Posts by Carla:
- Si Voy A Perderte by Gloria Estefan
- Nuestro Dia Viene Llegando by Willie Chirino We did a dance number to this song when I was in dance school. Being from a large Cuban community, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house and I remember being able to feel the weight of everyone’s emotion. It gets me everytime.
- Ese Honbre by La India In high school, this was the ultimate female bonding song, think the Latina version of “I Will Survive”.
- Esa Nina by Jerry Rivera
- Tiempo de Vals by Chayanne The official quince anthem the year my friends and I celebrated our passage into womanhood.
- Bachata Rosa by Juan Luis Guerra
- Quimbara by Celia Cruz I’m a fierce party of one if you play this one!
- El Africano by Wilfrido Vargas The version I’ve linked to here is not the one I grew up with; the one I remember I believe was sung by a woman so if you can shed any light on the matter let me know in the comments.
- Vivir Lo Nuestro by Marc Anthony and La India
- Lluvia by Eddie Santiago
- Lo Que Esta Pa’ Ti by Willy Chirino
- Ex-Real World participant Rachel Campos-Duffy
- Leann Rimes loving Eddie Cibrian
- Lawrence Fishburn’s wife, Gina Torres
- Actress and singer Christina Milian
- Fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez
- Our family’s summer is filled with birthdays so this season is filled with many celebrations and lots of singing. This post might have us singing a new song.
Mira, Mira: Dora, Salma and Veggie Cuban
March 5th, 2010
It is happy Hurry Up Spring Friday. Hope you are someplace warm today.
It is Women’s History Month. Let’s start off with a little inspiration: “There is no social-change fairy. There is only change made by the hands of individuals.” – Winona LaDuke.
Here are some ideas for celebrating and honoring the women who have touched your life, and inspiring young women in your life.
Dora has a Happy Birthday
Dora the Explorer turns 10 this year and Nickelodeon plans to celebrate by launching a campaign to help prepare children for school. The celebration launch happened this past week with Salma Hayek Pinault reading a Dora storybook to young children.
Que corazon, esa Salma. The official site, dora beyond the backpack.com, launches next month.
Speaking of reading
Read to your nenes, por favor
Lee y Serás, an early literacy program created by Scholastic. It includes a curriculum for families and child care providers, with plenty of free tips and ideas for creating strong readers and writers.
The site is in both Spanish and English and reminds us to do everything from reading before bed, to visiting the library to storytelling with parents and family. You can can find tips for mixing education into everyday moments.
At the site, if you click on the contents section and head to “Story Time” you’ll find the Spanish and English versions of two great children’s books, Mice and Beans and The Night Eater and you can click “Where we Are” and find free workshops in several U.S. cities.
Why does this matter? Only 14% of Latino fourth graders can read at, or above, basic or advanced grade levels, according to stats the site quotes.
That’s just not right, gente. And, given the projected growth of Hispanics in America, getting Latino children to read — and comprehend — is vital to community well-being and the country’s vitality.
Stuck inside? Organize.
It has been a very long winter, si? Cooped up and feeling cramped with all the cosas in the casa? Good tips from Cristina Acosta at Latina Style.
And now, some fun and food
From the Miami Herald: “Christina Gomez-Pina declared her intention: ”I’m going to tackle Nitza Villapol’s Cocina al Minuto — yes, the Cuban Julia Child’s guide to Cuban cooking — from cover to cover.”
Villapol was the Cuban Betty Crocker, a longtime television personality and the author of the timeless 1951 classic, Cocina al Minuto (”Instant Cooking”).
You can follow Christina’s Julie & Julia-like experiment at the Moms Miami site. Be sure to look at the Pescado en salsa verde recipe.
If you’re willing to give up some meat, try visiting Vegetarian Times, which has a spicy sancocho recipe we’re trying around here this week. Or, if you want to make Nitza poke you from beyond, try this meatless Cuban pressed sandwich.
