Meeting Maung-Maung

I believe the theme of "Meeting Maung-Maung" is recognizing one's own privilege. Throughout the story, Iyer highlights privileges for the reader. For example, by writing "...two hundred fifty kyats [US$30]", Iyer quantifies the level of privilege for a teacher in the United States (20). He compares a small salary of a teacher in Burma to a salary in the United States, demonstrating the hardships of living in Maung-Maung's country and the benefits of living in America. Also, Maung-Maung is  grateful for the ability to attend university. He sacrifices his relationship with his family, cutting ties for a year, to continue his studies. His struggles and goal to receive a "Further Certificate", emphasize not only Iyer's privilege, but also the readers' privilege to have access to education.

I enjoyed the line "Maung-Maung did nothing to dispel these suspicions as he pedaled the trishaw off the main street and we began to pass through dirty alleyways and down narrow lanes of run-down shacks...[s]miling proudly, he...asked me to enter [his hut]" (21). The line highlights how Maung-Maung is never ungrateful for what he has, despite all the hardships he's been through. Instead of complaining about his situation or drinking away his sorrows, he only wants to spread kindness and help tourists. Another line that I enjoyed is when Maung-Maung describes his ability to be independent. He says, "'I have hand. I have head. I have legs...I wish to stand on my own legs'" (23). This line demonstrates how hard he has worked to learn English, and his determination to overcome the barriers of a life of poverty, expanding his education.