Through the eyes of a child...

A child sees the world differently. To them, to the world is simple; it consists of simple actions, simple emotions, and fun. I also feel that in today's world of fast paced technology, some of this "simpleness" is lost. As a kid, I played with toys, was outside all the time, and enjoyed riding my bike. Children today also enjoy such things but they are normally accompanied by technology, like an iPad or other electronic device. In Mexico, these luxuries are not as accessible to the families we work with. At the site we have been at this week, the mother Claudia, has three sons, two of which are very young, Allen and Brian. These boys have definitely been our little helpers, picking up buckets and assisting wherever there small hands can find a use. Today, I was working in a trench to fill in a hole we had dug that was no longer needed. Allen, who I would guess to be about 4-5 years old, comes and joins me down in the hole. Brian, the littlest one at 3 years old, sat at the top of the hole, on a dirt mound, watching with a careful eye. Allen did all he could to help me while I pick-axed the dirt off a hill and down into the hole. Slowly, this got boring and he turned to searching for bugs, what a boy should do. I continued to fill in dirt and quickly became his assistant in grabbing worms out of the dirt and getting these other insects that were similar to a pill bug. Allen would take these bugs and then give them to Brian, and where they went from here I do not know. Yes, it was difficult working with Allen by my side, but I did not care. I was getting an opportunity to see some of the simple joys of childhood in the actions of Allen and Brian. They were content to crawl around in the dirt, only for the excitement of a worm. I feel that much of this has been lost in American society. Kids are shuffled to activities and given screens to occupy themselves when it is proven that they can be content with the earth around them. This is a larger concept of my trip to Tijuana that I appreciate. I have so much excess in my life, and in the lives around me, that I feel is necessary and I enjoy. But, I come to Mexico and see people who do not have extravagant luxuries, who are also very happy with life. You never know what lessons a three year old, some dirt, and bugs can teach you. Children take the most basic look on life that they have the ability to strip our perceptions down to what is "simple" and realize what is necessary and why we have such excess in life. -Chelsea