Conversations with an In-law
Posted on August 6, 2010 - Filed Under Culture Clash, Guatemala, Kids | 8 Comments
Yesterday, I took the boys out to see some friends. We left when it was still hot out and though I knew it would likely be raining out by the time we got back, I didn’t plan to be out for long and figured the kids would be fine in tee shirts.
We were a little bit later than anticipated, but it wasn’t raining. We met Irving coming out of the house, so the four of us headed off to get bread and some beans for dinner and then hiked up to the house. The boys were running back and forth and leaping around . . . so they stayed nice and warm and I didn’t think anything of it. Until we had to pass my sister-in-law on the way in to our house.
SIL: “Oh, my goodness, you really have to put jackets on the kids!”
Irving: “Yeah, they’ll be in the house soon.”
SIL: “But Ana’s son JUST died!”
Me: “What did he die of?”
SIL: “Chickenpox.”
Me: “Oh. Um, so where does the jacket come in?”
SIL: “Well, they could get chickenpox and die if you don’t keep them warm.”
Me: “Actually . . . I’m pretty sure they can’t. They’d have to be exposed to the kid with it. And they’ll probably get it anyway at some point . . . but most kids don’t die from it.”
SIL: “AY, que horror!”
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8 Responses to “Conversations with an In-law”
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Geez… what an evil evil mom you are… *snickers* What can you say to that…? Nothing but shake your head and continue to do what you do.
xo
Ay que horror! I bet you´re the kind of mom who thinks nothing of giving your kids cold milk, and in the morning, to top it off!
hahaha
We Guatemalans think that we get sick (and possibly die) if we are cold at any given moment, and that includes your stomach being cold when it´s cold outside.
On the other hand, in our mind, it´s perfectly safe to eat “shucos” and “helados de pajarito” (you might want to ask Irving why they´re called de pajarito), not wash your hands after changing the baby and serving tostadas de guacamole right afterwards.
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Cristina, can you please translate some of that for me please :p
If it was warm enough, I would have called them over and taken the tee shirts off them…!!!
Oh, yes, I gave them cold pachas when they were babies, if you can imagine! It’s a miracle they survived.
What I find interesting is that my in-laws will leave chicken out all night on the stove and then eat it the following day, get sick and blame it on the wind. :S I realize there are some cultural differences, but that logic just eludes me.
[...] ExpatMom on avoiding early childhood death: Yesterday, I took the boys out to see some friends. We left when it was still hot out and though I knew it would likely be raining out by the time we got back, I didn’t plan to be out for long and figured the kids would be fine in tee shirts. [...]
haha, I gave my kids cold pachas and listened to my mother in law telling me Deja was going to get sick and die from mosquito bites when I was there-granted, I was worried because I didn’t know she was highly allergic to them-but after getting some OFF repellent and a few other goodies at the farmacia she was all good. Yeah, I agree they leave food out all night, drink tap water, let flies wander all over the meal carrying God knows what germs, and then their bellies get sick and say they must be coming down with a cold. I was SO grossed out and begging for stupid fly strips and screens when I was there…but next year, I am going prepared with bug spray, fly strips and all kinds of stuff… oh and better soap too. Those nasty blocks of soap they use for washing are really gross! Thanks for commenting on the photos over at my blog-sorry you guys couldn’t make it
This is soooo familiar.
Peruvians are the same way – When we first bought our refrigerator, my suegra wanted us to keep the little lock on it locked so the boys couldn’t open it and get sick from the cold air. They’re older now and can tell her no, but she used to dress them in thermal underwear under their clothes when they stayed at her house – it was only around 70F outside!
Aussie, shucos are hot dogs with raw or very lightly cooked shredded cabbage on top. Shuco is a Guatemalan word for dirty, so you can imagine the level of hygiene in this delicacy. Helados de pajarito are homemade ice cream sold by men who receive your money, grab a cone and scoop the icecream. Pajarito is also a local expression for an important part of the male reproductive system. So, these guys pee, don’t wash their hands and then serve you your ice cream.