What did annoy me in El Salvador? Apart from the dirt and the heat, it was the greed I saw. Greed wasn’t everywhere. It was just in a couple of instances. Beggars can be choosers….or at least try to be.
Example: On the last night we were in Usulutan, I was asked 3 times by people for bandanas. It wasn’t the fact that they liked bandanas. It was how they were asking for them. As if our main purpose for the trip was to give away bandanas. “Wealthy Americans are giving away stuff? Well that means I should ask for bandanas.” Pure old American greed. Maybe one person in our group gave away their bandana which signaled the great bandana giveaway sale at the Anita Guerrero school.
If you have to ask for something, then maybe you don’t need it after all. It feels much better when I give away something to someone who didn’t even ask for it. I preferred it that way. I enjoyed the one time I gave a boy a small matchbox-sized skateboard toy unexpectantly, rather than having a whole group of kids come up to me each holding out their hands expecting a toy. The boy with the skateboard toy must have thought it was Christmas day the way he played with that toy.
Another example: On the 2nd to the last night, they gave away toys to the children who participated in the children’s class. Laura, one of the teachers, described it as “a complete disaster,” because some people weren’t happy with the toys they were given. We were pestered by unhappy parents wanting another toy. Another example of pure old American greed filtered down to Latin American standards. I told Laura that next year they will just have to get 2 sets of toys…one for the girls and one for the boys. Or even just have one toy for everyone, so that there will be no fighting about it.
I know that I am just as guilty as not being satisfied with what I’ve got. I’m always looking for something bigger and better in the computer world. I just saw this particular aspect magnified more and more when it was in-your-face type of greed.
And I don’t feel guilty for what I’ve got. Guilt involves doing something wrong. I feel blessed. I’d be guilty if I didn’t use what I had for God.