Growing up only knowing one language seemed fine, until my parents made the decision to move to the United States and all of a sudden, I was forced to learn English. It took me only a year until I was able to speak, write, read and understand English, I remember my fifth grade teacher saying how impressed she was that I learned that fast but when you’re surrounded by people who don’t speak or understand your language, there is no choice but to learn their language which is why I’m always wondering why I’ve been my parents' personal translator.
At some points, I was embarrassed to go out with my parents because they couldn’t speak English. The only things they were able to say were “Thank you” and “No English” which never made sense to me. In my head, I always wonder how are they able to go shopping, order food and ask for help finding something or a place when they really don’t understand English. It just didn’t make sense to me.
I was embarrassed to have to translate everything that is said to my parents because they simply don't understand a word of what it's been said to them. Hearing things like "Oh, you speak English? Good we don't need a translator for them," or the time when I had to miss a final because my mom had a court date and they refused to give her a translator, hearing people say things to them that I was too young to understand embarrassed me. Growing up with parent who can't speak English is hard but don't get me wrong because I'm not complaining. Not at all, because going through all of this made me the person that I am today.
Sometimes I get this feeling of frustration because there are some things, some words that I am not able to translate or explain. This summer my dad was working on their garden and he needed a mixture of something and he knew the name for it Spanish but not in English so he came to me and asked me what it was, but I really didn’t know. I went on Google and nothing came out, so the next day we went to Home Depot and tried to find it but we couldn't. The workers there didn’t know what he was talking about and I had to idea either. After we left the store I had this feeling of disappointment for myself because I know he needed my help and even though I tried, I couldn’t help him. That was not the first time something like that happened. There have been situations where I just couldn’t translate what it’s being said. I know it might sound dumb since I am fluent in Spanish but when so much information is being processed sometimes I just forget the words.
It sounds like I have been complaining a lot, but I’m glad I get to experience this on a daily basis. Sometimes when I’m out with my parents and people see me translate for them, I get asked to translate for others and the feeling is so rewarding. Being able to help people like that is something I would never want to change, which is why my major is Spanish. I want to better my Spanish and then become a medical translator in the near future.
To anyone out there who finds themselves on the same position I've been in my whole life, I just have one thing to say, embrace it. Embrace who you are, who your parents are. Never be ashamed of who you are and where you come from. Being able to speak two languages is such an advantage and something to be proud of.
