09/8/23

I am from coffee beans (Sofia)

I am from coffee beans

from sandy beaches

and the roaring waves of south beach

 

I am from gallopinto

—arroz con frijoles

the aroma of garlic and onion sizzling on the stove.

From listening to the plants

From big sisters and big brother

And my father

From sopa de pollo for illness

and towering cedars.

 

I am from the boiling pot layered with sticks and banana leaves

Steaming,

Holding in the marination of bitter orange,

Calla Lillies,

and birthday pancake cakes.

 

Hi! I am Sofia, I use she/her pronouns and am a first year student here at UBC. I was born in Florida and moved here from Seattle, Washington. 

I took this class in hopes of learning deeper about my culture and the latin community here in Vancouver  (I am nicaragüense). 

Before I moved here I spent a lot of time hanging out with my siblings and taking care of my niece. I like to go out dancing with my friends and like playing sports.  Some of my other hobbies include art, reading, listening to music, cooking and sewing. 

I cant wait to get to know you all and learn in this class!

-Sofia 

09/6/23

I am from radishes (Tamara)

I am from radishes from rolling Flint Hills and Lake Shawnee. I am from potted basil— versatile, tender. Fragrant. From bumblebees will not hurt you From Ruth and Genevieve. From frankincense and heirloom tomatoes. I am from the whisk blending, aerating. From southern gravy, Sourdough, and Chinese takeout on Christmas.

Hi! I’m Professor Tamara Mitchell (she/her/hers). I research and teach Latin American Literatures and Cultures in the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies here at UBC. Outside of work, I like gardening, FaceTiming with my nieces and nephews, spoiling my two cats (Gigi and Mona), and reading. Right now I’m reading La dimensión desconocida (The Twilight Zone), a sort of alternate reality horror novel by the Chilean author Nona Fernández that returns to the 1973 coup in Chile. (If you want to learn more, UBC’s Latin American Studies Program @ubclas has various events reflecting on the coup’s 50th anniversary). I’m always looking for new books to read, so feel free to suggest your favourite!

I’m looking forward to this course for many reasons. The most obvious reason–food is central to life. Food creates community, engages all of our senses, is a necessity universal to all of humanity. Furthermore, as climate change accelerates, the scarcity of food is becoming an increasingly pressing issue (Neslen). Our focus on maize and milpa as key aspects of Mesoamerican foodways will give us a chance to think about the rich history and urgent present issues related to food in Latin America.

Works cited

Fernández, Nona. La dimensión desconocida. Random House, 2016.

Neslen, Arthur. “Climate Change ’cause of most under-reported humanitarian crises.’” The Guardian, 21 February 2019, www.theguardian.com/science/2019/feb/21/climate-change-cause-of-most-under-reported-humanitarian-crises-report-finds.

“I am from” poem adapted from Rubí Orozco Santos, @tradicionessanas. Please compose a blog post with your own “I am from” poem and a short bio that tells me and your classmates a little about you!

A photo of Tamara's cats, a grey tabby named Mona and a tortie named Gigi, with Tamara's patio garden in the background.

Mona and Gigi enjoying some sunshine in front of my (humble) patio garden.

09/4/23

Welcome!

¡Hola y bienvenides a LAST315! We’ll be using the blog throughout the semester to reflect on readings and discuss course materials before/after class. Your first task will be to compose and post your own “I am from” poem to begin thinking about our relationship to food and the land. See Tamara’s “I am from radishes” below for an example (instructions are under Canvas Modules).

Looking forward to learning together this term!