Edward and I are sitting in the classroom, waiting for English Class to begin.
Me: Edward, do you like it here at Puerto Alegria?
Edward: Sort of. Not really.
Me: Why not?
Edward: Triste.
Me: Why are you sad?
Edward: I miss my Mom. (I know that Edward has come from living on the streets, so it’s probable that he hasn’t seen his Mom in a while, anyway)
Me: Which is sadder, living and sleeping on the streets or living here and being triste?
Edward: Living on the streets, I guess.
Me: I’m glad you’re here.
Luis and I are sitting in the comedor, which is kind of like a mess hall.
Luis: Open this for me.
Me: Luis, say please when you want someone to do something for you.
Luis: Please, Kate, open this for me.
I begin to open it for him. Now, since he knows he’s gotten what he wants, he says the following.
Luis: Please, Supi, open this for me. (Supi means fart. He called me a fart.)
Ronald, Brian and I are sitting in the gazebo.
Ronald: Kate, what does want mean.
I explain to him that we have two words: want and love, while they just have one word, querer, which can mean either one.
Me: Where did you hear that word?
Ronald: (singing a song that must be Shakira or something) I know you love me, I know you want me.
I’m thinking, ‘Great, now they think that Shakira (or whoever sings that song) knows about love, and that wanting someone and loving them are the same thing.’ How do I explain this to boys who have had so few examples of real love between a man and a woman.
Me: Well, loving someone, really loving them, is loving them with the love of Christ. It means that you care about someone enough to put their needs before you own. And wanting someone, well, is not as pure of a love. (This is the only way I can think of to explain)
Ronald and Brian: Oh.
















