Asi Es La Vida...

A few nights ago after I tossed a cockroach that was as long as my hand is wide out my door... and then went outside myself to use the bathroom (because the water doesn´t run in my house after about 7:30pm), it occurred to me as I was listening to music on my computer and sipping gourmet tea (that someone gave to me) that my life is full of huge contrasts. A mouse had just about run over my foot earlier that day while I was cooking, but I barely flinched because he/she is a common appearance these days. I live next to people without bathrooms and who get super excited when they have chicken to eat with their rice and beans and yet I can afford to go (and have gone) to some of the nicest restaurants in Ecuador - (don´t worry, their entrees go for about the same as in a decent steakhouse in the States).

I don´t know if the contrasts seems as obvious to you as they are in my eyes, I hope that you can start to imagine. However, it is also interesting to not just make comparisons between Me and Them, but also between my expectations and how things really are. These same kids that don´t have a bathroom, have cell phones. They rarely have money to talk on the phone but they play the games for hours on end and call free numbers to listen to music.

I apologize for these ramblings. I´m afraid that I didn´t have an overall direction in mind when I started, so I guess I will just leave you with my thoughts.

(My attempt to make the 5 minutes you spent reading this meaningful) -
A few things that I have learned from these contrasts is that I can never Become one of the people in my town. I will always have monetary advantages and my life will always be different. The relationships and the feeling of belonging that they feel in the community will always be something elusive to me as well... something that I can be a part of, but I can never possess in the same way. ... And that is ok. Are differences are beautiful... poverty is not good, it is not fun or desirable... but people who live in poverty are not all sad and depressed and worthy of pity. They also possess things that we never will have access to.

I have often felt the ¨poor one¨ since I have arrived in Santa Ana. I have no family here. I live alone (which is absolutely unheard of). People will give me food and invite me into their homes... while I have nothing to share with them.

Interesting how the tables turn in ways that would never be expected.

Dan (my big bro) arrives in 5 days. I can´t wait to share this world with him!

posted by Steve @ 3:45 PM