Dear Tricia,
I am stuck today. I haven’t a clue what to write about. We both have been traveling…you come home ready to embark on your final month here at home before a HUGE transition, and I come home to sick children.
Oooo…Here’s something. I was wondering if you deal with this much with the amount of travel you’ve done…When we were at the resort last week, I was struggling with the workers. They were so kind and accommodating and great, but because of the trip I took to Guatemala earlier this year, I had a general idea of what they went home to. I think I felt slightly ashamed or arrogant. Nathan assured me that they had a great job and were doing what they need to do to provide for their families. But I still couldn’t help it.
There was this one waiter, Antonio. On Saturday, he served us all breakfast. He would always welcome us with, “Hello Family!” That night, Ashley, Daniel, Nathan and I were playing cards outside of the coffee shop around 10pm and he was picking up the garbage for the night. I’m positive the labor laws are incredibly different, but I felt so torn. Glad that I can help his family income, but by being at the resort was I endorsing improper treatment?
UGH. The struggle. Seattle, I’m sure, was slightly different.
Oh AND…I know LOTS about you…but I also need to know the answers to these questions…
- When is appropriate to start celebrating Christmas?
- If you had to pick an era to live in, which would it be?
- What TV series would you want to be a character in?
- What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
Happy Almost Friday, Friend. Hope your week was more structured both in plan & thought than mine.
Love,
Lindsay
It Is Trish 
I totally know what you’re talking about, and I think I land somewhere between you and Nathan. I wind up feeling guilty more that my quality of life is so much higher than theirs…but then I can’t do anything to control that (except maybe stop complaining as much). And at least my presence in their country is creating a job that is pretty great. So in the end, I guess….my reaction is to just make their day as easy as possible – to be kind, considerate, and generally not a jerk.
But yeah, it’s a huge confrontation with my privilege, and that makes me uncomfortable too.
On to the fun questions (which you should totally answer in return)!
1. When is appropriate to start celebrating Christmas?
I’m a Christmas after Halloween girl, and I won’t apologize! Thanksgiving is not a real holiday; and I will simply be thankful for the Christmas season. :p
2. If you had to pick an era to live in, which would it be?
Hmmm, not too long ago, or being a woman would totally suck. Unless I can be guaranteed to be rich, because then it wouldn’t be TOO bad. Maybe the 1920s. That seems like a really fun time to be alive, although that means I’d have to live through the Depression and WWII. Yikes. I dunno. I guess I’m happy to be alive now.
3. What TV series would you want to be a character in?
PERFECT QUESTION. Doctor Who. There’s not much killing in the show, so I probably wouldn’t die horrifically. And if I can manage to be the companion, then that means I can travel throughout time and space! WIN.
4. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
Hmmm, you know, my family has never been very Christmas cookie centered. We just eat cookies at Christmastime just like all the time. But whatever it is, it has to be chocolate. I don’t see the point of a dessert without chocolate.
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