The biggest cultural difference yet
I have been now in South America for over four months. During which time, I have been mugged, tasted cow tougne and seen a mother feircely kick her child. But today I witnessed over a morning a grewsome and perverse cuture difference.
Arriving at just before 8AM, we were greeted by a mother in distress. Her face, which has been serverly burnt in a fire, is streaming with tears. One of our pupils is sick, with what appeared to be a mouth infection.
Annita, 11, whines through her vale over and over. Her cheek having swelled up to be the same size as a golf ball.
Without much hesitation, the volunteers agree that someone should go with the mother and daughter to hospital.
Catlin, a 20 year from Maine, USA, opts for the job. As she turns around, she is at a loss to where the mother has dissapeared to. In a casual manner, the local teacher explains that she has gone back to her home to get changed for the trip. The 'trip' is a two hour round journey.
"Get changed for the hospital?" I scream outragously.
"Her fucking daughter is sitting in that classroom, with what could be the mumps, and she's gone on a vanity conquest to look good in town!"
My voice was starting to break through my underbreath.
"We agree to take them in to Otavalo (the local town) and she just thinks 'oh perhaps I may meet a guy there at the hospital'".
As I was saying this, I was looking through the mist, at little Annita, who had been utterly abandoned in pain. She had two fingers that she was sucking on, with surliver dribbling out meaning that between the whines you heard a 'suck'. She was left to sit on a chair in the corner of the classroom, by herself for two hours, whilst the other children, not knowing quite what to think, could only stare.
The mother returned looking her 'best', and Catlin approached her saying we have to go. But the farce was not over yet. The mother, as badly as she had behaved, was not the only one that had to look good. Annita had to as well. And so, geting a bucket of cold dirty water, Anitta, whining even louder, was made to wash her feet and legs, before putting on her 'best shoes'.
It was shocking, annoying and infuriating to watch. It is, I know a culture difference. I kind of accept, the beating of children stills happens here. But when the vanity of a 50 year-old women priors over the health of an 11-year old girl; that I'm afriad is wrong.
Arriving at just before 8AM, we were greeted by a mother in distress. Her face, which has been serverly burnt in a fire, is streaming with tears. One of our pupils is sick, with what appeared to be a mouth infection.
Annita, 11, whines through her vale over and over. Her cheek having swelled up to be the same size as a golf ball.
Without much hesitation, the volunteers agree that someone should go with the mother and daughter to hospital.
Catlin, a 20 year from Maine, USA, opts for the job. As she turns around, she is at a loss to where the mother has dissapeared to. In a casual manner, the local teacher explains that she has gone back to her home to get changed for the trip. The 'trip' is a two hour round journey.
"Get changed for the hospital?" I scream outragously.
"Her fucking daughter is sitting in that classroom, with what could be the mumps, and she's gone on a vanity conquest to look good in town!"
My voice was starting to break through my underbreath.
"We agree to take them in to Otavalo (the local town) and she just thinks 'oh perhaps I may meet a guy there at the hospital'".
As I was saying this, I was looking through the mist, at little Annita, who had been utterly abandoned in pain. She had two fingers that she was sucking on, with surliver dribbling out meaning that between the whines you heard a 'suck'. She was left to sit on a chair in the corner of the classroom, by herself for two hours, whilst the other children, not knowing quite what to think, could only stare.
The mother returned looking her 'best', and Catlin approached her saying we have to go. But the farce was not over yet. The mother, as badly as she had behaved, was not the only one that had to look good. Annita had to as well. And so, geting a bucket of cold dirty water, Anitta, whining even louder, was made to wash her feet and legs, before putting on her 'best shoes'.
It was shocking, annoying and infuriating to watch. It is, I know a culture difference. I kind of accept, the beating of children stills happens here. But when the vanity of a 50 year-old women priors over the health of an 11-year old girl; that I'm afriad is wrong.
posted by Tom Nicolson at 1:47 PM
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