Pete Foley
It's Complicated
It's difficult not to succumb to collecting somewhat cliched shots of cute wide eyed children and wise, wrinkled elder statesmen and women when traveling to far flung places. I certainly do it, and watching enthusiastic photographers clamor around a cute kid with a baby lamb, like paparazzi around a movie star, is quite amusing at times. Note to self, next time capture the 'paparazzi' rather than the kid, it's probably more interesting! I think the photographers fascination is partly implicit training from looking at too much National Geographic, and partly shows the power of the nobel savage metaphor.
It's also easy to feel sorry for some of the kids, and adults for that matter. They lack much of what we most value in our Western Culture, and some of what we actually need. While cell phones are quite ubiquitous, they do lack cable TV, iPads, iphones, gym memberships, digital cameras, stock portfolios, designer clothes, pension funds, commuting, mortgages, car payments, diamond tennis bracelets, gold watches and golf lessons. However, they also lack some basics like easy access to health and dental care, and although they have access to education, it is not without cost. Families often have to choose between sending even quite small children away to good schools, or settling for education that will not be competitive in the evolving culture. Not an easy decision by any means I suspect. However, the overall impression is that they seem at least as happy, if not happier than many people in the so called developed economies. While we are glued to stories of global recession, or how the Greek default will impact our spending power or retirement, much of this is irrelevant to the people in the villages. Although they do seem very engaged in big picture issues such as the environment, which will probably impact their lives a lot more. To that point, we found practical efforts to conserve and recycle everywhere we went, and at levels of participation that should shame the USA. It's complicated....and my I-Pad just told me I need to go to the gym.
It's Complicated
It's difficult not to succumb to collecting somewhat cliched shots of cute wide eyed children and wise, wrinkled elder statesmen and women when traveling to far flung places. I certainly do it, and watching enthusiastic photographers clamor around a cute kid with a baby lamb, like paparazzi around a movie star, is quite amusing at times. Note to self, next time capture the 'paparazzi' rather than the kid, it's probably more interesting! I think the photographers fascination is partly implicit training from looking at too much National Geographic, and partly shows the power of the nobel savage metaphor.
It's also easy to feel sorry for some of the kids, and adults for that matter. They lack much of what we most value in our Western Culture, and some of what we actually need. While cell phones are quite ubiquitous, they do lack cable TV, iPads, iphones, gym memberships, digital cameras, stock portfolios, designer clothes, pension funds, commuting, mortgages, car payments, diamond tennis bracelets, gold watches and golf lessons. However, they also lack some basics like easy access to health and dental care, and although they have access to education, it is not without cost. Families often have to choose between sending even quite small children away to good schools, or settling for education that will not be competitive in the evolving culture. Not an easy decision by any means I suspect. However, the overall impression is that they seem at least as happy, if not happier than many people in the so called developed economies. While we are glued to stories of global recession, or how the Greek default will impact our spending power or retirement, much of this is irrelevant to the people in the villages. Although they do seem very engaged in big picture issues such as the environment, which will probably impact their lives a lot more. To that point, we found practical efforts to conserve and recycle everywhere we went, and at levels of participation that should shame the USA. It's complicated....and my I-Pad just told me I need to go to the gym.