lunes, 10 de mayo de 2010

El relato de mi abuela

Mi vida es una vida hecha de muchas vidas:

La vida de mis hijos e hijas, la vida de mis nietos, la vida de mis bisnietos, la de mis amigos, la de aquellas personas cuyo nombre no recuerdo, pero que en algún momento vinieron a mi, necesitados, con sus problemas al hombro y acá en mi hogar se les tendió la mano, se les dio una frase de consuelo, un poco de comida, un poco de amor...y yo sé que salieron con su carga menos pesada...
Finalmente quiero decir algo que mencionaron durante un cumpleaños de nuestra abuela: “Por el fruto se conoce el árbol”, al conocer la familia podrán ver a padres, madres, hermanos, hijos, hijas, nietos y bisnietos, que conforman la familia Quemé Chay y podrán ver solo rostros de personas que tienen ése sello, esa característica de nuestra familia: la de ser honrados, entusiastas, de carácter fuerte, trabajadores, bondadosos, bromistas, joviales y con don de gente...ésa es la forma como somos y es la herencia adquirida de nuestros padres y en especial de mi abuela querida… es de ahí donde arranca nuestro árbol genealógico y nuestra verdadera identidad.

Este texto fue escrito por los hijos de mi abuela, (mis tios y mi papa), y editado por mi.

Se lo dedico no solo a mi abuela y mi familia, sino a todas las madres, como inspiración para seguir siendo las grandes mujeres que son y guiar a sus hijos a ser personas honradas y de buen corazón.

Asi que como siempre los invito a que si aun tienen a su abuelita, la abrazen hoy que es el día de las madres y todos los días futuros.
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My life is a life of many lives:

The life of my children, my grandchildren's lives, the lives of my great grandchildren, that of my friends, those persons whose name escapes me, but eventually came to me in need, bearing their problems on their shoulder. Here in my home I held out a helping hand, and were given a sentence of consolation, a little food, a little love ... and I know they came out with a lighter burden ...
My life is an extension of my parents who I knew very little.

This is how life can be summed up for our mother, our grandmother, our greatgrandmother.

And no wonder, her sensitivity is because her life was forged from an early age, and it is also thanks to selfless people who offered her help when needed:

Born in 1927 in the city of San Cristóbal Totonicapán where she remained until 4 years old, her mother died under unknown circumstances so her grandmother took her in ... because her grandma needs work, she goes on to work in the city of Quetzaltenango and carries the baby.

Because of old age her granny leaves the little girl, already seven years, with family members, and so from the age of seven to 16 our beloved grandmother lives in a strange house. Where a few years after her grandmother dies, leaving her all alone in a family sense.

They were unforgettable years where character is molded with the discipline of her new parents.

The innocent adventures like going to bring more water to the well only to distract from the daily chores ... her childhood and youth strictly controlled ... with little chance of study, few luxuries, few friends and few of everything.
Her childhood and youth were filled with hard work, where they had to hide her so she would not attend school, and always regretted it by saying: "shame that I could not study, I would have liked to learn more!"

She also remembers that time while walking  to Santa Maria Chiquimula, carrying in her little weak girly hands, heavy burdens and responsibilities:
She says that: "Once, I slipped on the sidewalks of Santa Maria Chiquimula, droping the food i was carrying I was beatten with an umbrella, until it was broken on my back or when I was made to cook rice without having had prior experience, the food was burnt, as punishment I was made to eat this food for several days "

At the age of about 17 she married and moved to live with her mother in law for a few years. Then move to a house in which hes first children were born.

During this time the family was in the textile fabrics of the late 60s and the sale of typical fabric manufacturing had fallen, and is so for those years our mother started the business of knitted wool and soon had a small factory with singer knitting machines, PASSAP, sewing machines and a seamer. She had several weavers which were composed of the sons of my grandmother (my uncles) and others who are now still part of the family . She also put up a sale of clothes at the time of Lent in the market "La democracia", where the sale of ribbons stood out for the quezalteca women.

