The Head on my Feet

Walking around Kathmandu, it is evident that poverty consumes this capital city. Immediately upon arrival, our attention was drawn to people sleeping on the ground all over the city; many of whom consisted of children. In Dubar Square, we were able to experience this even more so as this area of town is where most homeless children find their residence. As we were standing waiting on a guide, a child walked up to me and placed his head on my feet and began pulling on the leg of my shorts. He looked at me with what could only be called “puppy dog eyes” and begged us for money. My heart shattered. The country of Nepal is primarily supported by its many tourists. Begging is discouraged due to the fear that it will drive out this very important source of tourism income. Due to this, it was not long before the child was rebuked by multiple native Nepali elders walking past and eventually rushed away by our guide.

Although this interaction affected us all, I personally found the shock of witnessing this poverty first hand seemed to impact me the most. I am the only person in my group that has yet to be out of the country and because of this fresh perspective, sadness overwhelmed me. Coming from a country that is wealthy, but still has its flaws, and traveling to a country that is predominately impoverished is completely heart wrenching.  At one point I had to remove myself from the group entirely as I found myself in tears. For someone that has such a big heart for children, I found it extremely difficult to comprehend. The young and innocent of our world cling to their survival solely through begging. The saddest part: they are walked by and ignored every single day.

-Andrew Sexton

Edited: Kaitlyn Rawls