Growing up as an Italian-American living in the suburbs outside of Boston, I consider myself to be pretty normal. I graduated a small Catholic elementary and high school, played some sports, joined a lot of clubs and went off to college near New York City. My parents played a very big role in helping me get to where I am today. However, I have never once considered them normal. Whether it was my mom always running into one of her girlfriends from town no matter where we went or my dad bringing me to Restaurant Depot to buy things for his pizzeria, I always knew that my parents had a distinct way of standing out from everyone else, and I, to this day, am always able to point out people who come from the same streets that raised my mom and dad; Boston's North End.

1. It's Gravy. NOT sauce.

Whenever you have a group of friends over, your parents are sure to cook their parents' famous gravy with macaroni. If someone even dares bring up the fact that they call it "pasta and sauce" your mom will most likely hit them with her wooden spoon and leave a gravy stain on their clothes.

2. St. Leonard's Church.

There is no denying that St. Leonard's is the most beautiful church, however one way to tell that your family is from the North End is by the fact that every wedding and baptism you have ever attended was in this church. And your family probably has a brick outside with your last name on it from always donating to keep the peace garden beautiful as ever.

3. The Streetlight Lecture.

For all of your teenage years, you couldn't get away with anything at all without hearing your parents say "when I was growing up in the North End, when the streetlights came on, we all had to be back inside."

4. The feasts.

The highlight of your year from when you were a baby to now is the summer because that meant the feast. It was the few weekends a year where you and your parents both had the same plans and were excited. If you were lucky, you got to be picked up by one of your father's friends outside his pizzeria (like myself) and put money on the saint. My family particularly celebrates St. Anthony's and St. Lucy's.

5. Umbertos.

Every time your mom or dad went into town while you were in school, you could always count on them bringing you home about 8 boxes of Umbertos to eat for the next month. No matter what your non-italian friends say, it is THE BEST.

6. You go to the Health Center.

Even though, your suburban town has its own doctor's office, you go here for your monthly check ups. Your friends always think you're crazy because you got to miss a whole day of school to go to the doctors, but to you, it's totally normal. You have to go in town, say hi to everyone, go to your physical and grab food after.

7. They always knew everyone.

No matter where you ever went out with your mom, she always found someone she knew from the North End and it was always a big deal. You also went to high school with half of your parents friends kids because they all moved to nearby suburbs. No, you didn't always become friends with them.

8. You always know where you're going.

From the moment you knew how to walk, you were allowed to walk around The North End alone because it was home, so now that you're a young adult yourself, you love going into town because you know where everything is and what's good and what isn't.

9. Your family is pretty new to America.

Since The North End is where all the newer Italian immigrants came, it is almost certain that your grandparents and/or parents were born in Italy. Your friends think that they're "old school Italian" but their families have been here for generations. Us who came from The North End's families have only been here for about 80 years (give or take).

10. You have a lot of aunts and uncles.

You're probably not related to them, but their family lived above your father's on Salem Street or downstairs from your mom on Copper Street, so you basically have the same blood. Oh, and their village in Italy is just a 30 minute walk from your Nonni's old village.

11. Someone's always got your back.

The North End is a small place, so everyone from there knows your parents and grandparents, therefore, no matter what, there is always a crowd of people ready to defend you. And trust me, you don't want to mess with someone from The North End. I know this because that's who raised me.