I'm 100 percent Italian and proud. There are just so many little qualities that I don't realize I have until someone points them out to me and there are so many times people have said to me, "Oh yeah, forgot you were Italian" when I say I'm eating dinner at 4 PM, or if I say a phrase that no one has heard of before. But what can I say? I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

1. Pronouncing things differently than everyone else

I realized there are some things I pronounce weird, like "calamari" or "mozzarella" because I grew up hearing my family say the "slang" terms like "gala-maad" or "moot-za-del." A lot of my friends have made fun of me for this so now I try to avoid these words at all costs. If you want to see me struggle, try to get me to say "mozzarella" and I'll hesitate.

2. Very animated family conversations

This is probably the most stereotyped trait of Italians, but it's true. Hands are an important aspect of all Italian discussions.There is definitely a lot of waving of the hands. What do people do with their hands during conversation when they aren't using them to convey their message? Having a conversation can definitely be an arm workout sometimes.

3. Pasta is an appetizer for holiday meals

If it's not Sunday dinner, pasta is either a side dish or an appetizer in my house. On Thanksgiving, ravioli is the appetizer. On Christmas Day, a tray of lasagna is a necessity before the main dish. Sometimes, pasta is on the side of a chicken dish or a steak dish.

4. Family dinner is at 4 PM

Dinner is always super early. Except on holidays when dinner is at 1 PM and we are finished eating dinner and dessert before the sun even begins to set. When going out to eat with my family (which is very rare, because home-cooked meals are golden), I'm catching the early-bird special. I know that whenever I'm leaving my holiday celebration, all my friends are just starting theirs.

5. Your family members are your best friends

Whether you have a huge family or a small one, family is everything. There isn't much you can't tell them and there isn't much they won't tell you. No matter what, they'll always have your back.