Tamales Saludables

Pensando en dias pasados en El Salvador, recuerdo que alegre se ponía la gente cuando se anunciaba que había tamales. Los de ellos eran grandes, gruesos, y envueltos en huerta de plátano. Tenian un sabor diferente a los que hacía mi mama cuando yo era niña, cuales estaban envueltos en tuza de maíz. Creo que la diferencia en sabor era debido a la masa, cual era preparada diferente, y a la diferencia en sabor de la envolutura.

En los EEUU, los tamales se consideran una comida mala para la salud debido a su alto contenido de grasa y sal. Pero en un taller de Tamales Saludables, aprendí que hay maneras de hacer tamales sabrosos y saludables. Durante un reciente viaje, compartí estas recetas con una amiga Salvadoreña, quein gozo mucho de ellas.

Y aquí estan las recetas para los tamales saludables

TAMALITOS DEL NORTE

Rinde aproximadamente 354 tamales de pulgada

El Relleno

• 1 libra de pollo deshebrado
• 2 chiles Anchos grandes, sin semillas ni venas
• 2 chiles Guajillos, sin semillas ni venas
• 2 chiles Pasillas, sin semillas ni venas (opcional)
• 2 dientes de ajo
• 3/4 cucharita de comino molido
• 1 taza de caldo de pollo
• Sal al gusto

La Masa

Use masa fresca, o siga las instrucciones en el paquete de maseca

• 1 libra de masa para tamales (2 tazas)
• 4 1/2 onzas de Margarina “Smart Balance” O 3/4 taza de aceite de cartamo O 3/4 taza de aceite de oliva
• 3 cucharadas de la salsa de chile reservada
• Sal al gusto

Aproximadamente 36 tuzas cortadas a la mitad

(3 pulgadas de ancho, suavizadas en agua y secadas)

1. Remoje los chiles en agua hasta que se ablanden. Drenelos.
2. En la liquadora, ponga los chiles, el ajo, y 1/2 taza de caldo de pollo, y mezcle bien.
3. En una olla, ponga la carne de pollo, agrege toda menos 3 cucharadas de la salsa, y 1/2 taza del caldo. Sazone con sal y comino, y cocine sobre una llama mediana, meneando ocasionalmente, hasta que la salsa quede bien sazonada y un poco reducida.
4. Ajuste los sazones y ponga a un lado a enfriar.
5. En un recipiente grande, mezcle la masa con la margarina (o aceite, si usando), las 3 cucharadas de salsa de chile reservada, y aproximadamente 1/3 taza de caldo con la mano, o con una batidora eléctrica hastra que todos los ingredientes esten bien incorporados. Agregue sal si es necesario.
6. Para cocinar a vapor, proteja la olla agregando una capa de tuza abajo con un plato hondo de sopa invertida encima en medio. Ponga sobre una llama mediana.
7. Unte 1 cucharada copetiada de masa en una capa delgada sobre la parte hancha entera de arriba de la hoja y hasta aproximadamente 4 pulgadas de alto.
8. Agregue el relleno y doble un bordo de la tuza sobre la otra. (la masa del borde sobrepuesta se pegara y ayudara a cerrar la hoja con seguridad. Sobredoble la punta de la tuza hacia arriba para cubrir la parte sobrepuesta.)
9. Empalme los tamales en una capa circular, la primera capa apoyada en un angulo suave por el plato hondo invertido. (Agruegue un poco de agua para poder cocinar a vapor, aproximadamente una pulgada de agua)
10. Cubra la olla y cocine a vapor sobre una llama alta por aproximadamente 50 minutos. El tamal esta hecho cuando la masa se separa bien de la tuza.

Receta de Chef Ana Martinez: http://www.egan-martinez.com

RELLENOS ALTERNATIVOS DE TAMAL

Pollo con Tomatillo Asado

• Pollo herbido, sin huesos y deshebrada
• 8 Tomatillos, cortadas en trozos
• 1/2 Cebolla Amarilla grande, cortada en trozos
• 4 chiles Serrano, con tallos quitados
• 4 dientes de Ajo, pelados
• Cilantro fresco para dar sabor, hojas y tallos
• Sal al gusto

Coloque las verduras en una bandeja untada con aceite de cartamo o de oliva. Ponga en el horno precalentado, 375 F, hasta que esten suaves y un poco dorados. Ponga las verduras cocidas en la liquadora con cilantro fresco. Mezcle hasta obtener una textura fina. Agregue a la mitad del pollo deshebrado.

