tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post1822497093666184941..comments2024-03-12T02:17:46.118-07:00Comments on Our Yuppie Life: Brutally honestSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-483538629645696142015-01-14T00:21:01.722-08:002015-01-14T00:21:01.722-08:00I remember experiencing something like that intern...I remember experiencing something like that internal dilemma whenever we would drive out from the sheraton hotel parking lot in Addis. From opulence to severe hardship in a moment's time. Lucky for me, I wasn't yet a mother - I didn't have the burden of a mother's perspective and knowledge - the tender love you have for your children and your fierce instinct to care for and protect them. You are brave and strong and have a good heart. I appreciate this post. I interned there with an NGO for five months and I hoped I would always bring my family back one day. I'm sure if that day comes it will also bring lots of reckoning and emotional struggle. Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18234037429443245831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-16131116154626134002014-04-04T13:24:43.184-07:002014-04-04T13:24:43.184-07:00I am sorry about your sad experience with the pove...I am sorry about your sad experience with the poverty in Ethiopia.<br /><br />Are there any middle class people in Ethiopia or are all the people living in huts?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04242982403880766377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-71491572008077079422013-03-14T10:20:38.786-07:002013-03-14T10:20:38.786-07:00Just remember Sara; you can't save the world, ...Just remember Sara; you can't save the world, just learn how to embrace it. Once you learn how to go native, it’s much easier to enjoy the developing country that you’re living in. You’ll never understand this world through white, upper middle class eyes. Ethiopia has a lot of history, culture and good food, so you can start there.<br />When I worked in the Philippines I would visit some interesting places while traveling around the countryside. I traveled around Luzon, north of Manila and would embrace the culture and the food. Showing respect to their customs went a long way and helped get me adopted by the folks I was working with. It was nice to get back to the New World Hotel though for a hot shower and then a nice meal across the street at the Greenbelt. <br />One thing I did while I was down there was put girls through college. At $300 a semester for four semesters they could get a degree and have a better chance at a new life. $1200 for a degree and I did that eight times. Whether it was nursing, teaching or hotel management, they would have a better life. It’s a man’s world in the third world, so I helped a few get a better chance to a better future. 100% of my donation went for the cause. If you just help the young mother a little bit with food, shelter and perhaps an education, it’s more than most people do in a life time.<br />Now I’m in Djibouti and it’s even worse. I thought the Philippines was bad, but this place is terrible. I was going to try to set up a program to provide shelter and a safe place for single mothers and the street kids. After looking into this, it looked like a good project for USAID. I didn’t have enough spare time to make it work. <br />I haven’t been back to the U.S. for some time and have learned to live in these austere conditions. Remember, for these people to live in a squatter village is the norm. There are people who have lived in Refugee Camps their entire lives over here in Africa. They don’t know what it’s like to have a down comforter on their king size bed, a fireplace in the living room in a 4 bedroom 3 bath house. And, now they’re having kids of their own. <br />One thing I’ve noticed is that the people in these environments have embraced just living an existence or living to die. They wake up, clean and then cook breakfast. Then gather around in a group and talk, smoke shisha, chew khat for most of the day. They do this day after day after day. You can’t force them to be motivated, get an education or work. In these places, people sometimes have kids so they can send them out to beg or even worse, to sell into Human Trafficking. <br />I’ve definitely become more of a minimalist because of experiencing this type of environment. I help when I can, but I don’t feel guilty when I don’t. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-82966373932177552782013-03-11T21:28:42.268-07:002013-03-11T21:28:42.268-07:00Hi Sara,This is how the third world country lives....Hi Sara,This is how the third world country lives...there are people who struggle to eat once a day and others play with food(like the one in the WIPE OUT !)Leaving in the US for the last two years,I see how unfair we humans are.There are children's who are starving and dying,and thee are others with too much extravagance life.I am not saying why do they have everything, But I think we need to teach them to exchange excess luxury to something that can save other humans.Otherwise the world is going to be the worest place to live in.After all we are all going to die .BTW thank you for your honest posts.Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11302473937918626681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-39227979058174876122012-08-04T03:27:45.094-07:002012-08-04T03:27:45.094-07:00Thank you. This is a wonderful post.Thank you. This is a wonderful post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-87959124714945272032012-07-22T07:48:29.913-07:002012-07-22T07:48:29.913-07:00I am just now reading this post, and 'wow'...I am just now reading this post, and 'wow' is the word that comes to mind. I like what Nomads said - "Encounters with real people in real situations are brutal and beautiful." That sums up what I am thinking/feeling after reading this. It makes me reflect on the time I spent volunteering at an orphanage in South Africa, where I felt like no matter how much I gave - time, effort, love, money, food, clothes - it wasn't enough to ease the pain of poverty. But what you did was something tangible and very needed. So glad you've been able to watch the baby boy grow older! Keep on being you!Sadiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04348502564760792668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-57913901173572898442012-06-06T07:10:12.968-07:002012-06-06T07:10:12.968-07:00Wow ... such eloquence about a topic that is, for ...Wow ... such eloquence about a topic that is, for lack of a better word, ugly.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16493268452074516009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-76649032497564983232012-05-18T22:21:28.630-07:002012-05-18T22:21:28.630-07:00I love hearing that people are sharing this with t...I love hearing that people are sharing this with their friends and family and telling me about people's reactions. My favorite comment so far is from my Mom, who told me it was provocative and made her think! Gotta love it when you can make your own Mama contemplate life! Thanks for sharing this everyone!