Daniela Rico

Living Life in Two Different Languages:

Yo me llamo Daniela, and I am bilingual. People often tell me that they envy the fact that I can speak Spanish fluently because it puts me one step ahead in life, especially down the road when applying to jobs. It also fascinates everyone when they hear I can think and dream in both languages depending on the situation and my environment. While all these things are true, none of them compare to the biggest perk of all— I have the ability to talk about people right in front of them without them understanding a single word. How many times have you spotted a Channing Tatum doppelgänger out in public and wanted to tell your buddy to check him out, but unfortunately, you couldn’t because you fear that that person might hear you. Well, I don’t have that problem. I can simply otter a few words to my Spanish-speaking friend (which is almost always my mother), and they’ll be able to enjoy the view. Now before you and your buddy go learn another language, know that there are a few limitations to this method of communication. We are currently living among millions of immigrants, me being one of them, who speak all kinds of different languages. That means, it's very likely that this Channing Tatum doppelgänger hanging out by the fruit section in the super market speaks Spanish, and he understood every word of your conversation—including the part where you said he had a cute butt. Speaking from experience, be aware of your surroundings and be careful what you say because you never know when someone will turn around and say “Gracias por el cumplido!”