You were right. The people here are poor and majority of them live a life which is poorer than the lower middle class. The living conditions of the people living in a small slum nearby the Airport are worse than what we saw in the Ghetto in Terezin. What we saw in OpenLucht Museum the conditions when the people in earlier times lived in the same place with the animals is luxury when compared to the people living in the slums.
I see things differently now. I realized that earlier I just closed my eyes assuming that certain things don't exist. The people here are as ignorant as I was before. The privileged continue to enjoy the privileges without a single thought about how better we can do things to help those who are less privileged.
I do not blame them. In this society, survival is the only aim for one and all. People seem to run a race and they are so busy running that they often do not look around to see whats happening.
People are not compassionate towards each other and treat each other with mistrust. For example , standing in a crowded bus, I feel something touching my bag, my instant thought was the person behind me was up to some mischief of pick pocket. I looked around and saw a very skinny old man with big glasses and wrinkles all over his dark face struggling to stand straight. the very moment I was filled with shame and guilt of my thoughts. I know we cannot change everything around us, but at least we can be compassionate to one other around us. Be polite and make them feel good for that moment is what I learned from you.
Many people say we cannot survive being honest and polite. I used to but I do not believe in it anymore. I was standing in a queue for the auto rickshaw for long in the scorching sun along with 5 others. The moment the only Auto came, the people broke the queue and got in it before me. I could see that the people who did it were ashamed of their act and they choose to look away from me to hide their self guilt. It understand it is difficult to stand in the sun for more than 5 minutes and we were standing for about 15. May be they were in a hurry and they had more important appointments. I was not angry . But I am sure I would be very angry if it was one year ago.
Whenever I look around me now, I always think of you and try to imagine how you would do things differently. Living with you has changed me in a big way . I feel very lucky that I got the chance.
Parents pass their Legacy to children and I hope I have the strength to retain it.
PS: Biologisch food is not available. I really do not know how to bring awareness about it.
