General Teran, Mexico
May 2003

Not far from the community of Montemorelos, Mexico stands the small village of General Teran. Many of the communities in Mexico were renamed after the Mexican revolution for brave, heroic generals from the war. Thus, this town was so named for a famous general. Leaders of the city were very familiar with the folknographic study done in the nearby city of Montemorelos and they wanted a similar study done for their community.

Once again, students responded to the academic challenge and a new team of folknographers were organized and trained. Once again students determined that such work had long-lasting merits and rewards and so the students paid for the journey to Mexico with their own money. Undergraduate dedication and commitment inspires the professors at Ohio University Southern. Dr. Lucas observed, “These students are simply amazing. They have the unique ability to grasp the objectives, goals, and challenges of these folknographic projects.”

One of the immediate results of the study came in the form of the students discovering one of the few remaining wood fired baking ovens in Mexico. None of the researchers were experts on baking procedures, but during the interviews in this project the team discovered a young man and his family that had reactivated an old bakery with an oven heated by wood put in burners under the baking area. The entire team watched in awe as cookies, breads, and cream-filled treats all baked to perfection in a historic, wood burning oven.

Another fascinating discovery made by the students was the start-up of a fruit processing plant. Students got to tour a newly built facility designed to process oranges, melons, tomatoes, and other popular fruits for sale in countries around the world. The Mexican owners were proud to show their new plant to American students. The students were happy to interview and discuss the process of starting a new business in the Mexican culture.

Another benefit resulting from this study came within the ranks of the US students. In this particular case, many students that made this journey learned so much about themselves and their own cultural perspectives. Dr. Lucas observed, “We had students who had never been out of the state of Ohio. They learned about their own views, including some of their own prejudices. The entire journey was an eye opening experience for all of us.”

One of the great advantages of doing the projects in Mexico is the food experiences. Because of the hospitality of the Mexican people, most meals for the team occur in the homes of families of the village. Students enjoy home cooking with Mexican recipes. Cultural study investigates beliefs, attitudes, perspectives, and cuisine. Dr. Lucas says, “We all love the part about learning the cuisine…especially in Mexico. Every student seems to remember their first real Mexican meal!”