After what felt like hours, a mature woman, with fair complexion and deep gaze, wearing a black suit and a white blouse, with an expression of anger and a touch of bitterness, began her speech. She was the school principal, Miss Virginia, who welcomed us.
“For Costa Ricans, education is the most important thing, and we are happy to have you here. We hope you behave well and obey your teachers, who will be like your second mothers. To start off, let’s listen to our national anthem and I ask for complete silence.”
As soon as it ended, Miss Virginia asked us to say the Lord’s Prayer. I didn’t know what to do since I had never heard it before: “Our Father, who art in Heaven.” I looked around and hundreds of children repeated, “Hallowed be thy name.” I moved my lips without making any sound, “Lead us not into temptation.” I was absolutely intimidated. “Where did they learn this prayer and why didn’t I know it?” I felt that something important had not been passed on to me, and the best thing I could do was move my lips.
At the end of the prayer, the principal started reading our names and sending us to our teacher. Miss Virginia couldn’t help but show a look of disgust when she came across “Schirano” and then, even more obvious, “Jacob.” “There was no doubt - she must have thought - a Polaco10 has slipped in on us.” “How do you pronounce this last name?” she asked with a sneer in her voice. Hundreds of eyes were looking at me. I 10 A pejorative term for Jews in Costa Rica.