Tonight we had our service dinner, and we had the opportunity to all come together and discuss our feelings thus far. It started off with Sarah asking us some questions about how we felt about the clean burning stoves project and many other things, and the answers and emotions started to flow. I, myself, was not able to really describe some of my feelings toward the project because the other group members were basically saying everything that was on my mind. But, I guess since I did not share too much at the feast (chicken, french fries, and vegetables), I should go ahead and spew my views here.
Overall, I feel so grateful for this experience to go out and help other people. There is just something about helping other people that gives you such a unique feeling of happiness. This sort of happiness cannot be made or bought or come from anything other than the knowledge that you truly helped someone and changed their life or touched them in a way that both of you will remember for the rest of your lives. It seems to lift your heart and make it warm while at the same time able to give you the chills and provide goosebumps all over your body. These are all things that I felt while I was out there helping families in the rural area of Peru enjoy a home without smoke and the constant threat of disease and sickness. I was able to connect with them on a much deeper level than I am able to connect with someone over the Internet or the phone or even face-to-face, because we shared such an incredible experience with one another. Believe me when I say that it really is an experience we shared together, because not only was I so grateful and fulfilled building the stoves for them, but they were even more overjoyed. They usually live such a tranquil life, but if we ever needed anything such as a brick or more barro, or anything, they were lighting fast to get it for us. Their expressions and willingness to do whatever we needed really showed me what happiness is and how even when they do not have much, they can still be truly happy.
That little topic led to a discussion about our lives here in Peru compared to our lives in the US. Here, life is much simpler. It is predicated on living life how you want it and enjoying it, while in the US it is all about working a job you might not like for 40 hours a week, so that on the weekends you can have some money to go out and have fun. Here, they have fun with life all of the time. They are not as serious as people are back in the US. The past 2 days, I have literally started busting out laughing in class from Angie's weird sayings and faces while stopping class entirely because I was laughing so hard. I thought that the professor would be a little upset that I had stopped class in the middle of our lesson, but she was actually laughing with me (as was the class), but the point is that she didn't mind. She went with the flow, and I feel that is kind of what the people here do. However, it is not so in the US. There, it is all about what car you have, what clothes you wear, where you live, etc., but people do not care about that here. In fact, most people do not really even own or use a personal car. Most people here, and in the rural areas, do not care what they wear most of the time. They are just happy to have and be able to wear clothes that protect them from the weather and sun. Life is much simpler here, and I feel that is such a great lesson for people in the US to learn. Obviously, there are people in the US that do that already, but the vast majority of Americans feel this tie or bond with material things that is so engrained in the culture and lifestyle that it is hard for me to even comprehend. I do not want to make Peru sound like it is a place that has low standards or anything like that, but they are a people and it is a place where they are able to work with less and still enjoy a happy lifestyle.
It was interesting because when Sarah talked about her personal connections with some of the children in the town, she told us that she had (jokingly) offered to take them with us back to the US. However, with each and every child in the rural community where there are no bathrooms or any true form of transportation other than your own two feet, they all said "no". They were content. They accepted and cherished a simple life in the country where family, friends, and the community come above all else. They want to live in a place where there are no computers or television and only radio because their value systems are different than ours. They are able to connect with one another on a deeper level than people in the US are because when they ask how you are, they really mean it. When they smile, they are truly happy. When someone needs something or is unable to do something, the people in the community help out without feeling the frustration of losing some of their own time from something else. Everything there was more sincere, and I could really feel that.
I am not proposing that everyone should be, or try to become like Peruvians. All I wish is that we were able to take a step back from our privileged lives in the US to understand that we are able to live in a society that has so much more than most other countries around the world. We enjoy so many things that most other people around the world can only dream of. However, most of those other people, such as those in Peru, are able to find a level of happiness and content that people in the US can only dream of. It really shows you that sometimes less is more and time spent with other people without technology can make a difference.
I apologize for the long blog tonight, but I felt compelled to share these things so that maybe the reader would be able to do what I have been able to do. Just take a step back from your busy life and understand that you can be happy without a lot of the things that you feel like you needed at one point in time. I have found that time away from the television and working with other people to better their lives has in fact bettered mine. This is why I love helping people. This is why I have been able to achieve such content here. This is why I chose to come to Peru.
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