I went online and found the most rustic and service intensive program. I wanted to serve a community in the most authentic way possible and learn the customs and culture of an entirely different region in the world. Immediately after landing I experienced a complete culture shock and I, for the most part, keep a pretty open mind about situations. First, they don't have traditional toilets but rather what you might call a “squatty potty” and additionally none of the villages had A/C. But instantly upon arriving at a village, I was blown away. I quote from my journal, “ Today I met the villagers for the first time and saw true happiness in those around me that have little possessions.” Woah, that brief moment of just realizing and almost feeling the aura of happiness just blew my mind into thousands of fragments. I mean here in the United States there are millions of people who long for materialistic possessions, who are not satisfied with what they have and always strive for more and those are the very actions that almost bring upon their demise. Yet, in Laos, it almost felt as though they had it figured out. They didn't really on possessions but relied on people in their community for happiness. I also begin to notice that between the multitude of similarities that kept appearing between the people of Laos and my friends and I. It was almost reassuring seeing how many people these days are saying the world is separating
I went online and found the most rustic and service intensive program. I wanted to serve a community in the most authentic way possible and learn the customs and culture of an entirely different region in the world. Immediately after landing I experienced a complete culture shock and I, for the most part, keep a pretty open mind about situations. First, they don't have traditional toilets but rather what you might call a “squatty potty” and additionally none of the villages had A/C. But instantly upon arriving at a village, I was blown away. I quote from my journal, “ Today I met the villagers for the first time and saw true happiness in those around me that have little possessions.” Woah, that brief moment of just realizing and almost feeling the aura of happiness just blew my mind into thousands of fragments. I mean here in the United States there are millions of people who long for materialistic possessions, who are not satisfied with what they have and always strive for more and those are the very actions that almost bring upon their demise. Yet, in Laos, it almost felt as though they had it figured out. They didn't really on possessions but relied on people in their community for happiness. I also begin to notice that between the multitude of similarities that kept appearing between the people of Laos and my friends and I. It was almost reassuring seeing how many people these days are saying the world is separating