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Views #759 | Low-Intermediate 4

Little Sister

Lupe talks about the advantages and disadvantages of having many siblings.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Lupe	Kara

Kara: So, you mentioned there's a large gap between the oldest and you being towards the youngest. What do you think the differences growing up were between your life and their life and what were the advantages and disadvantages?

Lupe: Well, I think for the most part, it was a great advantage to be one of the younger ones. I'm the second youngest, so having ten, you know, ten siblings, ten older than me definitely helped be growing up because I always had a lot of people to look up to and, you know, telling me right from wrong, which was always a great help. Financially, it was the biggest advantage because, you know, I hear stories from my older siblings about them growing up because they didn't have a lot of resources and financially my family wasn't very stable so as they got older, I started working and helping out with, you know, all the expenses. It really helped us little ones to really be, you know, grow up in a better way and have all the things that maybe they didn't. And also, one of the biggest advantages was that once the older, my older siblings started working, making enough money, you know, they raised enough money to move here to the United States, and bring the rest of us here and we had the great advantage of going to school here in the United States and being able to learn another language, educate ourselves, continue to go onto college, which is something that my older siblings didn't have, so I'm very grateful for that. I think the only disadvantage of being one of the younger ones is a lot of the traditions that were being passed in our family from generations didn't quite make it to us when we moved here to the United States. We weren't able to do many of the things my older siblings got to do when they lived in Mexico, but you know I really can't complain because we have a lot of other things that they didn't have when they were little.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

people to look up to

I always had a lot of people to look up to who could tell me right from wrong.

When you have 'people to look up to,' it means that you have people in you life who you consider to be a good influence and who inspire you.

Notice the following:

There are lots of people to look up to in the sports world.
I think young people need people to look up to in life.

raise money

They raised enough money to move here to the United States.

When you 'raise money,' it means that you collect money in order to put towards doing something special.

Notice the following:

I need to make sure that I raise enough money to pay for my college fees.
He said that he has raised enough money to pay for his driving lessons.

resources

They didn't have a lot of resources and financially my family wasn't very stable.

Here, 'resources' refers mostly to money or something that can be used to help a person get what she wants or needs.

Notice the following:

I have a lot of resources that I can use to help me to get ahead in my career.
The town did not have a lot of resources and they were quite poor.

didn't quite make it

A lot of the traditions that were being passed in our family from generations didn't quite make it to us when we moved here to the United States.

'Didn't quite make it' means that for one reason or another a tradition in Mexico did not arrive to them, because they were living in the United States.

Notice the following:

I didn't quite make it to the bus on time, and I was late for work.
He said that he didn't quite make it.

I can't complain

I really can't complain because we have a lot of other things that they didn't have when they were little.

'I can't complain' means that things are generally good, so there is no reason for dissatisfaction.

Notice the following:

I have good life really, so I can't complain.
She said that she could not complain, as she was very happy with her new house.

Vocabulary Quiz

point • get-togethers • hang out
my thing • pocket

Expensive clothes make you look nice, but they can really hurt your .
My friends and I try to have at least once a month.
We at this bar almost every Saturday night.
I like living alone, because it lets me do .
At one during the vacation, I seriously thought about quitting my job and moving to the beach.