Yay... 3 posts in a row.
So i finished watching Dragonball GT a few days ago... it was kinda sad coz we've been following goku's adventure since he was a lil' kid to the point where he's a great great grandfather. wish there was something more after.
So today... was interesting. started off with me doing nothing and turned into a very hectic day. Basically, woke up, was too late to go to school to check on how i did for my exams. Started watching American Pie 2 while eating lunch when Nim calls and tells me about a one dollar milkshake. That led to Nimalan buying lunch then over to his house supposedly watching a movie but ending up watching 1.7 episodes of Heroes.
After, I had plans to hang out with some of my church friends from 5 to about 11. Went to church, drove my pastor's car which was kool! haha... not just the driving, but the fact that he trusted me with his car...and people in it. So drove to the TnT plaza to get something to eat for dinner. Ate. Then we headed off downtown for a street walk.
My pastor basically knew a guy who knew the downtown streets pretty well coz he'd experienced that type of life before. To make things easier, his name was Richard.
So what he did was he first sat with us at a park telling us a general overview of how life is like surviving downtown while homeless and it opened my eyes a lot. Just the dangers that are present in all areas of downtown. We all walk around probably around the Eaton Centre not knowing that nearby there are hookers, prostitutes, male prostitutes hanging around selling their bodies to people who could be our parent's colleagues or our neighbours. We may know that they're there, but we may not always remember or be aware of it and merely brush it off. What we don't see can't hurt us. Richard took us around the gay community, where the boy hookers were and I say boy coz they are usually aged around 14-17. any older and ur considered old. We had to walk around and it was a weird experience for the guys especially coz u feel and sometimes see that you're being checked out. You have guys staring at you and it just puts one into the shoes of a female in the heterosexual world. Guys hanging around checking out girls.
The night was just an experience that you had to be there for and not really hear about.
Unfortunately we just had the light shortened "tour". Regular walks are about 5 hours long. We had... maybe four. It was fun nonetheless. There are also some where you actually have to stay over night with nothing but a toothbrush and the change in your pocket. You have to panhandle and go to the salvation army so you get to experience what it's like being homeless. You really have to swollow your pride and dignity. I couldn't even summon the courage to ask for a sandwich from a truck that gave sandwiches to homeless people for free. I was suppose to ask what organization they came from but i chickened out. I wouldn't survive on the streets for 2 days. It honestly opened my eyes to a world that we visit maybe every few weeks. Giving change to panhandlers isn't always a good thing. We have to think about what our actions are doing for them. An example that richard gave us was giving a homeless person 1000 dollars. They could go to a club and spend most of it on alcohol to celebrate and die from it. Giving too much can kill them. Weird, but true. People that we pass on the streets could be struggling to not just get into university or find a good job, but to survive. Finding smart sleeping locations that help protect them from other panhandlers, gangs, or just any stranger raping them or taking all their stuff. Anyways, i'm rambling. I loved today.
So i finished watching Dragonball GT a few days ago... it was kinda sad coz we've been following goku's adventure since he was a lil' kid to the point where he's a great great grandfather. wish there was something more after.
So today... was interesting. started off with me doing nothing and turned into a very hectic day. Basically, woke up, was too late to go to school to check on how i did for my exams. Started watching American Pie 2 while eating lunch when Nim calls and tells me about a one dollar milkshake. That led to Nimalan buying lunch then over to his house supposedly watching a movie but ending up watching 1.7 episodes of Heroes.
After, I had plans to hang out with some of my church friends from 5 to about 11. Went to church, drove my pastor's car which was kool! haha... not just the driving, but the fact that he trusted me with his car...and people in it. So drove to the TnT plaza to get something to eat for dinner. Ate. Then we headed off downtown for a street walk.
My pastor basically knew a guy who knew the downtown streets pretty well coz he'd experienced that type of life before. To make things easier, his name was Richard.
So what he did was he first sat with us at a park telling us a general overview of how life is like surviving downtown while homeless and it opened my eyes a lot. Just the dangers that are present in all areas of downtown. We all walk around probably around the Eaton Centre not knowing that nearby there are hookers, prostitutes, male prostitutes hanging around selling their bodies to people who could be our parent's colleagues or our neighbours. We may know that they're there, but we may not always remember or be aware of it and merely brush it off. What we don't see can't hurt us. Richard took us around the gay community, where the boy hookers were and I say boy coz they are usually aged around 14-17. any older and ur considered old. We had to walk around and it was a weird experience for the guys especially coz u feel and sometimes see that you're being checked out. You have guys staring at you and it just puts one into the shoes of a female in the heterosexual world. Guys hanging around checking out girls.
The night was just an experience that you had to be there for and not really hear about.
Unfortunately we just had the light shortened "tour". Regular walks are about 5 hours long. We had... maybe four. It was fun nonetheless. There are also some where you actually have to stay over night with nothing but a toothbrush and the change in your pocket. You have to panhandle and go to the salvation army so you get to experience what it's like being homeless. You really have to swollow your pride and dignity. I couldn't even summon the courage to ask for a sandwich from a truck that gave sandwiches to homeless people for free. I was suppose to ask what organization they came from but i chickened out. I wouldn't survive on the streets for 2 days. It honestly opened my eyes to a world that we visit maybe every few weeks. Giving change to panhandlers isn't always a good thing. We have to think about what our actions are doing for them. An example that richard gave us was giving a homeless person 1000 dollars. They could go to a club and spend most of it on alcohol to celebrate and die from it. Giving too much can kill them. Weird, but true. People that we pass on the streets could be struggling to not just get into university or find a good job, but to survive. Finding smart sleeping locations that help protect them from other panhandlers, gangs, or just any stranger raping them or taking all their stuff. Anyways, i'm rambling. I loved today.
1 comment:
Guess downtown will never be the same again
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