One of the worst items a backpacker could bring, is a pair of denim jeans. They are heavy, bulky, they do not pack well into a backpack or dry quickly after hand washing in a sink. Therefore, I had to say farewell to my jeans. And not pack a single pair.
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.
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, the inspiration to our kick-start, we need to bring a suit (for Justin) and a dress for me. As one can only imagine, these items are not compatible to a backpack. Therefore, we plan on bringing the little suitcase and my mom (Justin’s Debbers-in-law) has very kindly accepted the responsibility of taking the little suitcase back to the states for us- once the wedding festivities are completed.
How do you see the world?
that she has drank both at Campus Kitchen in Kalamazoo, MI as well as in China. Yum! Amazingly delicious!
