diaries of a mixed marriage wife

you'd think that by now people would be used to mixed race marriages or other crazy realities of living in a melting-pot country...but no.
kinda funny!

i could write a book about all the funny things that i experience.....

entry 1:
that one time when my coworker and i were walking to lunch and the landscaping guys were also taking their lunch...they smile at both of us, nodding, one in particular calls out with a thick accent "hey! how are you?" .....i smile and chuckle a bit to myself cuz he sounded just like marvin...she huffs and says "i hate it when latino guys call out to me!"...then the awkward pause when she realizes i'm married to one of those 'latino guys.'

entry 2:
ups guy comes to deliver a package, i sign, he asks for my last name, i reply: "ruano." he fumbles a bit, looks down at my signature, looks back at me and, puzzled, asks: "how do you spell that?"

entry 3:
you leave a message for someone with your full name, they return your call and ask for "alicia....i couldn't get her last name,...started with an r?"

entry 4:
you talk to someone on the phone and give your full name. then when you meet in person they do a double take...cuz you're white and your name is completely hispanic sounding.

entry 5:
we go anywhere in the hispanic community - i get looks....we go anywhere in the white community - he gets looks.

entry 6:
ANY TIME i give my last name.....a puzzled look stares back at me.

entry 7:
we attend the spanish congregation in my church because we like to help out and i get to keep up on my spanish. the members of the english-speaking congregations always come up to me and think i am new in their congregation. i tell them "no, i attend the spanish ward." then they give me a strange look and ask "do you speak spanish??" yes, i respond....(another strange look)...."my husband is from guatemala."

entry 8:
the other day when talking about where we like to eat in the area, someone mentioned they liked a certain mexican place. having been there i said "it's ok. not really authentic." they asked me where i like to get 'mexican' food. i told them about a variety of places we like to go...all authentic because they are run by latinos, 'you have to go to where the latinos are' i say. "how do you know about all these places?" i get asked with incredulity.....my husband is latino.

entry 9:
while in a group of women exchanging quick/cheap dinner ideas, i mention "we like to eat a lot of beans and rice...rice and chicken, beans and eggs, rice and pork, beans on salads, or even just beans and rice with cheese. carbs and protein!" someone asks "really? you like beans and rice that much?" well, i respond "my husband is from guatemala."

entry 10:
that one time i went to the grocery store and bought a GINORMOUS bag of rice cuz we eat it so much....the cashier gal's eyes went wide as she saw it come down the belt, "you must eat a lot of rice!" ...."my husband is hispanic"