Chana Joffe-Walt

You do?

You do?

I was never sure what motivated Banyas to want to talk to me. She seemed to like telling me about her day, practicing her English. She had an ongoing fascination with the time difference between us. She always wanted to check in on that.

I was never sure what motivated Banyas to want to talk to me. She seemed to like telling me about her day, practicing her English. She had an ongoing fascination with the time difference between us. She always wanted to check in on that.

It's the afternoon. It's just... Afternoon? Mm-hmm. We're in the middle of the night. She'd call when she felt annoyed that Donna got to be the teacher that day, yet again.

It's the afternoon. It's just... Afternoon? Mm-hmm. We're in the middle of the night. She'd call when she felt annoyed that Donna got to be the teacher that day, yet again.

And she'd call when she was bored. She'd call because I was an adult who would pay attention to her. Banias had to create activity, interest, out of such little material. Sometimes I got the impression I was there to help with that. Like one night, she was on the phone with me, and another phone rang. And like a character in a play, she went, Oh, look, the phone is ringing.

And she'd call when she was bored. She'd call because I was an adult who would pay attention to her. Banias had to create activity, interest, out of such little material. Sometimes I got the impression I was there to help with that. Like one night, she was on the phone with me, and another phone rang. And like a character in a play, she went, Oh, look, the phone is ringing.

You're pretty funny, Banyas.

You're pretty funny, Banyas.

You are funny. Yes.

You are funny. Yes.

So Banyas had her own reasons to call me. When I called her, it was for different reasons. I'd call her because I'd read about a bombing campaign or fighting near where she was. Was she okay? And what was she thinking about all the violence around her? What is this like for an eight-year-old? In the middle of the summer, there was a series of intense airstrikes near Bañas.

So Banyas had her own reasons to call me. When I called her, it was for different reasons. I'd call her because I'd read about a bombing campaign or fighting near where she was. Was she okay? And what was she thinking about all the violence around her? What is this like for an eight-year-old? In the middle of the summer, there was a series of intense airstrikes near Bañas.

I was curious if she'd heard them or seen them, but I also wanted to follow her lead and what she wanted to talk about. Do you have some time to talk?

I was curious if she'd heard them or seen them, but I also wanted to follow her lead and what she wanted to talk about. Do you have some time to talk?

Great.

Great.

Yeah, I've been reading in the news that there's been a lot of bombing.

Yeah, I've been reading in the news that there's been a lot of bombing.