While watching the kids live through their daily lives, I realized how numb I’ve become to my privilege back at home.
I talked a lot to a child named Jesus, and as we read picture books together, we were equally teaching each other our respective languages. For me, the Spanish I learned has become helpful too to talk to these kids and maybe just expand my knowledge as much as possible. For him, English is as close to a necessity for him and his peers if they want to break into the ever-expanding tourism industry on the main island.
This is just one of the many examples of privileges that I have been lucky enough to be born with. As a kid enrolled in a prestigious private school, my biggest problem in life seemed minute to those on Bocas Island. As I return home, I must ensure that I complain less and appreciate more what can be done for me or what I want to be different in my life. Instead, more thoughts should be about what could be done for others with fewer opportunities than me. The Spanish I learned wasn’t a need, but their English is.
By recognizing more differences like these, whether by my own eyes or elsewhere, learning how to be available to help better those differences, I can make a real impact on kids like Jesus’ life.
