Just Pixels

Meet Carlos Enrique. He is tall and skinny, hence the nickname (lapiz means pencil). He is 13 years old. He plays on our younger kids soccer team. Since being here last week he's become a quick favorite. His smile and goofiness are great. He pulls on my leg hair and he nicknamed me Juancho. He and a few others like it when I do a voice beat box to a reggaeton beat while dancing around like a nerd. This is one thing I'm pretty good at. And it's fun.

Today Lapiz told another kid that I'm his new friend (Juancho es mi amigo nuevo). An endearing gesture, and heartfelt I think. And then ten minutes later he asked me to buy him a video game at the local store. The kid knows how to work the system. I told him the game would be bad for his health. He asked me why (Por Que Juan!?). I wanted to say "because it will rot your brain" but I didn't know how. So I said nothing and it was equally effective. Fortunately the kids don't mind when I lapse into lingually-inhibited silent spells. And Lapiz is no exception.

He has a mom who keeps a pretty tight rein on him and he doesn't know who his dad is. He has one sister and no brothers, which in La Carpio, is an exceptionally small family.

But the chico is very bright. He knows lots of English words and phrases and shows potential for higher education. I don't know if this is possible, but it's comforting to hope that some of the kids in La Carpio will make it out into a broader life. Or at least have an opportunity to do so.

So, here's Lapiz. (The photo above was a self-portrait. He borrowed my camera today and snapped some pics)


Getting harassed by older and bigger Leonel.


Coke float.


Coke (Coca) drinking contest. He can hold his own.


Learning the ropes of camera use. It took him about five seconds to figure everything out.


Warm up.


Becoming Spiderman (with help from Roberto).


A video clip Lapiz shot with my camera. Steve, my roommate and fellow gringo, was asking Lapiz if he knew about William Shakespeare and Macbeth (we might be taking some kids to see Macbeth next month in San Jose).