I wonder if all of the laws and regulations, things to quell the fears in american society, went away, would society work? Probably not. America, from a historical perspective, is young and I think fear is ingrained in our society. It is going to stay and to kill the fear of anything that is different rules are set in place and we end up with so many rules because there are so many different people, different schools of thought, different beliefs, and different ways of living. These differences lead to a very structured society where there is regulation to make one person happy and in turn pisses off another because they don't share a similar view about the topic. Ok, off the soapbox. The point is, there are not a lot of regulations here and yet, society seems to work. I don't know if one could even start to regulate such an old culture. I am a huge believer in human rights and freedoms and blah blah blah and I think there is work to be done over here, but a way to make it happen, I have not a clue. Marisa and I had a discussion with Scott (the program coordinator here) a few days ago and we talked a lot about these topics. An interesting part of the conversation was the question do you believe that people are inherently good or inherently bad. It seems a majority of the time in america we follow the thought that people are inherently bad, they are out to get us, take my money, not love jesus the way I want them to...very fearful. Fear and hatred are like best friends. Example: Terrorist attack, now all muslims are evil and out to kill me, no you can't build a house of worship unless it is my religion (aka jesus). Terrible. Over here, there must be the belief that people are inherently good. The few regulations, the ability to just walk into whatever you want, people are brothers and sisters, and countless other examples. I know here you are kind of just born into a certain class and you just go about life that way. I have not seen anyone afraid, hateful, scared, violent, or even angry. It does not seem like these people are fearful. For me, a stupid american, it is constant chaos and commotion, but by stepping back, observing the surroundings, forming these ideas I am talking about in my head, and making myself operate as a part of society I begin to realize that things are not so chaotic. For these people it is normal. I just have to work hard at fitting in with the population I am surrounded by. The video is just a couple of minutes long and it is of me walking from the Himalayan Society to the hospital in Chabahil (a neighborhood) today. Nothing too crazy. I have seen more crazy around here, but it is pretty neat. I guess I figured why take a tuk-tuk and get bounced around when I could walk and see more. Ok so the video will not load so I will try to load it while I sleep.
I need to spend this evening refreshing my memory on the workings of the english language. Wow. For some reason a part of the lesson for the intermediate class included rhyming. That was interesting...haha...I think they eventually came to understand what rhyming is, they just did not know all of the words. Oh and then there are those situations where there are words like ten and tin, pen and pin...total confusion. In the other class, there was about an hour of presenting the use of a and an. Why am I teaching again? I do not know all of the rules for my own language. I will keep trying my best. Lunch with Tibetan people is pretty cool...you should try it. Here is a picture of my failed attempt at being a teacher...oh yeah...keep trying my best.
Nothing crazy at the hospital. I have to come to realize that emergency departments around the world see the same patients (abdominal pain, back pain, kid with a cool cut in his head needs stitches, ill). The difference is how these problems are treated. Not that treatment is bad here, there are different treatment options. America has whatever it wants and needs. Not the case here. It seems like training and schooling are maybe not as in-depth for healthcare professionals here, but people still receive the care that they need. It is all good. Do what you can, when you can Trevor.
I am for the most part use to hanging out with myself, but I usually don't really talk to me as much as I have been recently and I'm kind of getting annoyed by myself. Seriously. I am sitting in my room writing to myself. I need a hobby. It is hard to skype because I am like 13 hours in the future from home, but at least I got lucky this morning ;)
Time for dinner and then hopefully I have enough computer battery to take an english refresher course : /
I'm on a journey, whatever your journeys are hooligans, give it your all...
damn I miss rhinos and tigers
well the video will not post...sorry...i know where you can see it though in a few weeks
ReplyDeleteI like this post, because the first half is totally relevant to a book I am reading right now, "Good Without God." The author is not out to dispute the existence of God or not, so don't worry people, he is just out to prove the fact that people CAN and ARE good without God. It is interesting to hear your perspective, and I'll have to let you borrow the book when you get back. There are arguments for both sides, and it is something that I'm not going to get into on your blog.
ReplyDeleteA few other things: 1. That is one hell of a log you drew on the board. You should really think about drawing those more often.
2. You 'got lucky this morning' with a emoticon wink afterward? Do you realize your mom reads this blog, dude? Congrats by the way...
Keep enjoying yourself, and definitely don't get sick of talking to yourself. It is healthy in moderation.
Nick
I think I saw something about that book and I meant to make a note about reading it. The whole idea of natural human nature and divine influence is a very interesting topic and can turn into very interesting discussion. I am living in a place where the divine is everything and maybe that is why the idea that people seem to inherently be good seems to make sense. Maybe not. I think people are good, there are just a lot of things that play into them actually being good. All of this sounds like a discussion to be had over beers...
ReplyDeleteYou think that log was good? I think my bird was ok and the frying pan and lid I had to draw to day, even better. It is hilarious, me drawing and acting out words. Good times...
Yeah there seems to be a lot of secret messages in my blog...I am like CIA...haha I will have it be known that it probably was not lucky like you seem to think.
I know, I must keep talking to myself. Man here is the secret. There is another blog, only it is top secret, on paper and the audience is for me only.