I do not even know where to begin. Today was a total culture shock. After observing in the morning at 3 Mariposas Montessori, we went into La Cienega, where we will be having lunch with a family in their home starting Monday. La Cienega translates to the swamp. The land this community is build on was once a swamp and the lands flood very easily. It community is the most poverty struck area in Cabarete.
When beginning to walk through the streets, I was not prepared for what I was about to see. The streets were not developed and the houses lacked the resources to sustain the weather conditions of the Dominican Republic. There was trash everywhere. I do not even know how to describe what I saw or do because it was so new to me and so much to take in.
Coming from a low class family, I did not have a lot of luxuries, but based on what I saw today, I would have been considered the rich and not the poor. It is so sad and heart breaking that people live like this and they do not have the money to have purified drinking water, proper plumbing, or electricity. Some families do for short periods of time but then they can not continue to afford it. I could not imagine living like that and I am so blessed and thankful that I have enough money to live healthy and safe.
One thing that really surprised me was how happy the families and the children were. Even though they have very little, when we were walking through the streets and saying hola, they all waved and smiled at us and said hola back. The children running around the streets were happy and waved to us as well. I think seeing this made me realize that so many people, even myself, take things for granted. Never once at home have I had to worry about if I'd have water to drink or to brush my teeth with the next day. It is completely different here. With all the bacteria and diseases, it is really hard to stay healthy without money and without resources.
Today just made me realize how great my life has been, because even though I may not have much, there are others that do not have as nearly as much as I do. I realized that much of the world is not as fortunate as I am.
Coming from a low class family, I did not have a lot of luxuries, but based on what I saw today, I would have been considered the rich and not the poor. It is so sad and heart breaking that people live like this and they do not have the money to have purified drinking water, proper plumbing, or electricity. Some families do for short periods of time but then they can not continue to afford it. I could not imagine living like that and I am so blessed and thankful that I have enough money to live healthy and safe.
One thing that really surprised me was how happy the families and the children were. Even though they have very little, when we were walking through the streets and saying hola, they all waved and smiled at us and said hola back. The children running around the streets were happy and waved to us as well. I think seeing this made me realize that so many people, even myself, take things for granted. Never once at home have I had to worry about if I'd have water to drink or to brush my teeth with the next day. It is completely different here. With all the bacteria and diseases, it is really hard to stay healthy without money and without resources.
Today just made me realize how great my life has been, because even though I may not have much, there are others that do not have as nearly as much as I do. I realized that much of the world is not as fortunate as I am.