Antonio Banderas is not from Mexico. (And Shakira isn't from Spain.)

When one of Wednesday's groups began with a quiz on Latino actors and comedians, I thought to myself, "Haha! I'm gonna get more right than other people! Penelope Cruz is SO gonna trip them up!"

See, I had studied in Madrid last spring, absorbing everything I could about the culture. The biggest people-oriented thing I noticed was how many Spaniards had made it into American popular culture. Not only are there big sports stars (Rafael Nadal, Pau Gasol, Alberto Contador, the World Cup champion soccer team), but actors such as Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz, and Emilio Estevez. (And Spaniards love it.)

When I thought about it over there, I realized popular Spaniards in America have it both good and bad. The good is that they look European. They blend in well enough skin-wise to not raise many eyebrows or attract many lawncare-worker stereotypes (although the possibility is well known there). Some assimilate into the culture so well (I'm looking at you, Martin Sheen) that they don't seem any different at all and are not given any flak because of it.

The bad is that they still have a stereotype. Spaniards, when called out as Spaniards, are usually associated with the same fiery passion and lazy work ethic that Latinos often garner. Coupled with a penchant for bullfighting and the deep traditions that still permeate the country, Spaniards often get a too-romantic and insufficiently modern reputation. (The high-quality work that Almodóvar and Spanish doctors do counteract that, to an extent.)

The lumping-together of Spanish and Hispanic often results in some confusion as to where Spaniard Americans come from. Hence, I was proud to know where all the people listed above originated, and I was confident about the quiz at the start of the presentation.

Apparently, I overgeneralized. Shakira is from Colombia, for example. It's not Mexico (the default choice for many), but it's also not Spain (my default choice, judging by... how white she is). Thus, I cannot ever claim to be above Latino pre-judging, even if my variety goes in the opposite direction.

Main lesson: Everyone assumes. It doesn't matter whether you think that Penelope Cruz is Hispanic or Shakira is Iberian; they're both incorrect assumptions. I'll try to work on that.