Microwaves and Fire Pits

When I was walking home from school the other day I walked by a house on one of the dirt roads.  This house doesn't have windows, just open squares in the wall.  It has some sort of a door, but not a proper one.  The family was standing outside, cooking breakfast over a fire.  They were staring at me, but as soon as I said, "Buenas!" they responded with huge smiles and enthusiastic greetings of "Buenas!" I find that that little greeting brings light to most awkward encounters on the street :]  It is as if I am reaching out and saying, I come in peace... I am happy to see you... I'm not a scary Gringa. 

Of course I have walked by houses like this many times over the past year, but this time I thought about how disparate the scene is; one house on the street can have a microwave and the family in the next house cooks over a fire.  

Then, there's the other layer... of how people don't seem to think there is anything wrong with that.  I have not seen judgment against the types of neighbors that cook outside and don't have windows.  In fact, my neighbors are some of them... and they love that I help feed their chickens with my food scraps.  I feel like in my town back home, there is a rich side of town and a poor side of town; the people generally don't want them to mix.  The rich people stay away from the other side of town because it is "dangerous" and those houses even have windows! 

Maybe it is because the switch from fire pits to microwaves is so recent in the culture that it is not too weird and therefore, more accepted.  Even my friends that live in modern houses, here in town... when we go visit their families, they cook outside on the fire.  

It fascinates me how socioeconomic classes seem to operate here in this small town.  Maybe there are judgments that I don't see, but from what I have perceived... poverty seems to be a lot less looked down on here by the more well off.  I wonder why that is.  Even in the schools, they talk about not judging children of different economic statuses.  But, then again - I guess I don't interact much with anyone that wealthy.  It seems like in San Jose, the classes are much more distinct and separate. 

One thing I do know.... food tastes really good when cooked outside on the fire :]  So, I am grateful that this method of cooking still exists.  Plus, I'm sure it is much healthier for you than a microwave!