Video Games? TV? What are those?

In the two days we've been here, we've seen and observed lots and lots of kids -- in the streets, in the orphanage, at the home of our orphanage director. One thing is very noticeable: even though they don't have video games or television, the kids in this poorer areas have just as much as the kids back in the States. As I type this, Jason is probably back home playing the Wii, Lauren is watching Disney Channel, Daniel is on the DS, and Kyle is sitting at the computer table perusing www.cartoonnetwork.com. I'm not saying that one form of play is better than others, but it is a stark reminder of how simple life can be. Back home, TV, computers and video games are such an integral part of everyone's lives. But when it comes down to it, kids are kids, and they'll have fun just using their imaginations ... playing, playing, playing.

I also noticed that in this area (which is nothing like the urban jungle known as Manila), the kids just wander the streets playing with one another. The parents feel safe because the neighbors are all part of this "community", this "village" if you will. Even in the super-duper poor area we visited, kids were everywhere in the streets. And parents seemed fine with it.

I suppose this is what "middle-America" was like decades ago, but I can assure you, it's not like that now in the big city where we live. Where we live, kids play at home, usually indoors. When they go outside, they do so under the close supervision of a relative. It's sad, really, that Reg and I don't even feel comfortable letting our kids walk alone to the park, which is literally just a couple minutes away from our front door.

Oh well ... just an observation.