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Featured Post, Growing up Latina

Just Google it!

**Spanglish post**

On Sunday we had a Carne Azada/B-day party for my son. It’s his birthday tomorrow. 11 years! For those of you who are Latinos, you know what this means. Get together, eat, talk, laugh, and then we eat some more! Por eso estamos, como estamos.

My Tia bought Jeremiah a piñata. See, no matter what age the birthday celebrant is, we always have a piñata! We let the little ones go first, and then Jeremiah. The other boys think they’re too old for a turn to whack the heck out of the piñata,  so Jeremiah was the last to go at it. As my cousin was spinning Jeremiah around my brother started to sing the “Piñata” song.

You know, “Dale, Dale”

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We always sing this. ALL OF US! Well, all of my generation, at least. We always get to the part of “No pierdas el….” and we lose it from there. I don’t know why my brother, sister, or cousins don’t know the full song (myself included). Lord knows, we’ve been to countless birthday parties that sing it, but it’s only the old folks who sing it.

As my brother started the song, my other cousin interrupted him by saying, she needs to learn that song by Saturday. Saturday is her daughter’s 1st birthday/baptism, and I guess, want to sing it when it’s piñata time at the baby’s party. My brother responded by telling her he didn’t know the rest- to go on the Internet and “Google” it.

How sad is this. Such a traditional, almost national song and we have to “Google” it to get the lyrics. This got me thinking- “What has happened to my Hispanic family!”

When I was growing up, Spanish was spoken in my home. My daddy spoke Spanish, and of course my mom too. I speak Spanish, my brother, my sister, aunts and uncles. We all have kids ranging from the ages of 1 to 20 and I can honestly say, I think my Niece (who’s studying in Penn State, woot, woot) is the only kid who speaks Spanish fluently. My kids don’t. My nephews don’t.

I am ashamed. My cousins and I are the last in our generation who can carry a full conversation in Spanish. I tried to teach my kids, but it’s hard when it’s not the primary language at home. My hubby has not taught them Tagalog. Shame on him, too!

I love speaking Spanish. At church, when I was younger, I was attending the Spanish service. At work, I used Spanish a lot. When I worked in the City of Rosemead, I kinda lost my Spanish, because of the high Chinese population and I mostly spoke English at work. It’s funny how something you have known all your life, can start to be hard to hold on to.  If you don’t use it very often, you sort of lose the language. But, when I get the chance to speak Spanish, I do! (medio pocha, of course) ha ha ha!

I really admire sites like SpanglishBaby, Mama Latina Tips, Tiki Tiki Blog, and My Family Sabor a Cajeta who cultivate the “Latino” heritage. They blog in Spanish and English, you guys should really check them out!

I know it’s never too late to start teaching the kids some Spanish. Other than the Taco Bell menu, or simple things like fruta, uvas, or chones! We’re getting there.

So with the spirit of Mexican independence day tomorrow, I would like to tell you what I thought were the lyrics of the “piñata” song: No making fun, ok!

Dale dale dale, no pierdas el pino, porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el pepino

I swear I thought that’s what it said! Stop Laughing!

¡Que viva México!

 

Liz Cerezo

Liz is a Mexican-American blogger living in Southern California. Married 19 years, and a mami to 3 kids, her content is inspired from living in and raising a multicultural familia. Liz has been blogging for more than 7 years, establishing herself as a nationally recognized Latina blogger. She often blogs in Spanglish and may throw in some Tagalog when talking about her hubby. You can also find her chit chatting away at @Liz_Cerezo on Twitter!

10 Comments

  1. Tiffany @ Lattes And Life

    I agree with you..it's really important to hold on to that heritage. I know I, as a person who only speaks English, want my kids to learn Spanish….it's just such an important language to know these days. So your kids? DEFINITELY should learn it! Think how much easier it will be, since they have an entire side of their family to practice with!!!

    16 . Sep . 2009
  2. Ana L. Flores

    I really can not stop laughing! "El Pepino??" LOL!Thanks for mentioning our SpanglishBaby :)We really just hope to inspire and create a community for all parents raising bilingual children.It's never too late to learn the piñata song! How funny you mention it because just yesterday I was listening to it on a José Luis Orozco CD and was trying to learn the lyrics! The things mamás will do…

    16 . Sep . 2009
  3. Carrie-in-TN

    I too am a Googler for lyrics and tradition…sad, but funny…Love this post mucho.And, gracias for mentioning Tiki Tiki Blog in such good company.

    16 . Sep . 2009
  4. Silvia

    Hola Liz, thanks for mention my blog in your very funny post! This is the thing, there is a second estrofa (how do you say this in English?) which say something about a pepino, like "cara de puro pepino" or something like that , I can remember that last sentence but no the first two, I will ask (I cannot believe I forgot it!!) Anyway I like the other version better: Dale, dale, dale, no pierdas el tinoporque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino.Ya le diste una, ya le diste dos, ya le diste tres, y tu tiempo se acabó, ¡se acabó!.

    16 . Sep . 2009
  5. Lin

    lol, thats hilarious! However, I dont know the lyrics either (maybe i'll google it). FYI: I know what you mean about never being to old for a pinata. I had one at my 18 bday party, haha.

    17 . Sep . 2009
  6. Lisa Renata

    hahahahahahahaha…(I'm trying to stop)…jajajajajaja (with sabor latino)….(hahahaha (I just can't, enserio!) I love it. so did you ever figure out what the words are? if not let me know and I'll give you my version (no idea if it is the right one)…hahahahhaap.s thanks for mentioning my blog…makes me feel special.

    18 . Sep . 2009
  7. Marcela Beatty

    This is so funny, I don't know the lyrics either! Pepino sounds good to me!!!! ( :

    19 . Sep . 2009
  8. Thoughts of a Mommy

    Jeez, Ladies, I told you not to laugh!! ha ha ha! I'm glad you all enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment Love!

    22 . Sep . 2009
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