-120 volts, 60Hz.
Standard US plugs have two flat blades, one often wider than the other (“polarized plug”),
and may have a round earth (ground) pin in addition. The standard socket (outlet) is below,
with examples of 2- and 3-pin plugs.
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If your existing charger or power supply is suitable for use in the US, its plug may not be
compatible. The Basics Plus hardware store at 845 2nd Ave, between 45th and 46th Streets,
has a wide variety of plug adapters. Always remember that plug adapters do not convert
voltage.
If your existing charger or power supply is not suitable, consider buying another when you
arrive. Even if a branded version of the charger or power supply is not available, the chain
store Radio Shack has equivalents of all output voltages and plug designs. The closest to the
United Nations is at 150 E 42nd St, between 3rd Ave and Lexington Ave.
It is hardly worth bringing with you any electrical item that will not work in the US, However,
if you have something that you absolutely must bring that runs on 220-240 volts, 50Hz, you
will probably be able to use it with a “step-up” 110/120 volt to 220/240 volt converter or
transformer. There are two things to consider here. (1) does the appliance have electronic
components, or just (for example) a heating element? (2) what is the wattage of the
appliance? If the appliance just heats, you should be able to use it with a simple converter
(obtainable at drugstores like Duane Reade, electronics chains like Radio Shack and Best Buy).
If the appliance has electronic components, you will need a transformer (uses coils of wire to
convert the voltage and is heavier). Small versions can also be found in the same places. For
more complicated cases, you will have to go to a specialist electronics online supplier like
voltage-converter-transformers.com.
Basic clothing (like t-shirts and underwear) is cheap and easily obtainable in New York, so do
not weigh down your bags with items that you could buy for very little here and take home or
donate. The same applies to products like shampoo and styling products, deodorants and
perfumes.
Health care
The United Nations has a medical service. However, it handles only medical emergencies: it
does not provide medical treatment or medical advice to staff (or interns).
The United States in general, and New York City in particular, is a very high-cost healthcare
environment. Make sure that you carry with you at all times proof of medical insurance, as
anything out of the ordinary – like not having a US health insurance card – has to be
explained. Also make absolutely sure that friends and family have details of this insurance
and know how to make a claim on your behalf.
Emergency treatment
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance. Emergency rooms cannot turn you away, and must give
you treatment.
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Walk-in centres
There are a number of chains of walk-in medical centres. The closest to the United Nations is
the Med-Rite Urgent Care Center at 919 2nd Ave (between 48th and 49th Streets).
Another chain, CityMD, has centres in other locations.
These centres typically have X-ray facilities and can write prescriptions. Expect to pay about
$90 for a consultation. You should be able to claim this back from your insurance company or
national medical plan. The centres are used to dealing with visitors from outside the US, and
can provide statements and invoices.
Doctors and dentists
You can make an appointment with any doctor or dentist who will see you, but be aware that
s/he will be most attuned to patients with standard US insurance. If you have travel or other
emergency assistance insurance, be prepared to be asked for a credit card and to have the
cost refunded by your insurer. The standard full charge for a visit is about $350 (with
standard US health insurance the patient would be liable only for a “co-payment” of about
$15-20).
Medicines
Drugstores sell a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines that in many other places would
be obtainable only from a pharmacy. For prescription medicines, you will have to go to the
pharmacy counter in a drugstore, or to an independent pharmacy. If you take a prescription
medicine, find out whether it is known by a different name in the US (Wikipedia is a good
source of this information).
Glasses and contact lenses
Both glasses and contact lenses are cheaper than in many other countries. For glasses, there
is a Lenscrafters store near the Albano Building at 777 3rd Ave (at 48th St). there are other
smaller chain operators in the area. Contact lenses are more often ordered on line (from
Lenscrafters, a drugstore like Walgreens or a specialist supplier like 1-800-contacts. Contact
lens solutions are easily and cheaply available from all drugstores, including the Duane Reade
store on 2nd Ave on the corner of 46th St.
