Full Service

The other day I woke up to find a yound mayan woman mopping the floors. "Buenos dias" I said and she politely smiled back and said "Buenos dias." Its not uncommon for families to hire someone to help around the house. But the mere fact that this woman/girl didn´t look any older than 15, completely disturbed me. Shouldn´t she be in school? Why is this child cleaning the house? I left that morning and returned home for lunch and as I walked in the kitchen, I saw her again, this time eating lunch by herself. I sat at the kitchen table with grandma. I was completely bothered at the fact that the "hired help" was sitting in a separate place, facing the wall, sitting at the counter. Why am I so upset at the fact she sits at a different table? Is it because I never had a maid or servant growing up? Is it because I think everyone should have the right to sit at the same table regardless if you are the hired help? WTF!!! She is a human being, let her sit at the table like everyone else! Do I invite her to the kitchen table? Do I say something to the family?Its not my house or family to be making such decisions. I am merely a guest. The next day at lunch, I sat at the kitchen table and there was Leticia or "Lety" sitting at the counter with her back to us. I had the great idea to play stupid and ask questions. When Leticia finished lunch and left the kitchen, I asked my host mom "Why is she sitting at the counter and not the table?" "Becasue there is no room at the kitchen table." She said. I thought to myself.....Rigghhhttttttt....there´s no room....lets just keep it real and not make excuses. To give her credit, that day there technically was no space because me, grandma, cousin, and mom were at the table. (its a really small table) but yesterday the table wasn´t full nor was it full the day after. So I retreated and said nothing more, knowing very well that the maid doesn´t and shouldn´t sit with the family. Come to find out, Lety is really 15 years old and will be living with us for a while. Lety is in school, but its school vacation time. What a way to spend winter break, being a personal servant! Maybe its her young age that bothers me? Someone her age should be at art camp or something else during break. Maybe its how they sometimes refer to her as "Niña" (girl) instead of by her first name. Maybe she is really happy she has a job, and I should just stop analyzing it? I asked her if she likes to read and she said yes. The only book I had on me was "Guatemala Nunca Mas" which is the story and history of Guatemala, kinda the real version, written from a progressive and leftest perspective. So I gave her the book and told her she can keep it as long as she wants. Maybe she will read it and become an activist or something. Maybe she will grow up and teach others that everyone should be welcome at the same table... because I don´t know how to do that.