Poverty Through the Eyes of a Child

I remember as little girl my parents would to Tijuana, Mexico and they would always take me with them a good 90 percent of the time.  During my toddlers years I could not really remember facing the culture; however, approximately when I was 5 years old…  Bam, it hit me.  I started noticing the culture and poverty stricken area that I was not accustom to.

Let me explain a little of Tijuana, Mexico.  There is Tijuana River which is a great part of Tijuana, and it is also a river of problems. The river rolls back and forth between the United States and Mexico. It runs through the heavily populated areas of Tijuana, then up into southern San Diego, California and out to the ocean.

Off course, at the age of 5 you start realizing a little more things in life and retain a lot more.  I was shy little girl going with my parents down south.  My first realization was when we crossing a border, which at the time I did not know any difference.  Although I did realize that on one the side before crossing the border was really nice; however, once you crossed the border it was not all that clean and beautiful such as the other side.  Everyone spoke Spanish, but that was not the problem.  The destituteness that was in the area shocked me the most.  I would see mothers carrying a young one on the back, as well as one in the front along with her other children, ranging from toddler to approximately 9 years old begging in the streets and their clothes was filthy; the hygiene was not at its best either.  As a result of me seeing this, I thought to be sure the food was not safe to eat.  Off course, I would not eat when visiting Tijuana.  Although we would go to a restaurant and the appearance was fine, the atmosphere was a little different.  I would see servers in folklore type dresses with beautiful bright colors and the Mariachi musicians.

 

Needless to say, the older I got the better I understood their culture and differences between the poverty and mid-class.  I began to be a little more open on these visits and little by little started eating the various types of food platters they offered.  However, the view of poverty in Tijuana has been a life everlasting impression.