Finding a cause

It is so hard to know what the best way to help people in need is. My goal for this entire voyage is to find a cause that I am passionate about and support for the rest of my life. So far, I realized that I am passionate about hunger, and that is not only because I love food. I see people in these villages and they are so happy. They may not know how to do addition or how to spell their names or how to use a computer, but they are happy. The author of the memoir that I talked about earlier emphasizes that one obstacle in the way of happiness in hunger. She said, "I fought against the real slavery – hunger." Now, I just need to figure out a sustainable way to feed people throughout the world. Don't take this the wrong way – education and technology are powerful tools for the world as well.

 

I have been talking a lot to my Brazilian friend Daniella about her country. She is in the upper echelons of society in Brazil. She went to the American school in Sao Paolo, which is the best that there is. Right across the street from her school (which is guarded with barbed wire and all), is the school for a favela. The structure is made of tin. There is no school when it is raining because it is too loud. Teachers come and go. Classes have students from all ages. Daniella's school set up a program so that the students of both schools could interact. In general, the upper classes, especially the children, are completely sheltered from knowing about the lives of the lower class. Daniella was carted from home to school to horseback riding lessons and back home again, all without having to see the destitute conditions. And I don't blame her. Anyways, back to my story, so the students of the American school went over to the favela school to teach them grammar. When they got there, they realized it would be completely impossible. The children were either withdrawn and wouldn't talk or they were all over Daniella saying "You are so beautiful," "I want your watch," etc. Instead, they decided to teach the kids about self-esteem. I am so impressed with Daniella – she has dreams to change her country. She is going to school at Boston University and wants to return to Brazil eventually. She realizes that there are huge problems but is not disillusioned and wants to effect change. She has already started to help. When she started driving and was not being carted around the city, she really saw the street children. They would come to her window and beg for money. Yes, that happens in the U.S. but not to the extreme that it does in Brazil. Daniella, instead of helping these kids through money, decided to carry food in her car to give to any of the streetkids. It is great to meet amazing people on this ship who really want to have an impact on the world.