(Somewhat) lost in translation

Over the past 2 nights we've had some great, broken dinner conversations. Helmito translates what he can of his parents questions. I say basic stuff in Spanish. Parents throw in the occasional English word. Here's what maybe sort of was communicated:

1. Lena facts

- first name, last name, age, only child, college stuff, parents' names, parents' jobs, vegetarian

- dad is not an avocado (aguacate) but a lawyer (abogado)

2. Barack Obama

- everyone wants to know (Helmy and my Spanish teacher) if I like him

- Helmito read a book about him in school

- Helmy does not like the current president, Manuel Zelaya, because he's from the liberal party and Helmy's in the national party

3. Family facts

- Lisseth, mom, dentist

- Helmy, dad, running for mayor

- Helmito, 4th grade, good at English, "used to have a girlfriend in the past"

- Diego, 7 months old

4. New York and Cleveland

- they knew where Cleveland was (!)

- (they knew where New York was)

- Helmy wanted to know if there were a lot of Latinos in New York