It is an odd quirk of traveling but conversing in a foreign language allows touchy subjects to become more approachable. Either the culture is just more open or they figure your ten words of Spanish provide the perfect backdrop for spilling their guts. Regardless, tales of mistresses, war and shattered childhoods have all been spilled on me through painfully slow conversations. Possessing a very limited vocabulary somehow forces a very blunt honesty. Simply because you can't mince words even if you wanted.
As my host mom describes growing up without parents and working full-time by 12 I silently remind myself not to mention any of my petty problems. Through numerous patient meals I learn she earns $6 a day as a seamstress and a little over $4 a day from the school. After three meals a day I can't imagine there is much left over. But as always this is related with a smile and is borne not of complaints, just a matter of fact realization of life. --J.M