A Little Comida for Thought

Do you like Mexican food? I love it. In America and worldwide, I think it's really more than a fad. One of my favorite, unique memories of my time studying abroad in France with Regent Law, was finding a Mexican restaurant within days! It was pretty cool to read a menu in français, which was trying to describe typical Mexican food dishes. Très bien!

And actually, to some people, like myself, Mexican food is a necessity. Dare I say it? Yes, I will just say it. The world, the entire world, would simply not be the same without comida Mexicana! Am I biased? Aren't we all at some point? [Insert big smile here].

So, this blog is somewhat focused on food, Mexican food, that is, because it is one of the things I have missed pretty much everyday since I moved to Virginia. I have visited a good variety of the Mexican restaurants in the area, but well, let's just say they don't at all compare to the real, authentic comida Mexicana I grew up enjoying, freshly prepared by my abuelita, my tias, or by my wonderful mami.

But, since unfortunately I cannot eat any of my familia's authentic Mexican food while I'm three-thousand miles away, I have resorted to cooking myself. It's been interesting because it is like artwork - every meal requires time and creativity. And most of the time I have things shipped from home since I cannot find them locally. Like queso cotija (a yummy Mexican cheese) or fresh, homemade flour tortillas. If you've never had homemade flour or corn tortillas, I am sooo sorry for you! Maybe someday you can have some good amigos invite you to enter into the delicacy of authentic tortillas. (Warning: once you enjoy authentic flour tortillas, any substitute will be like eating cardboard!)

Today I didn't have tons of time to cook, so I made myself a yummy, quesadilla (with some of my priceless flour tortillas from home) to go along with some very typical sopa de coditos (think of the traditional American mac n'cheese, except no cheese and instead flavorful pasta soup). And of course I added some extra zest to it: some of my tia's salsa de chiles asados (awesome salsa made with sauteed dried chiles) and last but absolutely not least, fresh diced avocado. Muy delicioso, as pictured in the opening picture to this blog!

Also, earlier this week, I was very grateful for finding amazing looking strawberries at the grocery store and when I was about to wash them, I realized they were not only shipped from the bountiful California, but they were grown in Mexico. No wonder! Again, I do admit I am pretty biased, but the variety of fresh produce available since I have been in Virginia has not been of the greatest quality. Why? Well, when you grow up most of your life having literally freshly-picked-off-the-fields lettuce, tomatoes, and other veggies and fruits, it makes you almost cry when the fruit and vegetables found in the produce aisle do not look in the greatest condition.

Why do I share all of this? Well, first just to add some variety to my posts, and hopefully to encourage people to try some authentic comida mexicana at least at some point in their life.

But most importantly, I share it because Mexican food makes me remember my time in Mexico, not just during the summer as an intern with the Center for Global Justice (see: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schlaw/globaljustice/intern_profiles.cfm), but also during this past Christmas break at home. My family lives on the Mexico/Arizona border, and one day while in Mexico and waiting in line to come back to the United States, I took the following picture.

If you have never visited Mexico, hopefully you will go someday and experience the beautiful culture of that country. But it is guaranteed that you will also witness the tremendous needs that exist. It breaks my heart to think that so many things that are not at all right, in any way or form, happen all around that country. Every single day.

This child plays a broken harmonica to raise money to help his family. He should not have to do that -- he should be free to be a child and play a harmonica only because he wants to, not because he has a financial responsibility for his family at his very young age . I know there are many factors that come into play in this type of situation such as poverty and government corruption. However, my key concern remains on that child. My concern is on the children of Mexico, the US, and worldwide. What can I do to make sure that children can live their lives protected as children? I hope (and pray) to someday, soon, be equipped to make a positive difference and have a tangible answer to that question.

For now, maybe next time you crave Mexican food, like I do pretty much daily, please remember to pray for the children of Mexico. And of other countries worldwide. Join me in stopping, just for a bit, to process about how blessed we are, and to realize how much we have to be thankful for.

Until next time.