Interviews - by Joseph Starzl, Volunteer
My
work here is centered around the relationships I develop; with the staff, the
other volunteers, but most importantly with the kids. I teach classes
during the day, but outside the classroom I work with the kids in a less formal
but much more encompassing way. We play, we talk, we listen, we explore,
we argue, we laugh, we share all the unimpressive activities of everyday life,
but it’s then when I think I’m making the most important impact on this
community, and also where I’m learning the most. I’m becoming a more
loving person because of all the small things that I live through with these
kids. Likewise, as a role-model, what I hope to give can only be given by
a subtle process, patiently (but conscientiously) exemplifying maturity and
responsibility.
So
here are just three of the kids that I live with, hopefully giving you an idea
of what my everyday life is like. I decided an interview format might be
helpful, allowing them to describe themselves in their own words. I
translated the interviews to English, taking a few liberties to keep the spirit
of the conversations as true to the original as possible.
José
Antonio
8
years old
If
you could be an animal, what would it be?
(No
hesitation) Lion. I’d be a lion. [Why?] I like lions because
they’re carnivores. They eat deer and cows and horses and all sorts of
animals. They eat… did I say that they eat deer? [Yes, I have 'deer'
written down] Ok. Yeah, lion. I’d be a lion.
What
is your favorite class in school?
I
like to read. I like to write. I like to study. I like to
draw things. I like to read. [What do you like to read about?] I
like science. My favorite is learning about planets. [What's your
favorite planet?] Earth. [Oh.] Earth is the best.
I like Mars too though.
What
do you want to be when you grow up?
I
want to be a teacher. [Why?] Because I want to give people
homework. Also, maybe I could work with you, Mr. José? We could
teach a class together. [That would be awesome.]
What
are you really good at?
I like
to share. If I have something, I like to share it with other kids.
I like to be obedient. I like to survive. [Wait, what do you mean?]
I mean I like to eat. I like to eat food. Understand? [...I do like to
eat. I also am pro-survival.] I like to study… Did I mention I like
to eat? [Yep.]
If
you had a million dollars, what would you do?
I
would buy cookies. And chips. And condensed milk. Lollipops.
(Long pause) [Should we move to the next question?] No, not
yet. I’d buy gifts. I’d buy tomatoes. I’d buy a box full of
food. I’d buy potatoes. Ice-cream. Vegetables.
What
is your favorite part about living at Amigos de Jesus?
I
like to be happy. I like to live. [And what do you like about living
here?] I like eating dinner. I like washing my hands. I
like forks. I like to wash my hands.
What
makes you happy?
I
like having time to myself. I like going to sleep. I like waking up
in the morning. I like to go to school. I like to change my clothes
before breakfast. I’m happy when I’m sleepy and ready to go to
sleep. I’m happy when people aren’t bothering or name-calling.
If
you were to write a book, what would it be about?
I
would write… words. [What would the words be?] ‘José
Antonio’. [Would you be a character?] Yes. [What would you do
in the story?] I would… read. [What would you read?] I
would read… a book. [You would write a story about yourself reading a book?]
Yes.
What
is the best thing about yourself?
I’m
good at paying attention in class.
Hector
15
years old
If
you could be an animal, what would it be?
Really?
[Well. Yeah...] I don’t know. What would you be? [A wolf.]
Hmmm… (long pause) I’d be a dog. They like to do their own thing.
They’re carefree.
What
is your favorite class in school?
Math.
I’m really good at math. I like working with numbers.
What
do you want to be when you grow up?
An
Investigator. [Like a police detective?] No. Like a scientific
investigator. Who are the people who work with microscopes? [Uh,
biologists, I think.] Oh yeah. And we were learning about cells
in science class. I really like science too, I’d like to do that stuff
when I grow up.
What
are you really good at?
Math.
I always get good grades in Math. I’m good at playing goalie in
soccer. I take care of the dogs here at Amigos, so I’m good working with
dogs too.
If
you had a million dollars, what would you do?
I
wouldn’t spend most of it. I’d save it. I’d buy new shoes
though. Clothes. Sandals too.
What
is your favorite part about living at Amigos?
I
like our vacations. [Your days off from school?] Yeah. I get
to wake up late. I like being free to choose what to do those days.
I’ll play soccer, wash clothes, clean my stuff. Hang out with the other
guys. Just have fun.
What
makes you happy?
I’m
an independent person. I’m happy when I’m taking care of myself. I
like finishing my chores, and knowing that I accomplished those things.
Washing my clothes, fixing my radio if it breaks, just taking care of my
stuff. That’s when I’m happy.
If
you were to write a book, what would it be about?
The
history of Posas Verdes (the local town). [Huh?] Our class took a
field trip to Posas to research its history. It was for my social studies
class.
What
is the best thing about yourself?
My
success at school. I get good grades.
Oscar
15
years old
If
you could be an animal, what would it be?
I’d
be a lion, so I could be king of all the animals.
What
is your favorite class in school?
I
like social studies. [Why?] I need to learn new things, and those
are the things that I like to learn about. People and different
countries. And I like geography too, how some continents are really big,
how some are not so big, like Australia.
What
do you want to be when you grow up?
(Long
pause) I don’t know. [I didn't know either.] Yeah, that’s a
question I’ll think about later. I just started high-school.
What
are you really good at?
I’m
really good at soccer. I play midfield mostly.
If
you had a million dollars, what would you do?
I’d
buy a house. And a car. I’d get a job too. [Sounds like you'd be
setting yourself up?] Sure. Getting ready for life.
What
is your favorite part about living at Amigos?
I
like the dorms. Where we sleep. I like being close to my work. [Your
work?] Yeah, on the weekends I work in agro (farm-work). I
clean the corn-bins, take care of the cows, stuff like that.
What
makes you happy?
When
I’m joking around. I like humor.
If
you were to write a book, what would it be about?
I’d
write a book about different countries. [Like a travel book?]
Sure. And about nature. It’d be a non-fiction book.
What
is the best thing about yourself?
My
intelligence. I’m smart.
