GrowingOlderHopeWiser

Daily writing prompt

Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

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I speak, read, and write English and Spanish, but I think in English. Understanding both languages has helped me in my career as a pediatric nurse. Most of my clients have been Latinos, and it is very important to communicate with them and help them communicate with the doctors, as I often accompany them to their medical appointments. 

Both of these languages have roots that have helped me understand; in the case of my Spanish, I can understand Italian, Latin, and a little bit of Portuguese. The Germanic roots of English have helped me catch the gist of German. 

I appreciate the beauty of understanding a poem or story written in Spanish and the richness of English-language poems.

There is even a difference between the Spanish I speak and the Spanish I understand. I speak Colombian Spanish and understand Cuban Spanish. Now, translating my English thoughts into Spanish is sometimes a struggle to find the right words, but I can easily translate Spanish into English.

Interestingly, jokes do not translate well between English and Spanish, but it is great to enjoy them in both languages.