Translation Exercise: Tía Consuelo

Question

In a Newspaper of my country every day is posted a diferent consultation to a guidence counselor to ask for advises. Can anybody do the best translation for today's post? the counselor is nicknamed "Tia Consuelo"

Tía Consuelo:
La saludo cordialmente,
esperando que esté bien.
Me animé a escribirle para
contarle mi caso, y tam-
bién para pedirle su con-
sejo al respecto. Hace un
tiempo conocí a una chica
que me gustó mucho. Fue
amor a primera vista. Des-
de ese primer día que la
ví me enamoré de ella. El
problema es que nunca le
he hablado. No me he ani-
mado a hacerlo por temor
que me rechace. La verdad
es que no se como hacer
para hablarle. Por favor,
necesito que me ayude y
me diga qué puedo hacer.
Me quedo en espera de su
respuesta, y de antemano
le agradezco su fina aten-
ción. Que Dios la bendiga.
José.

Tomorrow I'll put the answer of Tía Consuelo, Thanks in advance.

I am going to change your title to show that this is a translation exercise. Good idea! - LaBurra, ENE 24, 2010

Answer 1

It would be alot less work for us if you offered up a translation and then we would like to see what you offer for feedback, my friend...

Hi Dana! According to his last sentence, I think he may have posted this for those who'd like translation practice. :-) I could be wrong, though! ;-) - Dee914, ENE 24, 2010

Answer 2

I get a little wrapped up in all the reflexives and pronouns, but I'll take a stab at it:

Aunt Consuelo,

I greet you cordially, hoping you are well. I was encouraged to write about my situation and to ask your advice on the matter. I have known a girl that I like very much for a while. It was love at first sight. From the first day I saw her I've been in love with her. The problem is that we have never talked. I have not felt encouraged to do so for fear that she will reject me. The truth is I don't know how to talk with her. Please, I need you to help me and tell me what to do. I am waiting for your answer and thank you in advance for your time. God bless you.

Jose

Answer 3

I would say something like the following: Aunt Consuelo, I cordially greet you, hoping that you are well. I’m writing to you to tell you about my situation and also to ask for your advice about it. Some time ago I met a girl who I like a lot. It was love at first sight. Ever since that first day that I saw her I’ve been in love with her. The problem is that I've never talked to her. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it for fear that she may reject me. The truth is that I don’t know how to go about talking to her. Please, I need you to help me and tell me what I can do. I await your response and I thank you in advance for your gracious attention. May God bless you. José

"me animé" does not translate well into English. No one would say "I encouraged myself" nor have I heard "I was encouraged to" and if I did I would think that someone else encouraged you. That's why I left it out of that part of the translation all together.

Answer 4

Aunt Consuelo, I cordially greet you hoping that you are well. I was encouraged to write to you and tell you my situation and to ask for advice respectively. Some time ago I met a girl that I like a lot. It was love at first sight. I fell in love with her from that first day I saw her. The problem is that I have never talked to her. I could not bring myself to do it for fear that she may reject me. The truth is I don't what to do to talk to her. Please, I need you to help me and tell me what I can do. I await your response. And I thank you in advance for your fine attention José

Esta es mi mejor traducción, ten en cuenta que no podría ser exacto dado que mi español es basico. - BellaMargarita, ENE 24, 2010