The people are extremely poor here. If you haven't been here, you just don't know. It's as poor as it gets. Nobody, nobody in the States is as poor as some of the better off people here. Today our electricity got cut off and again we have been without water for a couple of days now. We have some flour to make some bread and today we bought some chicken. I know many people are starving and I felt guilty eating the small piece of chicken I got today. I know people are dying everyday for lack of food or other illnesses. I am getting much better at speaking Portuguese. It is difficult to speak with the natives since they have their dialects. Today we visited a village community where I made some friends. A group of kids who just followed us everywhere we went. Raquel called it my posee. The little girl in this picture really liked my hair. She gave me the most awesome hair do! I love the people here. This experience has strengthened my belief in education. Many people here are not literate. The problem is knowing how to motivate the people. They cannot relate to many things since all they know is their little villages and the conditions they have lived in their entire lives. The trick is helping them have a desire to read and write and then teaching them in a way that they will relate and see results so that they will feel motivated to improve their lives. On the other hand, there is a small population of the higher class people who are so so smart. I was talking with one of the workers here in Care for Life and he knew SPSS and he was talking to me about pedagogies used to teach the villagers. SPSS! Yeah. Many of them know English too. They know words but they aren't comfortable speaking it.
3 comments:
SPSS,... sorry Yode what is that?
food-I dont know about you feeling guilty eating chicken, dont really because you need to be eating a lot. eat a lot because you are coming back and it sounds sad but they are not. I want you healthy when you return. i feel you're losing weight.
About education, its true. Motivation is huge. If only they had a bigger vision of life, I think that would help, but how do you take the world to such a place or bring them to it. you know?
I guess that's why you are there. Little things make a difference. You are and will be making a difference.
Sounds like you are having an AWESOME experience. I wish I could be there with you, but I guess your blog is the next best thing. Thanks for keeping us posted on all of the things you are doing. I love the pictures and I expect to see much more and hear plenty of stories when you return. The people love you because you are an amazing person and so easy to love.
Love you girl
Take care of yourself. I agree with Ruth, we want you healthy when you return.
This is a real eye opener. Thanks for sharing your insights with us. I will keep you in my prayers.
Post a Comment