After reading these chapters, it is clear that our lives in America are completely different from those in Tecpán. However, I feel that there is a lot we can learn from Guatemalans and comparing our ways of living. One of the first things that struck me when reading about Tecpán lifestyle was the fact that the doors of the houses are left open during the days, and there is little distinction between the inside and outside of the house. I can’t even imagine a lifestyle like this. First, I think my mother would murder me if I trekked even a speck of dirt in the house, let alone play soccer in the house. Second, every time I leave my house, it’s second nature for me to put on the alarm and lock the doors. Robberies and theft are huge issues in America, but it doesn’t seem to be a prominent issue in Guatemala. I think it would be great to live in a society in which you can actually trust your neighbors. I feel that in America, we learn that the only person you can trust and rely on is yourself.
Another aspect of the home that I found particularly interesting was the name of the rooms. As stated on page 9, “the home symbolically represents and physically embodies the comfort and security of a refuge from the wider world.” The fact that the “Kaqchikel language refers to the home as a metaphorical extension of the human body” gives a shelter so much more value. This personification shows how appreciative the Tecpáns are for the privilege to have a roof over their heads. Although there are many homeless people in America, I feel that the household has lost a lot of its value in our country. People are always striving for a bigger and better house, but it is the home’s role in family conjugation that is most important. This leads into the discussion of meals. I know I am one of the only people out of my friends that grew up having family dinners at least 5 out of the 7 nights of the week. Sitting around the dinner table and being able to share stories, even if it was meaningless tidbits about our days, made my family so much stronger and definitely shaped who I am today. Thus, I was surprised when I read that many elders in Guatemala believe dining tables hinder family interactions. I never thought that family interactions could be more conducive than sharing stories around the kitchen table. I guess eating on a dirt floor around hearthstones provides a more natural setting to bring families closer together. Additionally, I thought that the anthropological finding on page 11 was extremely important to contemplate: “in societies around the world, the act of sharing food oils the wheels of human interaction and, in stressing the conviviality of human condition, creates an atmosphere conductive to empathetic understanding and in-group coherence.” I believe that many childhood problems in America are rooted from the lack of a strong family foundation. If more parents understood the importance of eating as a family and using meals as a time to discuss both personal and family issues, I believe the rate of mental and social problems in children would decline. Even the Tecpán tradition of serving the meal in order of status reinforces piety for one’s elders. I think that it is important that we are all treated as equals in America, but at the same time, many children have lost respect for their parents.
Overall, one of the main thoughts that crossed my mind when reading these chapters was the fact that although many regard third world countries such as Guatemala as “primitive,” we are not much better off despite our so-called development. I personally don’t think it’s possible for America to go back to a society similar to that of the Tecpán’s, where dinners take place on the floor around a fire, where doors are left open all day, where uncovering an resolving personal conflicts is a prescribed cure for medical issues, and where medical religious specialists “do not ask for a specific payment but rather let people pay as they see fit and as they are able” (p. 86). I think it’s important to take a step back from our busy lifestyles and compare our standard of living to those in Guatemala. Who is better off?
• I wanted to comment on Rachel’s post about the importance of family dinners. I agree with the importance of coming together as a family for a meal. Especially in a society that is so often in way too many places at once- thanks to modern technology. In my family my brother is always getting in trouble for trying to text under the table before he is excused from the table. However, I had a different interpretation of the elders dislike of eating around the dinner table. To me, the elders objections was to the table itself. I agree with Rachel’s point that it was to provide a more natural environment. Perhaps they felt that eating around the hearth was a tradition and promoted the relaxed and intimate environment that is only shared within a family. I think the elders may have disliked the idea of eating around a table because it either seemed too formal or represented westernization and a loss of cultural traditions.
ReplyDelete• The Tecpán tradition of respecting and serving their elders first reminded me of the big kids and little kids table that my family has for holiday meals. I remember the excitement that came with moving up to the “big kids” table with all the adults. It gave me an indication that I was finally seen as an adult in the eyes of my elders and I think that kind of tradition that the people of Guatemala have is so important in shaping parent/child relations and respect.
• Today, the family dinner is so often seen as a burden. I know I have often complained that dinner takes so long and that I had other plans with my friends. However, in the long run I am so thankful to have a family that congregated around the table for meals and I definitely agree with Rachel’s opinion that those dinners give “a strong family foundation”. As for the question of who is better off? I can definitely see the benefit of the way of life described in Tecpán. The emphasis there is on a community level whereas in the US we have a much broader view. Unless you live in a very rural town I think the idea of community has been lost on us.
a couple of other things to consider:
ReplyDelete1) I would hazard the guess that theft is just as common (and just as big a concern) in Guatemala as here; but people can't affor security systems and having guard dogs works better than having locks. We'll talk more about this in class.
2) another reason people don't like tables much is that it is cold. eating around the hearth is quite a bit more comfortable if it is 40 degrees. also, tables have limited space; sometimes this means the women cluster around the hearth and men eat around the table, especially when guests are present, leading to more gender segregation at meals.