We watched a video this week about development, and the different ways people have tried to help underdeveloped countries, but to no avail. It was very interesting, but even more interesting was a story that one of my fellow PCTs (Peace Corps trainee) shared with the group.
There was a lawer, recently graduated from Harvard law, who went down to Mexico, where he met a fisherman. This fisherman lived a simple life. He would only go out in his boat and fish for about 2 to 3 hours every day for his family, then come home and eat.
The lawyer told him 'sir, do you realize that if you improved this boat, and went out farther into the sea, you could catch more fish, and make more money?'
the fisherman asked, 'then what?'
'Well, you could start to sell the fish in the nearest town, and make even more profit, and maybe begin your own fishery.'
the fisherman's eyes began to widen with curiosity 'then what?'
'Well, you could then move your fishery to LA, and make even more money, and export the fish all over the country.'
Still curious as to how it would help him, the fisherman asked 'then what?'
Excited by his curiosity, the lawyer told him 'well, I suppose you would eventually have to move to New York City and start buying and selling stock on Wallstreet.'
'then what?' The fisherman asked
'Then you could retire with your family, and move to a small town in Mexico and go fishing 2 or 3 hours a day!'
This story really opened my eyes to exactly how much development we want to be doing in the towns we are placed. Some define development as the 'improvement of quality of life.' Well, who defines the quality of life? I think the Peace Corps has the right idea, of sending one or two people into a town at a time, living among them, and then finding out what they need to improve based on the desires of the townspeople. But there is a very fine line, I think. And it can be easy to cross. They keep emphasizing that we can't just go into our town with some huge plan of saving the world, and making all these great big changes, because we don't even know what they want. Sometimes, you don't even see the impact you made when you leave, it could even take years after that for something to happen. It is one of the most important things I need to remember.
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There's definately a good morale in that story, and I think you hit it right on the head. Improving only on what the townspeople wish, instead of going in with huge american styles of thinking will do far more for the people over time. We were discussing the Iraqi government today, and how they are really only 11 months old. Very young still. Yet, we expect them to be functioning as fully as our greatly aged government, which took many centuries to be in the state (mess) that it is. Patience is a virtue left far behind in today's society I say.
Hi Liz! Keep the updates coming, they're fascinating. I was especially shocked to hear about the water situation in Guatamala--- will it be like that where you'll be living in Honduras?
It sounds like you're still glad you made the plunge! Miss you!
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