Chapter 1 & 2 of Kwento by Nica
Schedule:
Live Reading: Saturday, December 9th, Private Party
Online Reading: Monday, December 27th, Online Private Party
Word Trailer:
The scene opens introducing the narrator, Nica, and her partner, Hiro, eating breakfast at home. The narrator refuses a plate of egg and after several attempts Hiro asks the narrator why Nica avoids eggs in the morning. Nica answers the question by making kwento, telling the story, of her seven-year-old self. At the end, Hiro and the reader are clued into the narrator’s history: she’s from Manila, was raised by nannies, and felt unloved by those she loved most. Despite the sadness in the narrator’s story, the reader knows everything will be okay... the breakfast shared between Nica and Hiro tell us that the narrator is somewhere safe. At the end of the first chapter, How to Make Eggs, the reader experiences Nica’s ability to transform life’s simple gestures into new beginnings and feels invited to do the same.
Themes: Love, inner child, food, meals.
The chapters gave me the feel of a memoir. It was pieces of memories of the author, like she mentioned in there, that made her who she is and explained why she is now the way she is. Parts of the chapters were heartbreaking in a way, and yet they remain core memories that have stayed with her. The memories of the author, as sad and thought evoking as they were, formed who she is and she is sharing that in her writing. We all carry vivid things that shape us as children and most of the time, take into adulthood.
The chapters gave me the feel of a memoir. It was pieces of memories of the author, like she mentioned in there, that made her who she is and explained why she is now the way she is. Parts of the chapters were heartbreaking in a way, and yet they remain core memories that have stayed with her. The memories of the author, as sad and thought evoking as they were, formed who she is and she is sharing that in her writing. We all carry vivid things that shape us as children and most of the time, take into adulthood.
If I could write to the author, I would say that is so amazing how you were able to forgive your mother and see the best in her. It’s hard to forgive parental figures when they let us down. And it was very brave of you to share your story. I look forward to reading more and thank you for sharing your kwento.
I think these chapters are a reflection how these food-related experiences have shaped the author’s identity and relationships. It also highlights the importance of being seen and acknowledged by the people they love and how food can be a source of comfort and connection in their life.
I think these chapters are about the influence one’s past memories may have on their future. The narrator details moments from her childhood that made her think she hated eating eggs, which included being force fed and yelled at by her nannies. This caused her to associate eating with being punished, and eggs specifically became a reminder of those negative moments. Through time, she learned she did like eggs just not the way they were prepared. She was able to let go of her disdain and the memories that caused it because she was replacing those memories with newer, happier ones made with her partner. In the second chapter she details her love for sugar donuts and the happy memories they remind her of. She felt seen and cared for by her Teacher, who would give her donuts after tutoring sessions. Overall, these two chapters discuss the way past memories affect someone later in life.
I think these chapters are about how items may hold onto certain memories or trauma that have nothing to do with that certain item. I also think the chapters are about surrounding yourself with people who are important in your life. Sometimes certain things in our lives hold more weight and power than what meets the eye. For example, in the story eggs were associated with a bad memory and so the character did not want to eat them as its presence brought up the memories. It took a new relationship with a new partner in order for her to try them again. On the other hand, the donut brought good memories and so Nica was able to have positive encounters with it. I think this story shows the importance of having a close inner circle and good relationships with others. As often times with the correct people it is not as important what you are doing, rather it is more important who you are doing it with.
After reading the passages I think she’s processing her trauma through stories. By being able to retell her stories she is finding connections on how her experiences shaped her as an adult. For example, the dislike of eggs or home food had nothing to do with the actual food but more with the traumatic memory associated with those foods. In contrast, the memory associated with the donuts was of something positive and I found a liking in them. I admire the honesty and depth of the stories the emotions through the words were heart felt.
These two chapters are beautiful. They’re extremely profound and I admire your strength for being so open and vulnerable when you share these stories. In my humble opinion, these chapters focus on how mundane items—in this case, food—hold our memories. I’m going to do a real bad job of explaining this, but you can find out so much more about a person by asking about significant objects in their lives rather than asking about them as a person. You can ask as many icebreaker questions as you want, but those questions will never reveal the love you feel when you eat a sugar donut. Hopefully that makes sense. I also think the chapters might be about food serving as a vessel for connection, but that’s more of a hunch than anything else.
These passages describe the childhood stories that, like Nico, mark us. And that we bring back in adulthood through objects, places, or situations. Nico presents how a simple meal for others has more meaning for her. They are not only eggs. They are the absence of a mom and ununderstood demands. Not only is it a donut, but it is also a symbol of the attention that one day, her teacher gave her. It is a symbol of standing out, overcoming obstacles, and succeeding.
Nico’s story reminds me of the lasting impact of the experiences of my life. For example, I love bean and rice soup because it reminds me of the lunch that my mother always had after I came home from school. Every time I eat this food, it automatically takes me back to how happy I was in those days.
Finally, it teaches us how our emotions influence how we perceive our surroundings through our senses. For example, Nico doesn’t like eggs because it reminds her of experiences with her yayas and mother, but she is willing to try eating this food after interacting with Hiro. Sometimes, it isn’t what we eat but who we eat it with and share it with.
This was a really touching story, and one that I can personally relate to. In the first chapter I was under the impression maybe Nica was suffering from an eating disorder due to her fear of food and not wanting to eat. My best friend since kindergartden developed anorexia by the time she was 10, and this story made me think of hers for many reasons. To me this story is about Nica wanting some control over her life, and also wanting to feel loved and supported. For me the eggs symbolize love and trust in this story, Nica didn’t like eggs because of her childhood, but when her partner showed her love and support she was willing to try them again. It’s so easy to loose inspiration and love for something when it becomes a negative experience. My dear friend has battled with her eating disorder for 17 years now, and will soon lose the battle. And it all started because the people in life who surrounded her made her feel as if she had no control over anything.
I can say with certainty how important it is to feel you have support, and love; whether it’s from your friends, a teacher, family, or a partner. It makes me happy that Nica had Teacher Sally and Hiro, because they made a positive impact on her life; which in turn helped her to see that her mother loved her, she just was having some of her own struggles. This story just tells how important human connection is.