Frijoles con Salsa de Chile y Queso Panela (opción vegetariana)

Prepare Frijoles sin agregar grasa, vea receta abajo. Machaque los frijoles un poco, agregando al gusto la salsa de chile de la receta listada en Tamalitos del Norte. Agregue sal al gusto. Ponga un trozito de queso Panela sobre el relleno de frijol de cada tamal.

Low-Fat Pinto Beans Recipe

Rinde 10 porciones de 5 onzas cada una

• 3 tazas Frijoles pintos
• 9-12 tazas Agua Caliente
• 2 dientes de Ajo
• 1/2 cucharadita de Sal
• 2 Tomates medianos, picados (o 6 tomates enteros enlatados)
• 1/2 – 3/4 taza Cilantro molido
• 2 Chiles picantes, como jalapeño (opcional)
• 1/2 Cebolla pequeña, picada

Limpie y lave los frijoles en un colador bajo el chorro del agua. Ponga 6 tazas de agua caliente de la llave en una olla grande a fuego lento. Agregue los frijoles y el ajo; cubriendola (agregue agua si es necesario). Deje cocer por 1 1/2 horas, y agregue más agua si es necesario. Agregue la sal y los demás ingredientes. Saque los dientes de ajo si gusta. Tenga los frijoles al fuego por otra 1/2 hora.

Nota: Los frijoles se pueden tomar de 2 a 3 horas para cocerse, dependiendo del tipo de olla y los frijoles.

Healthy Tamales

Looking back at my days in El Salvador, I remember how excited people would get about tamales. Theirs were large, thick, and wrapped in banana tree leaves. They tasted different than the ones my mom used to make when I was a child, which were wrapped in corn husks. I think the difference in taste had to do with both masa (corn dough) preparation, as well as the taste difference of the wrapping.

In the US, tamales are generally seen as an unhealthy menu item due to the fat and salt content. But at a Healthy Tamale workshop, I learned that there are ways of making tasty, healthy tamales. During a recent trip, I shared these recipes with a Salvadoran friend, who really enjoyed them.

So here are the recipes for healthy tamales

TAMALITOS DEL NORTE (Northern tamales)

Makes about 354 inch tamales

The Filling

• 1 pound chicken meat (thighs or breasts) shredded
• 2 large Ancho chilies, seeds and veins removed
• 2 Guajillo chilies, seeds and veins removed
• 2 Pasilla chilies, seeds and veins removed (optional)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, crushed
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Salt to taste

The Masa

Use either fresh dough, or follow recipe on the corn flour package

• 1 pound tamal dough (about 2 cups)
• 4 1/2 ounces Margarine “Smart Balance” OR 3/4 cup canola oil OR 3/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons of reserved chile sauce
• Salt to taste

About 36 halved corn husks

(about 3 inches wide at the top, softened in water, drained, patted dry)

1. Soak the chilies in water until soft. Drain them.
2. In a blender, put the chilies, garlic, and 1/2 cup of the chicken broth, and blend well.
3. In a saucepan, put the chicken meat, add all but 3 tablespoons of the sauce, and 1/2 cup of the broth. Season with salt and cumin, and cook over medium heat, stirring from time to time, until well seasoned and the sauce is slightly reduced.
4. Adjust the season and set aside to cool.
5. In a large bowl, mix the masa with the margarine (or oil, if using), the reserve 3 tablespoons of chilies sauce, and about 1/3 cup of the broth with your hand, or an electric mixer until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Add salt if necessary.
6. Line the top of the steamer with some of the corn husks and place an inverted soup plate in the middle. Set over medium heat.
7. Spread 1 rounded tablespoon of the dough very thinly over the entire width of the top and for about 4 inches.
8. Put the filling and fold one edge of the husk over the other. (the overlapping masa will stick and help to close the leaf securely. Double the point of the husk up to cover the seam.)
9. Stack the tamales in circular layer, the first layer supported at a gentile angle by the top of the plate. (Add a little water to steam cook, about an inch of water)
10. Cover the steamer and cook over high heat for about 50 minutes. The tamal is cooked when the dough separates cleanly from the husk.

