Controversial feelings

Sometimes people frustrate me. A lot. And by people I mean North American volunteers who come to Haiti. Yes, I am one of them, and I know they are down here to do a good thing....but I still get frustrated. Here is why:

1) We are spoiled. All of us. We come from the wealthiest societies where we can have whatever we want, whenever we want. We shower in hot showers as often as we want, for as long as we want. We have new cars and cell phones and hair dryers and electricity all of the time. And when we don't have these things, well sometimes we act like spoiled brats. Most of the world doesn't have hot showers, or electricity, or own there own cars. Then we complain about the cold water...Most people here are lucky here to have running water at all... And even rarer, for the water to be clean! That is a thought that doesn't even cross our minds when we take a drink from the tap, or brush our teeth.

2) We are know-it-alls. We have no concept about the poverty we are coming into, or the culture. But we come in anyway, and think we know what is best, and the best way to get it done. We don't listen to the possible other way, because there is no way it is better than ours. It's true, we may know the quickest most efficient way to do something in America, but it is not like that everywhere we go. Its hard, but try to imagine if you had no school for your kids. Then imagine if someone offered to come and help you build a new school. They would bring the supplies and you together would work to help make your Children's future better. But, while they were there, you were informed that everything you did was wrong, and you had to build they school how they wanted. Now where these people came there was no cold winters, so they didn't want to insulate the building. You had to build the walls without insulation how they wanted. Because they knew best. When that school is done, and those people left; their good deed complete, what do you do? Well you tear down the walls, insulate them, and put them back up again. Wouldn't have that been easier the first time? 

3) We think we are above- or better than everyone else. You may not even realize you do this one. Have you ever had someone talk about you like your not even there? Or like you can't understand what they are talking about, when you can? It's not very often you here 'those white people' in a negative way. People usually talk to you, not about your entire culture, and what's wrong about it. Now, remember, it may not be what you say, but how you say it. I have even used the 'it's very Haitian' phrase. After I noticed other people doing it, and how it sounded when the words rolled of their tongues, that I realized. People are people. We all turn to dirt when we die. That is all. It makes me think of my Grandpa, who treated everyone the same. Absolutely everyone, no matter what culture, education, or background they come from. I have yet to meet someone who sees everyone so much the same since. I can only strive to see the world as he saw it. 

Now, not all Americans are bad. That is not what I
 am trying to imply at all. I think volunteering and giving of ones self to help the needy is an amazing thing. God even commands it in the bible ("There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11) volunteers truly do, for the most part, help the people who need it. They grow themselves by their experiences and become aware to the real things of life, they may continue to help for the rest of their lives. I think everyone should do a missions trip once in their life. I also believe that it is a good and unselfish thing to give your time, your money, and your resources to help those less fortunate it. I think what it comes down to though, is we just need to do it respectfully.