Convivir is not a word you can translate easily into English. The dictionary says "co-habitate," but for me, the translation is too cold and scientific to truly explain the meaning. The first time I heard this word was right after correcting un montón de compositions my first week at the university. Strange sentences kept popping up in every writing sample: "My family and I coexist every weekend." or "My family and I like to coexist." ¿Qué? You coexist? Don't we all coexist? So I asked a student how she would say it in Spanish. "You know, convivir!"
When you break it down you get two basic Spanish words "con" meaning "with" and "vivir" meaning "to live." So I can see where the google translator had led them astray. The best definition I can think of is "get together," but it feels like so much more.
In Mexico, nobody lives alone. They are conviviring all the time. In fact, my students and friends are shocked to learn I have not lived with my parents for 13 years (minus a few months of recuperating from a broken face).
My friends around the corner have a large seven bedroom casa in downtown Izucar. Not including Coco and her husband who live about 5 miles away, this household consists of a ten family members, six birds, a turtle, and three fish (one died the other day). There's Abuelita Juanita that rules the household, her son, daughter and son-in-law, four grandchildren ages 21, 28, 29, 31, a girlfriend, and great grandson. Of course it saves a ton of money to live together, but I really don't think this is the reason at all. They just truly can't imagine living alone. They have even given me a bedroom to sleep in when we stay up too late singing karaoke.
As Thanksgiving was approaching, I was feeling a little down. Mexicans don't celebrate this holiday, because they were invaded by the Spanish, rather than the Pilgrims, and schools here do not sugar-coat the eradication of their country's native people as our history books tend to do. (For a more accurate bedtime story, see A People's History by Howard Zinn.)
Most years, I don't dwell on the sad true history of Thanksgiving; normally, I go to my aunt and uncle's house for lunch, and then to Grandpa's for dinner, say what I am thankful for, and eat a lot of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and corn. And of course, we convivimos. This year, I had to work from 1 pm to 8 pm, eating tacos for lunch and planning on a street vender cheeseburger for dinner (don't get me wrong, this guy's spicy burgers are to die for).
But before I went to class, Coco informed me that her mother and sister wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner for me; they knew this would be a difficult holiday without my family. So, while I taught how the Pilgrims and Indians celebrated their first Thanksgiving happily together, giving thanks for all they had harvested (Yep, I'm a hypocrite), the women of the house prepared an amazing feast with a Mexican twist. Instead of warm bread, we ate warm tortillas; jello salad was replaced with pico de gallo, the gravy - spicy salsa verde and an even more picante salsa roja, mashed potatoes was a garlicly pasta, and the main dish - 3 beautiful hens stuffed with olives, peppers, and other bright green and red veggies. They truly did try and find a turkey, but apparently they all jumped the border into the US this month.
Salsa, salsa, and more salsa. |
I couldn't speak, so I sat quietly and focused on my delicious meal. My friends smiled at me, but saved their questions until I was ready to talk. They understood.
Later we set up the microphone and computer, and sang our favorite songs displayed on YouTube. It wasn't a traditional Thanksgiving but it reminded me of what is most important about Thanksgiving: convivir.
Even Abuelita loves to sing.
Lily won a contest with this hit. |
The best singer of the night - El Medico. |
This one made me laugh AND cry! I'm so glad that you have become part of such a familia maravillosa. My dad used to stuff our pavo de Thanksgiving in a similar fashion. Maybe you should bring back la receta for sus tias. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat all looks delicious!! Yummy!!
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