Friday, March 11, 2011

Topollillo, Topoyiyo, Topo....nevermind. Frozen goodness in a baggie.


The whole time I've been in Honduras, I've been seeing these little baggies of stuff in freezers at the super market. I'll try anything once but I wasn't clamoring to be the first in line for, what looks like, somebody's momma's homemade KoolAid frozen in a bag with a knot in the top. I only take shady looking stuff from folks I know. A few weeks ago a man who works at the school started selling these things during break, at lunch, and after school. I still wasn't amped about it. My former colleague, Alicia (who has since bailed on me to have her baby in the States) told me they're called topoyiyos. I'm still not 100% sure how to say it or spell it but I can tell you that they cost 6 limps (30 cents) and they're aaaahmazing. The guy at school sells them in coco (coconut) and cacahuate (peanut) flavored. Peanut is my favorite. Love em so much that I've made friends with the man that sells em. I have at least one a day since it has become hotter than the 7th layer of hell in these parts.
   The precious little man who sells these. I asked him if I could take a picture of him and we struck up a conversation.

Him: So, you really like these, yeah?
Me: Yeah, I do!
Him: Where you from?
Me: Texas
Him: You don't have anything like this there do ya?
Me: Nope. (I don't have the Spanish skills to tell him about being ghetto and putting KoolAid in ice trays with lopsided toothpicks making popsicles when I was little)
Him: I should take my ice chest and go to the States to sell these. I would make a fortune....You think you could help me get my papers?

   It always goes back to the papers. I try to tell people that I haven't the foggiest idea about how to immigrate to the States. I've never done it. Anyway...back to the point. 

 

      To eat/drink this little piece of Heaven, you have to chew on of the corners off your bag and suck the contents out through the hole. Not the most flattering thing you ever did see but I do live in a country where no one uses a knife to cut their meat. You just pick it up with your hands and go to town. We all know I'm somewhat of a stickler for table manners so that one took some getting used to. A year later, here I am gnawing on meat with no utensils and slurping mystery goodness out of a bag with a hole chewed out of the side. That, my friends, is acclimatization at its finest.







Enjoying my squishy goodness.








       And then it was gone....There's always tomorrow!










3 comments:

Kirsten said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kirsten said...

Hi Texas,
I loved reading your post on topoyiyos! I came across it while trying to explain what they were to fellow classmates of mine in minnesota. Your post does the "little squishy pieces of heaven" justice. Then I got to looking at your photos, and the mention of burger king and I thought, this chica has got to be in, or near, El Progreso...lo and behold - you are. That's where my husband's family is from. We travel there at least once a year. It sounds like you are having a great time there. Keep up the good work! Do you mind if I ask what school you teach at and if you are doing it through a program or on your own?
Saludos,
Kirsten

Anonymous said...

Lol@I should take my ice chest and go to the States to sell these. I would make a fortune....You think you could help me get my papers?
It always goes back to the papers. I try to tell people that I haven't the foggiest idea about how to immigrate to the States. I've never done it.

Me and my boyfriend are both from Honduras (Roatan, Bay Islands). We were debating whether the frozen flavored pop sticks were topoillios. I told him of course not because they have to be in a bag. He being a guy likes to lump everything similar together. On Roatan we also call the "Frozen goodness in a baggie" jugitos.

I haven't been back to Honduras in 15 years. I sometimes crave the flavor. And no matter how many times I'm instructed, I can't duplicate that taste.

Loved your post.