Perspective

There have been a lot of times on this trip that we have had to put things into perspective and then have to realize how lucky we are to live where we live.  I have a lot of little bits and pieces to write about tonight so hopefully it is not too confusing.  The first is about making a living.  I was talking to the physical therapists at the special needs school and found out that it is typical for a PT in Ecuador to make $4.00 per hour.  That is just mind blowing if you ask me!  Babysitters make more than that in the United States and don't have to support a family.  Their pay makes me realize how much I truly made as a PT in comparison.  The good thing is that food is a lot cheaper for the most part and many crops grow easily here all year.  Eduardo was telling us that Ecuador is one of the happiest places in the world because even in very poor areas, people have plenty that they can grow and eat right in their own yards.  Along the shores, when they have nothing else to eat they eat shrimp.  Not too bad if you ask me.  Unfortunately, another thing I have noticed is that clothes, shoes and toys are much more expensive.  I saw a toy Lucas received for Christmas in the store for $45 that I know was only $12 in the US!  When we think we are paying a lot for a toy in the future, I will remember the people trying to buy toys in Ecuador on a $4.00 per hour salary.

Another thing I have noticed here is that most people walk where they need to go.  People of literally all ages walk.  I have seen the very old and the very young walk long distances.  Strollers are not used often because the sidewalks are so uneven and so many people have to walk on them.  If you do own a car and have it out during certain times on certain days you can be penalized.  I think it is a great idea to help cut down on cars on the road.  When I told the people at the special needs school that I walk about 40 minutes in the morning, they said, "Oh, so you live close."  I would not say I live close, but to them that is not a long ways.  For me at least the walk is really pretty and enjoyable especially on the way home since I get to look at mountains.

Working with special needs children is always humbling.  They have to endure so much and yet are some of the sweetest most loving people you will ever meet.  It also always makes me so thankful for my two healthy kids.  These children here must also endure whatever disabilities they have with a lot fewer resources to make life easier.  There are no braces to be used for foot and ankle deformities unless someone donates them or you can make them from random pieces of plastic.  One little girl I work with has a clothes hamper on wheels that we use for a walker for her.  She also uses a wheelchair made by an organization out of a white plastic chair and bike tires.  None of the kids that come in a wheelchair have wheelchairs at home and they borrow used or makeshift ones while at the clinic.  We are lucky to be able to get wheelchairs so readily in the US and it makes me feel bad for all those times I complained that it took too long to get a child a chair or that it is unfair that a child has to wait at least five years to get a new wheelchair.  I should be thankful for all the wheelchairs I have been able to help children get no matter how long it took.

The last bit I want to talk about today is really just Lucas' perspective on food.  We were eating dinner tonight and he said something funny.  I said he was full on bologna.  He said, "Oh bologna sounds delicious!  Can have bologna?"  I guess we will be buying some bologna at the store this week!