Pedro's Poem

Leaving is hard. But it is harder when you can’t say goodbye to some of the people you love. That what I thought would happen on my last day. Pedro, or so I called him Pedrito is one of the smartest kids in the school, he plays chess, he doesn't tattletale and he doesn't get into trouble. Those are enough to make him my favourite. Also, his smile is super adorable. However, on my last day, I thought I would never see him again.

Have you ever met a kid that sounds and behave very maturely? I have met few and Pedro is one of them. Talking to him doesn't feel like talking to a 12 year old. He listens and responds like an adult. He doesn't go around and looking for trouble with other kids, instead he sits down and read when the class finishes and he has nothing to do. One time he told me that he was bored, so I told him to teach me Spanish. He actually sat down and told me all vocabularies of things around the school.  

Former volunteer Sean teaching the kids how to play chess

He is also my chess teacher. Yes, I am an Asian and I don’t know how to play chess. Such an embarrassment to the race right? Haha. Fortunately I had Pedro to teach me how to play. Sean, one of our former volunteer brought a chess set and taught the kids how to play. Sean claimed that Pedro is the chess master, so we should get him to teach other kids. I figure, why don't ask him to teach ME? Hehehe. I did and I am glad that I did. He explained each detail carefully and showed me how to move. When we played he also told me the consequences of the moves I made.

“If you move your bishop there, your queen will be unguarded. So move it here instead.”
I took his advice and moved my bishop.
“But be careful, I can also eat it with my horse”
Argh. He won the match.

Talking to him is one of the highlights of my day in Pantanal. I love listening to his stories more than having 9 year-old Estiven on my back and had to carry him all around Pantanal haha. I love you too though, Estiven.

Apparently that's a typical Nicaraguan kite!

But almost two weeks ago, Pedro stopped coming to class. Moises, his bestfriend, told me that he is in Carazo and will not be back for 2 weeks. I counted my days and I had two weeks more till my last day in Pantanal. I had two weeks before I leave Nicaragua. I was very very worried that I won’t be able to see him before I leave. I was really sad.

I didn’t realize that I was sooo sad until one day Francis told me,
“Dissa! Pedro is here!!”
Grinning so widely, I asked her where he is. She laughed and told me that it was a joke. He wasn't there.
I was teary..
:P

With Keeley and Adriano one random day at the school 

Hahaha. But days passed and I told myself that Pedro would not be there to say goodbye. I told myself not to be sad but be optimistic instead that I will come back to see him again someday. I was still sad knowing that he won’t be there, but I don't want to just focus on that, I wanted to spend time with the other kids as well. They are very special to me too. 

On my last day, I came to school feeling excited to see everyone. It would be fun taking photos with them! Thinking about these kids made me grin so widely. I felt so contented. I almost danced my way to the school. People in Pantanal must think I’m crazy. Crazy chinita.

Then Moises and Priscila came and told me that there’s something for me at the house/school. Priscila told me to close my eyes. She and Keyla helped me walked into the house. I was so clueless; I didn't know what was going on. We walked till the kitchen and then I heard a familiar voice saying “Ya!”

I felt like I held someone’s hands and Priscilla then told me to open my eyes.
Then there he is.
Mi Pedrito!

Kyaaaa~ Hahaha

Pedro was there, smiling right in front of me. I hugged him and I almost cried. I was so happy that I got to see him on my last day. He is such a special person.  He explained why he left and why he couldn't tell us. Apparently he got some family problem with his stepfather, some family problem that made him couldnt come to the school for almost two weeks. Everything is okay now and he could come back studying in the class. 

Moises and Pedro after the surprise :)

I couldn't stop smiling thinking that I got to talk to him one more time, but then I realized that he looked so sad. I asked and he said everything is okay. He said he is happy that we could meet again, but he still did look sad.

“Por que te pareces triste? No te sientes feliz para encontrarte conmigo?”

(Why are you sad? Aren’t you happy to see me?)

“No no no.. Estoy triste porque usted va a salir”

(No, I’m sad because you’re gonna leave)

Awwww. I tried my best not to cry. But I told him we should not be sad because I will come back and see him again. I told him to promise me to study hard so that he can visit me in the future. 

Cards and messages from the kids & volunteers. Sewn and arranged by my lovely housemate, Leonie

Later the day, to my surprise I received many cards from the children! I was sooo happy and tried my best not to cry when I received it. The one from Pedro was a poem. I went home and read it all. Here how it goes:

Hoy lloro por ti

Hoy lloro por ti (Today I cry for you)

Hoy lloro por ti mi vida y mi sueño (Today I cry for you, my life and my dream)

Unico amor (The only love)

Eres mi pasión  (You are my passion)

Y eres todo para mi (And you are all for me)

Y cambiaria mi vida hasta mi religion (And I would change my life and my religion)

Then I cried.

Hasta luego, mi querido Pedrito