One day, we were getting ready to celebrate President Kennedy’s visit. 11 That year, I had behaved very well, and María del Carmen chose me to carry the Costa Rican flag. It was a great honor for me. However, one morning, I overheard María del Carmen’s conversation with Miss Virginia:
“María del Carmen, do you really expect a little Polaco to carry the flag and salute Kennedy?”
“Well, yes, Miss Virginia, he was born in Costa Rica.”
“But he comes from a cursed people.”
“I don’t know how you dare to speak about a child like this. He is a citizen.”
“This is a Christian country, not a country of Jews.
Can’t you see that nobody wants them because they killed Jesus and wander from country to country?”
“Miss Virginia, forgive me if I disrespect you, but if they have to go from nation to nation, it’s precisely because of people like you.”
“Look, María del Carmen, if you continue with your insolence, you will be going from school to school.”
I observed my teacher in a very suspicious attitude that week. For a moment, I thought she had given in, but it wasn’t the case: she was preparing a rescue plan.
11 President John F. Kennedy visited Costa Rica on March 18 and 19, 1963. This visit was part of Kennedy’s broader tour of several Latin American countries. President Kennedy’s visit to Costa Rica was well-received by the Costa Rican people, who showed great enthu-siasm and admiration for the young American leader.