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-45985056846927882202012-05-17T18:31:19.229-07:002012-05-17T18:31:19.229-07:00I shared this post with my in-laws and sister-in-...I shared this post with my in-laws and sister-in-law who recently took mission trips to Ethiopia. I wanted to share my father-in-law's response: This post from Sara was moving, honest and so real. The contrast from opposite sides of a street is so immense in Ethiopia. I find myself like Sara at times, seeing all that we as professing Christians have and yet "saying" the words of "love your neighbor as yourself". Are not these Ethiopian's our neighbor? And many of these suffering people are Christian brothers and neighbors. It is a struggle to know what to do and how to respond. But one thing I did learn while in Ethiopia from those who work in this environment daily is "make a difference with those that are right in front of you". To try and "fix" it all is impossible in every aspect. From reading what Sara said it is very evident she will make a difference in the lives of those around her.Heather P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00344036628056377508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-67213058058942886132012-05-16T16:45:19.015-07:002012-05-16T16:45:19.015-07:00I was in tears halfway through your post. You have...I was in tears halfway through your post. You have such a big heart for your family and those around you. I know your heart is heavy with your experiences in Ethiopia, and I will be praying for you and those around you.Heather P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00344036628056377508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-75475465901848040582012-05-16T16:35:57.608-07:002012-05-16T16:35:57.608-07:00You had me in tears by the end of this post. You&...You had me in tears by the end of this post. You're writing is wonderful, no wonderful is not strong enough a word. Thanks for sharing this, in all the complexity.Daniellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14693890273484741328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-16246931102154486082012-05-16T10:42:41.918-07:002012-05-16T10:42:41.918-07:00Thank you for sharing your experience! I have been...Thank you for sharing your experience! I have been struggling with similar feelings since our recent arrival here in India. I have seen so many people that need help. And it is the mothers and young children that truly break my heart. I intentionally sent our kids old clothes, books and toys in our HHE because I knew there is crushing poverty here and those items are more needed here than in the US. It is hard to figure out what to do with your feelings but I am glad you are writing about it. Perhaps it will help you find peace and decide how you want to move forward. You have a big heart and that's awesome. Perhaps it's not an accident that you are where you are at this time...Daniela Swiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375056786777183752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-48906383973510782752012-05-16T07:58:05.421-07:002012-05-16T07:58:05.421-07:00I LOVE this posting... your brutal honesty reflect...I LOVE this posting... your brutal honesty reflects how, I think, most of us feel. We want to help those who need help, and yet we want to shield our little ones from what poverty is and does to others. What we have and how we live is a gift, and I think it is good to be reminded just how LUCKY we are in different ways. All of these "things" are necessary in life, but they are nice to have and nice to be able to afford them. Thank you for sharing this experience with me and others, and reminding us just how lucky and blessed our lives truly are. :)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07498077262685242801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-52491506733690455402012-05-16T03:50:55.853-07:002012-05-16T03:50:55.853-07:00These comments are so nice. Thank you! Sometimes...These comments are so nice. Thank you! Sometimes being honest with yourself isn't pretty but healthy in a green tea cleansing sort of way. I skim the surface of myself for too long and it's good to dive deeper. Experiences like this one are what living overseas is all about right? It's what I wanted to feel but when it comes down to it the experience is much more raw than I could have imagined.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048354315046501082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-21387659937384615902012-05-16T03:07:42.632-07:002012-05-16T03:07:42.632-07:00Thank you for this post. I don't have words, ...Thank you for this post. I don't have words, but thank you.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17988224004955953763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-60245874087599842452012-05-16T00:35:55.548-07:002012-05-16T00:35:55.548-07:00Sara, I know and don't envy the dilemma you ar...Sara, I know and don't envy the dilemma you are in. You are faced with true poverty and an opportunity to experience a chance to really make a life changing difference. It hurts but in the end you will totally be blessed for having your eyes open.Sunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04837319071695368552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-81611610858809345802012-05-15T23:24:57.159-07:002012-05-15T23:24:57.159-07:00*speechless*sniffle*sniffle**speechless*sniffle*sniffle*Melinda Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05499419108138172728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-12981050246632567652012-05-15T20:24:18.031-07:002012-05-15T20:24:18.031-07:00Encounters with real people in real situations are...Encounters with real people in real situations are brutal and beautiful. That yours was in an impoverished country you are only getting to know, makes it that much harder to navigate. Follow your heart, like you did that night. You will find ways to connect and possibly help. Write about those moments and teach all you read your blog. The humanity is that it could be any of us in those circumstances of need. The humility is that we, in places of privilege, are no more deserving. Trust your heart and bless you for sharing such a brutally honest moment.Nomads By Naturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06893950431543999751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-86784138153841104722012-05-15T15:49:54.171-07:002012-05-15T15:49:54.171-07:00Thanks for posting about this experience. I think...Thanks for posting about this experience. I think we all need a reminder of just how truly blessed we are. Your Ethiopian neighbors will also be immensely blessed by the sweet, generous woman that has moved into their neighborhood.<br /><br />My brother is leaving in a month for a mission trip to Ethiopia. He will be drilling a water well in conjunction with Living Water at an orphanage (I think) in a village about 5-6 hours outside Addis Ababa. It's eye opening to think that this village will be forever grateful for clean water when I complain when our hot water heater runs out. But by the grace of God go I...Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02372642044421828316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289004993187545521.post-77412888738206597632012-05-15T09:44:41.414-07:002012-05-15T09:44:41.414-07:00wow, that was amazing. I have to share this post.wow, that was amazing. I have to share this post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03707312160893238672noreply@blogger.com