Teachers & Cooks of Tierra Encantada
These interviews have been translated from Spanish to English.
Name: Griselda Peralta Rodrigo
Center and Room: Eagan, Kitchen
Where are you from? Mexico
What’s your favorite thing about your home country? I love my culture, Mexican food, and I love to celebrate the Day of the Dead. We dedicate those days to our loved ones that are no longer with us, by offering them flowers, food, songs, and setting up the beautiful altars. I love to and learn about lots of places- but I always fall more and more in love with my beautiful Mexico.
Is there a way you involve parts of your country and culture at Tierra Encantada? When it’s time to serve the food, I talk to the kids in Spanish, and I always tell them they’re about to eat something delicious. I can feel their excitement and emotions when they see me arrive with their food, and I love to see how adorable they are, especially when I ask if they liked the meal! I just adore the kids, and the job- and even more now that there’s more Hispanic food on the menu!
Name: Alma Perez
Center and Room: Eagan, Intermediate Preschool
Where are you from? El Salvador, Centro América
What’s your favorite thing about your home country? The diversity in the scenery like mountains, lakes, volcanoes and beaches, everything all in a country that small, full of amazing people. Another one of my favorite things- a delicious traditional food called “pupusas”.
Is there a way you involve parts of your country and culture at Tierra Encantada? I teach Spanish to the kids at Tierra Encantada the same way I taught it to my kids, and the same way my parents and grandparents taught it to me. I especially like to use songs that I learned as a little girl- like “Marinero que se fue a la Mar, Mar, Mar” and others that are perfect for kids!
Name: Yadira Hernandez
Center and Room: Eagan, Infante C
Where are you from? Venezuela
What’s your favorite thing about your home country? Definitely food- Pabellón Venezolano (carne mechada, arroz, tayadas). It has a great flavor and it’s delicious!
Is there a way you involve parts of your country and culture at Tierra Encantada? I use Venezuelan songs to teach the kids!
For example: Arroz con leche me quiero casar,
con una viudita de la capital,
Que sepa coser, que sepa bordar,
Que ponga su mesa, contigo si,
Contigo no, contigo me casaré yo…
The general objective in teaching Spanish to the kids is to develop various abilities like learning to listen, read, write and express ideas clearly and correctly!
Name: Lesli Hernandez
Center and Room: Eagan, Pre-K
Where are you from? I’m from Mexico City!
What’s your favorite thing about your home country? My favorite thing about my country is the culture. There are festival days throughout the entire year, and there’s a huge variety of food. I love how the festivals bring together families, friends, food and music.
Is there a way you involve parts of your country and culture at Tierra Encantada? Yes! I always talk about things I’ve seen and the way I lived in Mexico (for example, the kids know that I love spicy food!). I tell them I’m proud to be Mexican. I also always talk and teach about celebration, songs and stories with which I grew up with!
