by Sarah Rouhi

Created on: July 24, 2009

Poverty is a word that doesn't explain anything of what I have lived , what I have seen and what I have felt . Poverty is pain , it's what I see every day on the streets and what I used to see , when I open my fridge , when I put on my old skirt and my dirty shoes . Poverty is much more than having lunch with a buttered loaf of bread and a glass of water , poverty is even more than wearing old clothes on feats , or not receiving any presents on your birthday ,

poverty is what I used to feel while hanging out in malls and passing in front of stores on Christmas and knowing that I can't offer, buy for myself or receive any of these fancy things. Poverty is what I saw in my mother's dying eyes because she can't afford medical treatment , poverty is what you live when you have to leave college while you got a scholarship just because you can't pay your 50% fees ! Poverty is what you feel an winter nights when you're cold and hungry ! Poverty is your situation in your full time job winning a dollar per hour ! Poverty is much more than all that !

Poverty is what African countries live , poverty is what homeless people feel , poverty is what hungry children in all over the world experiment , poverty is what has existed and will exist forever until the disappearance of humanity , because it's not just a problem that can be solved it's a phenomena , a vicious circle. My experience with poverty has affected me a lot , it has changed the way of my life . I left my medicine college , my mom died of blood cancer , my sister was having three jobs , she was working as a maid in a 4 stars' hotel , a baby-sitter and a prostitute , my brother was the more rebellious one, he left his school because of his classmates laughter at him , why ? Simply because he used to seem weird with his 60s fashion shirt , his old sneakers and his dirty bag he became a gangster and a drugs' addicted . As for my father, he committed suicide after going to jail because he robbed his mean boss . Our parents wanted us to be the best . I remember the day when I was a little girl dreaming about being a doctor, getting married with a rich handsome man , and organizing the most wonderful wedding ever .My sister used to paint well she wanted to be a famous painter by following her art studies in Spain. As for my brother , his dream was being a pilot , visiting many countries and having people's life between his hands .He used to like challenge and always does , but now he's challenging the other gangs and having people's life between his hands by killing three people and never being arrested . You're maybe wondering if I have any uncles aunts or cousins from whom I can seek help , but you actually know when you're family is the poorest of all the extended one . Nobody comes to visit you or ask about your news , nobody offers you help even if he definitely knows that you absolutely need it , nobody of them even greets you when he runs into you in a public place especially if he/she is with some friends , because he's ashamed of you , of your situation your look and your miserable clothes . Everybody forgets your existence , your name , your address and everything about you , maybe they're afraid of being contaminated by poverty and misery when he'll knock at your door .

But mainly when you see that all your dreams are gone , and everything you have done to achieve them is lost then it is poverty

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