It comes as a surprise to most people when I tell them I’m Puerto Rican. And although Puerto Ricans aren't immigrants (we're the US citizens everyone forgets about) I fell into that stereotypical 2nd generation immigrant phenomenon: wanting to be more like the people I grew up around (white, middle-class suburbanites) than my parents (thick-accented, loud-laughing, unapologetic Puerto Ricans).

Why did it take so long for me to realize that trying to be like everyone else is dumb? In trying to fit in, I lost touch with the incredible foods and flavors distinct to Puerto Rican cuisine, I wore neutral colors and silhouettes because “that’s what chic NYC people do, right?," and I missed so many chances to get to know people better because of how little Spanish I could speak.