March 24, 2011--Friendships

When else will I genuinely be able to say that some of my best friends range between the ages of 6 and 17? I recently have been thinking about how I spend my time here, and how different my relationships look comparatively to my life back at home. Hands down, my best friend here is a coworker of mine who I have written about before Wacho---but he is 21 and that is normal--nothing out of the regular friendships I have at home. Yet everyday I come home and find myself genuinely excited to play and share in my day with the kids across the street...Stefanie (13), Evelyn ( 11), Luis (10) and David (6). They have become so important to me. Yet when I go back home, will I befriend and play with the kids who live across the street from my house? Probably nott--there are limits and realities to playing and spending too much time with young kids in the states. Its not normal for a 22 year old girl to spend 2 hours with 10 and 6 year old boys. Not to mention, aside from those kids, I talk to Danny (19), Danny (14) and Henry (17) almost everyday. They are young boys who I truly confide in. Especially Danny---we know so much about each other--our lives, our dreams..what we love..what we hate. I cherish our conversations. Here it is okay--everyone is on a level playing field in terms of friendships. Yet at home, a 22 year old confiding in a high schooler would be seen as inappropriate. Today is another perfect example----I went to a pool with 4 boys between the ages of 14 and 16. We had a blast---such genuine fun..but such great conversations and incredible insight to the lives they lead..and how they are still normal teenage boys, yet they are boys who are amazing and thoughtful....then nevermind my friendship with Hamilton ( my brother here)..He is someone I will miss the most...and I know I will never have this freedom again. The freedom to just be and build relationships without having to think about age, contact, where and when. Life here just is. I love that. But what does this all mean? This experience has truly allowed me to see who and what is in front of me. To look beyond age and see people for who they are. To listen. To talk. To share. It has truly opened my eyes to the true abilities of children and young people. I have learned more from them than from anyone else. I will go home and truly be aware of the voices, opinions and thoughts of youth. I realized how almost oppressed they can be--written off because of age or lack of experiece---yet here in Ecuador I was awakened--through my freiendshi`s with them--by their true intelligence and potential to be the lights in our world. If we separate children and youth from adults, I really do not know if we can make great changes--their innocense gives a different perspective. Their simle yet incredible observations need to be heard--I just wish that all adults--myself included--could always see that.

So while yes, I will go home and have limits or restrictions on relationships, it is my relationships, it is my friendships with young people here that will push me to see out kids in the United States and let them know their voices, opinions and ideas are valued. That they are being heard. The kids of Ecuador will be my motivation--I will carry my real and genuine friendships with these kids in my heart forever.