Immersion emoness
Posted by Lauren | Under Random Thoughts with 30 views Sunday Jul 23, 2006Despite my earlier misgivings, I actually had a lot of fun during the immersion weekend.
My stay with the boys at the shelter didn’t change my life dramatically. I still don’t have compassion for poor people in general. I still don’t see myself joining a SOA org and doing charity work. But when you get to know certain individuals who are really doing everything they can to get a bright future for themselves, how can you not want to help them? My heart isn’t made of steel but whatever it’s made of, it actually broke a little when I said goodbye to the boys this morning.
There’s this one kid in particular who I grew rather attached to (or who grew attached to me). Mind you–I’m not one to feel sorry for people, and I especially can’t stand kids. But I felt something for this one. I could sense that whatever innocence and purity he had wasn’t tainted by all the crap that must have happened in his life. His name is Michael and he’s a fourteen-year old boy who looks like a scrawny yet adorable ten-year old kid. I’m not sure how we got around to talking yesterday, but I suppose I must have reminded him of his mother or something because he ended up clinging to my arm in this heartbreakingly cute little-boy way and dragging me in front of cameras to have my picture taken with him.
It was tough leaving him this morning. I know that Michael’s better off in the institution than in the streets of Divisoria where he grew up in. But despite the fact that the institution does their best to send all boys to school and even college, not everyone gets the chance to be educated due to the lack of funds. I don’t want Michael to have a shitty life. I know it sounds ridiculously idealistic, but I want to save him. I want that purity and innocence to remain with him always.
Of course, this is probably just my maternal instincts kicking in. But I sincerely want to do something to help. When I got home, I dragged out all my high school English textbooks from the garage because I figured that the boys would have an edge in the job market if they improve their English. Over the week I’m planning to send Michael a pair of rubber slippers (or “flip-flops”, if you may) because he always goes around barefoot. Small things like that.
I’m not out to change the world. I don’t plan on saving every street kid out there and giving them a home. But I just want to help out this one kid, for the selfish reason that I know it would make me feel damn good if I make a difference in his life.
I’m really glad you made a follow up on “IMMERSION BLAHS”, I knew there will be one boy among the horny ones that would make your Immersion, memorable.
The english books, rubber slippers, nothing will be more memorable for this boy than the time you spent with him, I’s sure he will be heart broken to know that the time you spent with him was a required activity for one of your mandatory Theology classes.
Immersion does that to you. I remember when I went to Nuevo Ecija (tribal) for mine. Initially, one can’t help but feel sorry for their situation but in the end, it really made me feel sorry for mine. I’d be stressing over grades and gimiks and these people would be stressing over the first item on Maslowe’s heirarchy of needs. I don’t think I ever had the chance to thank them again after school, but the sessions are meant to ‘plant the seed’ so that when you’re finally in the position to be a man (or woman) for others, you have that emotional/spiritual anchor to latch on, and hopefully act on.