You live where?

You see it on TV all the time. You hear it talked about whenever they talk about poor areas, but to see "shanty towns" with your own eyes changes your life.

The city of Rabat could be compared to DC. It holds the country's parliament building, foreign embassies, the main Royal palace is here, as well as all other major governmental buildings. The standard of living is relatively high here with new buildings and shopping areas being erected all over the city. Yet, hidden behind many of the new buildings or in places tourists do not usually go, are, in some cases, large areas of shanty towns.

The first time we passed one as we drove around I will admit I was a bit surprised to see it nestled between 2 not-so-poor looking buildings. I have come to find out they dot the city; growing in empty fields or any place not being taken over by housing or business. I was, of course, expecting something like this when I heard of where we were heading (North Africa), but until yesterday I did not truly understand the depth of the poverty that is hidden in this city.

I told Jake after getting some ice cream at McDonalds yesterday that I would like to get a picture of the shanty town just down the road a little from the shopping area for this blog entry. He slowed and I got my first picture. Then he asked the kids if they would like to take a little drive. We headed toward the coast, to the poorer part of town. And there, the kids' and my eyes were open as never before. We drove past old apartment buildings that looked like they could fall at any moment. Clothing hanging from drying lines along balconies and rusted satellite dishes dangling off the sides of buildings. And then we hit the coast.

On our right was the beautiful cliffs that make up the coastline of Rabat. Their jagged rocks breaking the waves and causing sprays of water high into the sky ("Look, Mommy! Whales!" said Jackie. "No, honey, those are just the waves," I replied). On our left, a wall. You could just make out over the top of the wall the roofs of the metal "buildings" that were homes to many of the poorest of the poor. (I managed to get a few pictures, but keep in mind they are from inside the car and we didn't want to stop and take pictures. I think that would be rude in any country, any language.) Every so often the wall would have a break in it and you could grasp the enormity of the size of these hobbles. The were several miles long and at least a 1/2 mile wide and the shacks were right up against each other. In a place like this, there is no sanitation, no extra comforts, just the will to survive to the next day.

The reaction of the kids was what was most amazing to me. We have been telling them for years how blessed they are . How there are children all over the world that go to bed starving every night. Last night they saw those children and the places they live. Their immediate response was compassion and action. They wanted to lift those families out of poverty to a better living. We, as parents, tried to explain the complicated issues surrounding cast systems, hard work, government aid, and the inability of America to just come to the rescue.

So, how does seeing these areas change your life? For one thing, it is humbling. The first time I felt truly humbled was when I found out our housekeeper doesn't even have a washing machine. I have taken for granted for so long that everyone I know has, what we consider, basic appliances. Here, however, there is no such thing as basic anything. If you have the money, you can buy appliances, but most people don't have the money. We are considered middle class in the states. Here we are rich. We have a washing machine and dryer. We have a dishwasher. We have cupboards full of food. That is something many people here do not have.

Another way my life changed? I have realized how petty the things are we worry about in the states really are. Children freak out when their parents tell them they can't have a new iphone. Adults, too, have tantrums when the newest electronic isn't available immediately. Here, food is what is important. Sure, there are iphones here. There are some very wealthy people here. But I have never felt the focus on food as much as I have felt it here. You do not need electronics to live, but you do need the fruits, vegetables, and bread they sell on the streets. I will never look at food the same way again. I will never take it for granted again. And because this is a blog all about me and my opinion, seeing as what is happening in the states with the downgrade in credit rating and the stock market tanking, may I suggest instead of buying the new iphone, you keep your old one and use the money you would have spent to make sure you have extra food saved in your house. Because, after all, you can't eat an iphone.

So, my final thoughts. We, in America, see so little poverty, and I mean true poverty, that we tend to forget it really exists. We have become a nation prideful above all others. We are the most charitable nation on the planet, it is true. But at the same time, we take for granted all the blessings we have. We take for granted that we can drive a car a few miles to a nice grocery store and buy foods from all over the world. We take for granted that we can wash our clothes in a washing machine, not by hand. And we take for granted that we have a roof over our head and shoes on our feet. These are things that I will no longer take for granted.