César Manuel González Hernández, "the tlacalista" as he is known by classmates at "the Normal", turned 23 on March 8. His fun spirit was contagious to all that came in contact with him as was the case of Ayelén, 7 years old, who was his student three years ago in the kindergarten of Cuapiaxtla, a very small community in Tlaxala.

She remembers him, not only because he played with her at break time, but also because he taught her to read and write as well as all the other children.

In such a forgotten community, not knowing how to write and read between adults was accepted as "normal". To have five-year-olds writing the alphabet and read phrases, made Cesar Manuel very proud.

At that time César Manuel was in his first year of a two-year program to become teacher's aid in the "Consejo Nacional de Fomento Educativo (CONAFE)", one of the programs that focused in attending the need of children in the poorest and far away communities in the country. The voluntary workers in the program get a minimum salary of 50 pesos a day.

Even though he slept on the floor of the classroom and was fed by the families in the community -the little they could afforded-, this experience confirms to him what his vocation will be. He was absolutely certain now that he wanted to be a teacher.

He didn't mind that to follow his dream of becoming a teacher meant to give up his other passions, for example, riding bulls. Once he experienced the rush of adrenalin and a sense of communion with the bull, he continued with the practice. This, even though his parents were afraid he would, he never had an accident. He has expressed repeatedly "during the rodeo, during those seconds, it is shared work and respect between rider and bull".

However, to be a teacher, he had to emigrate to another state. First, he thought about "the Normal" closest to Huamantla the one at Panatla but this school is only for women. His other option that was not too expensive, was the "Normal Rural Raul Isidro Burgos" in Ayotzinepa.

Under those circumstances, César Manuel arrived at Tixtla in the state of Guerrero. He was one of the chosen out of eight hundred candidates for the Normal School. Although he did miss his family, he knew that this was the best opportunity to be a teacher.

He had also to give up his other hobby: race tubular cars. He and his father completed the yellow and blue car after many months of work. These cars are large enough for a single pilot. Mechanics made them steady and fast for runs every week on dirty road circuit.

César Manuel is an excellent pilot, having started at the age of 14 and has been a winner several times. Since July, when he joined the Normal School, he has not practiced his passions.

Always he is well liked by the family because no matter the circumstances he smiles and makes others do the same, in particular, the women. Every May 10 he and his cousins organize a "rondalla" to serenade his mother, grandmother, and aunts. Those are the ones that today are anxiously waiting for him to return, to embrace him and tell him how much they missed him and how difficult it has been during his absence without seeing him and his smile.

Text belongs to: campaña Marchando con letras (translated by Juan C Gallardo)

Lo recuerda, porque además de jugar con ella en el recreo, la enseñó a leer y a escribir como al resto de sus alumnos.

En una comunidad tan marginada, donde el alfabetismo es “algo normal” entre los adultos, que niños de cinco años supieran escribir las letras del abecedario y leer una oración sin pausas, para César Manuel era uno de sus tantos orgullos.

En ese entonces, Manuel hacía el primero de dos años como maestro del Consejo Nacional de Fomento Educativo (Conafe), uno de los modelos del sistema educativo que atiende a los niños de las comunidades más alejadas y pobres en el país. Los voluntarios que trabajan ahí apenas reciben el salario mínimo, unos 50 pesos por día.

Aunque dormía en el suelo de uno de los salones y comía lo que las familias podían ofrecerle, confirmó su vocación. Nunca antes estuvo más seguro de que quería ser maestro.

No le importó que seguir su sueño significara renunciar a sus otras pasiones, como montar toros. Desde que Manuel experimentó esa sensación de adrenalina y comunión con el animal, no pudo dejarlo. Aunque a sus padres les parece una práctica peligrosa, nunca ha tenido un accidente. Siempre ha dicho que cuando el toro y el jinete están en medio del rodeo durante unos segundos, es un trabajo de equipo y respeto mutuo.

Pero para ser maestro tenía que migrar a otro estado porque la normal más cercana a Huamantla es la de Panotla, pero sólo da clases a mujeres. La única opción que no fuese una carga incosteable para sus padres era la Normal Rural Raúl Isidro Burgos, de Ayotzinapa.

Así llegó Manuel al municipio de Tixtla, en Guerrero. Ganó su lugar en la normal entre 800 aspirantes y, aunque extrañaba a su familia, sabía que esa era la oportunidad para conseguir el título de maestro.

También tuvo que dejar su otra afición: las carreras de coches tubulares. El suyo, amarillo con azul, lo hizo junto con su padre durante varios meses. Es una estructura donde apenas cabe el piloto, pero que la habilidad de los mecánicos convierte en vehículos que pueden recorrer una improvisada pista de tierra todos los fines de semana.

Manuel es un excelente piloto, empezó a concursar a los 14 años, y en más de una vez, ha subido al pódium. Desde julio, cuando ingresó a la normal dejó de practicar sus grandes aficiones, pero la docencia podía recompensarlo.

Siempre ha sido un consentido en la familia, pues sin importar lo que pase, sonríe y hace sonreír a los demás, en especial a las mujeres de su familia, a quienes cada diez de mayo —junto con sus primos y una rondalla— lleva serenata a su mamá, abuelita y tías. Las mismas que lo esperan para poder abrazarlo y decirle cuánto lo extrañan y explicarle lo difícil que han sido estos nueve meses sin verlo a él y a su sonrisa.

Texto perteneciente a la campaña Marchando con letras