Learning about Feeding Mexicans!

As I've mentioned, Holy Week and the week after are vacations for Mexican students, hence the Bible School where we live is officially closed. There are, however, a few students and a couple of staff who are working this week and thus needing to be fed since the school kitchen is closed. John and Pablo have been in and out, so much of this has been a solo adventure for me and the girls. For the first time, I am charged with preparing 3 meals a day for Mexicans who are eating in our home for 2 weeks, and I thought I'd share some observations.

• Mealtimes traditionally follow the work cycle, which is driven by the weather. Folks go to work early in the morning, break for breakfast about 9AM as the sun is starting to get hot. After breakfast, they return to work until 2PM when they stop for their biggest meal of the day and get a break from the sun. By 4PM, they are back at work and usually work until dark, just in time to get washed up and to dinner by 8PM.
• The need for hot, fresh corn tortillas, black beans, rice and chilés at every lunch and dinner is far more important than variety.
• Rice must be started at least an hour before and is to be fried with oil before adding water and salt.
  
• Fruit is okay, an occasional vegetable is fine too, but if all you have is rice, beans, tortillas and chilés, that's great.
• Flavored water is expected at lunch, and coffee is expected at both breakfast and dinner - coffee with lots and lots of sugar!
  
• For many Mexicans, meat may only be served on Sundays, and even for those who have more funds, meat is rarely served at both lunch and dinner. Eggs are a fine substitute and may be served for any meal.
  
• Corn tortillas must be served hot and fresh. Most Mexicans who can afford to buy them (instead of making them from scratch every day) buy at least 1-2 kilos (2.2 - 4.4 lbs.) per day every day. I was delighted to learn that I could buy fresh tortillas from a guy on a motorcycle with a cooler strapped on the back, if I happen to look up when he drives by. (which I did today....yeah!)
  
• With the rising prices of corn, the cost of 1 kilo of freshly-made corn tortillas has risen to an all-time high of 8 pesos per kilo here in Ocosingo (about 73 cents). This amount is beyond the reach of many Mexicans, and there is much concern about the 14% increase in tortilla prices over this past year. See http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/164391
• The men are very cordial and respectful but are accustomed to being waited on, even the teenagers. They expect to be able to sit down and have everything brought to them. If you want something, you must ask for it to be passed to you, because the family style model of "have some and pass it," really must not be practiced here at all. I've fought the temptation to follow Jan's model (just not eating until later so she can be available to walk around to hand things to people instead of expecting them to pass things to each other around the table). When they are done, the guys rise from the table, express their gratitude and leave.
  
• Women are accustomed to doing the waiting on the guys. Even with their peers, young Mexican women will attend to the need for a coffee cup to be refilled or some other request. When the meal is over, they very willingly (and without a hint of resentment as the guys walk away) begin cleaning and washing until every pots, plate, cup and spoon is washed, dried and put away, the floor swept, and every morsel of food that can be served tomorrow, wrapped up and in the fridge.
  

The experience has been both challenging and enriching. We've loved the assortment of language lessons around the table (how to say this or that in Spanish, English or Tzeltal), the sincerity of their appreciation and the satisfaction of knowing that I'm slowly learning how to do this. On the other hand, it requires far more planning that I'm accustomed to, far more time spent cooking, serving and cleaning than you can believe, and requires us all to be friendly and hospitable despite the mood swings of 2 teenage girls and their mom who's trying her best to be a good sport about it all! So I've gotten through Tuesday of the second week....surely I can make it until Monday when school kitchen reopens! :-}