- Written By Lisa Stefan

Before spending 3 months living and volunteering in Honduras I thought nothing of spending 3.99/lb on bell peppers at my local grocery store.  I also thought nothing of going down to the local WalMart to buy my basic household necessities, because it IS the cheapest place to buy those things.  But after experiencing what life is like in the developing world, my views on a lot of things have changed.

I spent 3 months in 2009 working with impoverished children in a small school on the mountainside in Honduras.  Many of these children walk over 2 hours just to go to school, on an empty stomach, with the only meal they receive that day being the lunch of rice and beans that the school provides.  So, needless to say, my view on what hunger is, has changed.

My views on a lot of things have changed.  I no longer stand in my closet and say “I have nothing to wear.”   I think twice about the unnecessary spending on things like pedicures, greeting cards and dinners out.  I still buy these things, but less often, and they seem more of a treat this way.

When I am standing at the bus stop after a long day of work, I am thankful that I have transportation, even if it is running a bit late. I have more patience.  We are so used to having everything we want, right now, and people get upset when they have to wait in line at the grocery store or at the bank.  I try to remember we are lucky to have those services, and sometimes I throw on my running shoes and run home instead of taking transit.  If the kids can walk 2 hours each way to and from school, then surely, I can jog the 50 minutes it takes to get home.

After seeing the lack of recycling facilities in Honduras, and millions of plastic bottles just thrown in the ditch along the side of a road, I am more conscious of my own plastic usage.  I am adamant about recycling at home, using my cloth shopping bags, travel mug and reusable Tupperware as opposed to plastic wrap whenever possible.

I try to donate old shoes and clothing to local organizations, I have increased my charitable spending budget, and I actively try to raise funds to help support projects like the one I worked at.  It’s not easy, but it does make a difference, however small it may be.