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Re: [ranchos] Cultural Identity


 
Emilie:
It was the "pisca" - you go where the next harvesting is needed - at least that is what my grandparents did - they also traveled throughout the US - all the way to Washington state before ending up in the middle of Michigan.  My aunts/uncles/mom never shared their hardship,except for bits and pieces - the stinging hands from picking peppers, the potato sacks converted to dresses/shirts, etc....
    My fondest memory was from my oldest uncle Alfred - he always wanted to have his own piece of land to harvest and grow crops, and he was able to meet his goal in Carson City, Michigan - they were the only Mexican family there as well.
    Except for two of their siblings, the rest of the 10 siblings settled in Detroit - also not very populated with Mexicans - but at least they did have a torillera.  Their preparation of food had to be accommodated to existing and available ingredients - so for example, they made enchiladas out of chile powder and flour - not bad tasting, but not the same as made with chile ancho.
 
Esperanza