These were years of great and unforgettable memories, especially when Thursdays were assembled boxes with merchandise were sent to san francisco and the joy when those boxes returned empty the next day, is to remember that joy was not only ours but of many people who were also involved in the business and that they looked forward for their payment on Friday afternoons.
Mañaneras, bibs, hats, pigtails, wraps, tassel shawls among others these were the products that were sold and sold well. The point is that the business also declined across the board due to competition from country people who devoted themselves to this type of business. And this is how San Francisco el Alto passes into history.

In 1973 our grandmother travels to the United States at the invitation of one of her daughters and stays there for about a year. This is another time of great experience, met people with other cultures and customs, but in the end by her jovial and people skills she is well suited to leave fond memories among friends.

Back in Quetzaltenango she continues with the sale of knitted works on a smaller scale, and later she decides to make chocolate.

We could say that this chocolate has a formula or a special composition that has made her famous, we know of people who have tasted outside the borders of our country ... maybe it is the magic that only she knew how to put into life.

Too numerous to mention the achievements of our grandmother, because in each of them there are passages and stories to tell .., meaning that in each of them there is the seal of the dedication and desire to excel, and the adventure of making something new.

For example:

At one time she had a little shop in the home of her son with selling chicken. She had pensioners for many years. Sold diets sold at the Holy Family hospital for about two years or more. She has taken courses by INTECAP where she graduated with honors. And then later organized courses herself to teach other women in her own home.

There are two books published in Spain with a dedication on the first page to her by the authors who received guidance when they were here in Xela. We remember her dedication and effort in the political campaign of Xel-ju in the year 1995 and 2000, where she assumed a leadership and encouraged many women to fight for their rights, dignity and capacity.

In the end, she has marked the lives of many people who remember her fondly. If we mentioned to each of her workers at different times, I think, would be many who are grateful to her.
Finally I want to say something I mentioned during our grandmother's birthday: "By the fruit the tree is known", knowing the family we see fathers, mothers, brothers, sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, by looking at the  Quemé Chay family we can see only the faces of people who have that seal, this characteristic of our family: being honest, enthusiastic, strong willed, hardworking, kind, playful, jovial and with people skills ... that's the way we are and we have acquired this inheritance from our parents and especially my dear grandmother ... where our family tree starts and our true identity.

This text was written by the children of my grandmother (my uncles and my dad), and edited by me.

I dedicate not only my grandmother and my family, but to all mothers, as inspiration to continue to bethe great women that they are and to guide their children to be honest and good-hearted.

martes, 4 de mayo de 2010

Una Semana Santa en Guatemala

Hoy es viernes santo. Es el día y son las horas de tu caminar al Calvario, te acompaño trayendo mis aciertos y errores, mis alegrías y mis preocupaciones.

La Semana Santa en Guatemala es una celebración de tradición. Una celebración que nos hace el país que somos. Me considero tradicionalista, porque me hace chapina. Y la Semana Santa como muchas otras celebraciones en Guatemala se presta para disfrutar de aquellos olores de incienso y corozo, los sabores de las torrejas y molletes. Sabores nuestros.


La devoción de los que cargan año tras año, es impresionante y de admirar. La tradición de semana santa debería estar en el corazón de todos los guatemaltecos sin importar la religión o la edad.

Me encanta la Semana Santa en Guatemala... Me fascina ver los colores, escuchar la música, ver las alfombras y apreciar la dedicación y gran talento artístico de los que las elaboran. Gracias a todos los guatemaltecos que hacen que esto sea lo que es.

Definitivamente, la Semana Santa en Guatemala es un evento que nos identifica, muestra los matices culturales de nuestro país y la dedicación de miles de guatemaltecos que se dedican a hacer año tras año una celebración digna para todo el mundo.

Como siempre, los invito a que en la próxima semana santa, participen mas, coman mas y vean mas procesiones en este lindo país.