There are two types of people in our world.
There are those who are blinded and occupied by a fast-paced, money is the key to every and all happiness in life mentality; who spend their time concerned with what others in society think of the lifestyle they are living. These people do not take the time to appreciate or get the chance to experience all that life has to offer without the luxuries they have become accustomed too.
Then, there are those who are happy beyond measure with what they have as long as they have their loved ones beside them. These people are hard-working, strong and very inspiring. They spend their time working more than the usual employee would, but earn nothing compared to them, giving them more of a challenge to survive each and everyday. It is thought that with luxury comes eternal happiness, yet these people do not occupy themselves with any luxury items, and happen to live everyday to the fullest with smiles on their beautiful faces.
When we got to Consuelo; a little city in Dominican Republic, one of our main activities that we spent our time taking part in was visiting two different bateyes. Bateyes are very small villages that have been set up, consisting of anywhere from 100-800 people. In these bateyes, families of sugar cane cutters and sugar mill workers live. When I got off the bus at the first bateye, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
I felt as if I had just walked into a World Vision Commercial, an atmosphere I thought I would never experience, ever. As we walked into the small dirty village, young children came running to us from every direction. They couldn’t speak English and we couldn’t speak Spanish, but we still got along and were able to communicate.
As I stood in the middle of a field covered in pieces of metal, glass and rusted wire, all the fear I had coming on this trip rushed back into my mind. These children were singing and dancing in fields covered with rusted metal and glass, wearing torn and dirty cloths, and some weren’t even dressed. They had no shoes, and the ground which consisted of mud and dirt, along with the rusted metal and sharp broken glass, was steaming hot from the heat.
As I slowly walked through the field, taking in my surroundings one breath at a time, I noticed that three little girls were following closely behind me. I turned around, bent down and smiled at them. Instantaneously they came running to me, as if my smile was an invitation to them. I didn’t know what to do, but embrace them as they grabbed on to my hands and touched my face. They stood in front of me and stared at me not saying a single word. I observed their slim and boney figure, glancing at the cuts and bruises they had on their tiny arms and legs.
As I looked at their battered and frail feet, it struck me that the youngest of the three didn’t have shoes on. For her this was normal and the heat didn’t bother her as much, but as I watched her move back and forth, not staying in one spot for too long, the pain she must have been feeling came and woke me.
I felt as if her pain was my pain, and showed her that she could sit in my lap, or I didn’t mind picking her up. She came towards me, with her arms wide open, allowing me to pick her up without hesitation. The little girl was happy that I was carrying her and kept hugging me as we walked around the field.
They didn’t let go of me for the whole day, one held on to my hand, another gripped my shirt, and the youngest I carried. They showed me their home, and where they played. They also pointed out an older female, whom I assumed to be their mother or aunt.
When we got back to the field, everyone was playing hand games and we were taking turns teaching one another hand games in English and Spanish. As we sung the songs, they tried to copy in English, as they learned the songs, excitement filled their eyes and they went running to their friends to tell them what they had just learned. The children were so excited to learn something new. They were craving education, but had none.
Everything I had believed in and all that I had planned for my life and future had begun to disappear. It didn’t seem important to me anymore. Before coming on this trip, I too was a ‘money is the answer to all happiness’ type of person. My goal in life was to become rich fast, but now, after meeting those three little girls, and seeing the smiles I had put on their faces, by teaching them a few little songs, everything has changed.
Going on this trip, I realized hope can be found and is possible anywhere. Reflecting on my week spent in Consuelo, I discovered that I wanted to make a change in the world and its future. Giving children who want an education would be my first step to the change I want to make. I learned that to be happy, you do not need the newest phone, or the latest iPod on the market.
Appreciating what you have been blessed with and learning how to overcome obstacles within your life by working with your loved ones is what brings eternal happiness. If at the end of the day, you are happy, and have the feeling of security and belonging within your surroundings, you can be sure that you have been successful in the role you have played.
Raman Mann is a Canadian student who traveled to the Dominican Republic on a high-school exposure trip in 2007.
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