Gratitude.
I never really understood gratitude until I came to college. I wasn't a noticeably ungrateful person (at least, so I think to myself). But I wasn't a particularly grateful person, either. I took things for granted, often. And they were things that had been present my entire life, as present as the very air I breathe--it's only been scarce a couple times. Things like meals and having enough food, and home-cooked food on top of that.
Here, almost everyone lives in varying degrees of poor-ness. Thus, you're more respectful of each other's things, especially consumable things like food and TP and stuff, because you're paying for it yourself and thought goes into how much money you have to spend on things. You're maybe a bit more territorial with your food, because you don't want someone else eating it just because.
But it's also really fantastic, at the same time. Because although everyone's poor, most everyone gets to the point where they're willing to share. First judiciously, then freely. When someone shares something with you, it comes to mean the world to you. Someone gives you food and you're like, "oh my gosh... THANK you!" Whereas before you were like, "uhh, thanks?"
Similarly, you don't have much time. So when you need something and people take time out of their schedule to do something for you, it really means a lot. There's a good 20 minutes they could have spent on homework, or sleeping, or having a social life.
Stuff is just more scarce here, and when people share it with you, whether it's food or TP or time or company or advice or homework help... it's greatly appreciated. At least, that has been my experience.
I never really understood gratitude until I came to college. I wasn't a noticeably ungrateful person (at least, so I think to myself). But I wasn't a particularly grateful person, either. I took things for granted, often. And they were things that had been present my entire life, as present as the very air I breathe--it's only been scarce a couple times. Things like meals and having enough food, and home-cooked food on top of that.
Here, almost everyone lives in varying degrees of poor-ness. Thus, you're more respectful of each other's things, especially consumable things like food and TP and stuff, because you're paying for it yourself and thought goes into how much money you have to spend on things. You're maybe a bit more territorial with your food, because you don't want someone else eating it just because.
But it's also really fantastic, at the same time. Because although everyone's poor, most everyone gets to the point where they're willing to share. First judiciously, then freely. When someone shares something with you, it comes to mean the world to you. Someone gives you food and you're like, "oh my gosh... THANK you!" Whereas before you were like, "uhh, thanks?"
Similarly, you don't have much time. So when you need something and people take time out of their schedule to do something for you, it really means a lot. There's a good 20 minutes they could have spent on homework, or sleeping, or having a social life.
Stuff is just more scarce here, and when people share it with you, whether it's food or TP or time or company or advice or homework help... it's greatly appreciated. At least, that has been my experience.
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