Blood Orange Caramels with Toasted Almonds and Sea Salt. Oh, si. Did you just fall out of your chair? Visit the supremely talented MattBites for the recipe and for some drooling. (At least reading isn’t calories.)
Happy weekend and feel free to share what you’re reading this week.
Baila, Baila
September 22nd, 2009 
Dancing is one of those things that makes me feel alive; I’ve been doing it since I can remember. It’s a huge piece of who I am and a crucial part of my identity.
At my wedding, my mother-in-law raved about what great dancers all my family and friends were. She asked me how we all learned to do our fancy footwork. It was a good question because I’m pretty sure none of us ever had a formal lesson. I told her it’s just something you pick up because you see it around you all the time. It’s akin to how children learn to walk; they see grown-ups doing it and imitate their steps. The same with dance – you spend so many hours immersed in a culture that loves to dance so inevitably you learn just the right way to sway your hips.
When my oldest daughter was born, my mother-in-law asked me how I would teach my children to dance if they weren’t growing up in a culture similar to the one I had in my youth. Her simple question went right to the heart of me. Next to learning the Spanish language, I believe dancing is an essential way to connect with your culture. As a kid, I enjoyed dancing at family gatherings, quinces, birthday parties, holiday celebrations – anytime you got even a handful of folks together, you would eventually end up dancing.
I’ve been trying my best to dance on a regular basis. Right now, at 26 months of age, it’s a whole lot of hip shaking and arm flapping which is fine by me. We’ve all got to start somewhere, right? If you’ve got any advice on how to get my girls to salsa and merengue their way through their childhood and into adulthood, please share!
What’s Your Soundtrack?
September 15th, 2009 
Photo by Jennifrog
Living in New England, I sometimes feel disconnected from the vibrant Latino community I grew up around. However, with today marking the official start of Hispanic Heritage Month I know it will be easy to find celebrations of our beautiful culture – on TV, around town at local businesses and festivals, on the radio. It’s a whole month where I know I might find a bit of home around any given corner.
Even though we only “officially” get one month to celebrate our culture, I make it a point to celebrate my heritage as often as possible. Music is my favorite way to feel the island blood flowing through my veins and a little closer to home. Most days any salsa or merengue CD will put a smile on my face and a bit of diva in my hips. But there are days that require a bit more than just any old tune. Over the years I’ve created my own little soundtrack that puts me en mi propia isla. A soundtrack of favorites from years spent celebrating at quinces, weddings and just because; a soundtrack lleno de sabor.
Here is a glimpse at my island soundtrack. I’d love to learn what songs connect you to your roots. Virtual dance party anyone?
Now it’s your turn; let’s get this party started!
Gloria, Gloria
September 1st, 2009 
Gloria Estefan is a hero in our house and for nothing more than being Cuban and famous. Growing up, my mami always gave me updates on Gloria’s life, her music career, her family, gossip. And yes, we referred to her as Gloria as if we had a very personal, I know you in real life type relationship (we do not, in fact, know her at all).
My mami was overjoyed when she had children. She was distraught when she had her bus accident. She followed her recovery every step of the way. My mami even knows Gloria’s life story from her life in Cuban to her journey to the United States. My mami loves Gloria. I thought my mami was a bit batty to be so obsessed with Gloria but now that I’m older I get why she loves her so.
I find myself following somewhat in my mami’s footsteps. Like mami, I search out famous Cubanos to support. You could be a terrible actor or awful singer but if you’re Cuban I’m going to check out your work. It’s much like my love for really bad Latino entertainment solely for the sake of showing support. My husband, like usual, thinks I’m nuts. Like the time we were watching Jennifer Lopez’s Shall We Dance and I got excited about Bobby Cannavale, a Cubanito born in my own little Union City, New Jersey.
In case you’re like me, here’s a little round up of my favorite bet-you-didn’t-know-they-were-Cuban Cubans.
