Gaining some understanding
Over the past two weeks, I've been pissed about how the events in New Orleans has been handled, but after volunteering at two different places today to help out the evacuees, I realize how stupid it is to keep on blaming people instead of trying to help those who are really in need (I understand what you mean now Ian). This morning I went to sort clothes and bedding that have been donated, and what the organizers thought would take from 9-5pm actually finished before noon because there were so many people there. Seeing how eager everyone was to do something to help out the evacuees made me feel both happy and guilty because it took me so long to go and do something for others.
When I got home, I found a website that said the Austin Convention Center needed Cantonese-speaking computer helpers, and downtown I went. While didn't get to interpret today, being able to interact with everyone and see the actual conditions they lived in made me so much more appreciative for what I have. One woman who I worked with had lost everything, and all she wanted was her resume so she could start looking for work. As we made her an email address and worked on finding her past employers' addresses, listening to her say how much she appreciated my help because it was the most she had had since she was evacuated seriously almost made me cry. Here I am complaining about a $400 plane ticket when she just wants a single sheet of paper.
I've decided that I'll continue to grumble about who has/hasn't done what inside, but instead of spending time reading about who says what about whom, I'm going to take that time to go down to the Convention Center to help. I don't know how much help I'll be, but at least I know I did something about the situation instead of looking at it from the outside.
When I got home, I found a website that said the Austin Convention Center needed Cantonese-speaking computer helpers, and downtown I went. While didn't get to interpret today, being able to interact with everyone and see the actual conditions they lived in made me so much more appreciative for what I have. One woman who I worked with had lost everything, and all she wanted was her resume so she could start looking for work. As we made her an email address and worked on finding her past employers' addresses, listening to her say how much she appreciated my help because it was the most she had had since she was evacuated seriously almost made me cry. Here I am complaining about a $400 plane ticket when she just wants a single sheet of paper.
I've decided that I'll continue to grumble about who has/hasn't done what inside, but instead of spending time reading about who says what about whom, I'm going to take that time to go down to the Convention Center to help. I don't know how much help I'll be, but at least I know I did something about the situation instead of looking at it from the outside.