It has been interesting learning and living and cooking in a rural developing country (yet again). Living without the conveniences of the city. Living without the conveniences of the developed world.
This time around, I have learnt different lessons; such as, the seeds of jackfruit can be boiled and eaten, and resemble very closely that of beans. Yellow mangoes and long bananas have gone bad. Mangoes that are ready to eat and yellow are probably yellow because they’ve been sprayed. Bananas that are bruised on the outside, are somehow perfect on the inside.
In the land where hummus doesn’t exist, I have learnt to make it, and it is very easy. Fresh peanuts resemble the natural taste of peas, and are also quite easy to roast yourself.
Jars and food containers are very similar to those of tupperware, and can easily be reused as such. I feel embarrassed that I used to throw these precious things out here.
North America is like the land of flowing milk and honey, although, instead of milk and honey, it is flowing water and electricity. When you turn on the light, it is light. WHen you plug in an appliance, the appliance turns on. WHen you turn on the tap, there is water. This is a fact of the developed life.
Here, there is a very different story. I have learned to have patience through the lack of. Since returning to Cambodia, I have taught keyboard. In order to play a keyboard, you must have an electrical source. The outlet we use for the keyboard comes from city power, where the rest of Rescue is powered through solar power. You would imagine that city power would mean it is always available, but this is the opposite. It is unpredictable unavailable. One might also conclude that having power means the keyboard will turn on. This is also not the case. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.
Currently I am supposed to teach keyboard. We have power. The keyboard won’t turn on. I will try again in an hour.
In addition, I think that it is impossible to enter into a developing country without looking through the lenses of our developed vision. We bring change and convenience. Is this always beneficial and needed?
We think, ‘these poor people don’t have a stove’, so we buy a stove. This is what I would have thought to do before. But, now I think, how will they pay for the propane when it is gone?
It is easy to think of western bandaids to seemingly “problems”, but are they really problems? In reality, the people who live without convenience have always lived without convenience, and do not know the difference. They have never experienced another way, and is it so bad that they still don’t?
Is it a bad thing that children have to wake up early to chop firewood for cooking, and help hand wash their clothes? I don’t think so. This develops a sense of responsibility, just like chores in developed countries do. In my opinion, the average 19 year old in Cambodia is far more developed and mature than their Canadian equal.
However, I do believe every one should have access to clean water, health care, love, 3 meals a day & proper nutrition. Human rights and basic provisions should go without saying, and I don’t believe anyone should have to suffer.
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