Thoughts racing through my head during a village homestay in rural Pakistan on January 4, 2015
I drew a lottery ticket when I was born into this world.
I could have been privileged. I could have been a trust fund baby from England. A prince from Dubai. A politician’s daughter from India. An accountant's son from Canada.
I might never have known about the other side.
I could have been impoverished. I could have been born far far away on the highest mountain. The driest desert. The deepest jungle. The furthest field.
I might never have known about the other side.
I might never have known that far far away, the diseases that my friends and family die from are easily prevented or treated. When I suffer, I suffer because my father suffered the same. As did his father and his father before him.
I might never have known that I am considered uneducated. I go to school five days a week and work diligently in my studies. Some days, my teacher doesn’t come to class or he shows up drunk, but that is okay. I can learn from the textbooks given to me that I was never taught how to read.
I might never have known that someone could buy a yacht or own real estate worth millions. Nobody told me that the 85 richest people are as wealthy as poorest half of the world. Nobody told me that a few of them use their money to help people just like me.
I might never have known that I am considered poor. Nobody told me that living on $1.25/day means that I am impoverished. Nobody invited me to that expensive meeting, far far away, to debate the latest benchmark for poverty.
I might have aspirations to move to the big city someday. My uncle tells me "life is tough in the city but if you work hard you can become successful just like me." I might not get access to a toilet but that is okay. My village didn't have one either. I just want to see the bright city lights. I just want my family to see me rise.
I might hear that far far away people are not like me. When I am happy, I laugh. When I am sad, I cry. When I am angry, I fumble. How can someone from far far away possibly be the same as me?
We are worlds apart.
I drew a lottery ticket when I was born into this world.
I could have been privileged. I could have been a trust fund baby from England. A prince from Dubai. A politician’s daughter from India. An accountant's son from Canada.
I might never have known about the other side.
I could have been impoverished. I could have been born far far away on the highest mountain. The driest desert. The deepest jungle. The furthest field.
I might never have known about the other side.
I might never have known that far far away, the diseases that my friends and family die from are easily prevented or treated. When I suffer, I suffer because my father suffered the same. As did his father and his father before him.
I might never have known that I am considered uneducated. I go to school five days a week and work diligently in my studies. Some days, my teacher doesn’t come to class or he shows up drunk, but that is okay. I can learn from the textbooks given to me that I was never taught how to read.
I might never have known that someone could buy a yacht or own real estate worth millions. Nobody told me that the 85 richest people are as wealthy as poorest half of the world. Nobody told me that a few of them use their money to help people just like me.
I might never have known that I am considered poor. Nobody told me that living on $1.25/day means that I am impoverished. Nobody invited me to that expensive meeting, far far away, to debate the latest benchmark for poverty.
I might have aspirations to move to the big city someday. My uncle tells me "life is tough in the city but if you work hard you can become successful just like me." I might not get access to a toilet but that is okay. My village didn't have one either. I just want to see the bright city lights. I just want my family to see me rise.
I might hear that far far away people are not like me. When I am happy, I laugh. When I am sad, I cry. When I am angry, I fumble. How can someone from far far away possibly be the same as me?
We are worlds apart.
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