Thanksgiving
For a large part of November, I have been sort of out of action because I was out of the country. Some family matters required me to take a trip to the other side of the world, to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. It might sound like a total cliche to say this, but going over there opens your eyes to the level of misery that some people undergo in their lives. Never have I felt so rich and so blessed, while simultaneously feeling so utterly helpless and guilty in the face of human suffering. Of course, this is not my first time to that part of the world, but it is my first time as an independent adult, at a maturity level where I feel that I can truly comprehend what I am seeing. Around the city of Peshawar, it was truly heartbreaking to see the kids, mostly Afghan refugees, performing the most menial tasks for literally pennies, all just to be able to stay alive. While some might ask why they haven't gone back to Afghanistan, for many of these children, there is nothing to go back to. Their homes have long since been destroyed, the land around their villages mined, the networks of social support shattered as people were either killed or scattered by the years of violence. One child in particular sticks out...he was by the side of the road, waiting for customers to come to get their shoes polished, a service for which he charged five rupees (60 rupees = $1.00). First of all, had there been justice in the world, he would have been making tons of money here as a child model/actor. I have rarely seen a child whose looks were so striking - at the age of around 10, it was already apparent that in just a few years, he would be melting more than a few hearts. I didn't really need my shoes shined, but I gave him 10 rupees, and he insisted on polishing them anyway. Then he wanted to do the same for my grandmother, and when he was done, she gave him another 10 rupees, which he refused, saying that he'd already been paid. I was absolutely stunned by his honesty - when that small sum of money could make such a difference to him, his own goodness prevented him from taking it. She insisted he take it anyway. I spoke with him, and asked him about going to school, and he said he couldn't because his family was too poor. I asked him how he would get out of povery if he couldn't read or write, to which he replied - "I know that I will always be like this, there is no other option for me." I literally had to hold back tears at that moment, and every time I think of it. I asked him how much his shoe-shine equipment cost him, and when he told me, I gave him enough to buy his equipment for several months. At first he refused the money, but I insisted, asking him for one thing in return - that he swear to me that when he had children of his own, he would do everything to make sure that both boys and girls would go to school. When he took the money from my hand, which was the equivalent of about $5.00, his face literally lit up, and his eyes were shining with joy. All I did was give him $5.00, and he showed such pure happiness on his face, as if I'd given him a new car or something. With all the hardship in their lives, children like this still have the ability to smile, and to be happy. It really humbled me - how often do I truly appreciate the value of what I have? And how often have I been ungrateful, wishing for more, wanting more, when in reality, I have more than someone like this could ever dream of? And the difference between the two of us is nothing more than a trick of fate. We are both Central Asian, both Persian-speaking, both Muslim, we could even pass for relatives...and yet he is shining shoes by a roadside, and I have a comfortable apartment, nice clothes, and food in my refrigerator. Thanksgiving this year had extra meaning for me, because I truly am grateful from the bottom of my heart for what I have. It also renewed my resolve to try and do things in my life which will benefit children like the little shoeshiner. There are several organizations doing things for Afghan children, among the main ones being:
Just remember, a tiny amount of money for you can make a world of difference in their lives - something to think about at this time of year, when we are giving thanks for all of the blessings that we have.
Photo credits: The picture on this post comes from www.oxfam.org - I did not take pictures for most of the trip because I was concerned about sticking out as someone from abroad with money and things to steal.
posted by TojikYor @ 11:46 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home