August 4: The mediator

Even though I have befriended many of the kids, keeping them from dismantling each other is quite difficult. Today, at the orphanage, I broke up three fights. Then I broke up two more. It got to the point where I was anticipating brawls and was quickly conciliating the disputes. But after all of this, the kids settled down—enemies suddenly became friends. Damn, I was confused. During these fights, the orphans discharge their pain and frustration. They become possessed by the anger they have bottled up inside. I told the most troubled kid—Carlos—that it did not matter who started the fight. Hitting back is the easy way out. “Tienes que ser el hombre mas mejor,” I counseled him. He looked at me with a blank stare. I have seven more days to fix this.