In my English 1102 class, we were asked to write on this specific topic and below are videos. These videos are showing a project where some students are trying to live in a new country on $1 a day. I was asked: What would you do if you had to depend on only the resources at hand without resource to family and friends? How would you deal with living on a dollar a day? What value to you see in this experience? I listed my responses, but how would you answer these questions?
This was my response:
If I had to depend on solely the resources at hand without support from family or friends, I know that I would be testing my mental and physical strengths. I would mentally feel so deprived of the luxuries that I am used to and have just been given, not even earned. Physically, my body would (most likely) grow weak of not being nourished properly like it is now as a daily routine. There would not be any other options but to DEAL with living on the dollar every day. I would try to learn and understand the techniques of bargaining and bartering amongst the townspeople, and continue to try to just be self-sufficient and budget wisely. I think these participants are doing a great thing for these people, and probably for themselves as well. They are giving some of those children memorable experiences and even the tiniest bit of education that they are providing can mean and become so much more to those children. Seeing this, I got a sense of how vain I have been. So wrapped up within the things that I have and myself. I am always saying how I "need" this and that, but honestly, everything I have ever needed was always provided as a necessity. These people have to work for just those little necessities. I do not thank those who surround me enough for their support and all that they provide. They are leveling the gravel and dirt to be "comfortable" when they sleep, yet I complain over silly, insipid things such as not having people walk in my room with shoes on. It goes to show how ungrateful I have been and how I expect things to just happen for me without working for them or deserving them. I have to be more appreciative of the material objects and necessities that I do have and stop complaining about the things I say I need. Many people through out the world do not even come close in their entire lifetime to the luxuries I have experienced or possess, and most likely they have worked harder and deserve it way more than I do. I feel selfish and undeserving of everything I have.
