Upon arriving at CrossRoads we hastily made our way up into a simulation room, where it was hot, had dim lighting, and had no windows to recieved sunlight. The only light source we had was from a few lights from the ceiling. Then, we were told about the simulation. 
We weren't expecting much, and the way the instructor explained the simulation was made it sound fun and entertaining. In reality, it wasn't it was far from it. It was tiring and completely draining. We had to simulate what it was like being deep in poverty in the slums, and we had to fold paper bags made of newspaper. Then, we had to get our bundles of ten and try to sell them to a store keeper. These store keepers were not kind people, and if even one slight mistake was made they would rip all ten of our bags. It might not mean much for the store keepers, but it was hard for the families. I was in a group with Luana, Leon, Leo, Chi Lok, and Wesley, and we were a "family." In this group we would fold paper bags together and sell them together. The challenege was, if we did not match the amount of money we needed before the day (twenty-minute session) ended, we would be sent "Under the Bridge". "Under the Bridge" is where loan sharks would lend the people money, but then they have to work even harder with much harsher standards and conditions. The ultimate goal though was to make enough money to send one "child" to school. That is everyone's dream in the slums, because attending school allows someone to get a job and hopefully escape from poverty.
We weren't expecting much, and the way the instructor explained the simulation was made it sound fun and entertaining. In reality, it wasn't it was far from it. It was tiring and completely draining. We had to simulate what it was like being deep in poverty in the slums, and we had to fold paper bags made of newspaper. Then, we had to get our bundles of ten and try to sell them to a store keeper. These store keepers were not kind people, and if even one slight mistake was made they would rip all ten of our bags. It might not mean much for the store keepers, but it was hard for the families. I was in a group with Luana, Leon, Leo, Chi Lok, and Wesley, and we were a "family." In this group we would fold paper bags together and sell them together. The challenege was, if we did not match the amount of money we needed before the day (twenty-minute session) ended, we would be sent "Under the Bridge". "Under the Bridge" is where loan sharks would lend the people money, but then they have to work even harder with much harsher standards and conditions. The ultimate goal though was to make enough money to send one "child" to school. That is everyone's dream in the slums, because attending school allows someone to get a job and hopefully escape from poverty.
I learned a lot from this simulation. I have experienced poverty and the desperation for money. I did it for a hour, for people in the slums this is a lifestyle. I felt horrible for everybody in the poverty, and then we learned that once someone is caught in the net of poverty it is EXTREMELY difficult to escape from it. This experience was life-changing.
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