In October, students on the Exploring Identities in the Spanish-Speaking World course gathered in the kitchen at El Centro in Carlton for their Spanish lesson.
It was an exciting afternoon because they had three guests, Jesús Garrido, Aida López and Jesús Leonardo, who were going to teach them how to make a popular Venezuelan dish: reina pepiada. The reina pepiada is an arepa (a cornmeal cake popular in Venezuela, Colombia and other South American countries) with a special filling, mainly made up of chicken, mashed avocado and mayonnaise. It is said that this arepa was named in honour of Susana Duijm, who was crowned Miss World in 1955, becoming the first Venezuelan and Latin American to win the contest. Today, the Reina Pepiada is enjoyed by many around the world, and the students of SPN 3150 had the opportunity to learn how to make and enjoy their own Reina Pepiada.
During the class, the students participated in a culinary demonstration, entirely in Spanish. They prepared the filling, each doing a different task, and formed their arepas. While waiting for the arepas to cook, the students sat down for a brief Q&A session with Garrido and López to discuss the current situation in Venezuela, the millions of Venezuelans who have had to leave the country and the complicated immigration processes they have experienced.
“We had the opportunity to learn about the immigration process and their lives as Venezuelans, immigrants and citizens seeking political asylum. The most interesting part, however, was the medium through which we learned all this. We made Venezuelan arepas in the kitchen. We got to help prepare the food and eat it all like a big family dinner!” said Ava Aanestad, a Spanish minor.
Gaby Scales ’27 added: “I had a great time in class today and am so grateful for the unique opportunity to engage directly with people directly affected by the crisis in Venezuela. I learned about the history of Venezuela and the complexities and challenges that some refugees and immigrants face.”
Overall, the course provided students with the opportunity to challenge their language skills with native Spanish speakers, engage directly with Venezuelan culture through a culinary experience, and learn about relevant issues facing the Spanish-speaking world and the United States.
