******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Modern Traditions
2. Starting My Own Bicultural Holiday Traditions
3. Grace Us With Your Holiday Memories

When I was in my teens in the late 60’s and early 70’s, I had that feeling that most teens struggle with: I don’t feel like I quite fit in.

When I was sixteen, my family had only been in the U.S. for ten years. Ten years! That’s nothing (well, except maybe in dog years, but that’s not important right now). And at that point, my cultural Cuban identity was much more imprinted on me than my (relatively new) Americanism.

In spite of all the ways I tried to fit in, I knew I was different.

My hair was out-of-control curly. At that time the fashion was stick-straight-parted-down-the-middle in a “hippy-ish” fashion. So I straightened and ironed it. I slept on giant, uncomfortable curlers. I suffered in order to conform.

My body-type was what you might call “voluptuous.” I was not fat, just umm… developed. Of course, in comparison to the willowy, blond American girls, I called myself fat. (I was not.)

I still had a slight accent and there were words I had never known or used before. We spoke Spanish at home; we never used words like “awkward” or “sibling” at the dinner table.

But I learned. Obviously, I learned. I assimilated. I grew up.

One of the things I learned was that all teenagers struggle with these things. (Shut up. Who knew?) The cultural component just made me feel more glaringly different at times.

I think that having profoundly struggled with those issues of identity makes me a better mother, a better person, a better and more compassionate friend today. I am able to give my daughters advice and comfort based on my own life experiences with great confidence.

How I wish I could go back in time and tell the 16-year-old me a few things, very specifically, those things that I finally did learn over time:

1) Everybody else is just as insecure as you are.
2) Personality is so much more important than looks.
3) It’s okay to be proud of both your cultures. You can be 100% Cuban and 100% American.

Now let me ask you this:

If you could travel back in time, what 3 pieces of advice would you give to the teenage you?

Maybe, just maybe, she needs to hear those things today.

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Nine Things
2. Laughing at Culture Shocks
3. What Do You Call Your Abuela?

Can I just tell you why I love quizzes so much? It’s because the answers give me such an insight into you. I like that we can get to know one another better.

I have been doing these with my kids and my family for a long time. It’s surprising the things that we learn about each other from reading each others answers. These are usually things that probably would not come up in casual conversation.

I especially like that the quizzes themselves are short, but thoughtful.

Having said all that, it’s time for another Tiki Tiki quiz. (Yay!)

Today I’m curious about the last things you did. (I seriously love these!)

1. The last book I read:
My Life in France by Julia Child.

2. The last new friend I made:
Wendy, the mother of one of Lucy’s school friends.

3. The last place I visited:
Disneyland! (to see the Halloween fireworks show, which was crazy-awesome, but that’s not important right now.)

4. The last movie or TV show I watched:
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington with Jimmy Stewart – CLASSIC!

5. The last kind deed I did:
Gave a ride to friend’s boys home from the beach (with surfboards)!

6. The last meal I prepared:
Roasted whole chicken, baked potatoes, asparagus, homemade bread. (sometimes I rock. =D)

7. The last gift I gave:
Two tv on dvd sets to a friend for her birthday.

8. The last person I called:
My 95 year old mom with a question about a recipe. ;-)

9. The last picture on my camera:
Me, taken by Lucy, being photographed by a newspaper photographer for a story I wrote about coming to America from Cuba. (It should run next week sometime. I know. So accidentally cool.)

10. The last thing I Googled:
“Eddie Haskell.” I sent the links to a (male) friend of Amy’s who was super sweet-talking me. (If you don’t know who “Eddie Haskell” was, I urge you to Google him.) =D

Now it’s your turn, tell me the last stuff you did.

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Nine Things
2. Two by Two
3. Terms of Endearment

I can’t tell you how much we at the Tiki Tiki have enjoyed getting to know you all via the quizzes that I occasionally post. And we never, ever get tired of learning things about you.

And because today is 09-09-09. I have nine questions for you (because I’m totally goofy and just a little superstitious that way, but that’s not important right now).

Okay, I’ll start. =D

1. The last person I sent a card to:
One of my blog readers who won a giveaway. (I started to feel bad about this answer, but then I realized it was a very personal card because I love my blog readers that way. So, I’m okay with it now.)

2. What I ate for lunch today:
Pan con lechón. (Cuban Pork Sandwich. And yes, I made it from leftovers.)

3. Something I just learned:
How to do a screen shot on my Mac. (Apple, Shift, 3) I can’t tell you how happy this little bit of new knowledge makes me.

4. My favorite song this year:
1, 2, 3, 4 by the Plain White T’s.

5. The last book I read:
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. (Love, love, LOVED it!)

6. What I’m wearing right now:
Black t-shirt, jeans, flip flops. (In other words, my Southern California Uniform.)

7. The last phone call I made:
The pharmacy to refill a prescription.

8. Inside, I don’t feel very different from when I was (how old?):
Seventeen. (Wow. I didn’t even have to think about that.)

9. The last restaurant I ate at was:
Ruby’s Diner with my family.

So, Tiki Tiki people, tell me nine things about you today. I love it when you play with me. =D

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. The Best and The Worst
2. Two by Two