The Weight of the World

I feel very fortunate to be able to travel.  For the obvious reasons, but more so now, for what stays with me after I get home. 

I'm referring to what's out there that we don't always see.  At first, I thought it was just that we are Americans and somewhat sheltered.  But, the more I think about it, it's just the 'newness' and the awareness that brings things to light. 

Poverty.  Those less fortuante.  Extreme poverty.  This is what I'm talking about.  Ever since coming back from S. Africa, I cannot get one particular picture out of my head. 

It was the last day.  We were in Cape Town enjoying a glorious day, having just returned from up atop Table Mountain.  Cape Town feels like the Meditteranean.  You pretty much forget where you are (Africa).  My colleagues and I were having lunch at an outside cafe right along the beach and trying to soak up all the sun and beauty before our flights that evening.  A young girl, probably about 13 or 14 walked by carrying her baby.  She was begging for money.  As she walked by us, we all kind of looked down at the floor or at each other.  She walked by again and something struck me, as well as the two guys I was with.  For perspective, one of the gentlemen is from Kroatia and lived in shelters thru the Cold War and the other joined the Peace Corps after college and lived in Bolivia for two years.  I was in compassionate hands.  We all dug into our pockets and gave her what we could find.  She was grateful and walked back to the milk crate she had positioned on the sidewalk, shading herself by a parked car.  She walked by again a few times as we sat there and was not too successful in getting people's attention.  The girl was rather quiet and not pushy at all. 

Througout our lunch, various groups of kids came up and did 'shows' as a means to get money from tourists.  Acrobatic skits, etc.  By the end of lunch, we were broke.  Or at least had given away every last Rand we had on us.  But, I kept watching this girl.  Her baby was probably 9 mos old.  It was obvious, despite her young age, she was a mom.  Her only interest was in making sure her baby was cared for.  She discreetly nursed the baby a few times and did her best to stay shaded from the hot sun.  All I could think about was what I was doing with Olivia and Luke when they were her baby's age.  I had blocks on the ground, working on developmental areas.  I knew about the importance of gross and motor skill development.  Clothing, food and shelter were not something I had to think about.  Where did this girl sleep?  How did her baby sleep?  On the ground?  Where did she go to the bathroom?  Does she even have diapers for her baby? These thoughts just wouldn't stay away. 

I kept thinking about what I could do.  The only thing I could think of was food.  She just looked hungry.  Like she had no energy.  Not emaciated.  Just lifeless.  I got up from my chair and went over to her.  I sat down next to her and asked her if I could buy her lunch.  She immediately said yes.  I asked her what she liked.  Her reply, 'anything, my lady'.  She repeated this anytime I asked her a question.  Would she prefer fish, a sandwich, pasta?  Same reply.  So, I went an ordered a cheeseburger and fries for her.  The waiter boxed it up for me and brought it out hot.  I then went back over to her and asked her if I could hold her baby while she ate so she would have both hands free.  The girl had just finished nursing the baby again and he'd fallen asleep, so she declined.  I wanted to be sensitive to making her uncomfortable, so I stayed with her for a few minutes to help her get settled.  She ate every last bit of the what was in the styrofoam box.  I was elated! 

Three weeks later, I cannot stop thinking about this girl.  She made an impact on me.  I didn't get her name.  I wish I could've done more to help her.  Give her a hotel room for a night, buy her clothes, etc.  All the things you don't think of at the time. 

But, more importantly than short term breaks.  How do people in her situation get out?  What has to happen to allow her a chance to succeed? 

I think this could be a very long post, because the subject is so deep.  And, I share it not to get praise for buying a girl lunch.  Really, it was 10 minutes of one day of her life.  Nothing. 

But, it got me thinking about the people living right here in America that could be under similar circumstances.  It got me thinking about the orphanages or women's shelters in parts of the world I travel to and how we can all do more to help.  We just need to be aware. 

And, living our day to day life, we don't have that luxury.  We get up, we go to work, drive to Target, fix dinner for our family and live our life.  We forget there are people out there trying to find shelter from a car and a milk crate because it's a really hot day and you have a baby to protect.  We hear stories on the news, but don't really know where to go to help. 

So, I don't really know what the answer is.  Volunteer more, obviously.  But where?  Do you try to make sweeping change or just worry about making one person's life better?  How do I make it a part of my life on a more regular basis and not just the Christmastime toy drive?  How do I ensure my kids grow up knowing they have a duty to help others too?

More to come as I try to figure this out from where and how I can help make improvement in someone's life and share back from the life I'm fortunate enough to live.