I guess in my home town it's not uncommon for people to go around barefoot. After all it's on the coast, so in summer when it gets warm people practically live at the beach. But if I ever see anyone walking through Woolies with no shoes on, I never question the fact that at home they have many pairs.
A couple of weeks ago we had two of the children sponsored through Australia HOPE International come to town to visit a doctor in preparation for a surgery and also for an ear and eye check up. It was a bit of an experience watching their reaction to everything as one of them had never been outside the village (and came to town without shoes) and the other only once before.
In between appointments and after dodging traffic and holding the hands of children who were completely unfamiliar with road safety, we went and got some lunch. Sodas and African food for the girls who ate, as usual, with their hands, never having used a knife and fork before. The concept of chairs and tables also seemed quite foreign to them and they looked quite uncomfortable in their surroundings.
Often and quite obviously, I see things from my own perspective. So it was eye opening to see things through the eyes of these two young girls. In the same way that there are many fish out of water moments for me, through which I learn about this culture that I'm in, it was a privilege to witness the same discomfort and wonder as these girls learnt something new about the world around them outside the usual village setting.
Despite the discomfort of discomfort, I am glad to be almost daily put in this situation. There is challenge, reward and joy to be had in interacting with other cultures, other people, other places.
I'm just glad that I get to do it in shoes.
Blessings
bron
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