What does it feel like to be poor? Well till about a second ago, being poor for me was not having enough money to buy this cute Juicy wallet that I've been wanting. Wt eff was i thinking? Sitting here, i cannot even begin to conceive what it would be like for me to wake up in the morning, and know that i have to scavenge through dumpsters in order to put food on the table. I can only sit here and watch the goosebumps run down my arms as i think of how selfish I've been. I mean, I'm not alone. I'm sure most people on this side of the world complain about the water in the shower not being hot enough or the AC in your house not being cold in enough, but all it takes is few pictures to put it all into perspective for you. While you're out there taking your life for granted, one more person has died as a result of hunger or insufficient medical care due to no money.
When i was much younger ago i came into close contact with poverty on a trip to visit my late grandmother in The Dominican Republic. I remember walking down the street and noticing a pattern: there were a variety of young boys, some into their teens, dressed in tattered clothing. They were dirty and appeared homeless and they all carried wooden boxes with old shoe cleaning products. I remember looking at my mother and asking her what was wrong with those boys. She looked at me and told me those are "limpia-botas." As if on cue a young boy who looked like he was about 9 asked me if he can clean my shoes for a "peso," but before i could answer my mother just yanked me arm and kept walking. I know i was too young to understand but i old enough to know that i didn't want to be in their place. I look at it now and i wonder why their government hasn't done anything about that. These are young boys, who have no education and are forced to live on the streets, why not create housing for them or give them scholarships? But the sad truth is that sadly those who have the power to do something about this DON'T. Is there any hope for mankind?
I sit here, a lonely girl with a righteous opinion and i think about all that i can do to alleviate poverty in third world countries and the truth is: not much.