Living Without My Jeans
Posted on 15 October 2008 by Natalie
We are backpacking and plan to be on the go for a year or so. I am choosing to participate in Blog Action Day 2008 and discuss poverty globally. Even only a few weeks into our backpacking adventure, we have already seen glimpses of several homeless, hungry, lost individuals. Although Rome is a beautiful historic city, their is a more painful side to all the beauty and romance, as poverty is a tragedy many Romans witness.
However, I would like to share a story from a few summers ago where I witnessed the harsh reality of poverty. I was taking classes at a university in Beijing during the summer of 2005, while big construction plans for the Olympics were still well underway. I had just finished my last final exam (even though I was nervous I ended up getting all A’s) and planned to go for a long walk. I walked north away from the educational district, towards the Olympic planning sites.
As I got closer, I began to see the usual construction elements, including dirt, cranes, building materials, and other large intimidating vehicles. As I turned right onto a major road I noticed a 50×300 ft large canvas advertisement showing an image of a luxury townhouse, set up to create more high income housing in Beijing and to enhance China’s image during the Olympics. I also noticed a small cut in the middle of the enormous canvas draped so high and so wide across an opening.
Finding myself in an adventurous mood, I decided I try to fit through the small hole and see what was occurring behind the advertisement. As I crouched through, the air escaped my lungs and I couldn’t breath for a minute. I had never seen anything like this before. It appeared to be a shanty town of garbage, rubble, and debris. It was a small poor Chinese community that had grouped together and formed a type of safe haven for themselves. Only, it was barren, almost like a ghost town. Numerous signs of the people and families that had once lived there were plainly visible, but the majority of the community had obviously evacuate as a result of the construction. As I was walking past these abandoned shack-like homes constructed of just about everything and anything, I was in so much shock I couldn’t cry. Then I heard a noise. It was nearby. Was it a wild dog, was I going to be attached by a gang of Beijing rebels, but then I saw him. Not too far from me was a child. A young boy. In a box. As I saw him I was holding my camera and did the only thing that made sense. I took a picture. It seemed so American, I almost hate myself for it. But I just knew that I might be able to share it someday as a way to share the very real problem of poverty our world currently faces.
I heard someone, hopefully a parent inside, and I knew it was my time to get going. But I think about that little boy all the time. I wonder, where does he live now that the Olympics came in and built a stadium on his home? He would be three years older now. Is he able to go to school? Does he have enough food? Safe drinkable water? Is he still alive? I wish I could have helped. I wanted to do something. It was getting late and I needed to return to my dorm for the night. I was almost 4 miles from my University. I feel so shameful that I did nothing. What could I do? I prayed. I still pray for him and his family.
On this Blog Action Day 2008 I will also pray for the young boy and that he may grow into an adult and help our world understand poverty and the many social issues we cannot ignore. People are suffering and struggling all around the world. This was just one story, from one woman.
Living without my jeans is not a big deal. Their are so many others living with far less. What could you live without? If you gave up that pizza, could you donate to world vision? If you gave up your Saturday could you volunteer at a shelter in your community? Share ideas, things that you already do to help others, or things you plan on doing in the future to help end poverty.
Tags | people
We wanted this up yesterday for blog action day, but didn’t have Internet access until now.
We don’t want your stinking excuses, Justin!!
But in all seriousness, it is all to easy for us Americans to be consumed by our apparent life crises meanwhile forget that our problems are absolutely miniscule in the grand scheme of things. Our economy is tanking? We may have to go without cable TV, but at least we have food. Even through all life has thrown at me (you know better than most what all that is) I am blessed.
Digression: I’m drinking 1554 and loving it!! But I still miss Bells.
Jeans are heavy for a backpack thats for sure.
Just wondering if you two are going to post some pictures and blog about your travels.
Wheat is doubling around the world, last April in Cairo 15 people died from a riot because of the increase in Wheat. Wheat makes bread.
I bought a kilo of cooking oil in Egypt in January that cost 8.50 Egyptian pounds—in March it costed 13.50 pounds.
Since 20% of the corn and soybean is being converted into fuel, food prices are on the rise, which poor countries cannot handle the increase.
Most people don’t have a clue concerning what creates the poverty around the world.
People in Turkey cannot handle paying the high energy cost to heat their homes.
The problem is the world leaders and their greed concerning poverty.
Great post Nat. I remember when you first told us this story in your apartment here, though this version is good, I prefer hearing stories from you in person
As for what I’m doing now to end poverty and what I plan on doing… For the last two years I’ve volunteered at the Loveland emergency shelter and was one of a few people to help start it actually. I do not in any way take credit for the shelter but I do consider it quite an honor to have been a part of the ride. The men who are in charge of running the shelter are doing an amazing job, their heart is to change lives one at a time. They practice what they preach. If anyone has spent any considerable amount of time with homeless people they’ll understand that it isn’t an issue that can be stamped out as one would swat a fly. People who are homeless, are people first, they have emotions, they know how homelessness is viewed in our (and most) societies. What homeless people need is love and grace fleshed out for them in us, they need people willing to do life with them and view them as people with valid things to contribute to society; they don’t need us to view them as throw-aways, or garbage. Historically speaking, Jesus Christ, is the best example of fleshing grace out to the unlovable.
Anyway, that’s what I’m currently doing, and I believe if change is going to happen it needs to happen locally– think globally, act locally (glocal). That means I need to volunteer for local organizations that are making a difference, and if non exist, then I should help create one. It’s really not hard, but it is harder than being lazy, that’s for sure. Also being glocal entails to some degree purchasing products that are not the product of slave labor (buying from companies that are ethical in all business practices). That being said, I know that there is no way that I can do that, but knowledge is power and it’s better to try, than not try at all. Like I said, it isn’t hard, but it is harder than being lazy. So the question here is will I be selfish, lazy, and egotistical ignoring the world’s problems, or will I choose to make my life count for more than me?
Thanks for doing your part guys, I love you two!!
@Paulie – @Paulie – one last thought– check our the film Call + Response it was written, directed, and produced by a guy I know (a friend of a friend really) named Justin Dillon. It’s about the global slave trade.
The efforts that the common person pursues is positive and meaningful, helping others is always a good deed.
Although, poverty is directly related to government and the cost of food. It is just going to get worse, this last year rice, and wheat prices have increased.
The corn crop was wipe out in the Midwest, corn feed—feeds the cows and chickens—the result, milk, meat, cereals, and eggs will rise in price.
The rice crop was wiped out in Burma, the result is a shortage and rise in price.
Poverty is a bigger picture than what most Westerns observe from the news.
Agreed, greed and ignorance are horrible bedfellows, yet sleep together all too often.
The governments are not ignorant they know just want they are doing. The government keeps the populace ignorant for controlling purposes.