Recipe provided by Chef Ana Martinez: http://www.egan-martinez.com

ALTERNATIVE TAMALE FILLINGS

Chicken with Roasted Tomatillo

• Stewed Chicken, deboned and shredded
• 8 Tomatillos, cut in wedges
• 1/2 large Yellow Onion, cut in wedges
• 4 Serrano peppers, with stems removed
• 4 cloves Garlic, peeled
• Fresh cilantro to taste, leaves and stems
• Salt to taste

Spread vegetables on a sheet pan rubbed with canola or olive oil. Place in a preheated oven, 375 F, until soft and lightly browned. Place cooked vegetables in a blender with fresh cilantro. Blend until smooth. Add to half of shredded chicken.

Beans with Chile Sauce and Panela Cheese (vegetarian option)

Prepare Beans without added fat, see recipe below. Mash beans slightly, adding chili sauce from Tamalitos del Norte Recipe to taste. Salt to taste. Add a strip of Panela cheese on top of the bean filling for each tamal.

Low-Fat Pinto Beans Recipe

Yields 10 servings; 5 ounces per serving

• 3 cups Dry pinto beans
• 9-12 cups Hot water
• 2 medium Garlic cloves (whole)
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 2 medium Fresh tomatoes, chopped (or 6 canned whole tomatoes)
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup Chopped coriander
• 2 Hot jalapeño peppers (optional)
• 1/2 small Chopped onion

Clean and wash beans under running water using a colander. Place 6 cups of hot tap water in a stockpot or large saucepan on top of the stove on low heat. Add beans and garlic cloves; cover (add extra water as needed). Cook for 1 1/2 hours (if necessary add extra water). Add salt. Remove garlic cloves if desired. Add remaining ingredients. Cook for 1/2 hour longer.

Note: Beans may take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours to cook, depending on type of pot used and tenderness of beans.

Comment on Multi-cultural Hatred

The attack on multi-culturalism really must stop. From the shooting in AZ that took down several, including Rep. Gifford, to the shooting  & bombing that took down innocents in Norway – hatred of diversity is on the rise … And it must stop. Hatred of certain groups will lead to hatred of all, and it could become an unstoppable wave that could annihilate humanity. How can others not be as tired as I am of the hatred and violence? The only way it can be stopped is with proactive (not just idle) acceptance and promotion of cultural and ethnic diversity.

Pineapple Vinegar / Vinagre de Piña

To celebrate the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary, our local RPCV chapter held a global potluck. For our contribution, a fellow returned volunteer and I wanted to make authentic pupusas with authentic curtido and authentic salsa. We wanted everything to have an authentic flavor because it has been our experience that these items do not taste authentic at sit-down restaurants. The difficulty in making the curtido was was that the pineapple vinegar was not readily available. Luckily, one of my friends had a recipe for it. The vinegar was quite delicious, and it can be changed to fit your tastes. Here is the recipe I used, in English. Enjoy!!!

(My friend’s mom states that the vinegar can be ready to use the same day, and that it can be kept refrigerated for up to a month, depending on how much apple cider vinegar you add to the recipe – half a cup of apple cider vinegar is enough for a 48-64 oz glass jar. The apple cider vinegar is necessary to help the pineapple start the acidifying process, fermentation.)

Para celebrar el 50mo aniversario del Cuerpo de Paz, nuestro grupo local de RPCV hizo una fiesta en donde todos trajimos diversos platillos de lugares globales. Por nuestra parte, una compañera voluntaria y yo quisimos hacer pupusas autenticas, curtido autentico, y salsa autentica. Quisimos que todo tuviera un sabor autentico porque en nuestra experiencia estas cosas no tienen un sabor autentico en los restaurantes. La dificultad en hacer el curtido esta en que el vinagre de piña no se encuentra ya hecho. Por suerte, uno de mis amigos tuvo la receta. El vinagre estuvo muy delicioso, y se puede cambiar al gusto. Aqui esta la receta que use, en Español. ¡¡¡Buen provecho!!!

(La madre de mi amigo dice que el vinagre se puede hacer y usar el mismo dia, y que se puede mantener en el refrigerador hasta un mes, dependiendo de cuanto vinagre de sidra le agrega a la receta – media taza de vinagre de sidra es suficiente para una jara de vidrio de 48-64 oz. El vinagre de sidra le ayuda a la piña fermentarse.)

