I've now been to the field (that is, slum areas) three times. I'll be headed out again today. I kind of know what to expect - kids everywhere introducing themselves and practicing the few words of english they know; half-suspicious half-curious men and women watching my every move; arguments among neighbors; pots being filled with water; babies without diapers; saris; smells.
but today we're going to a slum far poorer than the three i've been to. i doubt the streets will be almost spookily clean, as those were. i doubt the people will be as friendly as in the first two slums i visited. i also doubt i'll feel the sense of community i did in those first two. the most recent one was different - the people seemed far more isolated and fearful of one another. some attributed this to islam, but i'm assuming there was more to it than that. the houses seemed in decent shape, so i don't think it was a new slum.
i'm very curious about the "social capital" in the slum we're visiting today. if people in this poor area isolate themselves from one another, it might be tough for any group loan program to succeed. but maybe i'm being pessimistic because i've been up half the night coding.
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3 comments:
woa i finally got to check out the blog. cool. good luck in the slums.
i am out in the boonies, but they are pretty nice boonies.
enjoy the food too! whats it like?
alex, you are being really REALLY pessimistic. I say you do your part and try and show them something good about america. These people might not understand what you are doing but you know you are doing something good for them. So i say put on a smile they may hate you or whatever for whatever reason but that doesnt mean you have to hate them
I'm really loving Andrew's comments here - you know how the song goes Alex,
"AMERICA! **** YEAH!"
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