It doesn't matter whether you were born in Latin America or whether your parents migrated to the United States before you were even born. In fact, it doesn't even matter if you are not Latino at all! The truth is that anyone can relate to the following whether they happen within your own familia or at your Latino friend's home.
1. "Pass me a pot, please. Oh, and can you also check the cake while you're down there?"
Ovens are not only used to bake some delicious tres leches, but they also serve as kitchen cabinets. Think of it like this: we invented double-use furniture!
2. Having trust-issues from a young age.
Cereal inside ice cream containers? Needles inside cookie tins? Yup, we've all been there.
3. "Don't forget to leave the lights on, so they think we're home."
Why would you pay for alarms and surveillance when you can just pay a bit more for electricity?
4. Never refusing to give someone a ride.
Our tendency to care for others often surpasses the limits —literally. It is easy for Latinos to forget about the passenger limit while giving a ride to more than too many friends and family members.
5. Any "fiesta" is actually a family reunion.
Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, baby-showers... you name it! Yeah... You name it and all of your siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles will be knocking at your door!
6. Spanglish es like my third lenguaje.
The most honest answer to "What language do you speak at home?" is "Oh, Spanglish, of course."
7. Pointing at things with our mouths.
Where's the popsicle?
8. The Spanish translation of "panacea" is "vaporu."
9. ...And "not cooking good food" translates to "you'll never get married."
You mean I can't just make waffles for breakfast?! I wonder whether this began as an excuse to make us cook. Just in case, though, I still do a round in the kitchen now and again.
10. Eating way more than you should out of courtesy.
Let me guess, you already ate at home? Don't even bother explaining because we are already serving you the first of two plates.
11. Forgetting about our surroundings when we feel at home.
If it sounds like we are yelling at you, please understand that that's how most of us express our enthusiasm. Also, our laughs only have two volumes: loud and louder.
It's not that easy to leave the country you once called home. Thankfully, we can bring our culture and way of living wherever we go!