Exodus, Taboos, & Sharing a Piece of the Pie

A View from the Other Side of the Tracks

My writings are not dogmatic – simply introspective. Although my writings rarely reflect bible passages, the prescribed readings for Sunday, March 27, 2011, paralleled well with several manifestations in my life that same weekend. In Exodus, the Israelites marched through the Egyptian desert, looking for water, and questioned Yahweh’s presence amongst them (17: 3-7). Through John, we are told that although Jews did not associate with Samaritans, Jesus, broke the taboo by asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water from the well (4:5-42). In Psalms, the Hebrews rejoice Yahweh’s presence, and advise, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (95:1-2, 6-9). And in Romans, Paul wrote that God proved his love for humankind by giving us what he most loved, his son, and that we, too, can show the love God’s spirit poured into our hearts through everything we do (5:1-2, 5-8).

If today you hear his voice … Journey through the “Darien Gap”

This past Saturday morning, the Cesar Chavez march rerouted my bus and, consequentially, my routine for getting to work. Home and work are near each other, but are separated by an area of ill repute, through which pedestrian travel is generally inadvisable, especially for women. The option of walking through forbidden land reminded me of a similar choice I faced while in Central America. During my time as a volunteer, I visited several countries by bus. When I researched land travel into South America, I encountered an obstacle known as the Darien Gap. It is the missing link in the Pan-American Highway between Panama, Central America and Colombia, South America.

Places that are “forgotten” by civilization tend to have darkness. The Darien Gap is an untamed wilderness currently subject to violence and kidnappings due to civil war. To enter safely into South America, I had to launch myself into the air, by plane, to travel between safety zones. Similarly, to travel between the safety zones of Barrio and Downtown, civilized folk cross the “Darien Gap” of the Westside by launching themselves into the air, by way of overpasses.

I never questioned my habit of traveling these overpasses, though I always wondered the identity of the buildings below. Habit altered my perception of distance; Downtown seemed far enough from the Barrio to warrant vehicular travel. The unexpected break from routine this weekend led to my adventures into the “Darien Gap” between old Westside and Downtown.

The first thought provoker of my day was the unexpected number of taxis, charter coaches, and tourist buses traveling in my opposite direction. Those were the people that were getting ready to participate in the Cesar Chavez march, and they were avoiding the “Darien Gap” of the Westside in an upscale fashion. That sort of came across as adding insult to injury, as if riders inside were saying, “OMG – look at us – we’re going into the Westside, where the poor people live – OMG, I’ve never been here – Let’s take a picture with my iPhone so we can put it on Facebook – This is so exciting!” With those thoughts in my head, I approached the Commerce under-bridge haltingly, but with my best badass-girl-don’t-mess-with-me-attitude impersonation I could muster; this was forbidden land, and I, a lone woman, was about to cross it on foot.

I was surprised by the virtual ghost town found under the Commerce bridge, and by its likeness to a barren dessert; it is void of pedestrians and loiterers, and has little traffic. The area is perfect for its current use – a dirt parking lot for the Bexar County Jail and related jail bond establishments. These buildings provoked a second thought – that the presence of these buildings is why the Barrio still has a bad reputation; the area is literally teeming with undesirables outside the law, albeit safely under lock and key. I happened to glance into the storefront window of a jail bond place, and managed to get the scare of my life; posted were the criminal WANTED ads. These visual aids of the types of ruffians housed inside the jail were scarier than any haunted house or scary movie I’ve experienced; these were criminals, they were real, and they were loose. While my blood ran cold, a police car cruised by; the area was under heavy surveillance, which made me feel safe.

Next to the jail is a handsome building I’ve admired from the overpass my whole life. I took this opportunity to “meet” the building face to face. For information, I approached a man who had just delivered La Prensa newspapers inside. The beautiful building I mistook for abandoned actually houses Generations Federal Credit Union headquarters. Their building is the historic, former International & Great Northern Railroad (I&GN) depot, designed by Harvey L. Page. This architecturally significant gem is found in the “Darien Gap” of the old Westside (though the page lists it as Downtown). Directly across the street from the credit union is AVANCE, which provides parent education programs. The proximity of these two building to the county jail provoked my thoughts a third time.

