You know you are Latino/a when_____?

Ever do something that feels so normal to you, but to others it may just seem odd? Well, it just may be that you are doing something from your culture that only you would know about. Of course, this is not a bad thing, but rather, culture is around us every day and is what makes people unique and different and we have to embrace it in order to live in this ever changing world that we live in today.

So what makes culture so unique? It is because each culture has their own language, their own puns, if you will that only they will understand. Ever heard of the phrase, “You know you are_____ when?” Well, here are some Latino/a versions of that phrase right from ordinary people just like you.

Raul Santana from Bronx, NY—You know you are Latino when “the novellas come on, and you’re told to be quiet, have an irrational fear of wooden spoons, have more the 3 religious icons in your house, you think words sound better in Spanish and use a piñata at every holiday.”

Telma Gomez from Houston, TX—You know you are Latina when, “you know the meaning of “chancleta” or “el cinturón” but, more importantly, you know their implications.”

Anthony Rosa Bayonne, NJ—You know you are Latino when “even in the summer you wear socks with flip flops.”

Maria Ferrer Queens, NY—You know you are Latina when, “I can recite the menu for every Holiday party I’ll attend this season– pernil, arroz con gandules, pasteles y flan de quezo! Everybody makes the same thing and nobody minds!”

Manuel Melendez Sunnyside, NY—You know you are Latino when “family beach outings begin early in the morning by taking the subway with a shopping cart filled with pots of rice and beans, maybe a pernil and carne guisada!”

Judy Hernandez New Brunswick, NJ—You know you are Latina when “you take your Christmas tree down after Three Kings Day.”

As stated earlier, the world is becoming bicultural and the mixing of cultures is becoming more and more popular. Seeing different cultures mix only enriches a person and educates them about that culture beyond the textbook. It is about opening up to the world and seeing that even though we may be different, we still have ways about ourselves, the puns above, that are unique to every culture.

Tell us how you would finish the phrase (of course being appropriate), either on our Facebook wall or Tweet us @latintrends2010 and #IamLatinTRENDing.