Waking up to a package notification is one of the best feelings. The excitement and curiosity makes my classes fly by and at the first chance I get I run to pick it up. The box, sent from home, was marked with my moms handwriting 'Fragile' with a big heart next to it. Crap.. It's a Valentine's day package, no doubt stocked with all kinds of candy and goodies that I will not be able to eat for another 4 and a half days. So the package sat unopened across from me on my bed, taunting me. Ehhh what's the harm of just opening it to see actually whats inside. In a matter of seconds I was tearing open the package.
It was worse than I thought. Homemade snicker doodles. My absolute favorite... of course. After seeing those I quickly moved the package under my bed in an attempt to avoid the temptation. Instead I stuck to my delicious peanut butter sandwich and crackers for lunch.
Tonight we had the poverty simulation. For 2 hours I was a 17 year old high school drop out with a single mom and a 14 year old sister. We had $10.00 to our name and zero employed family members. We did not qualify for benefits, loans and we could not get a job. Despite everything we did, we could not catch a break. I thought about when I was 17 and how thoughts of paying the mortgage, utility and even where my next meal was coming from never crossed my mind. It gave me an appreciation for what I have and a better understanding of the struggle people in poverty go through every day. The whole experience left me frustrated and concerned that even those in poverty who what to get out and make a better life for themselves and their family are unable to because of a lack of resources.
I thought the whole experience at the simulation was very interesting and informative. Although at the end they brought out trays and trays of food and drinks for us, which of course was torture. In my anger of not being able to take part in the snacks I thought about how strange it is and how much of a waste buying all this food was. Every student in the room has access to dhall and the campus food places for what most of us perceive as 'free' food. The food they gave to us could have gone to someone who actually needed it, like my simulation family who was modeled after many families in similar devastating circumstances.
Coming home from after this long day I was so drained and just wanted a NICE meal and to get some sleep. So I go to my freezer and pull out my next frozen dinner. It was lasagna tonight.
Not quite the layered heaven I think of when I hear the words lasagna but the noodles and sauce were eatable and we're perfect for a quick dinner.
I've realized that the amount of little meals throughout the day that I consume are unnecessary. I use the phrase 'I'm hungry' very loosely. I say it when I'm bored, when I watch tv, when I am doing work, and when its around a meal time and my body is use to eating then. Real hunger is a fear of not knowing what and where your next meal is coming from. The thought that the emptiness in your stomach is just going to keep growing with no seen end point. I hope after this challenge that I take this in to consideration when I make my late night etc runs and jimmy johns orders and think about where this food could be going. I hope to do what I can to help donated and figure out efficient ways to get food to these people.
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