And now for something completely different

In this update I will, oddly enough, be deviating from my usual topics of animals, complaints, and my most magnificent self. In this post, I shall speak of people. Now, I can practically hear the masses crying out in unison "But...but...you hate people!" This is true. However, not even *I* can be so heartless as to scoff at the people of Zimbabwe. I have never met a people quite like them. They have it hard. No, I dont mean four dollars a gallon hard. Or not being able to afford the newest playstation (Oh, the humanity!) hard. Nor eevn having your house forclosed on hard. I am speaking of the hardship of living in TRUE poverty. Of thirty people living in a hut the size of ones living room. I am speaking of the near imposibility of finding a job, let alone one that can sustain your family. Of gas being five U.S. a LITER (Five liters to a gallon) when it is even available at all. Of not even having clean running water or plumbing. This is the condition roughtly 80% of Zimbabwaens live in.




Yet , despite all this, nearly every Zim I have come across is friendly, polite, and rarely complains. It really makes one ashamed about the times when you've complained about the price of gas or a slight rise in food prices.

Today we went on a trip to a local familys abode. It consisted of a small hut, a ramshackle pen for their goats, a chicken coupe made of broken pottery, and a cooking area shielded with rusty sheet metal. All this to sustain an extended family. Regardless of the little that they had, they welcomed us with open arms and granted us every guest right. The scary thing is, this family is considered middle class. Those that actually have money cant even get it. The banks only allow a total of 50,000 zim dollars a day to be withdrawn per person. So after standing in line for an entire day to get this meager amount, you have a measily 50,000 Zim to show for it. A trip to town will cost you 15,000 and another 15,000 to return home. Thus leaving you with a whopping 20,000 Zim dollars. This is barely enough for you to purchase a coca-cola.

What is truly humbling is that although they face severe hardships, they are infinetely more polite and kind then Americans. Being in this country certainly makes you feel both grateful for what you have and somewhat spoiled.