Kenny
It is hard to understand another's culture. It is easy for one to learn their customs, eat their food, and speak their language, but to understand how one culture thinks and feels is a feat that is yet to be discovered. Many things I do not understand about these villagers, stuck in their own world, not knowing anything outside of their circle. Sometimes they seem ignorant, naive and stupid, yet sometimes their thoughts are sharp and defined. I admire the way they preserve their customs, but I get frustrated when they refuse to accept anything new. These villagers seem to shun anything that can help them, instead trying to endure everything by themselves. Rukmani found it strange when I told her that foreigners are helping her village by building a hospital for the sick. She asked me why a group of foreigners would help the village when theyve never even met each other before. Instead of being glad and hopeful, Rukmanis mouth twisted with annoyance. She believed that they were strong enough to go through these hardships alone, and somehow, there was always a thread of hope to support her and her family. But this is never the case. That thread of hope can only last for so long before it breaks.
By: Karen