Maybe it’s just me, but isn’t it a little ironic that we taunt criminals with a bank at arms reach? It’s sort of like waving a brownie in front of a dieting diabetic. And isn’t it a little condescending, or perpetuating a self-fullfilling prophesy, to teach parenting skills next to the jail? I mean, what kind of message is being sent? (And yes, I can understand if another, more appropriate space was not available.) This is my imagined scenario of a parenting class: “Ok, parents, follow me up here to the balcony. Now, look over there. You see that? That is the county jail. And over here? That is a bank. If you fail as a parent, your kid is going to break into the bank and end up in jail. But, if you are successful, your kid will be a law-enforcer and hero, and will be able to put money in the bank. And if you are semi successful? Well, then, your kid will end up down there, looking for day labor at Cattleman Square. They may end up with money in their pocket, but maybe not enough for the bank. So, do you want your kids behind bars, or outside the bars? Destiny is in your hands.”

As I neared the end of the bridge, a little past the credit union, I encountered the “undesirables,” whose eyebrows were raised by my feminine presence, though maybe they thought I was an undercover agent of some sort. These “undesirables” were not criminals; they were simply day laborers looking for work . Though they probably did not present danger, I felt uncomfortable being the only female for several blocks. A police car cruised by again, reminding me safety was near.

By the time I got to work, only twenty minutes had elapsed since I left the house. Normally, I waited fifteen minutes for a five-minute bus trip. The journey across the Westside “Darien Gap” dissolved the illusion of danger and distance.

From work, later that morning, I heard and saw the Cesar Chavez marchers. From previous experience, I knew they had crossed the “Darien Gap” by way of bridge, the one that crosses over a gully and connects the Guadalupe area housing projects to a funeral home and hourly-rate motel. They then turn a corner to march in front of UTSA Downtown. No doubt, their route is a lot more scenic, but how awesome would it have been if they had marched by the jail, the historic railroad station, AVANCE, and Cattleman Square? I think they would have been in closer solidarity with La Raza if they had; it would have brought attention to the fact that we still need to make long strides in the areas of workers’ rights and civil rights. I think it is great that La Raza wants to be university bound, but their route makes it seem like the only frontiers left to conquer are the ones in higher education. However, I can understand if La Raza chose their route simply for eye-pleasing, nerve-easing reasons. I mean, who wants to freak out high school kids with pictures of escaped convicts?

On Sunday, I tried to repeat my adventure under a different overpass. A train, however, obstructed my path. I took my time climbing the bridge; I realized the vast expanse of railroad tracks below would have challenged my trip. Many of the houses nearby were cute, but dilapidated. Businesses which once thrived had closed, the exception being Toudouze, a wholesale supply warehouse. Also, a good portion of the land below was fenced off and designated private property by either the railroad or the university. I enjoyed my trip up into the air, and the delicious, touristy aromas of the restaurants near the university. As my normal bus caught up to me, I made a choice right then to never use the bus again to get to work – unless I had a heavy load to carry, or if the weather was bad. Again, I reached my work in twenty minutes. When I told my mother this, she could not believe me; she joked that I must have flown. Undoubtedly, the bridges have altered her sense of distance, too.

Later that day at work, a woman showed up from a nearby town. She had traveled fifty miles out of her way to make a donation. Pie-making had made her prosperous and happy, and she wanted to share her piece of the pie through mission. In a way, she had crossed her own “Darien Gap,” too – that of time and distance away from home – to help those in need.

If Today You Hear His Voice … Give Your Heart

Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman was a very big deal because Hebrews considered Samaria and its inhabitants a source of contamination; hence, this is a story of breaking the walls of segregation. It’s interesting that this reading came on the weekend of my very own Cesar Chavez march through the Westside’s “Darien Gap.” People’s avoidance of this area despite safety, and some people’s fear of crossing into the Westside in general, makes me think this area is viewed as a source of contamination. How can people help but feel suppressed when their home and its population are viewed as filth? Are the overpass bridges providing safety, or flagging danger? Why are youth in the Barrio strongly encouraged to become law enforcers? There is nothing wrong with police, but why are we encouraging them so strongly in this direction and not in others? Perhaps it’s because the prison is literally in our backyards. I feel the indirect message being sent is, “you people are the problem; clean up your own mess.”

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: “whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in [her] a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:14). I hope I’m not coming across as extremely negative and judgmental about the different structures in my micro-society. My intention is to give one insider’s view of how the structures in this micro-society can affect lives negatively, whether directly or indirectly. Perhaps the situation can somehow be improved, whether here or in similar, parallel micro-worlds, by understanding the circumstances.

