After watching the documentary God Grew Tired of Us, I have really realized how much of a material world we live in and how everything surrounding us goes along with this materialistic attitude. We are born to be consumers and have learned to always want and need the newest or most expensive car, house, cell phone, or even clothes. Such material objects make us who we are and also give us a feeling of self acceptance in society. All this materialism also comes in the western culture that we live in, compared to such developing countries where materialism is very small to none existent, where we always live in a constant cycle of needing new then throwing away and getting new again.

In the film, the Lost Boys came to the United States from Africa and upon arrival, they were amazed of the way everything was so developed and they amount of products readily available for purchase. Even their amazement upon seeing and using an escalator was huge. Everything was new, nothing was close to being the same, the Lost Boys had ever even seen a supermarket or grocery store before and where amazed at the quality and quantity of food and products they sold. Stuff like broccoli and cucumbers were new and they had no idea how to eat them or what they tasted like. A big thing that the Lost Boys came across was a donut and they where in shock of what it really was. I remember one of the boys who started saying that the sprinkles resembled beans and was amazed after trying them because they tasted nothing like beans, plus they had never seen such foods in Africa.

The Lost Boys had a very interesting fascination for america which was quickly changed after they learned that people are not as welcoming and open as they thought they would be. Especially that in Africa, you could walk into someones house and they were welcoming and would offer you food or ask if you were lost and offer help, were as in America, people would call the police if you walked into someones house and are not welcoming to the idea of helping strangers out. The Lost Boys found this difficult since many people gave them weird looks and often tried to avoid them because they are different, thus making it harder for the Lost Boys to adapt and become social with others.

After some time in america, the Lost Boys started to loose their desire for all the material objects that surrounded them and quickly realized what they missed the most and wanted the most; their families back home in Africa. I find it very interesting that after such desire and interest in all the new ways of western culture, they quickly resort back to what they are used to and love the most. They start to feel really lonely because they are used to living with all of their family and friends and now they live on such a fixed schedule where they don’t even see each other much and feel isolated.

Overall, this movie has really made me realize how materialist we are, even in Canada where we are dominated by this western culture also. It really plays a role into our everyday lives even if we don’t think it does. Everyone has a desire for the newest or to have the best all the time and it takes over the things we should focus on more such as our family and friends and not make our relationships with our family and friends so dependent on what material objects we have. I really say this, because I see how important such things are now and how we really push them off for our material world we live in.