01072013
Yet another culture shock, this time
the biggest so far. I am living luxuriously in a house and even here
some of the basic commodities are missing. I am adjusting, though.
What it seems to require is taking one step at a time, not looking
ahead, focusing on the necessities, focusing on survival. And that's
the most interesting thing: once put in a developing country with
little to no infrastructure, all I can focus on is survival. Having a
house like this and not living in the bush enables me to do something
besides surviving, such as writing right now like this. I'm starting
to have a clue of what it means in practical terms that giving
everyone the basic infrastructure for survival would release them for
“higher” kinds of human functions. When the heat is killing you,
all you can do is look for a shade and sleep it off. When you're
devoured by thirst, you track down water that's drinkable – if
you're lucky, you'll find a tap. When you want to eat, you take
what's offered – and if you get picky and want some vegetables with
your noodles and rice, you take the 30 minute walk to the market
stalls down the uneven mud paths. And this is how the day is spent.
In the fulfillment of basic necessities. If a child is lucky enough,
he/she will not be needed to take part in these activities and may
have a chance to go to school. Otherwise, there's just no place for
studying. There's no energy left for it.
I do not see why some people glorify
these kinds of conditions, because the problems caused by them are
unnecessary: a small wound may get so badly infected just because of
the heat and lack of hygiene that it may require hospital care. This
all may be fun if you're taking a holiday from your everyday life,
staying in a bungalow at the resort areas and taking organized
cruises to see the dolphins – people might even say it's “relaxing”
to be in a place so primitive – but that's just because those
people don't actually live here, they have a place to go back to,
somewhere to return to once it gets too uncomfortable. The only thing
so far I've found enviable is the night sky. Here it actually gets
dark so you can actually see the stars, milky way and all, and that
helps you remember where it is we actually are: on a rock floating in
space. It would be awesome to find a way to reduce light pollution in
the busy parts of the globe.
So I will be living the local's life
here – no resorts, bungalows or cruises, just the everyday drill.
There will be some work but mostly chilling and taking care of basic
needs. I am looking forward to this learning experience because it is
unlike anything I've ever experienced before, and also, I think, one
of the most necessary things I have ever done. It's time to bring in
some perspective.
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