Values vs. Interests

Last week in Government class, our exercise asked the students to distinguish between an interest and a value. This was to help them determine what part of our government is shaped by deeply-held values, and which parts of our government are merely reflections of individual interests. They were having a hard time explaining the difference.
I gave this example: to me, reading is a value. I love reading - anything and everything. I read every day. If I lost my sight or my mental ability to understand the written word or my access to English reading materials, I would be very depressed and have to mourn a deeply-appreciated part of my identity. Since last year, I've been pseudo-obsessed with the Twilight series, which is an interest that I share with the students. They know how much I love the books, and how much I talk about them. But, I pointed out, my life was fine before those books entered it, and my life will be fine when I move onto a new favorite series. But my love of reading will remain.
When I left the U.S. for Mexico, one of my greatest fears was the lack of access to English reading materials. Thankfully, I have been able to find my sources. I suppose that's how addicts find anything - they just keep looking and looking! There are some best-selling novels, national newspapers and magazines for sale at the airport. There is a lot of news online. There are some books in our school library. I carry a lot of books down with me, and even send some library books back with friends.
But in the last year my interest has changed, as I have become much more interested in audiobooks than ever before. I didn't think I would like them too much, bc I like curling up to read a book. But as I can spend up to 3 hours in the car every day, I'm able to "read" so many more books this year than I have had time to do for a long time. Most adults don't get to read a book every week or two, and I do, bc I have time to listen and to read.
That was definitely a secret about our time here that I couldn't predict in advance.