heart behind the tamales

By Sofia Jimenez

For the past 10 years every Saturday, my great grandmother, 76-year-old Natividad Navarro, has been selling her homemade tamales. Navarro, who uses this as her sole income, still goes out to sell her tamales every Saturday morning despite weather and challenges. 

Navarro was brought to the US as an immigrant herself from Mexico twenty one years ago. She came for a better life with her husband who was waiting for her in San Jose  to continue living their life. This was a fresh start for her. Although many migrants have difficult, even harrowing journeys coming  to the US, Navarro’s journey was smooth. 

Navarro: “Pues que pase por la línea asi sentada en el asiento nomás en el carro.”

Navarro: "Well, that I passed through the border just sitting in the car."

Coming from a small town in Michoacan Mexico, Navarro was raised in  poverty. The same as everyone else, Navarro also had a dream as a child. A dream that she never fully accomplished due to the conditions she was raised in. 

Navarro: “no había maestros,  yo hubiera estudiado como pa cuidar ninos”

Navarro: “There was no teachers, I would've studied to care for children

Money wasn't really known to her given to her upbringing. So once in the US she really enjoyed it. She enjoyed the ability to make money. With a lot of jobs surrounding Navarro, she tried not only one but five different job opportunities.

Navarro: “De cuidar niños, en un restaurante haciendo tamales, planchar, envolver churros, envolver papita todo eso”

Navarro: “From babysitting, in a restaurant making tamales, ironing, wrapping churros, wrapping potatoe, all that. “

Ever since she got the opportunity to come to America she took advantage of her opportunities. She tried different jobs she never tried before. In these jobs, she met new people. Some jobs were more tedious than others. But she never stepped down instead she took all that and used it to find her real passion which was tamales.

Tamales are a staple traditional food in hispanic culture. They are very diverse in the way they could be made. They are essential whether it's for Christmas, a birthday party or even just a special dinner. Even though the outcome is tasty, the process of making it can be tedious and hard. Navarro only finds one thing challenging in her business and it is the actual making of the tamales. 

Throughout the preparation and the challenges, Navarro has a support system to lean on for help. 

Navarro: “Tu y el abuelo, el me lava las hojas, el me deshebra la carne, el me ayuda a lavar los trastes”

Navarro: “ You and grandpa, he washes the tamale husks, he shreds the meat for me, he helps me wash the dishes.”

I always see my great grandparents every Thursday and Friday making the tamales. Navarro is always making them while my great grandpa Bulmaro is preparing the actual ingredients. Although her age won't allow her to make the tamales very fast or in a big amount like other vendors, Navarro pours her heart into making them.

Now after 21 years in the US, selling tamales for 10 of those years and raising me, Navarro prepares for her future and when she will discontinue her business to take some time to rest for herself. 

Navarro: “Pues hasta que me vaya para mi tierra, ya mero me voy”

Navarro: “Well until I go back to my homeland, I'm almost leaving”

Looking at the future Navarro will be leaving to Michoacan Mexico, where she left 2 daughters and her home. Navarro will step foot where she grew up in as a new version of herself. She will now have the knowledge of things she didn't know when she left for the US, like the knowledge of tamales and handling her own business. 

Growing up I always enjoyed eating my great grandma Natividad’s tamales, now I enjoy that the community can enjoy them and get to know her and her business as well.