7 Signs youre a Latino living in Australia way too long
They say traveling is priceless. You learn from it, you grow from it and in the process you might be lucky enough to find yourself. There…
Australia SYdney City CBD close up view over harbour waters at sunset dark sky and reflections of city lights in blurred water (Photo: Shutterstock)
They say traveling is priceless. You learn from it, you grow from it and in the process you might be lucky enough to find yourself.
There are also the handful of brave adventurers who decide that simply traveling was not enough, and they want more.
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So they make a life-changing decision, pack their stuff and move to a new country.
Some have a goal in mind and some are just living in the moment waiting to see what life has in store for them next.
But as important as finding yourself may be, you also need to be careful not to lose yourself.
So what happens when you’re a Latina who decides to move to Australia where the Latin population is less than 1%? You start to appreciate your culture.
This is my case and today I bring to you some signs of a Latino expat who’s been living way too long in Australia.
7 signs you’re a Latino expat living in Australia
1) Turning on the radio to find no reggaeton station.
Yandel, left, and Daddy Yankee, walk the red carpet and pose for photos before the Premio Lo Nuestro Latin Music Awards show in Miami, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
No Daddy Yankee. No Don Omar. No Ivy Queen. Nothing, nada, zilch!
Radio stations in Australia are awesome, don’t get me wrong, but a little Zion y Lennox wouldn’t hurt once in a while.
2) Wanting an empanada so bad that you settle for a meat pie.
Argentinian empanadas are made with different fillings. (Shutterstock)
Carne, pollo, queso… nope, never, none of that.
But you can find the traditional Aussie meat pie or sausage roll, just add some tomato sauce (p.s. that means ketchup) and voila! You’ve got an “empanada.”
3) Translating your Spanish sayings into English and realizing it doesn’t quite work.
“Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres,” you know that saying that your abuela made sure you knew and remembered?
Well, “Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are” doesn’t translate and the weird look on someone’s face will make you realize.
4) Hearing someone speak Spanish so you stare at them like you’ve just seen Beyonce.
koala bear in the zoo in Australia (Photo: Shutterstock)
You’re at the supermarket and all of a sudden you hear someone speak Spanish.
At first you’re not sure if you are just hearing things until you secretly follow them soon to determine that they are a Latino visiting Australia on vacation.
But that little bit of familiarity makes you feel right at home.
5) Getting scared that you might lose your Spanish.
They say that languages can be lost without practice, so there is always that moment about six months into living somewhere else where you second guess yourself.
So, that night you give a relative a phone call and are elated when your Spanish comes to you as easy as ever.
6) Looking forward to watching “Jane The Virgin” because it makes you feel closer to home.
Although a few days delayed, hearing that “Jane The Virgin” will now be playing in Australia makes your day.
Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez portrays Jane in the English-adapted telenovela ?what could make you feel closer to home?
7) Loving your new home and knowing that your Latin culture will always follow you.
Woman wearing akubra hat and with Australian flag around shoulder standing at tropical Australian beach. (Photo: Shutterstock)
As homesick as you may sometimes get, knowing that you’re paving your path in life and finding yourself is priceless.
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And finding those little bits and pieces to make you feel more connected to your Latin roots will keep you from losing yourself.
But if empanadas could somehow find their way to Australia that would be greatly appreciated!
