The happiest kids, for one day.
Finally, my Spring break arrived. I wanted to escape from the long and cruel winter in Syracuse. My husband and I decided to explore a place we had never been. We picked Cozumel, Mexico in order to know more about my Mayan ancestors.
Since my husband is a diving aficionado and I am a sun lover, it would be the perfect place for my hedonistic activities. Of course, a refreshing margarita could not be missed.
As soon as we landed in this Eden place, I knew we were going to spend great days. The third day of our vacation we decided to go to Playa del Carmen (Xaman Há en Mayan means “water from the north”) We rented a car and we went to this beautiful region with its transparent blue beaches. To my surprise, at this beautiful place there are many French expatriate that gives the area a European air. In this same region Tulum ruins are located. Tulum was a walled Mayan .
As soon as we arrived to the ruins, the guides followed us like flies. My husband tried one that speaks English as a customs agent. I didn’t pay attention to his explanations until he yelled to a pair of kids, accompanied by their dog. The kids were taking out cans from the garbage in order to recycle them and get money for them.
Then I got angry at our guide and told him: “Listen, the kids are helping to recycle the cans. Besides, they need the money”.
“It’s fine, but dogs are not allowed in this place”. For his own good, it will be better for our guide to keep quiet. I said to myself.
We finished our tour in the ruins. It was lunch time and we looked for a good Mexican restaurant. We wanted to keep trying the delicious local food. While we were enjoying the food, I saw again the two kids from the ruins. I got up, went to them and asked them if they were still looking for some more bottles.
“We are looking for food”. Their response moved me.
“’Where are your parents”.
“The are working t the market, Ma’am.” One of them told me.
I immediately gave them some pesos in order to buy some taquitos (little tacos) for them and their loyal dog.
“What your dog’s name?”
“Vagancio.” (Vagar means wander in Spanish). Ah, very good name for a dog. He likes to wander, right?
They didn’t answer me, but the thanked me and left to a nearby taquería with a burst of happiness.
I have never seen in my life such a happy kids, along with the their thankful dog.
Talita 
That sounds like a very powerful situation. Hearing about these poor children, especially when my own mother provides daycare to children that are probably about the same age as the two you saw at the ruins. It was very thoughtul of you to provide them money so they could have one day of enjoyment in thier lives.
I agree. As they say, the children are our future. It is always the deprived and weak that receive the brunt of all the animosity, pain and suffering in this world. The innocence of a child is priceless, yet each generation continues to experience the cold-truth of reality earlier and earlier in their adolescence.
Me gustó mucho la anécdota cultural llamado “The Kids más feliz, por un día.” Pensé que era muy interesante. Me gusta conocer lugares nuevos. Su descripción de Cozumel, me dieron ganas de viajar allí mucho. Me gustó mucho conocer este lugar de sus descripciones. Me hizo sentir muy triste cuando se hablaba de los niños en busca de latas. Es difícil darse cuenta de que la pobreza existe. Te admiro por los niños dando el dinero para comer, estoy seguro de que mucho les ayudado.
Esta anéctoda cultural es bien interesante. El nombre del título me hizo creer que esta historieta iba ser diferente. Yo creo que es bueno que fueron de vacacciones cuando lo necesitaban. Yo nunca he salido afuera de los Estados Unidos, pero yo sé que llegará el tiempo cuando vaya a visitar algún sitio. Yo creo que la personaje principal es una buena persona. Tiene un gran corazón para cuidar a esos niños aunque no sean de ella. Tampoco no ignora al perro, y para mí eso lo hizo mejor. En conclusión, esta estoria me ihizo sonreír porque tenía gran corazón y un buen final.
La anécdota cultural intitulo Por Un Día: Los Niños Más Felices Del Mundo realmente me hizo pensar. La historia que cuentan en este artículo me hizo sentir un poco triste. Lo que hiciste para los niños es un maravilloso acto de bondad, pero esta historia me pregunto qué pasa todos los días de sus vidas cuando alguien no está allí para ayudarles. ¿Hay días en que estos niños no comen, o tiene que encontrar suficientes botellas o pedir dinero suficiente para hacerlo? Es realmente horrible pensar en el hecho de que hay niños muriéndose de hambre por ahí, especialmente cuando se tira la comida. Con optisimo, haya muchas más personas como tú por ahí que no sólo ayudará a estos niños, pero los niños como ellos en todo el mundo.
Hola, Joshua:
Felicitaciones por seguir practicando tu español.
En cuanto a la anécdota, estoy de acuerdo contigo que es triste. Lo más importante, es darnos cuenta que estos niños existen en todo el mundo y es nuestra responsabilidad poner nuestro granito de arena. Los niños son el futuro y es nuestro deber darles lo que cada humano necesita, protección, alimento, vestimenta y educación.
Te deseo un muy buen semestre.
I either missed their ages or saw and forgot. But thinking back to my younger days. we were thrilled to have days without a schedule or task that had to be completed. we used to walk around the neighboring towns of Canajohaire and Fort Plain which are 3 miles apart enjoying every second or our free time similar to the pair you described in the posting, bet a lot of us are jealous of kids being kids without the techno anchors that keep us tied to meaningless communications.(i’m assuming on this one)
Agradezco este blog mucho porque de lo que hizo por los niños. Es una locura cómo en diferentes países, como los ninos valor dinero. Usted fue muy agradable para darles dinero. Tambien es comico como el perro se llama Vagancio.
Una historia pequeña buena. Lo quise. Se relajaba muy y pacífico. ¡Manténgase al ritmo delo!
Es triste que este tipo de cosas tiene que suceder en el mundo. Vi a un hombre hacer lo mismo en el campus. Es una buena cosa que tenemos grandes personas de buen corazón, como tú, en este mundo.
What a moment you encountered. I love how you stand up for what you believe even if it puts you in a situation that may not be favorable. I’m so glad you saw the kids later on so that you could help them. I bet you made their week. A little extra food in their stomachs for one day at least. I hope that they continue to meet people like you because they need to know the world is a rough place, but there are lot of people out there that are genuinely good.
Eso fue muy amable de su parte para defender a los niños y ofrecer algunos pesos. Me sentí tan humillado por leerlo.