Bilingual In The Boonies » cultura

“…but, They Have Free Health Care and Education…”

Carrie — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:59:13 +0000

Rules in Cuba

Dear free-born, democratic country-living American friend…or stranger, here is something you can read before you once again utter the statement: “But at least in Cuba they have free health care and free education.”

Not really true. And at what cost?

Check out the photos from a 6th grade classroom in the Rocky Mountain state. They were sent by a friend whose daughter is on the hunt for a Middle School, and given that I’m their Cuban friend, they forwarded the photos.

I love them.

Check out some rules:

No Talking Bad About the Government
Must use Cash. No Mastercard/Visa
Need Government Authority to Create a Group
Anything You Write for Publication Must be Government Approved
No Computers
No Microwaves
No ATMs

I am guessing the little American school children are horrified to learn there also are no iPods, no Phineas and Ferb and no Wii. And, that there is some dudes beyond Mom and Dad who are offering up ridiculous rules.

My friend’s note:
“The teacher has the students actually play out scenarios… She said there were some pretty unhappy students under Castro, but a few escaped.”

Oh hells yeah, I would want to escape to.

Glad my family did.

Anyway, happy to see a stark and realistic picture of Cuba’s daily reality being painted.

And, perhaps one day, I will live to see more Cubans standing up for themselves and creating change.

Cause, really, living without a DVR would suck.

The New Southern-Latino Table, a Melding

Carrie — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:54:35 +0000

Author is coming to Nashville.

Hey, American South, look what is happening: A new cuisine is emerging, born of Southern and Latino cultures.

Que?

Tamales stuffed with greens, corn ice cream topped with hot praline sauce, brownies with chile, sweet potato and plaintain casserole.

Welcome to El Nuevo South.

The ingredients of our people are joyfully intermingling with traditional Southern staples and celebrated in a new cook book, The New Southern-Latino Table: Recipes that Bring Together the Bold and Beloved Flavors of Latin America & the American South, by Sandra A. Gutierrez.

The 150 original recipes explore the melding of cultures, ingredients and cooking techniques of more than 20 Latin American countries with that of the traditional American South.

We can only say Wepa, Y’all, to that.

Gutierrez, a food writer and culinary instructor from Cary, N.C., will be in Nashville this month during the Southern Festival of Books. She will be on a panel entitled “Meet Me in The Kitchen — Recipes for the New World Cook” from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16 in Room 30 of Legislative Plaza. (Be sure to check the online schedule just in case anything changes between now and then.)

I spoke to Gutierrez, who was raised in Guatemala and the United States, about the book and she shared some of her original recipes on the Tiki Tiki. So, head over there, print them out and share, share, share them. (And then buy the book.)

You also can connect with Gutierrez at her site, Sandra’s Kitchen Studio, and on her Facebook page.

I leave you with this image of Guava Layer Cake with Cream Chese Frosting from the book, an image that made me dream of los bakeries in Miami and made me believe I can make this Cuban- and Southern-blended cake for my own daughter, a Cuban-ish girl born and raised in the American South — a perfect melding of cultures. Like the recipes in the book.

From "The New Southern-Latino Table: Recipes that Bring Together the Bold and Beloved Flavors of Latin America & the American South." by Sandra A. Gutierrez. Used by permission, University of North Carolina Press.

Nothing like an American in a Latino Family

Carrie — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:16:00 +0000

A month before we got married, my husband and I were visiting Miami and staying with my aunt. She and I were talking. I don’t remember about what when my future husband said: “Hey, stop arguing!”

My aunt and I answered at the same time.

“We’re not arguing,” I said, surprised he thought we were.

“Eh, we’re not fighting. We’re talking Cuban,” my aunt said.

I cannot tell you how many times my husband has repeated that story. He tells it everytime someone asks him what it is like for a nice California boy with Pioneer stock to marry into a Cuban family.

With that story in mind, watch this trailer for an upcoming holiday movie called Nothing Like the Holidays. Debra Messing, muy gringa character, is married to John Leguizamo and he’s got a big nutty Latino family. Of course.

During a meal scene, Messing leans into Leguizamo: “Why is everybody fighting?”

He explains: “Oh, they’re not fighting. We’re conversating.”

My husband will love that scene.

I have been sorely disappointed by “ethnic family dramas” ala Hollywood, save for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love. Remember Cane? Urgh. But we’ll give this one a shot. It looks funny and sweet. If anything, it’ll be nice to see people who are kinda, sorta like you on the big screen.

A genius name: Butaca TV

Carrie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:25:00 +0000

Butaca = easy chair.

At my grandparents’ house there were two butacas. If they wanted in, you got out. Pronto. My grandmother’s butaca spun and rocked and if you tipped yourself back too far, you risked death by head smashing on the Terrazzo.

Word is Butaca TV soon will be launching a beta version to allow viewers to watch Latin American movies and shows, and talk about them, on-line.

Some services will be offered for a fee and some for free.

The Butaca tip comes from Juan at Hispanic Trending.

Boo-TAH-CA.
Love that word.

A Cookbook and Cubans, Cubans, Cubans Everywhere

Carrie — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Car’ai, this post was intended to be longer and poetic and maybe even funny, but I’m headed to Geek Squad con PDF problemas. Oy.

So, without the fluff, let me tell you about Marta’s new Cuban cookbook. You know Marta from My Big Fat Cuban Family. If you don’t. Go there now. Hang out, read and be happy you are Cuban, or wish that you were. Buy her fabulous cookbook. Give it as a gift, maybe coupled with one of her aprons and a mojito muddler. (Andy Garcia will have one soon.) Marta is in Southern California.

Next, because it is true there is a Cuban everywhere, let me tell you about A Cuban in London. I have no idea who he is yet, but tripped onto his site yesterday and spent more time than I truly have. It’s beautifully written and the music and poetry he posts is wonderful.

And, while I have been reading Elsa Mora’s blog for a while, I have failed — I mean, really failed — at posting a link from here. I am sorry to have deprived you, if you haven’t already found her. Go look at her beautiful and creative art, her etsy shop and the amazing Oscar dress she designed for herself. Elsa is a multi-talented Cubanita in California with a Hollywood Husband.

Now, I am off, praying to los santos that this computer is not about to fry.
Enjoy the links.

Hey Lupe, wanna play Mall?

Carrie — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:30:00 +0000

from playthings.com:

“Hip-Spanic, Las Vegas, will debut Lateenaz, a line of fashion dolls and play sets designed to embrace Hispanic culture and traditions. Each playset (Salon, Mall, School, Quinceanera) opens up to different play scenes and comes packed with themed accessories, mix-and-match outfits and a “Lateenaz” logo patch. The dolls have realistic body shapes, facial characteristics and hair. Free gear is also available to girls who log into the website with good report cards.”

OK, I can embrace school and quinceanera, and ok, kudos for encouraging good grades, but salon and mall as the only other options?
Please tell me there are other options.
A library? A playground? A congressional office?
Hell, I’d even be happy with a Dream House.

Realistic body types and hair?
I don’t even want to know.

More here with information on Hispanic heritage dolls like Baby Abuelita and some trends and stats.

(photos from Toy Directory Monthly added April 17, 08)