Karey in Guatemala: Sandwiches and more

Tactic has one grocery store. It does not have a wide variety of food, especially of imported goods. So when I get the chance to go to Coban, I go to the grocery store and stock up on North American products, such as multigrain bread, shampoo and conditioner, and salad dressing. Last weekend I lucked out and was able to find Rice Krispies and Jet-Puffed marshmallows. So what did I make? Rice Krispie squares. Actually Rice Krispie sandwiches with a layer of chocolate in the middle. As good as they are, however, I decided it was better for me if I share, so I brought some to staff devotions at Mocohan. Then I happened to mention they were really easy to make. Of course none of them had ever had Rice Krispie squares before, let alone made them. With still half a box of cereal in the house, I decided to invite the female teachers over and I'd teach them how to make them. They all seemed very interested.

In deciding when to plan it for, we figured right after school on Wednesday would work because everyone had the afternoon off. So I invited them for lunch. But what could I make for all of them? Only what I make best for lunch: sandwiches. If they weren't convinced before, now they all wanted to come and learn how to make real Canadian sandwiches!

Guatemalans think they know what sandwiches are. They even call them "sandwiches" in Spanish, but pronounced like "sanweeches". These consist of white Bimbo bread, mayo and ketchup, deli meat, and processed cheese. That's it. No wonder they say sandwiches don't fill them up! It's about time they learn what a sandwich really is!

Now, I'm not much of a cook. I would never survive on a cooking show. But I can make sandwiches. Just as tamales are a Guatemalan staple, sandwiches are my Canadian staple. I bring sandwiches to school, to work, on hikes, and just in the house. I choose Subway over McDonalds anyday. I could probably eat sandwiches everyday, no problem. So this Wednesday, I was the sandwich pro.

Whole grain bread, mayo, deli meat, mozza, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and avacado. Mmmmmm. Of course I mentioned the variety you can have with sandwiches. Mustard, bacon, a variety of meat...and of course there's also the peanut butter sandwich classic, which they have never even heard of. It was so fun to see them all excited about something Canadian, something so ordinary to me. One teacher commented that she likes trying different food from other countries. Me too, but sandwiches has never been on my list of "different foods"!

After we filled ourselves with sandwiches (most could hardly finish one and were surprised at how filling it was), we made Rice Krispie squares, with chocolate in the middle, because of course they're better like that. All 6 of them helping, watching, asking questions, and of course licking out the marshmallow bowl.

By this time it was well past 2:30, the time their English class was supposed to start at the school with the couple that is living upstairs. I felt bad. I tried to kick them out and send them to their English class. Instead, they convinced me they would learn more English here and have more fun and create better memories than in a classroom. So I gave in. But, being the English teacher that I am, I had to write the recipes for the sandwiches and Rice Krispie squares on the whiteboard in English. Maybe making food is the kind of creative lesson I need in my English classes so the kids learn better.

After a fun-filled 2 hours, the teachers left with detailed recipes, full tummies, the rest of the Rice Krispie squares and some wonderful memories. Here are some pictures from the day.