Questions to ask your grandma, in English and Spanish
Every question here comes in English and in Spanish, so you can ask Abuela in the language she tells stories in. The Spanish is written the way a grandchild would say it, not run through a translator. Pick five for one visit, and she'll do the rest.
01
Where she grew up
Easy ones first. They bring back everything else.
- What was the town you grew up in like?¿Cómo era el pueblo o el barrio donde creciste?
- What did you eat on a normal day as a girl?¿Qué comías en un día normal cuando eras niña?
- What games did you play with your brothers and sisters?¿A qué jugabas con tus hermanos?
- Which chores were yours?¿Qué quehaceres te tocaban en la casa?
- What do you remember about the day your first TV came home?¿Qué recuerdas del día en que llegó la primera tele a tu casa?
- Who in your house told the best stories?¿Quién contaba las mejores historias en tu casa?
02
When she was young
Ask about the dances. Grandmas always have a dance story.
- Where did you and your friends go on a Sunday?¿A dónde iban tú y tus amigas los domingos?
- What songs did you dance to? Who was your favorite singer?¿Qué canciones bailabas? ¿Quién era tu cantante favorito?
- Which radio show or telenovela did you never miss?¿Qué radionovela o telenovela no te perdías?
- What was the first thing you bought with your own money?¿Qué fue lo primero que compraste con tu propio dinero?
- What did your parents never let you do?¿Qué nunca te dejaban hacer tus papás?
03
Grandpa, and love
Ask how he asked. In Spanish there's a word for it: declararse.
- How did you meet Grandpa?¿Cómo conociste a mi abuelo?
- How did he ask you to be his girlfriend?¿Cómo se te declaró?
- What did your parents say when you brought him home?¿Qué dijeron tus papás cuando se los presentaste?
- What was your wedding day like?¿Cómo fue el día de tu boda?
- What's the secret to staying together so many years?¿Cuál es el secreto para durar tantos años juntos?
04
Leaving, working, getting by
Many grandmas moved a long way. Ask what that was like.
- Did you ever move far from home? What did you take with you?¿Alguna vez te fuiste lejos de tu tierra? ¿Qué te llevaste?
- What was your first job, and how did you get it?¿Cuál fue tu primer trabajo y cómo lo conseguiste?
- What was the hardest year, and what got you through it?¿Cuál fue el año más difícil y qué te ayudó a salir adelante?
- What did you miss first about the place you left?¿Qué fue lo primero que extrañaste del lugar de donde saliste?
- What's the bravest thing you've ever done?¿Qué es lo más valiente que has hecho?
05
When Mom and Dad were little
Your parents' worst moments, from the only person who saw them all.
- What was my mom like as a little girl?¿Cómo era mi mamá de niña?
- What was my dad's favorite kind of trouble?¿Cuál era la travesura favorita de mi papá?
- How did you make dinner stretch for everyone?¿Cómo le hacías para que la comida alcanzara para todos?
- What did you sing to get your babies to sleep?¿Qué les cantabas a tus hijos para dormirlos?
- Which rule from your house should we bring back?¿Qué regla de tu casa volverías a poner?
06
Recipes, sayings and remedies
Have a pen ready. She won't give you exact amounts the first time.
- Which of your recipes should I learn first?¿Qué receta tuya debería aprender primero?
- What's a saying you heard all your life? Who used to say it?¿Qué dicho escuchaste toda tu vida? ¿Quién lo decía?
- What's your remedy for a cold? And for a broken heart?¿Cuál es tu remedio para la gripa? ¿Y para el mal de amores?
- What did your house cook in December?¿Qué se cocinaba en tu casa en diciembre?
- What was the big fiesta in your town, and how did you celebrate it?¿Cuál era la fiesta grande de tu pueblo y cómo se celebraba?
07
Just for fun
Ask these with the cousins around.
- What's the naughtiest thing you ever did?¿Cuál es la peor travesura que hiciste?
- Which grandchild is most like you? I won't tell anyone.¿Cuál de tus nietos se parece más a ti? No le digo a nadie.
- Which fashion from your day should come back?¿Qué moda de tu época debería regresar?
- What do young people today just not get?¿Qué no entienden los jóvenes de hoy?
08
For her birthday
Good ones for the cake, with everyone listening.
- What's the best birthday you've ever had?¿Cuál ha sido tu mejor cumpleaños?
- What makes you happiest these days?¿Qué te hace más feliz estos días?
- What do you still want to do?¿Qué te gustaría hacer todavía?
- What's something about you that would surprise your grandkids?¿Qué cosa de ti sorprendería a tus nietos?
- What advice would you give me today?¿Qué consejo me darías hoy?
Then ask everyone else about her
Your mom, your tíos, the cousins. Their answers are what a book for her is made of.
- What's something Abuela always says?¿Qué frase repite siempre la abuela?
- What's a time with her that still makes you laugh?¿Qué momento con ella todavía te hace reír?
- What have you learned from her?¿Qué te ha enseñado?
How to ask
Ask in her language, even if yours is rusty. Read the Spanish off your phone. She'll probably correct you, and that's a story too.
Let her switch. Half a story in Spanish and half in English is still the whole story.
Ask one, then wait. The good part usually comes after the pause.
Ask about a day, not a decade. "Tell me about the day you got here" gets more than "What was it like back then?"
Cook with her, or bring the photo album. Questions come easier when her hands are busy.
Record it, if she's happy to. Your phone's voice memo app is enough. Ask first, and put the phone face down between you.