Last night I had a great conversation with a wonderful friend. The conversation started with my explanation of why I so desperately need a car and then proceeded to zig and zag all over the place. But he made one comment that summed up the whole 3 hour long encounter. His comment also shed light on all the reasons he was frustrated with me and all the reasons I was frustrated with my life in Brasil.
“Kacy”, he said, “You’ve always had everything you wanted, haven’t you?”.
“No!” I said, adamantly. “My parents made sure that I always had everything I needed, but not everything I wanted.”
“I don’t intend to be mean when I say this,” he said, “but you are sort of… what’s the word in English…”
“Spoiled” I completed his sentence.
In the United States I never considered myself spoiled, and my parents tried so hard not to spoil their children when we were young. But, here in Brasil I am the epitome of spoiled. I have been
learning that the things that I have always thought that I need- a car, a computer, hot water, a dryer, etc.- are not necessities in Brasil. They are luxuries. Yes, if I had a car I wouldn’t be car sick every time I travel in the “student bus” to the rural communities. If I had a car I wouldn’t risk dropping my 3 bags filled with all of my teaching materials as I ride on the back of a motorcycle over the dirt/rock roads to each of the PRECE EPCs. Yes, if I had a dryer it wouldn’t take me all day to finish laundry and my clothes wouldn’t be stiff as a board. But, I don’t need these things. As he said, “Kacy, this is not an emergency.”
So, what is the difference between wanting something and needing something? I have been thinking about this a lot because I recently began teaching English classes in a small rural community called Boa Vista. Boa Vista means “good view”. The view there is beautiful looking out on the horizon, but I believe it is even more beautiful looking in at the life within the community. Here the community is full of children, energy and excitement for learning. The children flock to the PRECE EPC each Saturday morning where they are greeted by university students who facilitate learning in various disciplines. No one (other than me) is remotely fazed by the dirt roads they have to walk to get to the school, or the lack of running water or the fact that there are no fans (let alone air 
conditioning). Last weekend after taking what I call a “bucket bath” (because there is no running water for a shower) I sat on the porch thinking about these things. As I sat there thinking I waved at "D", a 10 year old child who was grinning from ear to ear as he pushed a wheelbarrow over the rocky dirt terrain. The wheelbarrow was carrying the rice and beans needed to provide meals for the family. "D" didn’t need the whole wheat pasta from Whole Foods and the vegan lasagna from Trader Joes. The rice and beans were more than sufficient. And, next to me was "F" who was washing her clothes by hand in a basin of water. She didn’t need to throw her clothes in the hamper to later be washed, bleached, dried and folded by her mother. The bar soap, cold water from the reservoir, hot sun and her hands were sufficient.
I am realizing- slowly but surely- that maybe it isn’t Brasil that needs to change, to grow, to develop, to improve. Maybe it is me. Maybe I need to take a moment to evaluate what is truly important, truly necessary and truly life-giving.
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday and in an attempt to be grateful and not spoiled :), I have made a list of some of the things I am unbelievably thankful for:
1) The opportunity to live in Brasil and work with an amazing organization, PRECE. There are not words to express how grateful I am to the individual who provided the grant for me to be here. And, I cannot accurately express (especially in Portuguese!) my thanks to the PRECE leaders for inviting me.
2) All of the individuals and families in Brasil who have opened not only their doors to me but also their arms and their hearts. Without their support I would be lost. I would also be more of a nomad than I currently am!
3) To all of my friends and family in the United States who support me through words of encouragement and constant reminders that you haven’t forgotten me. I miss you all so much.
4) To all of my friends, students, and acquaintances in Brasil who have befriended me and have taken the time (and patience) to show me the way.
5) To the PRECE movement itself as it is daily making a difference in the lives of individuals and communities that most need it. Every day I am in awe of your power to transform and empower.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
“Kacy”, he said, “You’ve always had everything you wanted, haven’t you?”.
“No!” I said, adamantly. “My parents made sure that I always had everything I needed, but not everything I wanted.”
“I don’t intend to be mean when I say this,” he said, “but you are sort of… what’s the word in English…”
“Spoiled” I completed his sentence.
In the United States I never considered myself spoiled, and my parents tried so hard not to spoil their children when we were young. But, here in Brasil I am the epitome of spoiled. I have been
learning that the things that I have always thought that I need- a car, a computer, hot water, a dryer, etc.- are not necessities in Brasil. They are luxuries. Yes, if I had a car I wouldn’t be car sick every time I travel in the “student bus” to the rural communities. If I had a car I wouldn’t risk dropping my 3 bags filled with all of my teaching materials as I ride on the back of a motorcycle over the dirt/rock roads to each of the PRECE EPCs. Yes, if I had a dryer it wouldn’t take me all day to finish laundry and my clothes wouldn’t be stiff as a board. But, I don’t need these things. As he said, “Kacy, this is not an emergency.”
So, what is the difference between wanting something and needing something? I have been thinking about this a lot because I recently began teaching English classes in a small rural community called Boa Vista. Boa Vista means “good view”. The view there is beautiful looking out on the horizon, but I believe it is even more beautiful looking in at the life within the community. Here the community is full of children, energy and excitement for learning. The children flock to the PRECE EPC each Saturday morning where they are greeted by university students who facilitate learning in various disciplines. No one (other than me) is remotely fazed by the dirt roads they have to walk to get to the school, or the lack of running water or the fact that there are no fans (let alone air 
conditioning). Last weekend after taking what I call a “bucket bath” (because there is no running water for a shower) I sat on the porch thinking about these things. As I sat there thinking I waved at "D", a 10 year old child who was grinning from ear to ear as he pushed a wheelbarrow over the rocky dirt terrain. The wheelbarrow was carrying the rice and beans needed to provide meals for the family. "D" didn’t need the whole wheat pasta from Whole Foods and the vegan lasagna from Trader Joes. The rice and beans were more than sufficient. And, next to me was "F" who was washing her clothes by hand in a basin of water. She didn’t need to throw her clothes in the hamper to later be washed, bleached, dried and folded by her mother. The bar soap, cold water from the reservoir, hot sun and her hands were sufficient.I am realizing- slowly but surely- that maybe it isn’t Brasil that needs to change, to grow, to develop, to improve. Maybe it is me. Maybe I need to take a moment to evaluate what is truly important, truly necessary and truly life-giving.
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday and in an attempt to be grateful and not spoiled :), I have made a list of some of the things I am unbelievably thankful for:
1) The opportunity to live in Brasil and work with an amazing organization, PRECE. There are not words to express how grateful I am to the individual who provided the grant for me to be here. And, I cannot accurately express (especially in Portuguese!) my thanks to the PRECE leaders for inviting me.
2) All of the individuals and families in Brasil who have opened not only their doors to me but also their arms and their hearts. Without their support I would be lost. I would also be more of a nomad than I currently am!
3) To all of my friends and family in the United States who support me through words of encouragement and constant reminders that you haven’t forgotten me. I miss you all so much.
4) To all of my friends, students, and acquaintances in Brasil who have befriended me and have taken the time (and patience) to show me the way.5) To the PRECE movement itself as it is daily making a difference in the lives of individuals and communities that most need it. Every day I am in awe of your power to transform and empower.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I’m really amazed with your words. Each day you learn more…more Portuguese, more about PRECE, more about Brazil and more about truly to be Christian. You aren't important only because teach English...is more that it. With you our children began to think “There’s nothing I can’t to be”. With you they started to believe in their dreams...thank’s for that! In Thanksgiving holiday, I’m thankful for you!
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