I’ve got a motherload of a list going, this is just a small sampling. Are you as obsessive as my mami about supporting your famous country men and women? I love to support all Latino artists not just the Cubanos so I’d love for you to share some less well known Latino celebrities. I may not talk about on a first name basis but I’ll be their cheerleader nonetheless.
Like A Prayer
August 24th, 2009 
Photo courtesy of Mariana Mansur
When my husband and I first started dating in college, he and his best friend made a road trip to visit me over the holiday break. On their first day in New Jersey, I brought them with me to pick up my friend who was at her boyfriend’s parents’ shop. I didn’t think anything of it until we were in the store and my boyfriend and his friend were staring around the shop wide eyed like deer in headlights. See my girlfriend’s boyfriend’s parents owned a botanica which to me was commonplace in my hometown where you can find one as easily as a Dunkin’ Donuts in New England. But to them it was equivalent to visiting a witch doctor.
That’s only one of many instances where I’ve been a bit naive. See I always though what was normal in my house or neighborhood was what was taking place everywhere else. I thought everyone poured a bucket of holy water and flower petals over themselves every once in a blue moon. I thought everyone stayed up until midnight to light candles for La Virgen de la Caridad and Santa Barbara. I thought everyone had giant shrines to them in their homes. I thought it was normal to side step a cracked coconut on a street corner (I once told my husband not to step on a coconut lying in the street of his suburban New England town and he looked at me like I had two heads!).
My parents never have talked to me about the religious and spiritual practices of our family or some of the interesting ongoings of my childhood hometown; it’s just what is. I learned one day, though, I’m not alone. One day in high school a group of friends were chatting into the wee hours and the conversation drifted to odd family practices. Little by little we each shared some unique bits we’d never shared with anyone before. One kid told us of an exorcism like ritual involving eggs and potions and chanting which his parents performed to rid him of a high fever when he was just a child. Another told us of magic words and sweet offerings made by her mother. Another shared his mom’s promise to a saint to never dye her hair again if cured of a certain disease. We found comfort in one another that night knowing everyone had some weird things going on at home.
I’m not very religious but consider my self very spiritual. I believe in the sacred and the power of ritual; I’m very much still figuring it all out and what it means to me. I haven’t held onto all the practices of my youth, though I do feel inclined to light a candle here and there. Even though I don’t do all the things my parents did, I’m grateful for the exposure and experience because it made a believer out of me. A respectful believer in the mystical and unseen, in spirits and the dead. I worry how I’ll impart the same sense of wonder and belief in my girls without a strong foothold in either a specific religion or spiritual practice. I’m on a fast track with these girls of mine to figure things out.
Can you relate to discovering your family’s spiritual practices aren’t exactly mainstream? Do you still hold on to any of those practices or have you ventured to your own religious and spiritual choices?
Embarrassing Translations
August 17th, 2009 
I consider myself bilingual, but I do admit to not having full command of the Spanish language. My parents don’t speak English so Spanish was the language of my childhood. However, as I got older and spent more time outside the home, English became my language of choice. I still speak Spanish regularly, especially with my two daughters, but I am very much aware that my vocabulary is lacking. There are some words and concepts my parents just never shared with me. I have to admit, though, my Cuban pride has on several occasions made me a little too confident and led to many embarrassing moments.
For example, the time I told my parents a friend of mine had tripped and fallen, making her school uniform skirt go flying up and revealing her underpants for all to see. I told them how she ran into her car “embarazada.” Or the time I tried to make play dough from scratch and had to ask my mami, the least baking inclined person I know, for “flor.” (Flower versus flour.) Both instances resulted in lots of explaining on my part and laughter on my parents side of things.
