Appreciation

In my opinion, to have the ability to appreciate something is one of the greatest gifts of all. When I went to Madagascar in the summer of 2012 I realized just how lucky I truly am, although the people seemed very content and loving towards one another, I was aware that there was so much of their lifestyle that I wouldn't see, and perhaps wouldn't want to. Whilst looking out of the bus window at all the impoverished people in the city of Antananarivo, I swore to myself to never take the luxuries of home for granted ever again. Of course this promise was not kept, how could it have been? When I arrived home, I forgot just how much harder it was to live in Madagascar, even after a few days. When I first arrived back in Surrey everything seemed like a novelty, as if it was some odd interpretation of Christmas, everything was a gift and a luxury to behold. What is frustrating to me is that I couldn't carry on feeling this way, the novelty wore off, and I slowly adjusted to my new environment. Although this new found appreciation has worn off, I still think of myself as lucky, however I wish so much that I could see my lifestyle through the eyes of one of the African children in the village I visited, not just for a few weeks, but for the rest of my days, that way I would never be sad again.