You were improperly catechized.  You were permitted this unfortunate practice in the US under an indult (ie. special pemission) the sad history of which I will not go into here.  Suffice to say, it is not the normative way to receive communion in he universal Church, that being on the tongue.  It is also my understanding that the indult permitting reception in the hand in the US has expired, but the bishops continue to permit this deplorable practice.  Ah well, if I was in charge...