Have you ever visited a country much poorer than your own?

Question

What was your experience like there? How did you feel? Have you ever felt like helping them?

Answer 1

not yet

Answer 2

No, but I can relate how it feels to come from a poor country to USA. I camt to USA in 92. Before then, I lived in Romania. The main difference between these two countries is the whole life approach... "I can't" , and "I can"... No alternatives, versus lots of them. Yet in all poverty I never felt the need to ask for help. I would have rather stuffed my mouth with dirt, than ask for help.
Thus, when I got here, I had a good idea about who really needed help and who just said they did.
The people that really need help don't aks for it, but they are extremely grateful for it. They never expect help but it's very welcome when it comes. Never make any off color comments after you've helped them but will mention you in their prayer for as long as they live, and in their house you will alwasy have the best seat at the dinner table.
Poor people will treat somebody with the last scrapes of their food, without telling you they might not have any tomorrow for themselves.. So if you do come accross some experiences like that do not look down on them if you don't like the food, keep in mind it's probably the best / or the last they have.

Answer 3

yes I was in the Congo during the mid 60's. It was a terrible place then in the mist of a war. The people were frightened and hungry. They were killing each other because of what tribe they belonged to as well as which leader they supported. I was shocked that people were dying for such stupid reasons. I saw miles of telephone poles with a body hanging dead from each of them. They were federals that the rebels had captured. I also saw piles and piles of relief supplies rotting in the rain because there was not enough organization left to pass them out and the roads were not safe enough for any NGO's to travel on. It showed all the waste and stupidity of war. Until that kind of madness can be stopped no one can be really helped. If you go to a place and work it may be of some help. But if you just give money it will most likely end up lining the pocket of some "strongman"

Answer 4

Yeah, I went to El Salvador and Honduras in '96 on a work mission. helped build a church at an orphange. We also did a lot of other work around the orphanage and played with the kids.
I felt very grateful for the experience and very disconnected from U.S. mainstream mentality when I got back home.
I remember on the car ride back home from the airport- my family was actually fighting about what kind of chicken to get for dinner at KFC. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, "Some people don't even get to eat chicken!! Just pick something."
Now I want to go back, but responsibilities and marriage keep me here. One way I am still helping in that area though is I have three Compassion kids in Honduras. I support them financially through the organization and we write letters back and forth. I hope to be able to go visit them someday... one reason I am re-learning Spanish.
My trip there has forever changed me though. I'll never look at the U.S. the same...
-Meg

Answer 5

Yes: India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippes, China and Thailand.

I've been to many others but not necessarilly poor: Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Iceland, Great Britain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France and Greece.

I live in USA.

As for feeling like helping, yes. I have given to beggars in a variety of countres.

Answer 6

Yes, Kentucky. The must not have had any indoor plumbing because I kept seeing men peeing off their front porch in broad daylight. I felt terrible for them.

Seriously though, there are a lot of depressed areas right here in the United States where people in desolute area and depressed economies don't have little things like that in which many of us take for granted everyday and with no job or low paying jobs, you can barely afford to eat and with no health insurance, it is hard to get proper healthcare treatment.

Answer 7

no i don't get to travel much. those infomercials on third whole country's are pretty sad but i think that helping others should start in your own home first. the poor and less unfortunate are all around us. i do what i can by helping out fellow co-workers and their families during a time of need and loss. it's not much but every little bit helps and that's what it's all about, lending a helping hand.

Answer 8

My parents sponsored a kid in St.Lucia,the Caribbean,we went down when I was 12 to meet his family and have a vacation.They lived in Castries.Small tin and stick house,none of the trappings that we had,each one of them could smile.They had what they needed and not much else.I felt lucky to be born where I was.Education would be the thing I'd help them with.The give a man a fish thing is really relevant there.

Answer 9

Yes, Turkey, Portugal, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Greece, Hungary...

Answer 10

Yes. I felt bad, and I helped some of the people on the street. But I feel bad here in my own country when I see poor people. I try and help them as well.

Answer 11

yes i once went to mexico city back in 90 and i like the people alot and i felt so sorry for some of them sleeping in the street and i did try to help them when i was there but i had a good time there