Have you ever lived in/visited a Third World Country?
 

Since I assume most of us here in the technodrome forums are in well developed nations, we must be foreign to the life experienced by many in Third World Nations.

That being said, I was interested in hearing the stories of those who have either visited or lived in Third World Countries. What was it like? How did you feel about it? Would you ever try the experience again?

I haven't visited a single country to begin with. I've never left the U.S.

I think the correct term is Majority World Country.

No, I haven't lived in nor visited a Majority World Country.

Well, then the answer is surely "yes" to the question! :P:D

(I know, tongue in check, but seriously, some of the rights Americans don't have, or are being threatened to be taken away by the cheeto faced ferret wearing sh!tgibbon put you back even further, let alone not having rights, such as paid maternity leave and guaranteed minimum vacation time, that almost the entire rest of the world have)

Is Turkey one?

Not in the original definition.

Fun Fact: the term "Third World" originally arose during the Cold War to refer to countries that were not part of the NATO Alliance nor the Communist Bloc, although now it has come to be used to denote whether a country is seen as "developed" or not

I have been to Mexico as a young child for a family reunion but none since then

That's what I meant. It made countries like Austria, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia parts of the third world.

Is Russia one nowadays, I wonder?

I imagine thats the case for many poor people in the country today since Russia is no longer a part of the Communist bloc in the same way as it was during the Cold War when these terms were made.

However, that being said, Russia is quite powerful.

Can't say it about country's economy.

El Salvador used to be a beautiful place, one I would’ve loved to spend the rest of my life in. Things used to be calm, and people lived relatively peaceful lives.
But things change.
Now all the natural beauty’s starting to fade away, crime runs rampant, and more people than ever are living in poverty. People used to work the land and cultivate it, now they destroy it, leaving different species of plants and animals extinct. You can’t go out at night because you’ll get mugged or worse. My grandmother was telling us that they found a couple with their heads cut off and thrown in a creek a couple weeks ago. And because of the change from Colónes to US dollars, the economy has suffered. Couple that with corrupt government officials officials and a poor health system, and you have a smorgasbord of being ****ed.

The US may have its share of issues, but it’s nowhere near as bad as that.

I spent a week in Costa Rica a few years ago.
The food was glorious, the weather was amazing, the people I met were fanfreakin'tastic.

But, the difference between the Haves and Have-Nots was very very sobering.
We stayed at this McMansion that was just a gross example of conspicuous consumption.

So while I'm chomping at the bit to go back, I'll be looking for a less ostentatious lodging situation.

The Gallo Pinto alone would be worth it.

Me personally, I lived most of my life in Pakistan, a third world country before moving overseas 8 years ago into a more developed nation so I have experienced both sides of the world, and they're very different.

Although technology is rampant even in the Third World, with the wealthy there buying the latest iphones and what not, there is still poverty there on a scale that is simply unimaginable to people in the developed world, with street children and slums numbering in the millions. It is a stark contrast to the few wealthy people owning mansions stretching hundreds of acres. It truly is a dog-eat-dog world where is there is no guarantee of even the most basic needs of survival.

Violence and corruption is also a problem, with riots of some sort happening daily and almost being the sole focus in the country's news. Lack of government enforcement, leads to gang wars and petty crimes in the streets, leading many to hide in their homes more often than not in fear of being robbed or even killed. My own grandmother,who is now moved overseas to live with me and the rest of the family, was once held on gunpoint and robbed mere weeks before travelling, losing all of her jewelry but luckily escaping with her life.

That being said, not everything is bad. Firstly, there is a sense of being close to Family Unit due to the different culture. The Families are extremely large and extended, with a strong sense of unity as blood, faith and collectivism all keep even distant cousins close in touch, and even living among each other in many cases in an almost sort of tribal way.

There is also a sense of happiness that comes with having experienced extreme hardship. Not happiness in the sense of addictive euphoria or pleasurable excitement, but rather a peace of mind and lack of boredom which is often lost when someone indulges themselves in comfort. I guess its really true that poverty may be painful and hard, but poor people tend to view their lives as more meaningful and ideologically significant.

https://www.newyorker.com/business/c...aningful-lives

At least Costa Rica didn't suffer so much from all wars and military coups affecting a lot of other Latin American countries.

Having a robust economy helps with that sort of thing.

I spent two weeks in Tunisia when I was a kid. It was pretty poor and was full of people selling stuff they found on the ground and such to foreign tourists. Kids also begged foreign tourists for money. Also, so many dirt cheap souvenirs me and my family bought there.

Tunisia made me feel like I lived in the wealthiest country in the world.