Safety
TV shows and movies might portray New York as a dangerous or scary place, but reality is
that New York is and has been for a long while one of the top 10 safest cities in the United
States. There may be more beggars and unusual characters in the streets than you are used
to, but violent crime is rare. As in any city, you need to be a bit street-wise and exercise your
common sense. Information, including safety tips, can be found here. The general emergency
number is 911.
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Shopping
Opening hours
Many food stores (supermarkets and convenience stores, known as bodegas), and some
restaurants, are open round the clock, seven days a week. Stores rarely close at 5-5.30p.m.,
and it’s not uncommon for them to remain open until 9p.m. or later, particularly in tourist
areas like Times Square. Very few stores are closed at the weekends (except dry cleaners,
which tend to close on Sundays).
Department stores, chain stores and discounters
The best-known New York City department stores, Macy’s (34th St and 6th Ave) and
Bloomingdale’s (59th St and 3rd Ave), have a tourist discount. To be eligible, you must go first
to their visitor’s bureau (will be clearly marked on the store guide) and show foreign-issued
identification – this can be almost any form of photo ID. You will receive a discount card. At
Macy’s, this is valid for a month. At Bloomingdale’s, only for a day. In both cases, the
discount does not apply to all items. However, it will usually apply to things that are already
discounted in a sale. Other department stores are not well represented in New York City
itself. Exceptions are Lord and Taylor (5th Ave between 38th and 39th Streets ) and JC Penney
(in the Manhattan Mall at 6th Ave and 33rd St). Much more exclusive, but still not averse to
sales, is Saks Fifth Avenue (5th Ave at 50th St).
Sales or discounting periods are not limited to certain times of year (as they are in some parts
of Europe, for example), so almost any time is an excuse for a sale. Always remember to
retain receipts, as exchange and refund policies are extremely generous and liberal,
particularly by European standards.
Chain stores are well represented in the City. To locate them, go to the retailer’s website,,
and look for the “store locator” or “store finder” link. The best-known discounter in the City is
Century 21. Its main store is next to the World Trade Center site, at 22 Cortlandt St. Easier to
navigate is its newer store at Lincoln Center (66th St and Broadway). If what you are looking
for is a traditional shopping mall, you will need to go to the suburbs. One to try is the
Newport Centre mall, above the Pavonia-Newport station in Jersey City, easily reachable by
PATH train.
Outlet malls and villages
The New York area has outlet malls and villages within about an hour of the City. Most are
served by buses leaving from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 8th Ave at 42nd St.
●
Jersey Gardens, New Jersey Transit Bus #111 and #115 from Port Authority
●
Woodbury Common, accessible by bus (Gray Line or Coach USA from Port Authority or
train from Grand Central)
NYC sales tax
NYC sales tax is added to most items except supermarket food and shoes/clothing costing
under $110) – it is not included in the marked price. 8.875% will be added at the register. The
only way to escape it is to shop on line from a retailer with no stores in New York State, or go
to the nearby areas of New Jersey that are in that state’s urban enterprise zone (for example,
Jersey City – sales tax is 3.5%).
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Laundry and dry cleaning
Most apartments do not have laundry facilities. Many will have shared laundry rooms (with
washing machines costing about $2 and dryers about the same to use), but in other instances
the residents will have to use a local laundromat.
Dry cleaning is not very expensive, and there is a dry cleaner on almost every city block. There
is one right next to the Albano Building. Most also do clothing alterations and will wash
clothes for you (known as “wash and fold”) although you have to accumulate about 8
pounds/4 kilos of clothes. All dry cleaners launder and iron shirts for about $2-2.50 each, and
as a result, almost nobody ever washes them at home.
Things to do in New York City
Tour the UN
Free tours of the UN building are usually available for interns. Check with your training officer
for dates and availability.
