Here in rural Isaan, poverty is on display everywhere you look.
The average per capita is less than US $2,000 per year.
This means many families do without and the kids do without shoes.
I am amazed how tough these very young Isaan kids are.
They can run around in the toughest rock filled dirt, jump and stomp about in the fields with no shoes at all.
They can run down the roads, climb trees and play all day with no shoes.
Their feet are as tough as nails, from being outside with no shoes on.
I think when kids are young, they have no idea they are poor.
They are being fed and taken care of, have lots of playtime outdoors, sans shoes.
For some reason, it is hard for me to see and accept this.
I suspect growing up this way will inevitably prepare them for working their tails off as manual field workers here (farmers).
Still sad to see.