Another Word for Slums
From continent to continent and from country to country, whether they are called barrios, chawls, shantytowns, ghettos, or favelas, another word for slums are urban areas where the impoverished reside. While the geopolitical culture of slum areas may differ, the social context is often quite similar.
Below is an overview of the world of slums and the people who live in them.
Our flight had been descending through the dark, moonless night over the Southern Caribbean. During an earlier conversation, the gentleman seated next to me had already ascertained that this was my first trip to Caracas. As the plane banked slightly, he directed my attention toward the window, adding, “You need to see this.”
I was awestruck at the sight of thousands of brilliant, shining stars suspended in the blackness. I realized that my seatmate had been waiting for this moment to break the news that what I thought were stars were not.
“Everyone arriving here for the first time thinks they are stars,” he told me. “What you see are the lights from the barrios.”
“Barrios?”
“Yes, barrios. Many of the slums of Caracas are built on the mountainsides. They have no electricity, so they ‘steal’ it by tapping into the electric lines, then running a wire to power a single bulb at their front doorway for security at night. You will see the slums with your own eyes in the morning. They will not be remotely like the field of stars you thought you were viewing.”
Below is an overview of the world of slums and the people who live in them.
Our flight had been descending through the dark, moonless night over the Southern Caribbean. During an earlier conversation, the gentleman seated next to me had already ascertained that this was my first trip to Caracas. As the plane banked slightly, he directed my attention toward the window, adding, “You need to see this.”
“Everyone arriving here for the first time thinks they are stars,” he told me. “What you see are the lights from the barrios.”
“Barrios?”
“Yes, barrios. Many of the slums of Caracas are built on the mountainsides. They have no electricity, so they ‘steal’ it by tapping into the electric lines, then running a wire to power a single bulb at their front doorway for security at night. You will see the slums with your own eyes in the morning. They will not be remotely like the field of stars you thought you were viewing.”
Comments
Post a Comment