Saigon Tai Tai

My cousin told me, the abject poor abounds in Vietnam. I didn’t believe her.  Yes, some stay in squalid huts, a single room for a family, push carts and labour for a few dong. But in each hut there is running water, a colour TV and children going to school.  I was adamant (because i had seen abject poverty in other Southeast Asian countries and they truly had nothing).

But for the past few months i battled cats digging in my trash and tearing apart the plastic bags that held these treasures. It was ok, trying to stuff back my own mucky trash into a new bag each time (otherwise the garbage collectors refuse to dispose of my garbage).

But i had had enough after a month. I decided to place the garbage bags in a closed bin. Then the neighbours pointed out – these bins will most certainly be stolen. It is only now, after another month that i have realised its not cats! People are helping themselves to my garbage.

Is there something i throw that can still be of value? How much do i consume or rather not consume that other people seem to want so much of? Have i gotten so used to consuming that i have forgotten how much i discard that others could use? What wealth and what desperation…. Today they took away a leaking tap we had replaced…they even take the plastic bags that carry my goods!

PS: I just wish i could set up shop instead rather than have to repack my garbage each time.