Traveling to Shanghai in January was truly an eye-opening experience. One night, we we had the privilege to take our orphan and disabled friends out to dinner. I could only imagine how they felt like growing up with no parents. Its hard to think that they probably will never know their real parents too. They don't know what it feels like to be raised in a supportive, loving family. They don't know how its like to live in a house with clean water, air-conditioning, and dinner to be served from a loving mother or father. They showed me pictures of the village they grew up in and it was very saddening to see the living situations they were born in.
What amazed me the most was that even though they faced these obstacles and hardships in their lives, they were all laughing, enjoying each other's company, and embracing one each other. This is who they had, this is who they were, and despite all of the things in their lives, they were happy to be where they were today. Despite the cultural barriers, I was still able to see the boldness and love of these young women. They were strong and were held accountable by each other. It made me feel better knowing that they had each other as a family.
Growing up in the United States has shown me just how fortunate I really am. We take for granted so many things in this world while we get frustrated at the smallest things. We get mad for having to do the dishes, doing the laundry, or not being able to eat at the restaurant we want to eat at. We should be fortunate for even having dishes to eat off of, having clothes to wash, and having food at our connivence. We could be in living in far worst situations and the bigger problems in this world are what we don't get mad about. We don't get mad for knowing that children are starving, suffering, and sleeping on dirt every single day. We are so closed-minded, that most of the time, we do not realize that people are struggling to find food, shelter, care, or even employment. Its a vast and ambiguous world and I have learned that opening my eyes to the bigger important things is where it starts. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet these orphan and disabled women that night and for having the chance to go back and help them again.
For more information about abandoned girls in China, please take a look at this amazing story: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/ft/2011/08/lost_and_found.html
What amazed me the most was that even though they faced these obstacles and hardships in their lives, they were all laughing, enjoying each other's company, and embracing one each other. This is who they had, this is who they were, and despite all of the things in their lives, they were happy to be where they were today. Despite the cultural barriers, I was still able to see the boldness and love of these young women. They were strong and were held accountable by each other. It made me feel better knowing that they had each other as a family.
Growing up in the United States has shown me just how fortunate I really am. We take for granted so many things in this world while we get frustrated at the smallest things. We get mad for having to do the dishes, doing the laundry, or not being able to eat at the restaurant we want to eat at. We should be fortunate for even having dishes to eat off of, having clothes to wash, and having food at our connivence. We could be in living in far worst situations and the bigger problems in this world are what we don't get mad about. We don't get mad for knowing that children are starving, suffering, and sleeping on dirt every single day. We are so closed-minded, that most of the time, we do not realize that people are struggling to find food, shelter, care, or even employment. Its a vast and ambiguous world and I have learned that opening my eyes to the bigger important things is where it starts. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet these orphan and disabled women that night and for having the chance to go back and help them again.
For more information about abandoned girls in China, please take a look at this amazing story: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/ft/2011/08/lost_and_found.html
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