Holding Back Tears

The Lovely Tercero Basico girls at Educacion de Deepstream Buena Vista
with Gina, Tori and myself (Corinne taking photo).

This morning, I really had to work hard at holding back the tears. Doesn’t take much these days.

All 12 of us, minus Corinne taking the picture

We’re trying to build relationships with the students at our school here. So Gina and I decided to take the tercero basico (9th grade) girls out for breakfast this first day of their mid-year break. San Martin recently opened in the last month or two, and we thought it would be a great place to introduce them (having awesome pastries). So we all sat down. And Gina began to ask them if this was their first time in a restaurant. For all eight of them, this was their first ever. Their first time being served a menu. First time reading a menu. First time learning about placing a napkin on your lap. First time turning your coffee cup over if you don’t want any. When the last girl answered the same, that she had never been before, I fought the tears. These girls are between 15 and 20 years and have never done something that the other four of us had done hundreds of times and really…we take it for granted. What fun it was to watch them eat. To see them try to choose a meal, when I’m pretty sure their normal breakfast is tortillas. Every day. When we were finished, we walked to the One-Hour Photo. They all separated into groups of 3 or 4, hooking arms as they walked. One of the girls asked if I wanted to join them. Why, of course. Humbled. And loving them more as they returned my love for them.

While we waited (only a few minutes…not an hour), the girls told me of some secret plans they had of having a surprise birthday party for our Kate (turning 13). Again, I fought the tears. How did they know her birthday was coming up? This means Kate has been communicating with them enough that they’ve learned when. So very proud of her. And all eight of these girls are in this together. So proud of them too. They asked if they could get her a gift of a blouse. I think. But I’m really not sure if that’s really what they asked. Maybe if I thought a blouse was a good idea. Humbled. Again. They really can’t have much money at all. But from the little they have, they want to give my daughter a surprise gift? I hope she cries. Cause I know I’m gonna.

In front of San Martin.