Memoirs part 14

The only way we could get off base at Phu Cat was to take atrip to Qui Nhon. This seaside town was controlled by the army and was safe. Most of the guys would stay at the beach complex where they could eat, drink and swim. Since this was my first opportunity to see how the Vietnamese lived, I headed off post. I would just walk around different neighborhoods to get the feel of their everyday life. One of my most unforgettable memories was from during one of these walks.

I was walking in a residential neighborhood. The houses were right next to the street but were a few feet lower. I happened to look into a window of one house. There was a low table where the people would sit on the floor. Around the table were four or five children and one old lady who looked like their grandma. Each child had a small bowl of rice and there was one small bowl of vegetables in the center. I know it was bad manners, but I couldn’t help staring at them. The grandmother looked up at me, and instead of telling me to go away, she offered me her bowl of rice. Tears came to my eyes. Back at the beach, guys were eating a burger, fries and a drink for about one dollar.

This was one of the greatest things that changed my thinking about people. The poorest of people offering what little food she had to a “rich”, well-fed young man. From then I started to appreciate more the things that I had. It still bothers me very much when people who are “wealthy” and “educated” look down on people who are “poor” or “uneducated.”