El Lechero!

My students crack me up on a regular basis but today something especially funny happened - and it wasn't lost in translation. One of my teaching assignments for the past decade has been to teach ESL students. These kids come from all corners of the world and this year I have the opportunity to share 3rd period with two Iraquis, one Somalian, one Korean, one Vietnamese, one Romanian, one Armenian, one El Salvadorian and nine Mexicans. Exausting yet rewarding, these students (whom I have for two years in a row) are my pride and joy.

Today I was asking some of them who they looked like - their mom or their dad. Irene said, "my mommy." Jaime (whose nickname is Osoto) said, "Los dos" ( both of them). Other kids chimed in with whose DNA they most resembled.

My sons don't look much alike. Bo is dark skinned and haired like Robert whereas Jake is blond as can be and more rosy in palor. For those who knew me in my youth, I had blond hair as well - which is now a lovely shade of chocolate thanks to Eric at Aveda. My students were looking at my family photo and Luis said, "yeah Miss, you're older son - he looks like your husband. I don't know about the baby though." A couple more kids gathered 'round the photo and Ricardo said very quietly, "El Lechero". ( the milkman). The other Hispanic kids nodded somberly with smirks on their faces.

I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face. My students know that I have a working knowledge of Spanish and I speak it to them all of the time. Sometimes though, they fail to forget this fact. What made me laugh is a) the thought of me and the milkman and b) that even though these kids and I couldn't be from more different worlds - humor is universal. You tell me, does Jake look like he could come from el lechero? Yo no se, pero pienso que el nino es el mismo de yo. Si or no?