How we mix are vocabulary by Yolanda Ramos

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How we mix are vocabulary
by Yolanda Ramos

How we mix the vocabulary

I came to this country twenty-eight years ago with my parents, my brother and four sisters. We came from Colombia, South America to my uncle’s house. They had lived in Pennsylvania for fifteen years and I noticed that my younger cousins didn’t speak much Spanish at home and we did not speak English at all. In my country we take English as a second language and we just learn to say hello, how are you, thank you, just the basics so we got kind of worried.

My sisters started to go to school and learn the English very fast and I went with my parents to a school for adults to learn the language. There were people from so many countries, so many languages and cultures, it was amazing. We had never experience that before. It was good to know that we were not the only ones having hard time with the language and adjusting to this country. By the way it’s really hard to get used to this country but it’s worth it, I love it. I thank my uncle and his family for the great opportunity they gave us to come here.

One month later I started to work at a factory because I needed to help my parents so we can start a new life and get independent. At the factory I met a lot of people but especially from Puerto Rico. One day I said something to my coworker from Puerto Rico I don’t remember what but all I know is that she started laughing and I was wondering why. Then she said that I had said something that has a bad meaning for them. From that day on I blocked that word from my vocabulary. After that I was very careful when I was talking but of course it kept happening.

Now that I have kids and my husband is from Puerto Rico. It is hard sometimes to teach them about the different culture because even though we are both Hispanics we both have different cultures. So what they have now is a mix of both.

Not so long ago I met people from Cuba, especially my neighbor. I was talking to her and we both were talking about a fruit tree but how we call it in my country it meant something totally different for her. So I went and show her the tree and we both started laughing about it because how we call the fruit it means something that we should not say. That’s why whenever I need a legal document in Spanish or any kind of paper like advertisement in Spanish or anyone I know I always recommend them to get a translator before they take it to a notary or anything else. For a translator company visit: www.mytranslationproffesionals.com

Author's Biography:

I am a very thankful to God tha always let things happen in order to get better ones. Married to a wonderfull husbandand, two teenagers a son an a daughter.I Got my own home business so I get to spend more time with them.

Posted on: November 8,2007

Email: yolanda_vargas27@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.lafamilia.edcgold.com