Since it is the first of the year, I thought I would give a quick Spanish tip: ¡Salud!
The word salud is used for three different occasions with slightly different meanings. 1) Most commonly, it means “health” 2) when someone sneezes it means “bless you”.
3) it means “cheers” as when you are giving a toast, instead of saying “cheers!” you say “¡salud!”
When I was in Mexico I learned a more intricate rhyming toast that goes a little something like this:
“Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro.” (Literally : “Up, down, to the center, inside”)
This means “raise your glass up, lower it down, bring it to the middle (clink them) and then drink up (bring it inside the body)”.
A todos mis lectores: ¡a su salud en el año nuevo!
Cassie,
Don’t forget that there is another use for “salud” as in “saludos” meaning “greetings”. I usually sign my e-mails with some form of “saludos” like “Saludos cordiales”, or Muchos saludos” or “Un saludo afectuoso” or just plain “Saludos” which has the generally the same meaning that you impart with your “Chao”. Good luck in Puerto Rico!