Author Archives: Ricardo Pires

Seco

Nationality: Ecuadorian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 04/23/17
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Subject: Culinary

Informant: Daniel is originally from Guayaquil, a city in the coast of Ecuador.  He is an only child and has just received a diploma in Business. He has lived in California for the past four years, but will be returning to Ecuador in the coming month.
Original Script: In Ecuador there is a dish called “Seco de Pollo” and “seco” means dry; but the dish isn’t dry at all. Its basically chicken drenched in sauce. The dish is called that because a long time ago, Americans who were working in Ecuador would ask for the “second dish”, which is  the main dish of a meal. But the Ecuadorians understood “seco” instead, and eventually that is how the dish got its name.

Background information by informant: Seco de Pollo is a traditional main dish in the coast of Ecuador.

Thoughts: Even certain events can completely shape the manner in which a term is used to describe something.

Ecuadorian Time

Nationality: Ecuadorian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 04/23/17
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Subject: Custom

Informant: Daniel is originally from Guayaquil, a city in the coast of Ecuador.  He is an only child and has just received a diploma in Business. He has lived in California for the past four years, but will be returning to Ecuador in the coming month.

Original Script: In Ecuador, if friends invite you over at 7pm, you are really only supposed to arrive around 8-9pm. It has now become a custom to arrive late to everything.

Background information by informant: You arrive later simply because no one wants to be the first ones to arrive, especially if others will only arrive a significant period later.

Context of performance: Usually surrounding any form of social gathering or occasion.

Thoughts: The custom is part of a larger body of knowledge specific to one community. Hence, the scheduling of an event for example, can be misinterpreted by those that are not part of that specific community.

Unity in Numbers

Nationality: Canadian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 03/20/17
Primary Language: French
Language: English

Subject: Proverb

Informant: Phillipe was born in Quebec, Canada and has two sisters and a brother. His family is originally from Quebec, therefore he grew up with french as his native tongue.  He currently studies Finance in California.

Original Script: L’union fait la force / Union Makes Strength

Background information by informant: This proverb is very powerful in Canada because it addresses the core of Canadian culture. The best way to become strong and powerful in anything is through the unification of individual elements. That is especially true when attempting to organize and manage such a large and powerful country such as Canada

Context of performance: This proverb prevails in any team setting, especially in sports. However, it also emerges in academic environments such as business classes in school.

Thoughts: Even though a proverb such as this one is very applicable to a competitive team setting, it is curious to note how it can expand its original intended boundaries to generate a much larger effect in an entire culture. Consequently, this creates a powerful unity within all members of a particular culture.

Barrel and Wine Proverb

Nationality: Italian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/26/17

Subject: Proverb

Informant: Guido was born in Rome, Italy in a traditional Italian family. He currently studies business in California and plays rugby for his college team.

Original Script: La botte vecchia fa il vino buono / The old barrel makes the good wine.

Background information by informant: It describes the respect and regard that Italians have for not only old material items, but also for their elders. The culture understands that as you age, you gain valuable knowledge and experience that you continue to carry with you.

Context of performance: It proverb comes through in the manner that most Italians pay a lot of respect to their elders throughout their day to day.

Thoughts: A proverb can be a lot more than simply a short saying. It can allude to the manner in which a culture interacts with each other and what they attribute value too. Additionally, it also influences later generations to value similar things.

Romulus and Remus

Nationality: Italian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/26/17

Subject: Folk Legend

Informant: Guido was born in Rome, Italy in a traditional Italian family. He currently studies business in California and plays rugby for his college team.

Original Script: Romulus and Remus were two brothers abandoned by their mother on the Tiber river and raised by a wolf. They are eventually adopted by a Shepard and go on to found Rome, the most prominent city in all of Italy.

Background information by informant: The story has many important themes of Roman culture, especially the theme of persistence which was extremely crucial for the cities development and impact in society during that period.

Context of performance: The two brothers and the wolf are a major symbol in Roman culture. Everyone knows their story and any gift shop has artifacts that symbolize the wolf mother and her children.

Thoughts: It is interesting to note how much impact a legend can have on a certain culture. The story of Romulus and Remus describes not only the incipience of Rome, but also the symbolic significance of the mother in Roman culture. It is not necessarily someone that is related to an individual by blood, but one that provides attention, love, and affection to their children. The legend personifies this through the character of the Shepard.