The Blue Sweater Post 1

 The moment I opened up this book, I felt attached to it. I have always had a huge heart for people in developing countries and want to pursue a nonprofit to help the underprivileged at some point in my life. Opening this book inspired me. I wanted to know what the importance was of the blue sweater and how it could hold so much value to give it the title of a book that had so much substance and depth. "In our neighborhood in Virginia in the 1970s, new clothing was a once or twice a year event." This simple statement made me realize the value of that blue sweater. The people here, they grow attached to the things close to them because they have so little. Everyday, the middle and upperclass Americans walk around with their wallets and typically will buy something they are interested in without hesitation in regards to money. To the people in Africa, shopping is more than a privilege, it is a means of warmth and survival. That blue sweater provided comfort and stability to Novogratz. It was more than just a piece of clothing. Furthermore, when she fast forwards to her 25 year old self, she reunites with that blue sweater on a young boy and says: "the abandoned, but beloved blue sweater." This blue sweater represents the journey of living in Africa. It is a symbol of the abandonment, the hardships, the poverty, and the pain endured throughout an ungoverned, underprivileged life, and yet the connection and bond one feels with their culture and where they came from. These little things we don't really think about is why this book is so powerful. The book traces her occupations and endeavors in different parts of Africa, how she was treated, how she grew, and how she impacted others' lives along the way. The beginning of the book focuses on the socioeconomic gap and the difference in lifestyle and character between the two. Reading this book has provided me knowledge and a clearer outlook on quality of life in Africa from a first-hand prospective. I cannot wait to read more about the challenges and successes of her hard work. I am looking forward to tracing her steps and watching her change her perspective about her surroundings and the way the world works beyond her underlying comfort in the states.