Some thoughts

We were driving along the Naivaisha road just outside Nairobi when I saw this masai boy herding his cattle waving at us shouting “water, water”. I then realized with a little shock how easily is to forget how reality is in other countries.

I saw that in Sierra Leone but I forgot. I saw Liberia from inside and from peacekeeper perspective, I saw Cote d’Ivoire in a troubled times with eyes wide open, I have been to Guinea, Somalia and other rough spots of this world where some people lives are worth nothing and this is the reality. I lived and worked in Africa I know the difficulties that people face around the world because I work on those issues. Potable water, something that I take for granted and never worry about in my daily life is a precious asset and a daily struggle for some people…

However, life in the United States lures you into a strange state of mind and even when working on world affairs one tends to get lost in shopping and attractions of various kind. One starts paying attention to things like fashion, Six Feet Under Dexter ….spa week ends and sample sales.

All this excitement makes it so easy to forget how real life in majority of places on this planet looks like, and even if you try to think and question things, you end up following the mainstream. Another pathetic sheep running in the crowd.

Thinking that our economic problems are top of the agenda just because restaurants are only half full during restaurant week it really, really sucks.

I don’t want to be the annoying bitch putting everything into "be glad you have a roof over your head" perspective but after having been spoilt for living in brilliant conditions so long a little of reality check and stock taking is a good thing.

The sad part of it is that economic troubles in the West will have a severe impact on developing countries and humanitarian aid. Governments that have not been overly generous in good times will not be more understanding and supportive at the times of the economic downturn.

This means, yes, half empty restaurants is a symptom of a problem that needs to be top of the agenda for some people not to beg water in the middle of the streets along Naivasha road.