the kitchen

so, it seems that the kitchen is the place to be in cultures all over the world. my host family is certainly no exception. they seem to spend the majority of their time there, and i've taken to hanging out with them in the evening when things are at their busiest. Dora and Cesar run a little shop out of their kitchen, selling snacks and sodas and Dora's fabulous chichen burritos and empanadas. Cesar stays out front, taking orders and watching soccer on the TV they've put out front for the whole villag to gather around. It's Copa America time, and the guys are out every night following the games. Dora bustles around the kitchen, frying an endless supply of flour tortillas on the stovetop. her older daughter Lizette, and niece Maira assist by filling hot tortillas with refried beans (made in the blender), chicken and coleslaw. it's a family affair, and everyone has their job, though there's plenty of time for silliness. the villagers poke their heads in the window to place orders or say hello, and there's always an absurdly adorable child rinning around on loan from his or her mother.

dora makes her own soy milk from scratch, soaking, blending and cooking the beans. can't say i've ever realy been a fan, but this stuff is GOOD! it tastes like it's sppiced with cinnamon, but Cesar assures me it's pure unadulterated soy bean. oh, and for salad dressing try just a splash of fresh lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. fantastic and refreshing!

tomorrow we find out where we'll be heading for the rest of training. we're splitting up into smaller groups, and i'll either be in Orange Walk Town, learning Spanish near the Mexican border, or in the tiny village of Lucky Strike trying (feebly, i'm sure) to speak Kriol.