http://stateofthereunion.com/home-is-where-the-grill-is State of the Re:Union is a new Public Radio show that examines what makes a community and the resonating themes that unite us as a country. Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://stateofthereunion.com/home-is-where-the-grill-is/comment-page-1#comment-6810 TooMuchMe Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:38:00 +0000 http://stateofthereunion.com/?p=4455#comment-6810 As a first generation Cuban-American every holiday worth mentioning involves getting the pig (the lechon), soaking it overnight in mojo, and spending the entire day with the family rotating the pig over coal (or under the coal- depending who's in charge), talking, playing dominoes, and arguing.  This is the scene that makes me feel in my element.  Cuisine is the heart of every culture, and these communal moments are what brings families and neighbors together to form a community.  Though we don't make offerings to the gods any more, the sweat, collaboration, and effort that it takes to put together such a traditional meal is symbolic of our humility and our interdependence.  It truly makes us who we are. As a first generation Cuban-American every holiday worth mentioning involves getting the pig (the lechon), soaking it overnight in mojo, and spending the entire day with the family rotating the pig over coal (or under the coal- depending who’s in charge), talking, playing dominoes, and arguing.  This is the scene that makes me feel in my element.  Cuisine is the heart of every culture, and these communal moments are what brings families and neighbors together to form a community.  Though we don’t make offerings to the gods any more, the sweat, collaboration, and effort that it takes to put together such a traditional meal is symbolic of our humility and our interdependence.  It truly makes us who we are.

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