What is "the box' that Ishmael doesn't know how to operate? What does that tell you about how his life is much different from your life?

"The box" is an elevator. Ishmael's ognorance of this type of machinery speaks to the lack of technology and modern conveniences that we takefor granted.

I hesitantly walked into the congested box and the boys laughed at me, as I stood there unaware that I had to press the button for the box to start moving. I had never been in a box like this before. Where was it taking us? A boy in a blue shirt squeezed his way past me and pressed the number 5 button. It lit up, and the box closed on us. I looked about me and saw that everyone was calm, so I knew that there was no need to worry. The box began to move up, fast.