Quote (noob_whacker @ Jul 30 2014 12:54am)
ur mormon?
No.
Quote (rlebar @ Jul 30 2014 01:18am)
it's called culture shock. The older you are when you get exposed to extreme poverty for the first time it affects you differently than if you see it earlier in life.
I saw extreme poverty for the first time when I was like 10. I'd be lying if it didn't help shape some of my character. Time, as it were, diminishes the effects of that though. For some, the more you see it, the more indifferent you become to it after you realize that is just the world we live in. The poverty isn't really the shocker as much as some people who live in it, are just do genuinely happy people overflowing with joy
It's always been a nice refreshing escape to realize how happy some of the poorest people on earth are. It keeps things in perspective. They don't get bogged down with menial bullshit that doesn't even matter. And they have thick skin to not despair when things are actually really bad. Their culture doesn't cultivate the same extreme selfishness that ours does. And for most, that selfishness is actually the root of their unhappiness and they don't even know it. And never figure it out.
What you don't realize is for a lot of these very poor people, they would rather have that church and community of people than they would the extra food because it means more to them than life itself. It's the core of their happiness. Well God is, but that church community is the closest thing they feel they'll get to heaven, this side of it.
Yeah, the "poor" people i had been exposed to before this were nothing like this.
It is really amazing how people with nothing can be so joyous in life.
@bold, that's really important, and this trip definitely helped me get more perspective on my life.
Quote (drhong @ Jul 30 2014 01:33am)
My friends always tell me the same after their missions.
Good stuff you're doing for them, it's nice to see someone realize people need help and we're living at the top
way beyond the top. it's crazy.
Quote (Diamondbacks @ Jul 30 2014 01:50am)
I've been on a similar trip, didn't react quite like you did but it taught me a lot as well.
everyone reacts differently to it, that's for sure.