I cannot say that I’ve experienced extreme poverty on my own. My Mom and all the relatives on her side have. Even my dad went through it at some point in his life. They worked hard, they found ways to provide what parents do best, love. Of course it is not a perfect family, but we didn’t suffer… We all got some good amount of education, and things have been quite wonderful in terms of each of our achievements (which of course are not measured by money)… Nevertheless, I have the honor to have friends from different backgrounds, and well, I just strongly agree with Mey, Laura and Manolo…

It is not easy to approach such a subject without having a good debate, and if the main goal of this article would have been such, then it would have been amazing. You are stating things that are culturally biased and hence all this controversy..

Bueno… I first started internally-grappling with this alternate “childhood” when I was traveling through Cambodia. A rambling excerpt from my blog is below. My blog is always the last thing I get to and is poorly written since I have to craft well-written articles for paying gigs. Basically, it’s a place to quickly throw down my thoughts (unfortunately haven’t been able to for a couple months now. arrg). I would venture to say I was less understanding at this greener time of world travel. Anyway, an excerpt after visiting the ruins of Angkor Wat in Seim Reap:

“After three of those temples, it was time for a break. Especially after being haggled by relentless, high-pressure salesmen trying to hawk their goods off you the whole time. They were cunning. They were clever. They were mostly ages 4-15. That’s something I would like to explore further: these young kids that are learning the cunning savvy of high-pressure salesmen at such a young age. Learning that tourists are dopey targets for money, giving up so much of their normal childhood pastimes to sell, sell, sell. Russell and I tried to get some of the kids to forget their wares for just ten minutes and goof around and play with us. The best we could do is get a momentary crack of a broad smile, but then they were back to “You buy. One dollar. You buy. One dollar. You don’t buy, I cry. You buy, so I have money for my school. You buy. One dollar.” I just wanted to turn around and scream, “Give it up already!!” You say no, but they just follow and repeat themselves like only kids know how to do… you know, the old broken record routine. We did stumble upon some kids that were “salesman” but were actually taking a break to play. So we joined them. When they’re not selling, the kids are great. When they’re selling, they’re robots… or more like devils.”

We certainly get the “Un quetzal” whine here. Sometimes I buy, sometimes I don’t. When I don’t, I just look at them lovingly and tell them I don’t need anything. No longer do I feel frustrated. I just want to understand more…

And, Hi Marina! My what a conversation you’ve sparked here! Excellent!! What a blessing for your husband to be taught by a shaman! I’m still looking for mine… a guru as well!

My husband always tells me about the different plants and trees that he learned from the Maya. He once lived near a shaman and became quite close to him and learned all about different natural medicines and is really fascinated by it all as well!

We are losing all the for sure!

Another friend was just talking about his time in Hawaii. There is a Polynesian guy from some island near Fiji that can navigate a canoe by laying down in it and feeling the reverberations of the water. Through the reverberations he can tell where land is… incredible. Yet, he’s old now and has no apprentice. People are worried this talent will die with him. All the kids “were in school” and no one could devote a life on sea with him to learn…

Not saying school isn’t good. But, I don’t think it should be viewed as such a necessity. There are many invaluable things that must be learned in a life that has no time for “formal education.” Both kinds of knowledge should be valued and appreciated.

Sorry my thoughts are kind of run-on right now. Trying to do ten things at once…

Good points! I do remember though, as my brother and I were taking the photo, we were commenting that the stench of rotten food was extra strong that day. So a picture says a lot, but by far the whole.
The loving mother of this kid was ABSOLUTELY no where around and we actually stood there for over 15 minutes watching the other action around.

He is grabbing something, which represents his motor skills? He’s human, it’s what we do.

My superficiality and my barbie childhood, filled with mattel, is your own idea of who I am. I was brought up in communist country, Russia. I’m jew so we are considered the lowest of the low. We had nothing. I had a broken doll found in the garbage for the first 8 years of my life!

However, I’m not competing who grew up poorer.

Also, I am the only that has boldly admitted, is that we are immune to this! We are sitting comfortably in our houses with our computers discussing these people, like we have any idea about their lives. Or anyone’s for that fact.

You nor I nor anyone has any idea what happens behind any closed door: Rich or poor.

So my black and white is not so black!

I see this and you see that. It’s the way it is, it’s called opinions.

About education, you’re right, I have met many harvard grads that were morons, and many who never graduated highschool that were brilliant. Not at all the education I’m talking about.

However, this is going in circles and there is no point to be made. Nor was that ever the purpose of this photo.

The child in question:
1. Does not show signs of extreme malnutrition.
2. Does not show signs of immediate stress.
3. It is not dirty in his dress or personal hygiene in relation to his surroundings.
4. His fingers appear to be touching the corncobs as a form of entertainment or motor-tactile experience.

Will he get an education?
Statistically he is likely to attend elementary school up to 4th grade or even 6th grade. During the first 10 years of his life he is likely to learn social skills, business skills and even religious guidance. If the Lord wills it he will achieve far more than you and I would ever imagine.

Will that education be enough?
I have met high school graduates unable to perform basic survival tasks, illiterate in terms of comprehension and crippled when faced with the challenges of life. I have also met individuals with no formal education running businesses which generate millions in terms of revenue and employ hundreds of people.

Even in the context of extreme poverty there are different social layers and levels of care, hope and exposure. A vegetable vendor who is not a direct producer; that is they purchase wholesale to do resale is likely to generate ten to twelve thousand quetzales a year. A single person rummaging the garbage will only generate about 4,000 in recycling revenue per year. The exposure to pathogens is also quite different in each scenario.

To the best of their ability, a parent with loving instincts will give their very best to their child. You see this in the marketplace in the garbage dump and in the ghetto.

Poverty is not a synonym for constant unhappiness. The absence of a Mattel branded product is not the absence of toys or recreation.

I am not taking it as a personal attack, nor am I offended by the superficiality of your assessment. I am simply amused at how your perspective lacks gradients in terms of quality of life and joy. It is black and white.

My crib was not a box of rotten tomatoes. By the time my father purchased a plot with tomatoes I was a bit to chubby to fit in a standard size box

I terms of my background I have experienced poverty well beyond what you see in this picture. I have also experienced prosperity far above anything I deserve or have worked for. I refuse to complain about hard times with confidence that each stage of our life is God-appointed and intended to shape our character.

Happy Thursday to all!

The point is: as I was passing through this parallel world that I knew absolutely nothing about, I felt overwhelmed with the desire to experience more than what I could simply through “window shopping” the culture. Like you Marina, I too “feel like an imposture, asking them about their hardships when it’s so obvious that I will never fully grasp what they go thru.”

Thus, I’m slowly try to piece together a project where I would take at least a month to step out of my world and step into theirs. Live exactly as they do, do exactly what they do, experience much of what they do. I’d love to do a documentary on it… write about book about it at the very least! Of course, I still need to court a family and learn their language first… thus… it’s a big project! But, one I’m very keen on doing.

Anyway, your “imposter” comment really struck a chord with me…