Thanks for the Underwear!

My favourite part of the Lares trek was handing bread, pencils, bouncy balls, and stickers to the children.

As we trekked through remote villages scattered across the barren landscape, children would run to meet us. Sometimes we could see tiny specks of colour running full tilt up steep inclines in the distance. These would inevitably disappear until we came around a bend to find a group of children patiently seated on the side of the path.

We would then make conversation and give them each a piece of bread. [Note: We did have reservations about creating a relationship of dependency on tourists. However, we quickly discovered that the children were as fascinated by us as we were by them and that the bread provided an easy means to a friendly interaction.]

Occasionally, an astute child would hide the bread in the folds of his clothing and rejoin the huddle, hand outstretched. One clever boy, bread in hand, actually sprinted ahead to wait for us among the next group of children. He received our knowing smiles in return for his efforts.

Rod always shouted a merry "Ola!" as we approached and the children always shouted back. One giggly group even sang for us and posed for a picture. As we prepared to continue our trek, Rod attempted to say, in Spanish, "Thanks for the photograph!"

Giggles followed, the children covering their mouths in a clumsy attempt to hide their glee. Our guide then explained that Rod had actually said, "Thanks for the underwear!"

It was then that I realized that children are children, no matter where they live. And underwear is underwear--it will always inevitably provide a source of great amusement.