In a way, a spring of water has already been born in me. I now understand that my local “Darien Gap” is nothing more than a barren, isolated wasteland, safe from most harm (thanks to the police). Though I feel safe crossing this area by day, nighttime is a separate issue; danger lurks most commonly in darkness. But now, at least, I can’t be gripped by an irrational fear of the unknown in this short span of land between home and work, which translates into a lighter carbon footprint, money in the pocket, and a greater sense of pride for my community. Maybe, eventually, I will feel safe or comfortable enough to join the men at the day labor site, but don’t hold your breath.

I love Psalm 95 because it serves as a reminder to keep our ears open to God’s voice in our daily lives. For this reason, it is the Invitatory Psalm of the Liturgy of the Hours for the Monastic Office – the structured prayers recited during specific times of day by religious. I did not have Psalm 95 in my head when I began my day on Saturday, the day of my exodus, but I’m very glad I was open to the option of crossing my local “Darien Gap.” Likewise, I doubt the donor that came to my work was inspired to donate because of Psalm 95, however, something called her to help, and she was open to responding regardless of the distance. At Mass, the priest gave us some homework. He said: “All the small things you do, do them with extraordinary love.”

Thank you, reader, for letting me share my journey and musings with you; at the moment, that is as much of the pie as I can share. Also, please remember to keep your ears, eyes, and minds open to the callings of life, and open your mouth in the name of justice. With this, I leave you with Psalm 95. You can click on the MP3 on this page to hear it: http://www.spiritandsong.com/compositions/76049

A Source of Discrimination & Segregation

To Learn about the caste system in Latin America, watch PBS’s “When Worlds Collide.” For a synopsis, visit: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/when-worlds-collide/education/lesson-2.html

Dr. Gabor Maté on Democracy Now!

Dr. Gabor Maté on the Stress-Disease Connection, Addiction, Attention Deficit Disorder and the Destruction of American Childhood.

This show is interesting. From a cultural perspective, I can see why people in the US have more family problems than those of more traditional countries.

Homelessness Here & There: A Call to Care

The homeless are everywhere – sometimes seen and sometimes not. In Geneva, they are unseen, but present. From Rome and Paris to New York and L.A., they are seen panhandling and loitering wherever they can. Closer to home, I come across them on street corners and parks, and the buses I ride traverse bridges that shelter them.

Almost always, the homeless are strangers.

The Homeless Neighbor Here

The other day, while walking in my neighborhood, I came across my mother walking alongside an older lady pushing a cart. I thought nothing of the encounter; my mom often socializes along the street while running errands on foot. As soon as she spotted me, though, she called urgently.

The lady was newly arrived to the neighborhood after decades of absence; someone coming from Houston had dropped her off at a local church. The lady had poor sight and hearing, but had strong persuasive skills. “I need help finding my friends – Toña y Lupe; they live right here, just across the street from the high school.” Just like that – no last name, no address, no phone number.

“Lead her by the cart while I ask people along the street if they know her friends or recognize her,” said my mother. Although the lady’s indications seemed simple, we came to discover that the map in her head was wrong.

After much trial and error, we found the house. Everyone rejoiced, and Toña agreed to care for the lady. During the exchange between Toña and my mother, I learned that the lady – Maria Dolores Villarreal, known in the neighborhood as Sister Dolores – had worked with migrants in the 1980s, during amnesty, by helping them with their paperwork for residency. That was how Toña and Dolores had met. The mystery remained as to why Sister Dolores was not protected by her congregation.

At the conclusion of our search, I walked away with mixed feelings. Why had the lady been abandoned at the church doorstep? Why did no one care after her despite her work for the church? I was glad, however, that Toña’s family felt enough gratitude towards Dolores as to allow her to stay with them. Part of me wondered if I, too, would end up on the street someday.

The hypocrisy of people’s gratitude slapped me on the face the following day. The lady had been found back at the church, and when she was returned to Toña’s house, she was turned away. That’s gratitude for you; Toña’s entire family had acquired citizenship via Dolores, and this was how Dolores was paid in return.

One thought came to mind: This never would have happened in El Salvador! Sure there are homeless there. The difference is that Salvadorans have more heart and know how to express gratitude (by action, if not by word). My memories were triggered.

