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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
As part of President Obama's stimulus package, people who thankfully still have a job like myself, have a little extra to look forward to - the hard earned paycheck that we eagerly await twice a month. In fact, it's right about an additional $30 per check, which probably sounds like nothing since I'm the sort who spends $10 (unknowingly, OF COURSE) on something as frivolous as grapes. Yeah I know right... What the hell. And what exactly does conventionally grown in California mean and why do I need to eat them? Oh yes... because the crappy $5 ones from Chinatown tastes awful and I end up throwing away $5 and then going out and spending yet another $10 on my wonderful WholeFoods conventionally grown in California black grapes.

So since the whole aim of the extra cash is for you to go out and spend it, I am starting to plan how I should do my part for the economy. And then I start to think, what would I like to buy for $30?

You know, when I was much younger, I've always pictured myself all grown up and fancy. I would wear a suit, high high heels, and frankly, quite like the bitch you wouldn't dare cross. In short, I wanted to be cosmopolitan, and get ready for this - a yuppie (OH I HATE THIS WORD NOW). I was excited, I felt ready to take on the big bad world, prancing through life in my Jimmy Choos, with careless abandon but have everything somehow work out perfect.

8 years later, I am wearing a suit (and I dont particularly like it), and living in possibly the most 'exciting' city there is (it actually really depends on your idea of exciting because to me, anywhere with Target and Chipotle, and preferably Club Monaco does it really). So though I lead a comfortable lifestyle, there are definitely still things that I covet but can't afford, so maybe I should save my $30 towards that.

But since my feet can't fit into Manolos no matter how much money I have (Actually I can but then I'll have to find myself a toe doctor first), and apparently because Dolce & Gabanna doesn't manufacture clothes in my size, and Bvlgari jewels... WAHHAHAHHA let's face it, highly unlikely in this lifetime... I'm going to do something else with my money. Something more meaningful than mere things, for instance, sponsoring a kid through World Vision.

Laughs aside, I have really been giving it a lot of thought. In fact, I have been thinking about this for awhile now, but like what tragically happened to my weight loss efforts, they've been stashed at the back of my head. Alright, more like WAYYYYYYYY back. But I got re-motivated by 3 things.


1) Lihong's the Taiwan ambassador for World Vision a while back. Yes I know it's so terrible to do good things only when the person you admire tells you to, but its effective, and it's opened my eyes. On youtube, I saw a clip of Lihong going to Laos where he sponsored 10 children of various ages and genders. I wanted to cry when I saw that, not only because he is so handsome, but also for the children. I made up my mind that when I have the means, I will sponsor a child too. But then, I already had the means when I stumbled across the clip, but yeah I already told you about how I buried them along with my dieting plans.


2) India. 2007's study abroad was more than studying because ok who am I kidding, we did zilch studying. But I often find myself thinking about India the way I've never reminsenced about any other country I've visited. It's been 2 years, but the faces of the slum children have never left me. When I was see them on the side of the streets from the obnoxious big blue tour bus that only Americans are capable of, I want to look away because I am ashamed, but yet my my gaze was fixated. I am ashamed because we are brats who complain about the heat, the grime, the food, this, and that... and yet they will give anything, ANYTHING to be in our shoes. I cannot stop looking at them, because before this, I have only heard of, but never seen slum children. I wanted to know what they thought of their lives, whether they think panhandling is for now, or for forever. But of course, the question went unanswered.


3) When I temporarily lost my job due to visa problems back in January, the means to provide for myself was taken away from me (by the darn system that is sadly, unfortunate and unavoidable). I started to think of the privileges that I am about to give up when the paycheck stops coming. I can't travel, I can't buy $10 grapes, I can't get a haircut, I can't do anything much except watching cable TV that I already paid for and urm, u know, jogging and such which is so not going to happen whether I'm employed or unemployed. (OK I confess I bought $10 grapes during the first week of unemployment, I traveled to NYC, but I did NOT get a haircut). I whimper about the privileges I give up like I deserve them, but in actual fact I am so blessed to be able to live the life I choose for myself, even though momentarily handicapped by a damn paycheck. So, I promised myself that once I get my job back, I will support the cause to sponsor a child, because I now understand how it feels to be unable to take care of one self, to be in circumstances that you didn't choose, and to live like that possibly, for the rest of your life.

If like they say, that children are our future, why aren't we doing more? Is it because as long as OUR children are eating well and learning, everything's good in the world? I am not an idealist, World Vision has realistic goals. There are many problems in the world and heck, I am neither God nor Ghandi, it would be impossible for me to improve the circumstances of everybody. But can I do more? I certainly can. Will I miss the $30? I do hope not, or I'd have to revisit my priorities.

Before I committed myself to the cause, I also thought about my motives. I cannot say I have none, after all every little thing we choose to do is powered by self interest. Maybe I did this to feel better about myself, maybe just so to have something in common with Lihong. Who knows? Every little bit counts, and I want to be a better person. But for now, a child in Cambodia is about to be sponsored, and I am thrilled that while President Obama's stimulus money has failed to benefit American companies, it is doing something even better. One child, at a time.

One thing's for sure, this will be the best $30 I will ever spend.
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