El ver en vivo y directo la pobreza, los indígenas y la enfermedad los hace reflexionar sobre sus frutas vidas.

Question

I'm unsure on how to translate the start of this sentance - yes it is homework/studying - I would really appreciate your help

El ver en vivo y directo la pobreza, los indígenas y la enfermedad los hace reflexionar sobre sus futuras vidas.

The bits I'm struggling with I have put in italics; My attempts;

The view of life.... ? To reflect on... ?

I would really appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

NB; I have used the translator, which is where I got part of my ideas from, but still unsure on an exact translation.

• Edited again due to me being a silly cookie and typing frutas instead of futuras, lol! XD - Sammy16093 Nov 15, 2009

Answer 1

Here's my attempt, and I doubt I've quite got it...

To see for oneself the poor, the natives, the sick causes one to consider the fruits of one's own life.

Like it's saying, "Have I done anything worthwhile in light of the fact that there is so much suffering in the world, or have I been shallow and served only myself."

Something along those lines I'm thinking.

But, man, if Heidita can't quite figure it out, who can?

• This was before we knew frutas was really futuras :-) - webdunce Nov 15, 2009
• Hehe yeah I figured! XD Well, can't be all bad. Got some people thinking, eh!? :P - Sammy16093 Nov 15, 2009
• geeez, you almost got it web with the mistake and all, woderful!! - Heidita Nov 15, 2009

Answer 2

To honor Heidita's request...

sobre sus futuras vidas = about their future

Literally, it means "about their future lives," but this sounds like a reference to Hindu-type belief, which I don't think was the author's intent.

Answer 3

Can you give me a little more context? What is it you are reading? Maybe a slice of the paragraph this sentence is from.

Answer 4

HI sammy, there must be a mistake here:

sus frutas vidas.

Did you copy that correctly?

El ver en vivo y directo la pobreza,

Your attempt is in view of life....hmmm

to see poverty in real life,,,,in view of life...I don't know if the last part can be said in English, I am not familiar with this sentence.

Answer 5

Hmm, I can't really give you a paragraph from what it's from. It's in my vocabulary booklet for school, studying a Film called "The Motorcycle Diaries" and it's a sentence from that.

And haha, I just realized Heidita, I did spell it incorrectly, it's meant to be 'sobre sus futuras vidas' I guess doing all this homework got to my eyes! Sorry about that hehe.

• Well, that certainly changes things. - webdunce Nov 15, 2009
• I believe sobre sus futuras vidas = about their future - webdunce Nov 15, 2009
• By the way, "sus futuras vidas" literally means "their future lives," but in English that would be about some bhuddist-like belief which I don't think was the intent. - webdunce Nov 15, 2009
• you are again right,. web, post that in messages!! - Heidita Nov 15, 2009