I was inspired by the Buzzfeed video, "What It's Like When Your Parents Speak Broken English." This video was so relatable because I have spent my whole life as, and still am, the one person my mom relies on for so much because she speaks broken English. I too would like to answer the questions and just give some recognition to my personal hero.
"Regarding your parents' broken English, what is your most memorable moment?"
I have always had to be a translator for my mom, whether it was during parent-teacher conferences or going into appointments, reading mail or filling out papers. But the most memorable time is when we ordered food. First of all, if there are no pictures on the menu, then I have to go and read everything on the menu, which happened to be the case at this Americanized Asian place. Even after telling her what was in the dishes, we never really know if they look or taste good just by the ingredients. So when she was finally able to choose something to eat, we talked (in Spanish of course) waiting for our food. When the food came out it was not what my mother expected and she demanded to get something else. The waitress went to go get her manager and when the manager came out they didn't understand what my mother was saying in her complaint. All I remember is that the conversation between both of them got extremely heated, resulting in me translating for my mother, telling her what the manager was saying and telling the manager what she was saying. As a child, hearing my mother talk like that was a shock and hearing them both curse was a bit scary, seeing as threats were being made. I look back at it and laugh because of my mother; although not many are accustomed to hearing her version of communication, she gets her point across with her very strong persona.
"What makes learning English hard for your parents?"
From all the time I've been with my mother and heard her story, she learned all her English on the streets. She has had a hard life and has been constantly working ever since a young age. Education was never a priority for herself because her main focus growing up was surviving and working to get money. With her upbringing and background, education was a privilege that she was never able to have, and so since living in the States, she has only spent her time working. When trying to survive, to make enough money for a place to live, your next meal and to send back to your country to support your family, there is no time or money to spend on learning English. How is she going to learn English, when she hasn't had the opportunity to learn Spanish?
"What's it like being your parent's translator?"
When I was younger, I was more influenced by people's reactions. There were people who questioned why my mom doesn't learn English, and having to translate the disrespect that we would encounter made it so hard for me, because my mother is so strong and so intelligent, but this one thing tore her down and made her feel as though she isn't smart. There were other people who praised me for being my mother's helper, and how important I must be for her, but I have to remember that my mother had a life before me, so although I do make things easier for her, I shouldn't take advantage or complain about having to do it.
"How does it feel to grow up with parents that struggle with English?"
I've only really had to translate for my mother because my father hasn't been in the picture since I was three. Growing up, and I am ashamed to say this, there was a time I got fed up because I had to read all of the bills. I had to talk on the phone to set things up or ask questions she had. I had to grow up quicker in a way because of this. We watched movies that were dubbed in Spanish, because she couldn't read the Spanish subtitles. I was raised as Spanish being my first and more dominant language, but as English has become more dominant as I've grown up, I am able to help my mother more. I have become less ashamed and more proud.
"Why do you translate for your parents?"
It is the least I can do for my mother, when she has given me so much more than what I deserve. All of my blessings have been through her hard work and constant sacrifice so that I can have a better future than what she ever had. I will do this and so much more for her because she deserves the world when I can only give her this little bit.
"How do you feel about your parents now?"
I am upset that it took me so long to understand this, but my mother is my hero. I know that everything she does "es para tu bien" (for my own good). I am so proud of her, I admire her and I wouldn't want to change anything about her or her "broken English." I feel that without this, my relationship with my mother wouldn't be what it is today.
If you liked this article, you might also like to read these pieces by Trevor Lee and Charissa Fajardo.
