[missxmoody]

So I would assume that most of us were born to immigrant parents and some of us have parents who although can converse in English still need our help. I've never had a problem with that... but, does anyone else have huge problems trying to explain to your parents what you're exactly doing with your life in their native language? Be it your job or college major or any other decision in life?

I've had huge problems with this ever since I started undergrad and once again as I start grad school. I had so much fun trying to explain to my parents, in Cantonese, what exactly Labor Studies was and why I wasn't going to graduate school for my major in undergrad, Political Science. I was just like .. "workers.. ummmmmmmmmm.. i don't know, working people." ... I just get so confused and frustrated trying to figure out how to explain it in Cantonese that I just give up.

There's so many other things about me that my parents are still waiting for me to explain to them.

So total lost in translation. I love my parents though.

[madeinktown]

i can relate 100%. my parents always come to me, asking me for help trying to explain what the mail says and what it's about. i forgot most of my korean already and it's hard to wanna explain what's written and what it means. at the same time, i'm terrible at comprehension, so even if i could read it, i have a hard time figuring out what it could mean as well.

[gummybummy]

I know exactly what you mean, I really don't think my parents know what I actually studied in Uni. It is a cross between technology and business, so they are asking if I will end up in IT or business. It is difficult to explain because words get lost in translation and being the typically Asian parents, you are suppose to study to become a certain profession like lawyer, doctor, nurse etc... It is frustrating, ha sometimes I don't even know how to fully explain my major to my friends, imagine trying to do it to my parents

But I guess we just have to try to do our best in explaining, so they are aware of what it is we actually are doing, but yeah, it can be hard sometimes.

[boka]

If there was one thing in my life that I could change, it'd be my inability to communicate effectively with my parents.

I can understand your frustration - communication has always been a bit of a one-way street with my parents as I can understand their preferred language whereas they have difficulty understanding mine. Whenever we had conversations or arguments and I felt I needed to explain something to them, I'd have major difficulties getting complex ideas across and they'd just ignore me if I switched to English. What made it worse was the fact that they both had hellish tempers.

[questions987]

I haven't had this issue so much as my parents raised me to be fluent but my older sister - who happens to be an immigrant but for some odd reason doesn't speak the language as well as I do has issues.

She wanted spring rolls the other day at lunch with my mom - she called it the roll thing the thing the roll and roll mom.

I kinda sat there and laughed for a good 15 minutes that my big sister knwos less Vietnamese then I do. However, she speaks Spanish fluently.

[HERMIT]

All I can say is thank god for texting, post it notes, and refrigerator magnets.

[notoriousbea]

I am with you on that 100%. So many times I want to fully express myself to my parents but there is such a language barrier that I say what I can say, but can't fully express myself as much as I really want to... if that makes any sense. Like for instance, my major- Family Studies. They cannot register why I want to become a Family Life Educator/counselor instead of doing something in the medical field and it's so hard to explain to them my passion. Even my JOB right now as an optician, they don't understand why or what exactly I do.

And then going to school, how universities work, money, and just... life in general. It's so difficult to explain to them. =(

[Pogichinoy]

I was born overseas but grew up as an immigrant in the land of the Aussies. Parents are fluent in English but only understand that in terms of education, accounting, law, medicine, engineering, architecture, etc. are the only suitable courses to enrol in.

Explaining my life with them is difficult as the generation gap is there. They believe that working hard now and enjoying later is the best course of action, even though they tell me stories of themselves having a blast when they were younger.

>_>

Saving each dollar and not spending a cent? That's an Asian thing.

[Laxntiga]

My parents know whats up. I think they just play dumb because they expect more out of me. They always ask "whats next?" so its hard to keep their claws out of my back. I swear.... they never ask me whats next when I work for them.... Can't deal with this free labor anymore.

[PaNgIeE]

I used to think my parents don't understand me and that there's this communication barrier, but I've learned to realize that they know more than I thought. Somehow parents know what you're saying and what's going on. They just don't say it to you that they know it. You know they haven't change, we have. We just live in different times and evolve differently so the communication seem harder, but I really think it isn't. Just different surroundings and environment, but same in aspect. The sad part is though is that with each generation we tend to lose sight of knowing our own language, culture, and traditions.

[libratiger2004]

I think this is why my parents & I don't get along...plus me being impatient. My Korean is less than kindergarden level & my parents know only a drop of English. When I try to explain something to them in Korean, they usually don't understand, so I give up & say "don't worry about it." They get upset because they think I'm hiding something & shutting them out. I want to tell them everything that's going on with my life, but it's just easier to say "don't worry about it" than struggling for hours trying to talk.

[Dh135]

I have some difficulties, but certainly not as much as many of my friends. I speak Cantonese (mother tongue) quite frequently at home so I'm okay with the language, but I still struggle a little. My Chinese has improved over the years from TV shows and whatnot, so it's getting easier. However, when I was still in grade 8.. I struggled explaining my situation to my parents a lot. They thought I was retarded or something.. =___=

[sophia4ever]

I find it hard to explain things with professional terms to them, since my chinese is only efficient to the 6th grade level. its really frustrating ending my sentences with um...you know.. yeah.. when i try to explain their bills or some other random things.

[silver-typhoon]

Gods... I hate it when relatives ask me what I'm doing in university "Molecular Genetics" I say.... and they go HUH? What's that in Chinese? --> Results in a complete loss of communication.

[alexandra1234]

Lol, I have a huge problem conversing with my parent. My Vietnamese is only to 1st grade level, so when it comes to term related to "meeting", "organization", I'm stumpped.