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Alicia Carrillo;
I know how you feel about not
wanting to be labeled a Mexican in an Anglo society. Now that we Latino's
make up 54% of the population of California it is no longer that much of an
issue.
I was so very interested to
read your posting and I felt that you put into writing what I had
experienced myself. My father lived
most of his later years there in San Jose. He lived on Little Orchard
street. I visited him there a few times before he died. I
still have relations there.
The Macias branch of my
family is from Zacatecas. I don't know where and there is now no one
to ask. I saw a place called "Jerez" on a Document. I wonder if
"Jerez, Zacatecas" is a City, town, parish, rancho, area or rest
stop. I have never been there and don't have a map. Do you know,
Alicia ?
Funny how a thing does not
follow every generation. My children don't speak Spanish, didn't take
Spanish in school, don't acknowledge when addressed in Spanish and will not
attempt to speak Spanish, make it a point to let it be known that they have no
interest in anything Latin and generally don't have an issue when the issue is
Spanish.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 11:06
PM
Subject: Re: [ranchos] More about
Nopales
Here's more on Nopales
My family originates from Zacatecas, specifically Tlachichila from the
Municipality of Nochistlan. As we all know many people have migrated to the
Norte or Los Estados Unidos or as many say El Otro Lado. I grew up in the US
of A in San Jose Calif in an all Anglo community and one thing I didn't want
to be was different from the rest of my class. However different we were. We
had to speak spanish at home which for one who doesn't want to be different or
admit to anyone that you're different this was a tough one to hide.
When we brought friends home we had to speak spanish to my parents and if
someone stayed over for lunch or dinner we had tortillas, nopales, salsa, mole
etc etc.( trying pretending that you're not Mexican). Our parents
knew that we were ashamed and a famous saying was "what are you trying to
hide, anyone who sees you can see the nopales on your forehead and hanging on
your ears. Translation "De que to escondes, se te ven los nopales en la frente
y los traes colgados de las orejas". When I was young I couldn't understand
this saying having been raised here since I was two and not knowing what
Mexico looked like. The first time I went in 1977 I finally understood what
they meant by Los Nopales on the forehead. Nopales grew wild everywhere in
that region. They even fed nopales to the cows when there was nothing else to
feed them during the dry season. They would burn or scald off the thorns then
feed them to the cows, how's that for a recipe for nopales.
Just a little Zacatecas family story.
Alicia
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