I really struggled with this post and I’d love your feedback. I like to think I’m a responsible traveler. I try to travel unobtrusively and experience people and places without feeling in exploiting or treating people in a way I wouldn’t be treated. Yesterday while on a visit to Ream

National forest the group made a stop in a small village and we visited a local school. Of course the kids were adorable and like children everywhere animated and curious about us as we were them. There were lots of photo opportunities and then they sang a song for us. As the group snapped picture after picture I couldn’t help thinking that instead of engaging in their learning process or really helping the school we were essentially treating these kids like they were tourist attractions. Would I want my kids to have everyday a group of rich (in comparison) tourists watch my kids paraded in front of people like they were another roadside attraction. I sort of reconciled myself to it thinking well I’m sure the school is getting some money directly for the visit and they can buy supplies or pay the teacher a better salary . When I asked our guide what the arrangement was he said the school only gets what we give the teacher personally. So NCL and the tour company makes serious money parading these kids like trained performers but don’t share a penny with the school or kids? . I got very depressed thinking how I was impacting these kids and was I exploiting them

like the tour company and the cruise line. Am I being responsible to these kids and their parents to help improve their education and their future or am I just watching a show. I gave a big donation to the teacher but resolved this would be last trip to a situation like this and going forward I’ll find a way to donate directly to educational charities that support these type of schools and their mission and not to further enrich NCL and their tour partners. Maybe I’m overreacting..I’d like to hear your thoughts. They were so alive and eager I hope I can find suitable ways to help support their educational goals and future. Maybe I’m just being ridiculous but I

Kept thinking what if these were my kids