A Word on the Kids

Mallory is in her fourth week at Colegio de Interamericano, a private bi-lingual school located in Zona 15, about 6 miles from our place as the crow flies. I drive her to the bus stop each morning at 6:30, and I let her ride in the front seat where she pulls the glove box door down like a computer, checks her emails, loads the homing device, and scans the satellite readings for the day’s weather. She still has the same look of wonder and excitement on her face as she did the first day she climbed on the bus, the same proud look when she climbs off at 3:10 every afternoon.


(Mal with her oversized backpack on her first day of school)

Mal’s teacher, Christine, is from Cleveland. She’s a young water-bottle toting hippy-type with a soft but authoritative air, a pretty face, and a great rapport with the kids. Mal likes her very much. Three of her classes are taught in Spanish—gym class, art class, and of course Spanish class. Just when I think she’s not making much progress with the language, she’ll chime in on a conversation in Spanish with an answer I don’t even understand myself. Her favorite activity, of course, is recess.

Cristian spends his days here with me along with a tag-team of “special mother’s” from Hanna’s Hope: Deanna on lunes, mercoles, y viernes, and Judith on martes y jueves. He loves them both, and they have been a great contribution to the effort here. In addition to playing with Cristian all day, they clean the house and do dishes, and organize the little things we have laying around into neat piles. We pay them 80 quetzales a day (roughly $11), which is more than they make at the orphanage. I have made a promise to myself never to take their help for granted. They will continue working for us on their off-days (they work 12 hour shifts, every other day at Hanna’s Hope) until we can find a more permanent “live-in” nanny/maid.


(Cristian laughing off his lunch)

I just bought Cristian a bike, but he can barely reach the pedals. Mallory, as you can imagine, has already claimed ownership of it. Fortunately, he likes riding on the back while she zooms around the few pieces of furniture we keep. She tears it up on that bike.


(The house entertainment)

When I ask Cristian if he likes Guatemala, he gives his frank “Yep” response. When I ask Mal, she says, “I miss Wrigley” (Mark and Angie’s labradoodle puppy).