So yeah, like I mentioned briefly in my previous post, I’m dealing with a bit of culture shock. Wow.
Admittedly, I decided to make things a bit harder for myself than it could have been. I decided to watch Oprah. The topic? Spoiled rich kids. The last time I saw a four year old, it was on the streets of Dhaka begging and crying for food. Now, I was watching a four year old with her own diamond studded earrings and several thousand dollars worth of Barbie dolls. I think I popped a blood vessel in my head watching that show.
As much as I’d like to go into a tirade about the excesses we have in this part of the world, part of dealing with this kind of culture shock is that you don’t want to become a self-righteous holier-than-thou jerk. We live in a part of the world where it is very easy to get caught up in a way of life that allows us to ignore the plight of others far away from us. But being caught up in this does not mean we’re bad, inconsiderate, selfish or greedy. What it means is that we’re human.
And as humans we can sometimes get caught up in bad habits. In order to break a bad habit, you have to at least admit to it. But ignoring the plight of the global poor isn’t the same as a bad habit like smoking. When you light up, you get scornful looks and pseudo-coughs from others reminding you of your bad habit. But ignoring the plight of the global poor is something all of us (myself included) are guilty of at one point or another while living in this part of the world.
It’s not opulence, it’s not ignorance, it’s not lack of consideration – it’s just a collective bad habit. And, like most bad habits, it’s one that (in the end) will end up hurting us.
That is why i try to buy as little as possible, i only get the essential needs to live and maybe, just maybe a new game for my DS.
Hi! I was wondering how long you are home for, and where exactly home is. I would love to talk with you about your experiences. I spent 4 months over in B-desh recently and your work is amazing. I want so badly to not only help you financially but also by joining you. I am in grad school currently and hope to finish. Do you have any idea how much longer your mission will last? I am so inspired by you and your spirit. I am excited by your passion and drive. We need more people like you in the world. I want to be one of them. Please contact me. thank you.
p.s. I also brought home with me some taka that isn’t exchangeable. I was trying to think of a way to send it back because the people I stayed with would not take it as a gift. I would like to give it to you to take back with you to help you in your mission. Where can I send it?
Really like what you are doing!
Keep it up!
Hey Shawn,
Glad you made it home to recharge. Man you were over there a long time. You know it’s funny. My first experience seeing poverty was in Honduras. I had go down there with a group called the Youth Environmental Action Club. It was a club at my high school that I ended up being president of. We were there to study the ecology, but there were many things you could not help but notice. Hiking up a =20
trail and seeing children washing their cloths and bathing in a stream, which families living down stream used for drinking water. Visiting a small town where many children were selling trinkets and statues, only to find out that if they did not sell all they had they would not be allowed home that night and have to sleep in the streets. We visited a school that was in a building similar to the ones you =20
have shown in your videos. All grades in one dilapidated building. What felt the best is that my group had brought with us supplies to donate. Paper, pencils, and notebooks. I myself donated 100 solar calculators. It felt so wonderful doing that for them that I did not want to stop helping. I ended up giving away my watch to a child, just to see the joy in his face. Over the next 10 days I gave away many of the possessions I had brought with me.
The most amazing thing I found above everything else would be the smiles on the children?s faces. No matter how little these kids had, they still smiled and played as kids should. Sure what I gave away got them excited, but even if I had not they would have still be happy. It was that that made me realize how material possessions do not make happiness. It’s our friends and family. We are a spoiled nation. Granted it is the fact that we are spoiled that affords us the time to look out at other nations and say, wow maybe we should help them. But it takes a stronger person to leave our comforts behind and go make a difference. You are a strong person Shawn. If everyone thought like you, this world would be a much safer, cleaner, and healthy place for everyone.
On a level I know what you went though over there. At least a little bit. There is a part of me that wants to quit my job, sell all I own and join you. I see a great future for you and the Uncultured Project. You bring this cause to the youth of America. You empower the next generation to take this responsibility for this problem, and to fight for what is right. You slapped your hand down in the water, and the ripples have traveled far.
Be safe Shawn, and keep up the Awesome work!
Matt (AKA windago)
Hey there friend,
I definitely hear the song your singing about culture shock and the desire to yell in the street of how privileged we are and how we need to share or wake up.
How does one encourage people to break these “bad habits” of not considering the big picture? How does one encourage people around them to consider without sounding too “IN YOUR FACE”? I think what your doing is awesome and I great way to help us all to see clearly and to thoughtful consider that ought to be done.
Anyways, I like what your doing and it’s humbling.
Amanda