It's interesting to compare and contrast. I would have liked to have seen beyond stereotypes though and compared equally across.... I do get the point; we have waaaaay too much stuff in much of the developed world and place too much importance on possessions rather than on relationships with People. I've traveled in Central & South America, Africa, Europe and throughout the US; what I've witnessed most in the US is a HUGE pressure to Have More rather than enjoy what one's already got. And in other parts of the world there is this insane pressure to emulate us in the West. I find that sad. Honestly, what happened for me was when I arrived home after my first trip to Central America in 2005, I promptly sold my home and most of my possessions to create/facilitate a volunteer literacy project and offer the skill set I had to try to make life just a little brighter for someone else. I realize how little my possessions meant to me and how little I truly needed to be happy and fulfilled. 8 years later I am still happy.
ORIGINAL COMMENT
It's interesting to compare and contrast. I would have liked to have seen beyond stereotypes though and compared equally across.... I do get the point; we have waaaaay too much stuff in much of the developed world and place too much importance on possessions rather than on relationships with People. I've traveled in Central & South America, Africa, Europe and throughout the US; what I've witnessed most in the US is a HUGE pressure to Have More rather than enjoy what one's already got. And in other parts of the world there is this insane pressure to emulate us in the West. I find that sad. Honestly, what happened for me was when I arrived home after my first trip to Central America in 2005, I promptly sold my home and most of my possessions to create/facilitate a volunteer literacy project and offer the skill set I had to try to make life just a little brighter for someone else. I realize how little my possessions meant to me and how little I truly needed to be happy and fulfilled. 8 years later I am still happy.