The worst ever was when I worked at a local pharmacy. It was a summer job where I sat at the register reading murder-mysteries and waiting for the locals to come pick up their prescriptions and some vee-va-po-roo. One day while enjoying my latest paperback, a middle-aged guy came up to the register. Hands in his pocket, he said hello and sheepishly asked, “Donde tienen los preservativos?” Hmm, I thought to myself. Preservatives? Oh, no he must mean preserves like peanut butter and jelly preserves. Don’t ask what led me to this line of thinking but it’s how my mind works sometimes. To be sure, I asked him again what he was looking for. He repeated himself and I set off to rummage the shelves. I couldn’t remember ever stocking jelly on the shelves but being a Latino pharmacy, I figured it was worth a look. He followed me as I searched the shelves and again, I said, “Preservativos, verdad?”
After dragging the poor guy around the store for about five minutes and having him repeat a few more times what he was looking for, I finally decided to ask Lorenzo, the pharmacist. The guy waited by the register while I whispered to Lorenzo, “I think I might have misunderstood this guy.” I explained how I had translated his request for preservativos into preserves. Lorenzo kindly held back a burst of laughter and told me the guy was looking for condoms! I wanted to crawl into a hole at that moment. This story one goes down in the history books for me.
I have learned to keep my dictionary close at hand!
Faking It
August 10th, 2009 
Memories of my mami from my childhood all revolve around the kitchen. From the moment I woke up to the second I went to bed, she was cooking something up. The blender would buzz midday with the green swirl of her sofrito. The frying pan would sizzle with maduros in the evening just before dinner would be put on the table. Late into the night I could hear her picking out the bad seeds from a bag of frijoles. I’d wake up to a giant pot of something brewing and with the most amazing patience, she’d stir that pot from sunrise until dinner never rushing or raising the heat (like her inpatient daughter often does).
I imagined everyone’s mami was a maven in the kitchen. Imagine my surprise when I visited a good friend of mine and discovered otherwise. I was about to have dinner with my friend and her family when her mom asked me if I liked maduros. I smiled from ear to ear and said, “I loooooove them!” Next thing I knew, a box came out of the freezer and with a quick move of the hand it was placed in the microwave. A minute or two later a plate of juicy, ripe maduros was sitting at the table. On another visit to the same friend’s house, we were enjoying some croquetas de jamon. I asked her if they were difficult to make and she looked a bit puzzled. She said they were frozen and all she had to do was fry them.
Thanks to my friend I realized you could fake some of the amazing home cooking of my childhood. Good thing for me, too, since my mami was never one to invite me into her kitchen; it was her territory and hers alone. Despite not having much guidance from her, I always figured I’d inherited the Cuban gene for cooking and would one day turn into an amazing cook. Needless to say, without practice or guidance, I’m not that great of a cook. My Americano husband is much better at cooking some of my favorite Cuban dishes than I am!
I’ve learned to embrace the frozen Goya section at our local grocery store. When I first discovered it, I’ll admit I snubbed my nose at it. I thought my mami would disapprove (she does) and that I needed to learn to make everything from scratch. I thought somehow if I could cook everything from scratch I’d prove something. I’ve learned it doesn’t really matter how the food gets there. It’s about enjoying and sharing the amazing flavors of my island even if it’s a mix of microwaving and cooking from scratch.
Since I’m all for short cuts, what are some of your favorite shortcuts?
Your Typical Latina
August 3rd, 2009 
At last week’s Latism fiesta our lovely editor, Carrie, was in a conversation with @Jennifervides about the many faces of being Latina. Many folks, Latino and not, have preconceived notions of what being Latino looks like. I once brought a friend of mine home from college and when she met all of my Latino friends exclaimed, “They don’t look Latino. They look white!” Personally, I know first hand what’s it’s like to tell someone I’m Cuban but have them tell me, “No, tienes mas que eso porquepareces muy chinita.”
Being Filipino and Cubana but identifying as solely Cuban, I’ve lived my whole life with people furrowing their brow at my looks. I’ve come to realize that people don’t want to know about my rich culture and the beauty of where I’m from. Technically speaking when someone asks, “Where are you from?” they want to know exactly which parts of the world have contributed to make you look like you. It’s natural human curiosity but it can get damn frustrating when you’re not always interested in sharing a complex family history.
