After the Urban Poor Exposure

[kell]

I'm happy that my urban poor exposure is over. But I'm not that really happy because I brought with me a souvenir from my place: coughs. I had coughs the past few days because the informal settlement I lived for 17 days somewhere in Manila is always very humid especially in the evenings, very congested with a lot of houses squeezed in a very small area thus making the alley or eskinita I walked very narrow, and the stench of the canal that runs directly underneath the alley where my foster home is situated is very pungent in daytime. Somehow my health was affected. Good thinking that I'm already back in my seminary and tomorrow, since it's declared a free day for us SPFYers, I will have myself checked up. For the mean time, I have to drink a lot of water as an alternative medicine for my coughs. Yet I realized that if that's how I felt and experienced, then how much more the residents of the place have to experience every day even though they have already grown accustomed to their bad ambiance? This is then the reality; people are forced to be contented in what they have all because of poverty. In my experience, I almost cried when I saw people have to live in small houses even though they're more than what their homes can actually accommodate, little children and toddlers running and taking a bath naked in the middle of the eskinita due to their little bathrooms or none at all, and little children urinating and defecating in the middle of the alley due to absence or very little CRs in their already crowded little homes. Worst of all, the community I lived there had a bad reputation for once a hideout of drug addicts and pushers. So even my safety was endangered in a way. But thanks be to God no harm fell on me.

But there's a good side to my experience. The foster family I came to befriend with is very hospitable and accommodating. They even lent a room for me to sleep and provided me food and snacks with their little earnings. Plus, they shared to me their life in this place and the lifestyle of the residents here. I was happy that I met a lot of good neighbors. One neighbor gave me a farewell gift just this afternoon before I left. I'm so grateful for her. From my experience, I learned that poor people like them, despite their little savings, can be more hospitable and friendlier than what I've thought. I believe then that their lives aren't that bad in their place. I only pray that one day their lives will be better. For now, I believe that they still continue to struggle to have decent lives with their own efforts and little savings even they're already been living in a dehumanized place. This makes me angry because they're human beings and they have every human right to a human and decent living conditions yet this is one of the things that has been denied. Why? Is it because they're poor and so deserved very poor living conditions and environment? Is it because our society looked down on them as lesser humans? Is it because of the values they held wrongly? I don't know the right and specific answers to these because their situation is already complicated. That's why it's frustrating for me because I don't know whom or what to blame. I guess solving poverty is no easy job. But one thing's for sure: thanks to my experience, I'm able to know myself better in the eyes of the poor. With that, I have now something to pray for as I discern what's truly my vocation.:approve:

[ctivnan]

Kell,

:thanks: very much for sharing your experiences. I hope the cough isn't that serious and having it looked at is the best thing to do. Having chicken soup can also help.

I agree that in spite of their bad living conditions, people in the urban poor areas always have that warmth about them. I find them friendly and hospitable, too. I even admire their resilience. I, for one, may have a lot of difficulty living in a place where there aren't any bathrooms or toilets. I often feel a little bad seeing people taking a shower along the roads, but you know what? I see that beautiful smile and those hopeful eyes. Some of them may be experiencing this situation right now, but I guess, in time, with lots of dedication and perseverance, they can uplift their lives. Poverty may be bad, disappointing, and frustrating, yet it can also be a driving force for some people to make their lives better.

I am happy (no, not that you're sick and all), but because you have learned something from this exposure and have gained friends along the way. I hope that you won't forget them because I think, they won't forget you.

[q_sharon]

I'm happy that my urban poor exposure is over. But I'm that really happy because I brought with me a souvenir from my place: coughs. I had coughs the past few days because the informal settlement I lived for 17 days somewhere in Manila is always very humid especially in the evenings, very congested with a lot of houses squeezed in a very small area thus making the alley or eskinita I walked very narrow, and the stench of the canal that runs directly underneath the alley where my foster home is situated is very pungent in daytime. Somehow my health was affected. Good thinking that I'm already back in my seminary and tomorrow, since it's declared a free day for us SPFYers, I will have myself checked up. For the mean time, I have to drink a lot of water as an alternative medicine for my coughs. Yet I realized that if that's how I felt and experienced, then how much more the residents of the place have to experience every day even though they have already grown accustomed to their bad ambiance? This is then the reality; people are forced to be contented in what they have all because of poverty. In my experience, I almost cried when I saw people have to live in small houses even though they're more than what their homes can actually accommodate, little children and toddlers running and taking a bath naked in the middle of the eskinita due to their little bathrooms or none at all, and little children urinating and defecating in the middle of the alley due to absence or very little CRs in their already crowded little homes. Worst of all, the community I lived there had a bad reputation for once a hideout of drug addicts and pushers. So even my safety was endangered in a way. But thanks be to God no harm fell on me.

But there's a good side to my experience. The foster family I came to befriend with is very hospitable and accommodating. They even lent a room for me to sleep and provided me food and snacks with their little earnings. Plus, they shared to me their life in this place and the lifestyle of the residents here. I was happy that I met a lot of good neighbors. One neighbor gave me a farewell gift just this afternoon before I left. I'm so grateful for her. From my experience, I learned that poor people like them, despite their little savings, can be more hospitable and friendlier than what I've thought. I believe then that their lives aren't that bad in their place. I only pray that one day their lives will be better. For now, I believe that they still continue to struggle to have decent lives with their own efforts and little savings even they're already been living in a dehumanized place. This makes me angry because they're human beings and they have every human right to a human and decent living conditions yet this is one of the things that has been denied. Why? Is it because they're poor and so deserved very poor living conditions and environment? Is it because our society looked down on them as lesser humans? Is it because of the values they held wrongly? I don't know the right and specific answers to these because their situation is already complicated. That's why it's frustrating for me because I don't know whom or what to blame. I guess solving poverty is no easy job. But one thing's for sure: thanks to my experience, I'm able to know myself better in the eyes of the poor. With that, I have now something to pray for as I discern what's truly vocation.:approve:

this is indeed a beautiful and meaningful experience to reckon with. at your age, (i presume university age) your eyes are opened to the reality that life can be so difficult to some people. This experience must have made you a better person. How can you help? It has been a besetting question for me until now. We sympathize and emphatize with them. However, we may not be able to do much because of our limitations. Seeing their less human conditions which they seem to have gotten used to is actually a push for us to be not one of them. We can only help the poor if we don't allow ourselves be among them. The poor will always be among us. The only consolation is they are happy and content with what they have, so they can survive more honorably. However, they must think beyond this and strive more. God bless you. :DANCER: