I was reading Stephanie Nolen's book last night, 28 Stories, and I also caught an article of hers from Monday's Globe and Mail. She made me think about how brutally hard it is to live in certain parts of the world. I think that statistics say that about 90 percent of the world live in extreme poverty- with intense climates, food shortages, no health care, and terrifying political situations, while 10 percent live in the comfort and prosperity I enjoy every day. I'm not trying to generalize, but I suppose that anything I just said is pretty much that, but it just seems like our lives in the Western world are so simple. I know they aren't all the time. There is depression, loss, illness and a million other stressors in Canada, I guess it just seems so easy in comparison.
The third story in Nolen's book was about a truck driver in Kenya. She travelled with the man across the country and her story filled me with memories of Ghana. I don't think it's as extreme as many of the other African countries but it seemed to have some very similar elements to what her story told. The lack of water and power for long periods of time, horrible,if any facilities, the scary prospect of eating unknown foods. Hell, I really admire her for reporting the way she does. It takes a lot of guts to get in the car of a truck driver and go into the night with them, and potentially risk your life and at least live uncomfortably for a few days, just to get a story. It made me feel a little sheepish for complaining about having to talk to locals in Barrie to get information for an article.
I have been reading a lot lately about people who report in war zones and politically unstable climates. I admire these people, while asking myself, what are they doing it for? Are they doing it for personal gain, for the sake of their careers or because of a true passion for the people they are writing about?
I guess with all this journalism talk, and all of these stories about horrible life-threatening diseases it has got me thinking that it takes some real balls to go into such a profession (pardon my expression). Nolen reported on a South African town that had highly infectious and deadly drug-resistant TB. The very fact that she had pictures and one-on-one sources means that she probably visited this place and this clinic. That is extremely risky behaviour to be quite honest. But I admire her because if she hadn't how would people ever know about it? It is hard to live in a hot climate, where water is most definitely not clean, and where you are exposing yourself to diseases that are virtually non-existent in the Western world. I guess it is just scary to me, but also so full of possibilities. Trying to gain some courage to do the things I always dreamed of without getting scared away. That's all for now.
Oh, and the day was sunny today and I downloaded some of the hip-life, high-life and Ghanaian reggae that Aziz gave me and it was so awesome to go out on a great hot day and just enjoy it. Reminds me of some great times. And some great friends...
posted by Kate @ 3:15 PM
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