When I asked him when his child was born he hesitated and withdrew from what had been a fairly calm and fluid conversation. There was a moment of discomfort until his wife appeared with the smiling baby in her arms. Large, curious eyes, gurgling, wearing a purple headband and pink sandals. Attention was diverted to her. “She is six months old,” he said. “I returned from cutting sugar cane a few weeks ago and I am just starting to get to know her. You know, the work is heavy and the food is awful but the hardest thing is being away from my family.”