10/2/23

Reflection of Señor Lopez

Surprised by the Maya Garden story by Lopez, it made me realize that apart from Canada, Indigenous people from other regions of the world have the same problems with sovereignty as well. Not restricted to political rights and settler land occupation, their culture and traditions are endangered as well. The presenter, Mr. Lopez fled from Guatemala in the 1980s when the government imposed a genocide in the country. Later on, he continued his studies in Belgium and Canada. He mastered to speak 4 languages including Spanish, English, French and the local Maya language. He presented us with his story of immigration, traditional farming, and the significance of maize in Mayan culture.

From the article and his description. I got to know the underlying reason for multi-product agriculture where maize, squash and beans interdepend on each other. They protect and provide nutrients to each other both biologically and physically. Squash provides the cover, maize provides the pole for beans while beans release nitrogen as the fertilizer. This reminds me of how the Maya community works, people help their neighbours and other people just like the plants do. The traditional “3 sisters ” system now has medicinal plants that showed their intelligence of living, which diversified products on the given land.

Before planting and after planting, the Maya people had their own ways of praying and thanking God, in order to have good weather conditions for the coming year and the protection of God from the previous year. It made me think of the plot in Popol Vuh when God was trying to create humans, and the second attempt of wooden man failed due to the hollow heart, they could not recognize who created them. Maya people remember their ancestors all the time and the maize in the milpa, they never forgot the culture where they come from, generation by generation. That’s why Maya people still have a collaborative community culture nowadays.

I asked Mr. Lopez in class, how Maya descendants learn from their ancestors in Canada, as the Canadian educational system does not include Maya stories. He explained that the most direct way to tell children how Maya people work is from a farm, from the ground where maize grows up. Maize is the source of food, when children learn how to plant maize, they will never be starved in anywhere the world. However, Vancouver is not the best place for maize planting as the summer duration is short, and maize cannot get enough sunshine to grow as big enough as the maize in Central America. It also shows the importance of agriculture in the history of civilization I learnt from Geography class.

In my opinion, whatever the nationality you have, wherever you live. You should never forget your ethnicity, and your family traditions, as it indicates where you truly come from. As Mr. Lopez said, your stomach will “miss” the food which represents your identity.

 

 

10/2/23

Discussion with Elder Lopez: “The Children of Corn”

In the discussion with Elder Lopez, the first thing he pointed out was that Maya people are “the Children of Corn”. I found it impressive how Mr. Lopez and his community are still deeply attached to the Mayan traditions, to the Popol Vuh, the orality, the centrality of maize. Throughout the discussion, the attachment to maize was especially palpable. Not only when he explained about the cultivation system, based on growing the “three sisters” (maize, squash and beans), but also when he talked about his homeland, his community and his ancestors. He mentioned more than once how without maize there is no society or culture, how in the absence of maize men were just hungry and could not start building cities. When he explained how maize was hidden in a rocky mountain that cracked open after multiple tries by the animals and lightening, I could see how maize represents the center of everything, as if the world revolved around maize. It seemed to me that maize is the glue of the social, the supernatural and the natural worlds, like a sort of point of connection between animals, nature, people and gods.

It struck me how the Mayan orality takes up a big role in how he sees and interprets the world and its dynamics. It was really impactful for me to learn how he associates serious changes in the world (like climate change) to the story of how men obtained maize. He mentioned that, when the cracks in the rocky mountain close, the soul of maize will leave, and big changes will come. The main crack was about to close in 2009, and this was a signal for us to prepare ourselves for the changes that are coming. Apart from the centrality of maize, when Mr. Lopez was talking, I could see how much he relies on his ancestors and the stories that have been passed down for generations. It was clear that the traditions and explanations of the world that are part of Mayan orality have not been forgotten by him; conversely, they help him interpret the world we live in.

Finally, combining Mayan orality and the centrality of maize, I understand why his community decided to set up the “Mayan in Exile Garden” here at UBC. I feel like, in this way, they feel closer to their homeland and their ancestors, while passing down the traditions to the young generations of Maya Mam people born in exile.

09/25/23

I am from Chrysanthemum (Damon)

I am from Chrysanthemum

From a vast fertile delta land

and Yangtze River.

I am from the tea set,

Quietly, elegantly standing on the table

Pouring out the scent of history

 

From the icicle hung over the roof.

From my grandma, Qinglun comes from the northernmost province of China.

and my mother, Shouju

From mint

and ginkgo

 

I am from the chopping board

Chopping and Rolling,

nostalgic dumplings,

beans and green onions,

And reunion.

 

Hello everyone, my name’s Damon. I was born in a small city in the southern part of China next to Shanghai. I will describe myself as an Asian, Chinese, first-generation student, and also a temporary immigrant in Canada. I’m interested in Hispanic culture, and the Latin America world. Currently, I’m studying Spanish 301 at UBC. I would like to see their cultures from a different perspective. I’m excited about my new semester because I’m a student in the major of environment and sustainability, also the courses are quite challenging.

