One of these days someone mentioned again that Venezuela is a third world country. Well, I have to admit that I have seen just such a small part of it that most of the time time I am totally ignorant to the fact. I mean, what is the definition of a third world country? Poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, corruption...what else. Well, the fact of the matter is that I meet only more or less well off people. I hardly see any of the poverty. The people I hang out with are all well educated and (surprisingly) many speak excellent English. There are not too many beggars in the streets and the criminalty that people keep talking about has not presented its ugly face sofar. Don´t get me wrong. I know that the criminalty exists and poverty and illiteracy etc. but I really am not confronted with this reality every day. It is not like I have to pass begging children in the streets or close my eyes from the misery around. Sometimes I feel bad about the fact that I know so little about the reality here. But there is no way that I could just go and venture out in the neigborhood and start talking to the people in the street.

During the Aiesec seminar in Caracas I took part in a discussion on why Venezuela, with all its oil and natural resources, is a third world country. Some think the reason is in the culture, or the mentality of the masses. Venezuela is a country where you don't have to fight for survu¡val. It is warm and there is enough food and space for everybody, I´ve been told. This is why people simply don't feel the need to be ambitious, to look for ways of improving their lives.

I can't help but remember reading what would happen the global ecology if everybody would own a car etc. In some ways I think that it is impossible for everybody to have the standars of living that we have in the so called western world. But then again, here I live very much in the same fashion as I have lived in Europe and in the States. My standard of living is on the same level as it has always been. So what am I learning about living in third world country? Well, sofar I have learned that it is possible to maintain a good standard of life here and to function more or less normally. But then again, I haven't been confronted with any of the criminalty or corruption and I know that many people are frustrated about that.

So, little by little I am creating my picture of what Venezuela is. Some days I feel at home, some days I feel that I know so very little about my surroundings. Some days I feel happy here and some days I feel frustrated cause I still haven't figured out the culture and I still have false expectations. And the I am disappointed when things don´t work out the way I have expected. And I blame myself cause I should understand by now that it is impossible to plan anything here and one has to be prepared for anything etc. As foreigner - as someone who still does not understand the logic of the Venezuelan way of life. Basta.