I will have to say I have really enjoyed talking with my two professionals. They have already began to help me better understand what they encounter each day. Stephanie is a Kindergarten teacher in Suriname, South America. Stephanie is a missionary teacher in a Christian school within the neighborhood. She provides a very vivid picture of life outside the school and the life within the school walls.. Yes, they are VERY different. Coming from her American suburban home, she instantly thought poverty, however she feels those families would never say that or even be offended by that. She shares how many new teachers see the houses and stated, " WOW is that really some one's house? Do you think its abandoned?" However over time you will see that the very house people thought was abandoned is a families home. These homes, if anything, have one window unit and the rest have opened windows to let in the still very hot breeze. She mentions often visiting the children's home and seeing that while the children are able to get what they need, they lack the love and attention they so desperately need.
Within the school walls the picture is painted so differently.Before moving from Memphis, she thought in her head that they would only move a missionary teacher to help and minister to those children who were malnourished, poverty-stricken inner city children. Little did she know, it was very different. Many children who have personal drivers, people who cook and bring them their snacks and dinner, and literally pick up after them. Stephanie sees they are getting their food needs met, but she looks at this poverty in a very different light. The poverty of love and affection with their own parents.
My dear friend Amy teaches in Prague. Only being in Prague for a few months she does not feel she has encountered much poverty within the school setting, but she does see int around the city. She compared it to our hometown, Memphis. She stated that in Prague they would have people asking for money like they do here, but it seems to happen a little more in Prague.
From the conversations I have had with Stephanie and Amy I feel I have become more aware of how poverty can be looked at in many different ways. While food, and the money to buy necessities is part of poverty, we must also include other important necessities many children are lacking, for that is what poverty means: lacking in necessities. It reminded me that many times poverty can be a relative statement when looking merely at the surface. What may appear to be poverty to me, may not to another person. Like Stephanie mentioned when she first arrived in Suriname; the housing and lifestyle is what she would have thought of as poverty coming from an American suburban home.
Your conversations sounds so knowledge filled. Being able to communicate with the two of them provides you such a wonderful opportunity to learn first hand doesn't it? From living styles to what the term poverty means in each culture is amazing!
ReplyDeleteJo Ann: Your post was very hard to read. It made me think of all of the wonderful privileges that I take for granted each day. Sometimes while I am driving; I encounter houses that look dilapidated or abandoned; I think to myself, “No one can possibly live in that home.” Then on a later date, I see a child playing outside of the home. It really saddens me and makes me count my blessings. Thank you for sharing your post: I look forward to reading updated information from your international contacts!
ReplyDeleteJo Ann, i really enjoyed reading your post. Its unbelievable that poverty is in every country but each country handles it differently. Continue to provide us with great information i can't wait to learn more. Great job.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn,
ReplyDeleteGreat information from your contacts. Many times it surprises me the way some families live...I have to always be thankful for the life that I have because so many are suffering. I too believe that children can be in poverty for love and affection from their family members. Great Post!