 

09/18/23

I am from Quinoa (Belen)

I am from Quinoa,
from fields of golden grains,
and the Lake Titicaca,

I am from a burnt iron skillet,
multipurpose and treasured,
steeped in family history.
Sizzling, crackling, memories come alive.

Stanza 2
From the Lake Titicaca tales,
From my Italian grandmother,
and my mother Rosa’s guiding wisdom,
From lavender oil,
and wild flossflower.

Stanza 3
I am from the wooden mortar,
grinding and blending,
creating aromatic spice mixes,
embedded with the scent of rosemary,
and the scent of thyme.

Hello, I’m Belen, and I enrolled in LAST315 because I have a great interest in the different aspects of food. From its cultural significance to its impact on health and the environment.  I believe that understanding the intricate connections is not only enriching but also essential in today’s globalized world. This semester, I’m excited to delve into the diverse dimensions of food. I look forward to gaining new insights and sharing my own perspectives.
09/14/23

Nixtamalized Poetry: Foodways in the Borderland

(Sample post by Tamara)

When Rubí Orozco Santos discusses her new project, she explains that she proposed to create a new set of poems inspired by “the practice of nixtamalization in the borderland.” This metaphor stayed with me, as it seems particularly generative and nuanced for many reasons. First, as Orozco Santos points out, nixtamal comes from Nahuatl and means “formless dough.” Thus, the word contains both alteration and enhancement (nixtamalization as the chemical softening and enrichment of corn) and potentiality and formlessness (the dough has not yet been shaped and cooked). This made me think of poetry. Both processes take crude materials (inedible corn, words) and turn them into something pleasing and palatable and nourishing. And yet, what emerges in both cases is unfinished. The “unformed dough” needs additional labour (rinsing, hulling, grinding, shaping, cooking) to be edible while the poetry needs an audience (to be read, and in some cases read aloud; to be ‘chewed’ and contemplated). By conceiving of her poetic work as ‘nixtamalized,’ Orozco Santos invites us to participate in the creation of the work.

Later, she observes that the alkaline process varies based on its geographical location; in the U.S. Southwest, juniper ash is used while the Olmec civilization employed oyster shells. I recently read that, in Chiapas, they use snail shells for this process (Chiapas 329). This detail underscores how the local land and knowledge are integral elements of the process, and thus, a widely used and far-flung technique is grounded in a particular area and community. Similarly, Orozco Santos situates her work–“the nixtamalized poetry of the borderlands” shares in a Mesoamerican past, but has established roots in a new place.

Reflecting on all of these associations, nixtamalization emerges as a particularly powerful way to think about creativity and life in the borderlands. Did you identify other reasons that this metaphor is so potent to think through “foodways and wordways”?

312 words

Bibliography

Chiapas viaje culinario. Secretaría del turismo, 2014, www.turismochiapas.gob.mx/sectur/descargables/libro/Chiapas,_viaje_culinario.pdf. Accessed 13 September 2023.

Marrufo, Richie David, host. “Episode 35: Rubí Orozco Santos.” The BWOMS Podcast, episode 35, Power at the Pass, soundcloud.com/bwoms/ep35.

09/12/23

I Am From the Huckleberries (Matthew)

I am from the Butter Ration, the Flour Tax, the Scarce Tongues

From the laden fields thick with dark sugar, cut with darker hands

and the great injustice of that island in the sun.

I am from the sickly scent of the Rum, goose-neck waxed bottles.

Long in the tooth, witness to horrors and pride.

 

From the thinnest trails off western coasts, memory exhales still

From the salt hewn rocks and lonely cedar refusing to be killed

From his mother’s mouth like a river came the sound of wind in grass

She saw an eagle catch a fish, the sun dawn on its face at last

 

I am from the Huckleberry, eaten while in stride

I am of the open palm that beckons you inside

I am of the moving eats, the dates that go down smooth

Of being told to sit, be still and stop playing with your food

 

 

Thank you for reading. I’m very excited to see everyone’s poems. My name is Matthew and I grew up in so called “Vancouver.” I am descended of Barbadian sugar growers and rum makers on my dad’s side. It is a history I am still learning to grapple with. My grandmother grew up in London during the Second World War. She describes vividly the rationing system and how it has affected her cooking. She makes the most delicious food from the most meager ingredients. I am a hiking guide year round, but mainly in the summers. Many a meal has been mostly berries found on the trails meandering along coastal cliffs. I feel connected to food and the many ways it informs my relationships and history. I know this course is going to deepen that understanding. I’m very much looking forward to it.

 

09/12/23

I am From Sugar Cane (Yolanda)

I am from caña de azúcar 

from my grandfather’s cañal in Zapotitán

and the little river that runs next to it.

I am from comales–

Sizzling, popping,

Dos revueltas y una de queso.

 

From andá traeme hierba buena

From Mamá Yolan

and Papá César.

From chichipince

and carambolas.

 

I am from the metate 

           moliendo, grinding, para las tortillitas 

Maíz that becomes pupusas, riguas, atol y más… 

Flor de Izote,

and smelling panes con chumpe every 25th of December.

 

Hello everyone! I’m Yolanda. (she/her) I’m a fourth-year Arts student majoring in Political Science. I’m Salvadoran and I moved to Vancouver in 2009, but I have been lucky to spend time back home in El Salvador often.

Over the past two years, my academic interests have shifted towards food security. My dream is to contribute to food security in El Salvador and Central America–El Salvador, for instance, does not have any laws to enforce food security. I want to change that! As I briefly mentioned in class, I worked at a summer camp kitchen for six summers, making my way up from dishpit volunteer to food services manager. This experience taught me the importance of food: We need secure access to nutritious foods to fuel our bodies and thus society. You can imagine how excited I was when I found this class–food and Latin America, my two greatest loves. I’m excited to learn more about Indigenous-led initiatives, knowledge and practices to achieve food security.

Outside of school, I enjoy watching reality TV (shoutout to the Jersey Shore and Love Island UK), spending time with my two bunnies, and caring after my patio garden. I also have recently become obsessed with spin class and spend too much time browsing for the next Latin-themed class.

I’m very excited for what this class will bring and to create community with my peers. I can’t wait to become a maize expert alongside you all!

 

~ Yolanda

09/11/23

I Am From Tomatoes

I am from tomatoes

from tall mountains

and Alouette and Pitt rivers

I am from metal pans,

versatile, tough

Smoky

 

From stay in the cool shade

From Pancho

and Bill

From eucalyptus

and blackberries

 

I am from the tortilla press

smashing, shaping

Corn

Cedar

and Rosca de Reyes with Fruit punch

 

Hello, my name is David (he/they), I am a third year student here at UBC, majoring in Latin American Studies and Linguistics. I would describe myself as having an amicable and affable, studious and quiet character, but I have been called sardonic and naïve by others in my life. I am taking LAST315, as I am hoping to major in Latin American studies because of my personal background as a dual Mexican-Canadian citizen, and I love learning and talking about new topics related to Latin America. I am looking forward to this semester, as I have both less and more time this semester compared to previous ones, and I am excited for new opportunities. Some of my non-academic pursuits include, woodworking, arts and crafts, musicals and opera and enjoying new foods!

I look forward to learning more about Latin America and Maize with you all.

09/11/23

I am from Potatoes

I am from potatoes
from mountainous valleys
and the rushing Fraser River.
I am from giant cooking pots—
steaming, mixing, smelling of home

From “leave nothing but footprints”
From Granny
and Momma Nancy
From chives
and blueberries.

I am from the crock pot
cooking, waiting for the feast
mashed potatoes,
beautiful wild flowers
and waking up early on Christmas morning.

 

Hi, everyone! I’m Hannah, and I am in my final semester at UBC. I am majoring in Spanish and have taken multiple Latin American studies courses. I would describe myself as outgoing, energetic and funny. I am taking this course in particular as I had taken a food ways course last semester and I loved it. I think the topic of food is so interesting and diverse. I’m excited to explore this semester with you all!

09/11/23

I am from Sunny Vineyards (Petra)

I am from sunny vineyards,

from the breeze of Lake Garda

and the scent of olive groves.

 

I am from steamed cabbage,

from my mom’s warm cookies

and Sunday lunches at my Nonna’s.

 

I am from fresh tapas,

from the coffee on the way to class

and tender sunsets at the Bunkers.

 

I am from crunchy chipa,

from the comforting warmth of mate

and the sugary taste of unconditional love.

 

I am from the bitterness of goodbyes,

and the sweetness of new encounters.

I am from where I will be next.

 

Hi! I’m Petra (she/her). I’m a 4th year exchange student coming from ESADE university (Barcelona, Spain). I am Italian, I was born in a very small and remote village called Drena, but I have been studying and living in Barcelona for the past 3 years.

I am majoring in Global Governance and minoring in Economics. I love my career and want to work in development (economics) once I graduate, while living in South America. I spent the summer working in Paraguay as researcher in an education NGO, so I was a bit disoriented by the change when I came to Vancouver. But I’m loving it!

In Italy and Barcelona I used to practice a sport that is called Baton Twirling and I absolutely loved it, but it is hard to find this sport everywhere. I am a curious person and enjoy learning (anything), driving, traveling and being creative in the kitchen.

I am taking this course because I want to learn more about Latin America (I don’t have many courses options at my home university) and because I think the approach is creative, interesting and unusual compared to my other courses. I am also really happy to get to know you all!