| Take a moment to consider where technology | | | | willing to spend more time with their family and |
| was at ten years ago. Now think back to fifty | | | | not so much time on the internet or watching TV. |
| years ago then one hundred. Since the industrial | | | | Of course, the biggest difference between third |
| revolution, the way technology has moved has | | | | world countries and those that we live in is in the |
| been staggering. But the only ones who will be | | | | area of health. These countries do not have the |
| able to take advantage of all of its benefits will be | | | | same level of access that we do to the medicines |
| those who can afford it. Maybe you would like to | | | | and tools that are required in order to treat |
| get eye surgery but the Lasik eye surgery cost | | | | serious diseases. |
| could be more than you could afford. Perhaps you | | | | Another reason they have more health problems |
| should get Lasik insurance? Will this cover the | | | | is due to low levels of quality education. Families in |
| Lasik cost? It might but there are still plenty of | | | | poor communities, not just in the third world but |
| people around the world who are unable to afford | | | | poor communities of the west, cannot afford to |
| even the things we consider to be bare essentials | | | | pay for teachers who will provide education that |
| such as running water and constant electricity. By | | | | is of a decent standard. As a result, students do |
| looking at the way these people live, we can learn | | | | not learn enough to allow themselves to get |
| to not take our way of living for granted. | | | | anything close to experience as a doctor or nurse |
| In Ethiopia, the situation is not as bad as you | | | | and when these poorly educated students |
| might think. Things are reasonably developed, | | | | become teachers, the cycle continues. |
| people are mostly happy but technology and | | | | One of the ways we can help this situation is by |
| education is a fair way behind how we think of it. | | | | volunteering to teach in a third world country. |
| Many people do not have running water in their | | | | There are many schools around the world that |
| homes and electricity lately has been off for a | | | | invite people to come and teach for a short |
| whole season as hydropower plants are still failing. | | | | period of time, maybe a few months and gain |
| To live in this country for a short period of time | | | | experience in a new place. This greatly benefits |
| can permanently change your way of looking at | | | | the lives of the children and can have a massive |
| the world. | | | | effect on the traveler in learning about new parts |
| Those who live in third world countries may be | | | | of the world that are not often seen on TV |
| poor but there are a few advantages to living this | | | | screens in the west. It is worth considering taking |
| kind of life. One is that since technology is not at | | | | the time to give something back. |
| the level it is in developed countries, people are | | | | |