This day on Isla Carenero, a little boy joined me as I watched my friend go surfing. We sat together and I asked him about where he was from, what he liked to do, etc. Now I was pretty sure he was going to eventually ask for a dollar which I’ve heard expats complain about and I understand but I also know how we can change this interaction into something more positive.
So when 10 year old Terencio from Kusapín asked me for that dollar, I had an idea. First I asked him what he’d do with said dollar and he said bread. I said, let’s think of what you can do to earn a dollar rather than me simply giving it to you (which I’m known to do but doesn’t address the underlying issue). So I asked him to draw on a page in my sketchbook, whatever he’d like that has to do with nature.
After about 15 minutes of careful work, he showed me a drawing that melted my heart. A smiling sun, a horse, a cloud and what completely looked like a young mangrove tree. I asked him if he knew how to spell his name because did and I told him he should always make sure to show who it is who did such great work. I asked him if he knew the date, he told me the year and with a little help from my watch, wrote down the month and day. Finally I asked if he could spell where he was from which he wrote with pride and said he’d be going back soon to start the new school year.
I gave him his dollar earned and he didn’t even run straight off to spend it but sat with me for awhile longer as we chatted and watched the surfers. Finally he headed away, and I knew I might never see him again but that perhaps he took away something special from our time together, I know I did.
*Getting kiddos thinking more deeply about this biodiverse world that is their own, this is what Bocas Biodiversity is all about!!!*
(And now it’s time to find where I can get many a dozen descent sketchbooks, any input is welcome!)
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