In this time and day speaking a language aside from English is important and very beneficial especially in the work force. While speaking two languages can be an amazing thing, it also comes with some difficulties. These difficulties or struggles can only be understood by those of us who speak more than one language. So, for all the bilingual people out there, here goes nothing.
1. When you need a word in one language but the word that pops up in your head is in the other language. “What is that word again for when someone is all up in someone else’s business? I know it’s metiche in Spanish but what is it in English?”
2. When your relatives ask you to translate a song in English to Spanish or your friends want you to translate a Spanish song to English. Do I look like google translate? Please don’t ask me to translate a song, I’m too lazy to translate a 3-minute song, ok.
3. Accidently speaking in the wrong language. I’m so used to my mom screaming out my name that whenever anyone screams out “Michelle!!!” my automatic response is “Mande?!?!”
4. Auto correct!!!!! Auto correct is out to get all of us! Yes, I meant to say “Hey que onda como estas?” No I didn’t mean to say “Hey aue on da comi estaba?” (Whatever that’s supposed to mean.)
5. Everything gets lost in translation. Sayings, jokes, poems, anything and everything changes when it is translated. I promise that joke was extremely funny in Spanish.
6. Oh the sayings! They are outrageous! Have you ever tried saying Spanish sayings in English? No? Here goes nothing.
Camaron que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente
Translation: Shrimp that falls asleep is carried away by the current.
Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres.
Translation: Tell me who you hang out with, and I’ll tell you who you are.
7. You get stuck translating for your parents, teachers, boss, family friends, and neighbor. Free translator here if anyone needs one.
8. You have two different accents. I sound completely different when speaking English and Spanish, the different language makes you sound like a totally different person.
9. You speak a third language, a mixture of the both you already speak. “Hey puedes googlear esto for mi porfavor?”
10. When you spend a long time speaking only one language and start to forget the other one. Please forgive me if my English is a little rusty coming back from summer vacation since I only speak Spanish at home.
11. Speaking two languages can get you out of some annoying situations. Some random person is trying to talk to you? Pull the “Sorry I don’t speak Spanish” or “Lo siento, no hablo Inglés” card.
12. THIS. IS. SO. REAL.
