A Mayan Life #5

The defining moment for Lwin is when he, in the eighth grade, walks home from school in a torrential downpour with his friend. The walk is four miles long and neither of the boys have proper raincoats are shoes. Their school work gets soaked and they wade through ankle high mud just to get home. As Lwin and his friend talk, they discuss their schooling and their mean, outrageous teacher. Lwin has a short monologue in which he brilliantly states how it is completely unfair for the Mayan students; they have to walk eight miles a day in any sort of weather, can barely understand the lessons in school, have the burdens of helping their family make money to keep from starving, and are in poor health because of all the physical labour they have to do, which affects their astuteness in school. Lwin's monologue is exactly the opposite sort of thing that one would expect, based on the stereotypes enforced by the Hispanics, a Mayan to say. Lwin's understanding of the situation is astounding; he is very intelligent, yet his teachers and classmates are not able to see that because of the language barrier and predetermined stereotypes. This moment is defining for Lwin because he shows his true colors, his true intelligence and intellectual capabilities, even though the world tells him that he's stupid and worthless. Lwin may now realize his potential and go on through school to earn diplomas and degrees. I really hope he does; he's already come so far. He is only the second Mayan to have ever graduated from the eight grade.