20 Things That Make It Great To Be CubaRican
CubaRicans are unique and amazing. We’re a mix of two cultures, two islands, two ways of speaking Spanish and much more. There are so many things that make being CubaRicans amazing and why we’re so thankful we were born like this!
Here are 20 things that make it great to be a CubaRican!
1) Platanos for every meal
Platanos maduros, Tostones, Mofongo, Fufu, pasteles, CubaRicans know their way around those delicious platanos. And because both sides have their own unique way to cook these guys, we get double the goodness! And before you ask, no platanos are not bananas! They’re better than bananas okay!
2) We Got A Word For Everything
CubaRicans got a whole dictionary of Cuban and Puerto Ricans words and if we don’t know how to say something when we’re talking to Ricans, we can just use a Cuban word! And on top of that, for things you’re use to hearing like “autobús” for bus, Cubans will say “guagua”. Don’t know a word for anything or a name of a person you met…Puerto Ricans have the word “deso” which can literally be used for anything. It’s safe to say, CubaRicans will never be at a loss for words.
3) The Caribbean Pride
No one has pride or love for their islands the way a CubaRican does! Cubans are known for getting the pots and pans and making a beat to celebrate in the street over anything having to do with being Cuban and Puerto Ricans will chant “Yo soy Boricua, pa’que tu lo sepas!”. When you combine this pride together, CubaRicans are the loudest and best to be around when celebrating where we come from!
4) Double The Beaches
Because we’re from two beautiful islands, that means we get all the beaches you only dream about. Tans all year round, music and the nice ocean breeze, it’s the perfect thing we have being CubaRican. No matter which island we go home to, to visit family, we always have a beautiful beach waiting for us.
5) SO MANY WAYS TO MAKE BEANS
CubaRicans know beans. We’re 99% made of arroz con frijoles negros, arroz con gandules, potaje de garbanzos, and potaje con frijoles blancos. CubaRicans get double the beans thanks to both islands loving and living off of them. And thanks to beans being so cheap, we get to enjoy them any time we want without hurting our budget!
6) The flags compliment each other
A lot of people can’t tell the difference between the Cuban flag and Puerto Rican flag, and for the most part I get why. But honestly the flags being so similar makes them compliment each other when we combine them. Mixed Latinx like to combine the flags of their homelands but I gotta say for CubaRicans, our combined flags just look so good and fills us up with so much pride!
7) We Got A Sharp Tongue
If you ever get into an argument with a CubaRican, prepare to lose. We have an arsenal of curse words from our islands that will make you wish you never came for us. We’ve had a lot of practice with our primos and siblings so we’re ready to tell you off and then continue on being great.
8) There’s a reason Cardi B likes her Bacardi
CubaRicans know that we got the best drinks in all the Caribbean. Mojitos, Coquito, pina coladas, rum, you name it we got it. Our drinks are what keeps the party going! Also fun fact, Bacardi is a Puerto Rican rum that’s distilled in Cuba…all I’m saying is Bacardi is CubaRican!
9) The loudest parties ever!
Does this even have to be explained? You all know how Puerto Ricans get down and Cubans as well, so it’s no surprise that if you’re from a CubaRican family it’s going to be loud. But the good kinda loud ya know? So just sit back, eat some lechon cooked to perfection in La Caja China and have fun!
10) We Speak Fast
CubaRicans are passionate man and we got a lot of things to say. You know Cubans and Puerto Ricans have a track record of speaking fast Spanish. And in our family, if you don’t say it fast you’ll get spoken over. So keep up with us when we talk to you or just nod and pretend you understand because we won’t stop.
11) Coconut Everything
Ready for your mouth to water? CubaRicans get all the coconut dishes the Caribbean has to offer. Arroz con coco, flan de coco, tembleque, and coquito. We get a never-ending supply of coco and we are LIVING for it.
12) The best flan
Cuban and Puerto Ricans pretty much make flan the same way, which means CubaRicans get to have the best flan in the world. While many Latinx make flan CubaRican flan uses certain ingredients other counties don’t which gives our flan it’s unique and best flavor. So if you’re unfortunate enough not to be CubaRican or have never had our flan, you better find one of us and have us make it for you.
13) Primos, primos everywhere!
I will make this quick, you know Cuban and Puerto Ricans have a lot of cousins, basically for CubaRicans it’s doubled. And while that seems overwhelming it just means for us we have more family to love us and bail us out of trouble!
14) Chisme to last a lifetime
My Abuelas on both sides were the biggest chismosas on the planet. And what they passed down to their CubaRican grandkids is a love for chisme. With as much family CubaRicans have, there’s always something to talk about. For us the chisme will never end but we wouldn’t have it any other way because hey at least we don’t have to pay for cable with all this entertainment.
15) NOCHE BUENA IS LIT
CubaRican food on Noche Buena is the best night of the year for us. We have pernil, ropa vieja, yuca, arroz con salchichas, arroz con frijoles negros, you name it! And on top of that we’re drinking coquito, a CubaRican house is the best place to be at while you wait for baby Jesus to be born!
16) Singing, lots of singing
CubaRicans love music and as you know, our islands create the best artists and songs. One thing many CubaRicans know is that we will sing anything and everything. We’ll be cleaning, doing homework or just watching TV, and we can make a word into a song. Our songs are second nature to us as a Coqui singing on the island. And it’s one of the purest thing about being CubaRican.
17) Violetas & Pilones
The two most nostalgic things for Cuban and Puerto Ricans are Royal Violets (Violetas) and the sesame seed lollipops Pilones. As a kid nothing felt as great as getting out of the shower and putting Violetas in my hair and finally getting to eat pilones. The smells and tastes are my childhood and make me so happy to be CubaRican.
18) LA MUSICA!
Our island has produced icons! Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, La India, La Lupe, Tito Puente and Gloria Estefan and many more. We know music and we live music in a CubaRican home. Whether we’re cleaning or having a party, our islands have our back in keeping the heartbeat of Cuba and Puerto Rico in our home.
19) Aguacate for life!
While I personally may be shunned for being the only CubaRican who doesn’t like avocados, my family and other CubaRicans can’t get enough of them. I know a lot of Latinx cultures love them but CubaRicans take their love of avocados to whole other level. We eat them with literally everything. Doesn’t matter if it’s a rice dish, soup, salad or just a snack, we will consume them. I’m pretty sure if CubaRicans were to create a flag for our identity, an avocado would be part of it.
20) A strength unlike any other
Cubans and Puerto Ricans have been known to have a strength unlike any others in the Latinx community. We have faces so much with the mistreatment of our islands and our people. But the one thing I’ve learned as a CubanRican is that I have a strength like no other thanks to where I come from and my ancestors. CubaRicans are an amazing mix of history and love and CubaRicans have everything to be proud of.
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