Following Mateo
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
"Following Mateo" is a memoir, the true story of Tom Molanphy, a twenty-something American who spends two years living and teaching in Belize. Molanphy finds himself compelled to spend more and more time with Mateo, an older Mayan living in the deep but dwindling rain forest of Belize. Fascinated by Mayan spirituality, Molanphy spends two years trying to convince the evasive and complicated Mateo to lead him deep into the bush, a sacred place where 21st century Mayans still practice ancient rituals.
Neither an archaeologist nor anthropologist, Molanphy is honest about his own shortcomings and frustrations while dealing with a new culture, creating a wide-eyed narrative rich with detail of the natural wonders of Belize, as well as the inevitable humor that occurs when two cultures meet. In this post 9/11 world of growing xenophobia, "Following Mateo" reminds us that fear only dwells in the unknown, and that travel to another culture remains the best education around.
About the Author
Tom Molanphy received his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. His lesson plan on creative nonfiction was included in the 826 Valencia anthology "Don’t Forget To Write." His short story "Of Subareas and Public Bathrooms" was published by Curbside Splendor. Tom teaches undergraduate and graduate writing and literature at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He also taught composition at the University of San Francisco, and he occasionally tutors at 826 Valencia in San Francisco.