Desperate for help

Question

Hello,
My daughter has been a Rotary exchange student -- living in pachuca Mexico for the past year. I want to get her an Ipod with a spanish inscription.
I want to make sure that the Spanish I use is something she would hear in Mexico .
How do I say?
"Welcome Home Leah
I missed you and love you very much
Mom"

Answer 1

In Spain we hardly ever say "extrañar" like that, but I agree with "amo", although in written solemn Spanish "amar" is not that strange after all.

Regarding the "te he extrañado / te extrañé", in Spain only the first one would be acceptable, and in any language school you'd be told that right away. However, the present perfect tense is barely used in some countries as a standard (even by famous writers), and it cannot be discarded as incorrect, but unfortunately, my knowledge of this tense simplification (or convergence) in some countries is quite sketchy, so I keep my opinion to myself.

Answer 2

Probably a minor point, but isn't it more natural in Spanish to say "Te he extrañado" than "Te extrañé" in this case? I realize that both are correct, but I was taught that the simple past is more common in such cases in English, while the present perfect is more common in Spanish.

Also, I think "Te quiero mucho" would be much more common in this context in Mexico than "Te amo mucho," although, again, both are correct.

Answer 3

Bienvenida a casa, Leah

Again, a comma is missing after "casa".

Answer 4

Bienvenida a casa, Leah
Te extrañé y te amo mucho
Mamá

Just need a comma after "casa" to be correct.

Answer 5

We have several Mexican members, so you might wait for a few more opinions.

My personal opinion is use extrañé and quiero.

Answer 6

Mine is the version from Spain

Answer 7

Thank you giti.... I can order her ipod now!

Answer 8

Thanks Dunia

Answer 9

Thank you motley

Answer 10

I just checked with my Mexican amigo & they use both ways that giti & Dunia answered.

Answer 11

Bienvenida a casa Leah
Te he echado de menos y te quiero mucho
Mamá

Answer 12

My try-

Bienvenida a casa Leah
Te extrañé y te amo mucho
Mamá

Wait for someone to check it.