Now before the Migrant Program Director or District Coordinator begins to wonder if taking the time to enjoy a tamale with mole is part of the job, let me argue my case.
The OSY team is constantly going into the fields, homes, camps and kitchens of the migrant workers and their families. We try to exchange pleasantries before getting down to the work of filling out COE (certificicates of eligibility) and teaching classes in the overwhelming summer heat of Beaufort County South Carolina. The kitchen (the hottest place in the entire camp) is an important domain of anyone who works in a migrant program. For one reason, this is one place where we can actually interact with the women of the camps. Quite often as they are cooking tamales, gutting fish, removing the shells of crabs, or making salsa, the OSY team can be found talking about the location of the Migrant Health Clinic and giving the essential vocabulary these women might need in the event they have to go there. On other occasions, we might be giving a lesson on colors or numbers or "cooking words" in English.
But is sitting down to eat a requirement of the job?
While we do not make a habit of sitting down to eat every night at the camps, it is true that many women in the kitchens enjoy giving us a tasty sample of what they are cooking. They are proud of their ability to offer us something in return for our time spent with them. And if you have ever been to a migrant camp, you will often notice the delicious aroma that always seems to be coming from the kitchens in the camps.
And since one of the most important parts of our job is to build a sense of trust and caring between ourselves and our students in the camps, it would be rather insulting to turn down what is usually some of the most tasty cuisine every prepared in Beaufort County.
Therefore, while it might look like I'm sitting down and enjoying a warm tamale with chicken mole in the photo, let it been known that I am working, working real hard with every delicious bite I take. Therefore, this is one time that "Sitting Down on the Job" can be an important part of the job description for a member of the OSY team.
Ana is very interested in the recipes used by the women of Mexico and Central America. She often asks them about the specific ingredients of their recipes and how a similar dish might be made in her home country of Spain. So often I have seen these friendly conversations result in a bond of trust that ultimately results in a woman attending classes or at least being more open to the idea of learning more about the services we offer in our program.
