Focused Coding

Interviewer: Do you think that there will be an Italian family and Italian culture in the future?Being asked about Italian family and Italian culture

Marie: I think that it will be difficult to maintain an Italian culture. People intermarry. There are many immigrants from all over. Nobody comes from Italy any moreSeeing intermarriage as undermining Italian culture and/or family; believes immigrants from Italy are essential to preserving Italian culture and/or family, (however, she, herself is a French Canadian married to an Italian; she managed to learn Italian cooking, and continued to maintain Italian culture by practising Italian foodways). They live better than we do. They don't want to come here. People may go to Italian restaurants but Italian cuisine in the home is dying outConsiders home-made Italian cuisine an essential aspect of Italian culture and family. I notice with my grandchildrenUses personal experiences and observation of her grandchildren as examples . I put tomatoes in jars [very typical Italian tradition]Presents herself as a practitioner of Italian culture . My grandchildren ask me, "Why do you do this?" They want store bought tomato sauceBeing challenged by her grandchildren; refers to different generations as "they" versus "we";Other's comments and conduct constitute a referential context. We used to say, if we do it ourselves, there will be no preservatives...We preserved in oilUsing preservatives is a drawback of commercial Italian food—a health related consideration;. But now, who has high cholesterol, and who has this and that... I used to preserve peaches. It was a lot of work. Now I'm the only one, who eats them. My grandchildren don't like things with too much sugar. I made peach and plum jam. I had them in storage for five yearshowever, traditional methods have their own problem: high cholesterol; she still carries out Italian tradition
Her knowledge of Italian cooking, willingness and commitment to do the labour are not sufficient to continue the Italian culture; her grandchildren refuse to take part; she is skillful ("had them in storage for five years")Women's identity and work involves others; their identity is formed in a relational context; they themselves could not have a sole, definite say about what they do, how they do it, and the meanings of what they do. I just finished the peach jam because I took it to my sister-in- law's place. She makes cookies with it. I still have the plum jamOther's participation is essential; (peach jam is finished, but plum jam is not). I will not make it any more. I stood there for hours stirring. Italians do too much. Just too much. When I first came here I was overwhelmedEven though she states, "Italians do too much. Just too much," she is really referring to the Italian women; ethnic culture is preserved by women; as a French Canadian, she had to learn it; she learned it, but not without hardship and real effort; it isn't something in-born. They preserved everything. Peppers,... everything. Every season is devoted to something. The summer, there are fruits and vegetables, and tomatoes for preserving. The fall is devoted to wine production. Salami is made in the winter months. There is just no endYear-long labour ("There is just no end").

Interviewer: Did you engage in most of these activities?

Marie: Yes, I did. I used to make home-made salami until a few years ago but nobody eats it any more. A few years ago we made ten salami. I still have some left. I can't eat it because I have high cholesterolEven she, herself, is having trouble to take part as an "Italian culture" consumer. My children and grandchildren don't want to gain weight, so they won't eat itAgain, others refuse to take part. They watch what they eat.…

Interviewer: Your husband said that you had to learn to cook Italian food?

Marie: I had to learn, yes. I have since forgotten French [Quebecois] cuisineEthnic culture is no longer an abstract term. It is embedded in daily routine of cooking. Otherwise, you lose it; Her Italian husband has been the main hinderance for her to carry on the "French culture" . I used to cook it more often when my children were young, they liked it, but my husband did not like some of it. At times I had to cook two separate meals. Now, it is only me and my husband in this home, and I'm the only one who likes itPracticalities in preserving multi-ethnic cultures; challenges to continuance , so it is not worth preparing a meal for one personHusband is uncompromising; she is the one to let go. Sometimes I like to try new dishes, like pasta Alfredo. I prepared it for him one night. He came home, tried it and did not like itHe is very particular Knowing how to cook "Italian dishes" is not sufficient; knowing what HE like is the bottom line. He said "don't make this stuff any more, I don't like it." He likes plain pastaHe assumes veto power over her menu decisions. Even when I make lasagne, he does not really like it. He likes cannelloni, but not filled with ricotta cheeseHis liking is very important; she takes detailed notes on what he likes. He does not like it because he can't have his glass of wine at dinner with it. He likes chicken and potatoes cooked in the oven, and vegetables. Like tonight, I'm preparing string beans with potatoesCoordination is part of her work. I prepare them and then mash the whole thing and I add some olive oil, garlic powder…This he likesHusband's particular tastes . But not French food. This summer, my granddaughter brought a girlfriend over. We spoke about a French Canadian dish. I invited them over for it the next time I prepared itDoing it for othersWomen's self is accomplished by de-centring her "self", by serving and/or pleasing others. I prepared it especially for them. I made it, and invited them over. My husband does not like it. I used to make a lot of French Canadian food, but it's like a language, if you don't use it, you forget itHer husband is THE hindrance to her practising traditional French-Canadian cuisine. It is more to keep tradition. It is a little sad. My grandmother used to make tortiere at Christmas time. It used to be a tradition at our house in QuebecAgain, ethnic culture is no longer an abstract concept; its continuation requires daily practices. Otherwise, it dies
It's interesting that she talks about her grandmother as someone who carried on French culture. Even at Thanksgiving dinner we had tortiere. Now, the younger generations want turkey at ThanksgivingShe does feel a sense of loss for loosing her own French-ness . One year I told my grandchildren that I would cook a large chicken for Thanksgiving and they said, "No, No, No, it is Turkey day." Things changeShe herself is a grandmother and has been talking about how her grandchildren don't appreciate/participate in an ethnic culture that she has come to practice.