Free museum days
A list of museums that offer free or discounted entry can be found here
CityPASS
CityPASS combines entry to a number of attractions around the city for a discounted rate,
though a few of these also offer free or discounted entry (see Free museum days above). More
information about CityPASS can be found here
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Annex 1. Map of United Nations buildings
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Annex 2. UN-related fiction and non-fiction
Note that some of these works are critical of the Organization – they do not reflect the views of anyone but
their authors.
NON-FICTION
Shake Hands With the Devil, by Romeo Dallaire
A first-person account of the Rwandan genocide by the head of the UN peacekeeping operation there, a FrenchCanadian military man.
Countenance of Truth by Shirley Hazzard (description from amazon.com)
In this work, Hazzard, who worked at the UN for a decade before achieving literary renown, focuses on a series of
issues arising from the decade-long reign of Kurt Waldheim as Secretary-General. How could an official with a Nazi
past rise to such a post? How could a Secretary-General with a record of extending favors prominently and
outrageously to Soviet interests escape criticism from within the UN?
Defeat of an Ideal: a study of the self-destruction of the United Nations by Shirley Hazzard (description from
amazon.com)
The author said in an interview in The Paris Review, "’Defeat of an Ideal’ was an act of indignation against the
silence surrounding the UN Secretariat's complete surrender to McCarthyism in 1951-55."
Chasing the Flame, by Samantha Power (now the US ambassador to the UN)
This is about the life and death of a leading UN diplomat, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who served, at various times, as
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Head of the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and
High Commissioner for Human Rights and also worked in many capacities in the UN High Commission for
Refugees. He died in a bombing in Baghdad 2003.
From Russian into English, by Lynn Visson
On simultaneous interpretation at the UN, contains a lot of useful terminology.
The UN for Beginners, by Ian Williams
Description from Amazon.com: Thoroughly exploring the role of the U.N. in world events and the true dimensions
of its power, Williams clearly explains the General Assembly and Security Council and examines the leadership of
secretary generals. He discusses the World Bank and UNESCO and traces the U.N.'s mediation attempts in longstanding conflicts such as that between the Arabs and the Israelis.
FICTION
Between, by Christine Brooke-Rose
Comment from goodreads:
This is a brilliant, multilingual British nouveau roman with humor and a satirical view of the world of travel,
conferences, and diplomacy.
Belle du Seigneur, by Albert Cohen
Description from amazon.com: As Under-Secretary-General of the League of Nations, Solal has become
disillusioned with a world dominated by personal and national interest. His one hope for redemption is through
love, and he embarks on the seduction of the beautiful Ariane, wife of the dull-witted Adrien Deume, who works
for Solal.
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Modelo para armar/A Model Kit, by Julio Cortazar
Cortazar, a leading light of Argentinian literature, worked as a translator and interpreter for UNESCO and the UN.
The Ice Wagon Going Down the Street, by Mavis Gallant
In this short story, a former UN employee who has had a somewhat mediocre career sits at breakfast with his wife
as the two of them look back on their international trajectory.
Gallant is one of the most respected and prolific short story writers in recent memory, having published over a
hundred stories in The New Yorker over nearly half a century. This story can be found in her "Collected Stories"
and in "Paris Stories."
People Who Live in Glass Houses, by Shirley Hazzard
A short story collection that draws on Hazzard's years working at the UN.
Corazon tan blanco (A Heart So White) by Javier Marías
Description from amazon.com:
A husband and wife make their living as interpreters, and so it is a gut reflex to be translating the words of others.
One scene involves the deliberate misinterpretation of the remarks of two high level politicians from different
countries. As Marías says: "...the task of the translator or interpreter of speeches and reports is boring in the
extreme, both because of the identical and fundamentally incomprehensible jargon universally used by all
parliamentarians, delegates, ministers, politicians, deputies, ambassadors, experts and representatives of all kinds
from every nation in the world, and because of the unvarying turgid nature of all their speeches, appeals, protests,
harangues and reports." Clearly, Marias has "been there," and so why not a scenario that plays with meanings, just
to liven things up? There is also a scene involving an Australian politician, at an all-English speaking conference,
who demands to be "interpreted," which is particularly funny.
November 2014
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