Making Tamales

Aug 31 today Olivia and I learned how to make tamales with our friends who lives in Via Linda Miller. Bethany, who is Darwin’s girl friend from the States, was with us as well, and we girls learned a lot about Tamales and the culture and hard work of the Honduran women.

It took the entire day to make the Tamale dinner for 15 people- including us, and the Awaken team. To start, Mrs. Pavon went to the market to pick up corn, chicken, spices, veggies, banana leaves, and coffee. Mrs.Pavon is a mother of 7 children. The family used to live near the river bank before hurricane Mitch took their home in 1989. Darwin says he can remember what it was like, how horrifying, to watch homes float away in the vicious wind and rain that stole their community. That year, a community was built for the people who lost their home, by the Miller family. The community is called Via Linda Miller, and has hundreds of homes, a Church, near by is a school, nursery, and clinic (that is not yet operating and one of the projects that the Awaken team was working on). Mr. Pavon died years ago when trying to help someone who was in a truck accident. The truck landed onto of him killing him, and leaving Mrs. Pavon and Darwin to raise and care for the family.
The family’s home in Via Linda Miller is simple, and has the basic needs, but is not the kind of home we are used to. There are 3 bed room shared amongst the family of 8. Darwin mostly lives at the Micah leadership home. He is a graduate of the Micah house- he has gone to college both here in Honduras and in England and has a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He is 25 years old and has been supporting his family for years. Now, as a Tegu employee, he hopes that his siblings will follow in his shoes, and continue onto college as well.
I watch his sister Ali as she studies hard in the afternoon. School is from 7 am until 12 pm. A short day. I wonder what kind of dreams the children in the family have. The Disney channel plays from their TV set, and the kids eat tortillas, bean paste, and cheese. Every one drinks sweet ice tea or coffee, and when Mrs. Pavon calls them to the back area, they all help to make the Tamales. Some help more then others. Mrs. Pavon instructs Ali, who must be about 16, to clean the corn. Danielle, who is about 8, separates the banana leaves. Kiki, about 2 years old, makes coffee, and Pedro, who is about 18, hides out in his room. The older brother, Moi, is at work, and older sister Patty, is a teacher. Darwin tells us that everyone helps to keep the family going, and the loss of his father was hard. He explains that he Via Linda Miller community is such a blessing because most of the families in this community- including his- were living in shacks near the river side. Very poor- he describes it- we were very poor.
As I look around their home, I try to imagine 8 people sharing 3 bedrooms and one bathroom, with no running water- the water flows into bins and runs freely only at night, a small sitting room next to a dining room table…this is what we would consider poor. Here in Tegus, Via Linda Miller is considered a new second class

Bethany and I begin to help with the Tamales. I drain the corn and Bethany smoothes it with her hands. We then stir the mixture of flavors and veggies that Mrs. Pavon has prepared. The cooking area is outside with a tin roof above. The stove is built of bricks and wood burning. It is so hot to stir with the fire burning beneath. Mrs. Pavon keeps saying hot sweaty and hot she is. Keep stirring- she tells us, as she dips her finger into to taste the sauce. Chicken boils on the stove, and soon is loose and falls off the bone. Kiki blends the cilantro mix, and Ali stirs the potatoes and rice. Now with all the ingredients cooked, its time to create the Tamale. First the banana leaf is laid out, then a piece of saran wrap, next the corn meal is poured on, then the sauce, then the rice, then the chicken, then the potatoes, then one raisin. Bethany and I take turns folding, pressing, bending the corners, and wrapping the wet hot ingredients into the banana leaf. A corn tie is then tied around the leaf, and like a beautiful green present, the Tamale is ready to be steamed.

The ritual of making these takes me away to another time and place. I think, what if this was home? If these Tamales were my life line? Could I sleep in a cinder block home with flies buzzing in my ear? Could the taste of sweet coffee and perfect Tamale give me such pleasure that I would not nothing more than another bite? Another sip…Olivia begins to cry, and the reality that I am just a visitor- that I have family in Boca, NY, LA…with big homes and loving arms- my reality- my life reminds me that we all hold onto to something dear. I take Olivia from Mrs. Pavon’s strong loving arms. Olivia is happy where ever she is. She loves people- people love her. But she will not grow up in this reality. Hers will be different then the Pavon family’s.

Our guests arrive and we all savor the amazing creation- the Tamales. Everyone is amazed and satisfied.

We actually don’t need as much as we think we need. We just need each other. I am conflicted with wanting more and less and the same time.

Having family, friends, and Tamales- we could be anywhere and be happy. We made 40 Tamales, ate about 30, and took home the rest. Can  you tatse them?