Society has evolved in such a way that we don’t have a cookie cutter response, and therefore, no cookie cutter look. To say cross cultural marriages are increasing in popularity is almost a falsehood because it’s practically the norm. The editors here at El Tiki Tiki are a testament to that, all married to lovely Americano husbands and raising beautiful melting pot children. Carrie previously talked about her own curiosity about how her daughter would self-identify and I think about that a lot with my own daughters. While their mami is an ambiguous looking chinita and their father a dark haired gringo with a splash of Portugal in him, my daughters are an interesting mix of the two of us.
In appearance my girls are as different as night and day – one dark haired, chocolate eyed toddler and my fair blue eyed, blonde-ish brunette. I imagine people will one day ask if they are really sisters much in the same way my husband’s mom was asked if she was the Anglo babysitter. My curiousity moves from them onto their own offspring wondering what beautiful mix of cultures they will represent. Hopefully as today’s multicultural Latino children grow up and marry into their own multicultural families, the idea of a “typical” Latino look will be replaced with the idea that Latinos come in all shapes and sizes.
Where do you think people got their preconceived imgae of Latinos and what does it look like? How do we disspell the myth?
Mi gente, my intention was to share with you a mug of my girls but my computer esta comiendo de lo que pica el pollo and refuses to cooperate. I’m working on it and hopefully will have some eye candy later this afternoon.
Sleepaway Camp
July 27th, 2009 
Last weekend my husband and I went to his best friend’s wedding. At our table was a friend of the groom who had gone to summer camp with him for years. A fellow Latina at the table mentioned no one she’d ever known had gone to camp. I chimed in and told them how my parents didn’t allow me to go to camp, and how now, as a mom and much to my surprise, I had already told my husband there was no way in heck they’d be sleeping away at any camp. The former camper seemed really concerned and asked what my reservations were. I told him I found myself turning into my parents and holding onto some of their ways of thinking. Bottom line they can’t go because the camp is probably filled with scary pedophiles and other evil people; I trust my girls but not everyone else. The other Latina laughed and said that was the same reason her parents gave about sleep away camps and sleepovers in general.
I wasn’t always anti-camp and anti-sleepover. As a matter of fact, growing up I was fascinated by this very American tradition of sending kids away to have fun with other kids unsupervised by their own parents. I envied kids who got to use sleeping bags and use tents and roast marshmallows. I wanted to be one of those kids who hid under blankets with friends and a flashlight to tell scary stories. Alas, I was never one of those kids. I always thought I’d be the first one to allow my kids some of the freedoms my parents didn’t let me have. But it’s scary how much I’m turning out to be like them.
My parents are both in their late 80s but my friends’ parents are still considerably younger and none of them ever went to camp or had sleepovers. The only common thing amongst them is that they’re all Latino. Do you think it’s a cultural trait that Latino parents tend to be a tad overprotective? Or is it more generational?
By the way, I know it’s a bit irrational to be so paranoid and not trusting of people. I say no now but I imagine with time I’ll loosen up and say, much to the horror of mis padres, that camp isn’t such a bad idea after all.
Weekend Link Love
July 17th, 2009 
Summer has finally made it’s arrival! Hopefully you’ll be enjoying the beach or a BBQ with friends. For those moments you sneak inside to cool off, here are some refreshing links.
Looks like we’re a damn happy people!
The Hispanic youth market can’t be ignored.
If you’re looking for a good summer read, this book is on my must read list.
If you’re a blogger, then this carnival is for you.
My mami has always been a lucha libre fan so this would look great in her room. A Christmas gift, maybe?
Apparently, some Latinas are nuts.
Here is another book for your summer reading list if you’re all about the Chica lit.
Be sure you sign up on the Tiki Tiki to win a copy of America Libre, a new book by Raul Ramos y Sanchez, that has won rave reviews.
Alright, now you tell me. What should I be reading?
