She came to Belize on a year long honeymoon in 1962 and now Joan Fry has written about her journey that began in Crico Sarco and ended in Santa Elena. Fry today released a memoir of her year long adventure. She calls it “How To Cook A Tapir.” It was launched this morning at the Museum of Belize and she told us the name is misleading.
Joan Fry, Author
“The book is about the time I spent in the Mayan village teaching the kids English because was the official language and I taught what they call the three Rs in the States, reading, writing, arithmetic.”
Keith Swift,
This was way back in 1962 to 1963. Why write the book now?
Joan Fry,
“Because it took me that long to get down on paper and understand what really happened to me. I turned 21 in the rainforest and in my culture that is a big deal. It is a coming of age.”
Keith Swift,
Why do you want to tell your story?
Joan Fry,
“I think to impart because we witnessed some of the Mayan rituals and I see them disappearing now and I think that is a shame and even if they choose not to follow them, I think they should know what they are. So I discussed a house blessing, a traditional house blessing and I also discussed the ceremony where the kid is carried straddled onto his mother’s hip for the first time. So I did those two, I explained those two practices.”
Keith Swift,
Why the title, ‘How to cook a Tapir?’
Joan Fry,
“The name was not my idea. My idea was ‘A feast among the fallen Gods because it was about my experiences with the Maya and also I learned to cook there. I was 20 years old, I didn’t know how to cook. So I thought that title was reflect the contents of the book better than How to Cook a Tapir but my publisher and my agent overruled me. So now I have a title that makes people in Belize angry and please understand I’m not encouraging people to go out and cook tapirs.”
The book is in hardback and is retails for $55.
