13 Awkward Moments Every Latina Understands

When you have to tell someone you don't like spicy food. #LatinoProblems.
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If these haven't happened to you yet, they probably will.

1. Accidentally kissing someone who's not Latino on the cheek when you meet them. There isn't really a great way to recover from that.

2. Having to tell people you don't like spicy food. What? Some of us have acid reflux!

3. Wanting to tell someone off for making a stereotypical comment or joke about Latinos and then realizing that you fit that stereotype perfectly. Like, do I explain why that joke about me liking tequila or Mexican food is kind of weird even though I actually love tequila and Mexican food? Or do I try to make you see that I love tequila and Mexican food not because I'm Latina, but because they're delicious? Or do I let it go and just have another drink? ~*Dilemma~*.

4. Having to explain why you call everyone in your family your primo. While not all Latinos have huge families, many do, and it can get tricky trying to explain your family tree to everyone. Even more awkward is when you explain, "Oh, he's actually not my cousin, he's my mom's first cousin, twice removed."

5. Bringing non-Latino significant others home to your family the first time. And having your parents interrogate them about where they're from and why they haven't learned any Spanish yet.

6. Having to remind people that, yes, Brazilians are Latinos, but, no, they don't all speak Spanish. Poor Brazil. People always seem to forget it exists.

7. Having your phone autocorrect something to English when you're trying to type in Spanish. Get it together, iPhone.

8. When someone says something really racist in front of you because they don't think you're Latina. It's hard to know what to do in this situation. Do I say something and risk making things really awkward forever? Do I let it go but live with the fact that this person is probably going to go through life thinking it's OK to make really racist jokes or comments? Or am I just being too uptight or sensitive? Maybe I'm the one with the problem? Wait a second, no, I'm not.

9. When someone asks you translate something on the spot for them and your mind goes blank. It's difficult to explain why exactly this is so hard, but even if you speak both languages, your brain doesn't always cooperate when you need it to. Plus, certain phrases don't exist in Spanish or English, so the meaning is always lost (i.e. when someone figures out how to translate the words "forklift" or "landline," let me know). Sometimes you just need a minute to think about it, OK?

10. Getting too into your favorite telenovelas. And then looking around and remembering that this is just a TV show and that it's probably a little weird that you care so much about what happens to your favorite characters.

11. That moment when people assume you speak Spanish, try to talk to you, and realize you don't. And that look of disappointment they give you. But it's important to remember that many Latinas in the U.S. don't speak Spanish (though they may understand it or be able to read it).

12. Conversely, when people insist on speaking English to you because you don't "look Latina." But I actually do speak Spanish, and not all Latinas look the same.

13. When you pronounce something on a restaurant menu authentically, and no one around you understands. "Can I get an order of alfajores and a café con leche?" "Sorry, what?" "Alfajores and a café." "What?" "I'll have the cookies and a small coffee, please."

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