Some Things Never Change

Some things is Bolivia never change. Like this begger who I recognize very well from living in the city of Cochabamba for six years. He can be seen all over the city where he knows his best option to look pitiful enough to draw another coin out of someones pocket. Bolivia streets are loaded with these professional beggers. They work as hard or harder at their jobs than many of us do at ours. He is a product of what he was taught and of a place that allowed it to happen. Bolivia is in trouble again. It has had so many opportunities to advance but it seems to regress with one step forward…three steps back. While we lived in Bolivia there were three presidents, many riots, shortages of this or that, roads blown up and blocked by different factions trying to make a statement and on and on. Like this begger, who sat down beside me to count his money after I refused to give him any, Bolivia will not show you what she has hidden. She cannot, because she is waiting on someone else to help her. Her hand is always out and like many of us she needs to learn is how to give.