The Homeless Neighbor There

When I was a volunteer, one of my friends converted her empty chicken coop into a shelter for an elderly gentleman. A chicken coop may sound like an inhumane place to shelter someone, but no other space was available. My friend explained that the old man had no one in the world to take care of him, so she took on the responsibility. The man was immobile, could barely speak, rarely felt hungry, and could not keep himself clean – the man was waiting for death. When the time came, as regulated by custom, the whole community attended his wake.

When I walked the dirt paths of my community, I would often come across an elderly woman with a toddler. I was amazed that the toddler was made to walk so much, and that the woman spent little time at home. One day, I expressed my curiosity to a friend. The child had been left in the woman’s care without a cent of financial contribution from the parents. The woman was not simply visiting friends, as I had initially assumed, but was relying on the culture of hospitality in order to survive. Hospitality came to her in the form of a cup of milk, an egg, or whatever foodstuff the host had to offer. (I, too, was given that sort of hospitality.)

After a three year absence, I revisited my old community. Although some of the infrastructure and available services had changed, the culture of hospitality had not. I reencountered the roaming woman with a little girl that would soon be ready for school. Will the girl be able to attend school? I was amazed that the girl looked as healthy as she did. They were visiting a friend of mine, sharing a cup of cold milk.

Towards the end of my stay there, I visited another friend of mine. In the corner of her porch was a cot piled with rags. The rags moved; I assumed there were chickens or cats under there. “Oh, the old man has waked,” she said off hand. I looked over and distinguished a frail form curled up in oversized clothes. “What is he doing there?” “He’s really sick and there is no one else to care after him,” she explained.

Perspective Between Here & There

Before my departure back to the US, news circulated that morning of the old man’s death. People made plans to attend the wake. If I grow old and have no one to care after me, will anyone show such open hearted generosity and hospitality? In the US, based on many observances and experiences, the most likely answer is no. The US may have social services, but that is simply a faceless, removed form of “care” – the kind of care that says, “You may be deserving of it, but I don’t want to get personally involved to find out if you do or not.”

The only way to truly see the face of poverty is to get personally involved. When we don’t, we cheat ourselves into thinking that poverty does not exist. In the past, when I have gone to work early, I would cheat myself into thinking that the people in the park were simply out enjoying the weather. After Thanksgiving, our house had lots of leftovers, which I knew would go bad if not consumed fast. To keep the food from going to waste, I made turkey sandwiches and stuffed them in a bag with extra cans of soda pop. I hoped to catch the individuals at the park, but by 8 AM they had already left; only one man remained.

I approached the man sitting at the bench. As I got closer, I realized he was sleeping. I figured I would leave the sack by his side, but the rustle of the bag wakened him. When he looked up at me, the left side of his face was bandaged and bloody. I did not want him to think I was a threat, so instead of saying anything, I simply offered the bag. He took it, said thank you, and put it beside him. As I walked away, though, I heard him open the bag to investigate its contents. I wondered if the man had gotten himself in trouble, or if he was an innocent victim of someone’s violent behavior.

The experience of helping the lost elderly lady and the injured man in the park left me wondering about their lives. Even now I continue to think about them. Are they okay? Have they fared any better? What will become of them? I would have never asked myself these kinds of questions had I not gotten personally involved.

Currently, the Kyoto Protocol is in danger of falling apart due to the US’s failure to become involved in protecting the environment. The US as an entity is apathetic of others. Here we are discussing how much taxes people should pay while whole nations are in danger of extinction due to melting ice caps. As a whole, the US can’t fathom a poor family living in a bamboo hut in the pacific islands. “Who cares so long as I am not affected,” I can hear people saying. This kind of attitude really means that it is time for us to start caring.

Start caring. Get involved. Start small if you have to; give away those leftovers you know are going to end up getting thrown out. Volunteer at a shelter, but don’t get stuck talking to other volunteers; get to know the residents by talking to them. If you are in school or belong to a church (or even at work!), see what volunteer activities your organization has to offer. Organize an activity if none are available.

Or maybe you’re the type that’s ready to jump in head first. Do it! Join a national or international volunteer organization; many organizations don’t have an age limit, or have programs for different ages. AmeriCorps and Peace Corps are awesome! Or join something else that strikes your fancy.

The main point is: we need to start caring, we need to start doing, and we must do so now.