Los chiles

Los chiles--chili peppers. Who knew there were so many kinds? You can learn the general term in Spanish, but then there are all the varieties: mulato, guajillo, chipotle, japones, pasilla...In this case, well-rounded literacy is achieved when the student of Spanish knows not only their names, but also when and how to cook with them.

These chili peppers tell another story as well. Did I go to a specialty shop to find all these chilis? I may have had to twenty years ago, but yesterday I found them at Cub Foods in West Saint Paul. They also had rows and rows of imported salsas and Mexican pastries, and the aisle signs were in both Spanish and English. There were not many people shopping at that hour, but the evidence was clear that this particular grocery store reaches out and caters to a Latino clientele that is significant in size. Literacy in Spanish means not only studying the foreign countries where Spanish is spoken, but also being aware of the Hispanic presence and influence in our midst.

Finally, there is the literacy involved in deciphering the packaging. The label colors are the same as the Mexican flag, and the brand name is "Lindo y Querido," or"Beautiful and Dear," which evokes not only these vibrant chilis, but also the Mexican homeland. As anyone who has lived abroad knows, seeing something that reminds you of home is comforting. For a Mexican living in Minnesota, finding "Lindo y Querido" chilis at the local Cub Foods might make those long, cold winter nights a little more bearable.