One of my readers, someone I can only refer to as “Anonymous” as they never left their name, recently criticised my friends Kim and Sue and myself for not integrating more into the community – for not learning the language, or understanding the customs; for setting ourselves apart in our “villas” and judging the nation from the comfort of our air-conditioned cars...
I’m not here to defend our honour, or speak about what our lives are like in reality, but there were several things that irritated me about their judgmental comments – probably the most galling being that they signed off with a smiley face. Seriously, for future reference, if you want to comment positively or knock me then please be bold enough to leave your name – I like to know who both my friends and enemies are. And whatever you do, if you are being critical, then be critical – don’t try to appease your conscience or soften the blow with a smiley face.
That would have been like the incident when I was in Grade 11 or 12, where a popular student who had a beef with me came up from behind during break and slammed my head into the side of my locker. He'd made his point and probably felt better about himself seeing blood running down my face and onto my uniform. It would have been rather incongruous for him to offer me a daisy after the fact...
But onto other things... A few days ago, after being inspired by Anri-Louise who has been doing this for some time, I had a stack of photos printed of children and families who live around me. Yesterday morning, before leaving for school, I went to each one’s home and handed them over. It was amazing to see their faces as they received these mementos – most of them have never had photos of their children or themselves to put on the shelf.
How heart-warming to see the one old granny and her husband beaming at the pics of their grandchildren, or my friendly charcoal-selling neighbour’s enthusiastic response. They were small gifts, and easy for me to give, but the biggest gifts that these normal people would have received in a long, long time.
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Keep on doing what you do ... if it's done with integrity, you have no reason to let other peoples' criticisms affect you.
ReplyDeleteI love your real-life, everyday pics and I'm sure the families enjoyed them too.
It's the small things that count ...
G
What a special momento you gave them. Keep up the good work--teaching, living in a world unlike my own. It wasn't until I spent 2 months in Madagascar that I got to SEE with my own eyes, what my daughter had been sharing for 9 years.
ReplyDeleteI can just picture their happiness at having those pictures...
ReplyDeleteso i spent ages trawling through your comments trying to find the smiley anonymous one.... Couldn't find it... But my desire to give the smiley faced commenter a slap back probably isn't the right attitude
ReplyDelete@Lynne Ah Lynne... It irritated me so much that I deleted it... I like a happy blog!
ReplyDeleteDear Robin !I read your blog quite often, and everytime, I try to figure out how life is in Madagascar...
ReplyDeleteYour choice of living is not an easy one...
My choice is easy : I live in Belgium, I have a good public job, a flat, a car, 3 children who have everything they need and almost everything they want! I have everything I need, even if for the moment, all my thoughts go to the man who is supposed to finish my flat so I can go and live there, and at least, leave my sister's house (because I think it muste be boring to live and deal with 8 people in a house...)! But anyway, I have everything and even too many things...
When I read that people criticise you, I really can't understand, nor admit it...
If I didn't have children, I think that now, I could go and try live like you or do something like that... but it's not sure, it's so difficult to leave the material security...
So I admire you and I send you lots of supportive thoughts... Love,
Denise