Linda Solis says it's all a matter of interpretation.

At least, that describes her work day. Se habla Espanol? Si. Se habla Ingles? Si.

Solis is fluent in both languages.

She began her work for Mower County in April as a part-time employee. County officials said she was so good and so needed that her position was increased to a full-time job by the Mower County Board of Commissioners in August.

"I like helping people," Solis said. "I think it is one of my best assets."

She works under the supervision of Nitaya Jandragholica, Mower County's first-ever cultural diversity programming coordinator and a certified court interpreter. Solis will soon take the test for court certification as an interpreter.

The pair share street-level office space near the northeast exit from the Mower County Courthouse.

Solis divides her workday between the Mower County Department of Human Services and the government center.

A native of California, Solis has an extensive background in government employment. She has worked as a certified administrative legal secretary as well as an administrative secretary in both city and county government in California.

She moved to Austin in 1999 and worked for Quality Pork Processors, Inc. briefly on a production line and then as a quality control technician.

Her husband, Paolo, is disabled and homebound. A daughter, Mimi, lives at home, where she cares for her child.

Solis divides her work week at the DHS headquarters along North Main Street and the downtown office she shares with Jandragholica.

"At the DHS, I am called upon to interpret for many different programs," she said. "They could include social services, financial services, WIC, nursing and others. The caseworkers will make an appointment, when I must see a client, who needed help interpreting forms. I also go to the Work Force Center to help interpret there," she said.

When she is downtown, her work involves interpreting for clients of the Mower County Department of Correctional Services as well as suspects arrested by the Austin Police Department and Mower County Sheriff's Office, as well as defendants in court cases.

"(Thursday), the Austin Police Department needed my interpreting services from 2 to 3:30 p.m.," she said after first checking a journal of her work day on the computer screen. "They wanted me to assist with the questioning of three people. Most of the time, I will interpret at the law enforcement center, but sometimes I will have to go to the jail to do that."

Solis will also accompany a DHS caseworker to a residence for an at-home interview or join a detective visiting a home to gain information.

Solis' father is from Mexico and her mother is from California.

"Only Spanish was spoken in our home when I was growing up," she said. "My father wouldn't allow anything but Spanish to be spoken there."

English was learned outside the home and mainly in school. Today, her fluency in both languages allows Solis the latitude to understand two cultures and to explain to the best of her abilities what those two very different ethnicities are saying to each other.

"There are no serious difficulties," she said. "Both languages have large vocabularies and most of the words translate."

When she relaxes, Solis enjoys fitness sessions at the Austin YMCA or her dog and friend, Marley, after a famous reggae singer.

"People say I am serious. They said that about me when I was at Quality Pork Processors and they say it about me now," she said. "When people get to know me, they learn differently. But, I'll admit, I'm a workaholic only during the work day. When I'm done, I like to relax and have fun."

Among her extra duties is training Hispanics who participate in the Mower County DOC's Driver's License Program. "If they (non-English speaking adults) learn how to get a driver's license and keep it and that they must insure their vehicles, that can only help all of us," she said.

Her work takes her into many different people's lives. It can be demanding and stressful, but always there are the rewards of helping those in need.

"Mower County is a very good place to work," she said. "Everyone has been nice to me and I like my work very much."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com