.:morocon and america:.

The internet connection here is as slow as construction on the beltway and works as often as Congress. My parents left yesterday and I'll be here for three weeks by myself until my mom arrives. Am I nervous? A bit. Everyone here is very sweet, but I really do miss America. I think that until we go to some place that is so incomprehensibly (made that up) different, it's hard to realise just how great our country is. We have electricity, have cars, we have paved roads, and as stupid as our government can be at times, the government is ours. We control who we elect, and those who we elect care about us. I know that sometimes we elect the wrong people to office, and sometimes the elected officials really don't give a damn about us, but let me tell you they care a whole lot more about us than the government here cares about its people. And they way we carry out business!

IT ALL JUST MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!

And I think what makes us so great is that we always point out our problems. We always criticize. Perhaps we should just be thankful for what we have, but you know what, I don't want to just be thankful. That kind of mentality leads to us keeping the status quo. Everyday Americans complain and more power to them. I say that really only if for every compliant a suggestion is offered. Here I see people waiting for hand outs. I see them look at me as an American and ask for money. God damnit. I offer my help but I give my money freely to the American homeless because they are my first and foremost, they are in the end, my citizens and brothers and sisters. For others, I'll offer help, or else why would I be here? But everyone looks for a handout from the government or from tourists and what do they offer in return? Nothing but blank stares that say "You haven't given enough". Of course I'm on a tangent but that kind of mentality grates against us as Americans I think. We like to be generous, but we also like to be thanked. We're tired of everyone wanting something from us and then never appreciating what we do. It's always, go away Americans, but when we leave and something goes wrong it's "where were you America? Help us now". We're the world police and world benefactors and I don't see anything wrong with that. I just don't like that nothing we do is ever good enough. I really don't think I can explain just how much I appreciate all that I have after living like this.

how am i living?
like Rosseau's noble savage. You know, I'm sure others would be repulsed by the people here. Yes the kids run around in underwear without shoes. Yes everyone wears donated clothes. Yes they live in wood shacks on stilts. No there is no running water. No there is no sewage system. No there is no electricity (except here, and that is by generator and occassionally). But people are nice and living is natural. They're a simple people, but like anywhere there are the people who want to better their lives. I feel as though we all have a right to live as we choose. That doesn't mean that they have to live basically 150 years in the past. People here have a right to electricity and all the benefits of technology. Does that mean that somehow it should just appear? No. With help they can buy these luxuries for themselves. What is most neede here is an economy. With a sustainable economy they can support themselves. Solar panels would be great here. To jump start an economy all that is needed is investment.

Well I should go. Once again, sorry to my friends that I can't email or chat with you that often. I'll call via a satellite phone and dear God have patience because those things are slow.

love!