She was a very sweet, little girl, and so intelligent that she answered my questions by the hour, though she spoke no English, and I spoke no Spanish. I'm still not sure how she did that. The school year ended while I was there, and Liliana graduated from primary. Mexican public schools are simple poured concrete structures, with large glass windows. A rural school may have a total of 15 books for all students, all grades, in one or two rooms.
City schools have a lot more students, a few morebooks, and a room for each grade level.
There may be a map on the wall of each room, and the familiar childish drawings proudly displayed on the walls. Those children were proud to attend that school. One little boy sat crying, and his friends were trying to comfort him. When someone asked him why he was crying, he said because he couldn't go to school all summer. Looking back, I realize I began to love Mexico when I saw Liliana standing there, so brave and proud, during the graduation ceremony, in front of that little school.