Lost in Translation

The Spanish word "pobrecito" is used to refer to people who are to be pitied. When you child is sick, you may call him "pobrecito."

This idea also has a place in Latin American culture. It's not uncommon for someone to just ask you for money on the street. They'll give you a story about their child being sick or their back hurting.

On Saturday we had the funniest experience of someone wanting money. We got on a bus and sat down. The last guy on looked very suspicious. His eyes shifted, and his gestures were jerky. Suddenly he started yelling that "God bless all of you and all the world." Then he started singing Latin songs at the top of his lungs. The hilarious thing is that he produced all of the rythmns with a clicking sound of his teeth and lips. He'd interupt his singing with the beat . . . it was pretty interesting. When he was finished with several songs, he walked the bus looking for money. Pobrecito.