Just a quick post this week about the last thing I did this week which was take soup to the homeless or travellers in the city centre. I have of course talked about this before and did a whole video on it, but it really is incredible and the feeling you get from it is simply wonderful!
I wanted to video it but it was raining so there wouldn't have been much, so I'll try again in a couple of weeks. Four of us went to today and the experience itself was completely different. I felt happy and comfortable in what I was doing this time, as this time I obviously know what I'm doing and where I was at each stop. Yes, I was slightly scared again at the beginning because the first stop we do is normally where there are most people. They all come at you at once, talking away and calling things but it's mostly friendly and they wouldn't do anything to hurt you. If someone did, quite often someone will actually defend you. For example I quite often get comments made about my eyes and where I'm from, but it's natural curiousity and they don't have that kind of exposure to Westerners. You just have to remember that they are just people at the end of the day, and as my friend said they have the same dreams and hopes as any other person, the only difference is their lifestyle and choices. When face to face with the people on the street it is very surreal though, and it does leave you pondering. It makes you grateful for your circumstances and happy for yourself and your life choices. It does however also make you wonder what happened for people to go from being on the same track as you (ie. in school and maybe living in a comfortable life) to where they are now. Today reminded me of when I was on the coach back from Assiss (near Sao Paulo) back in October when we were sat opposite a young family travelling from the north of Brazil to Santa Catarina in the south. There were two parents and two boys of five and seven years of age. The mother was exactly the same age as me at the time. Things like this are so surreal, and it's so interesting how each individual works their circumstances and how the environment of each person shapes them as a person. We can all start the same or be on a similar track, but it only takes one decision to alter it. Whether it's drugs, politics, family, whatever! It certainly makes you grateful for what you have, your own environment and the people you surround yourself with.
Being able to spend an hour or longer of my Sunday evening giving food to people is an extremely rewarding experience, but what makes me sad about doing it is some of the reactions you get. One man tonight for example told us all about his dreams of opening up a Jazz/Blues bar, the hippest place in town and he told us about his guitar too. He then proceeded to tell us that we had saved his life. This made me feel really uncomfortable. I think because it suddenly felt like a pressure had been put on us. But in another way it just made you feel sad at the lack of hope. "You've saved my life tonight with this food", what a sad way of thinking! I still can't decide if it's just because I can easily buy food and shelter when I want, but I didn't want to join in with his conversation because I felt uncomfortable in engaging with him. Everyone else who comes to get food says thank you and leaves. If they stay to talk it's because they want to tell you something positive or they want a solution.
We're happy to do this one kind thing to help out, there's no need to put a dampener on things. Have some faith!!
Urgh, maybe I'm saying this because I come from a place where I can be hopeful about other things, but some positivity (and action) is all it takes for a person to get off the street. It's frustrating to see, but help is perfectly within reach if they want it.
Overall it is an experience, most definitely worth trying because it is eye-opening and also a small thrill. There was one incident tonight when my landlady did say to my friend Nádia and I to stay in the car because she wasn't too sure about a group of people huddled on the street corner who were obviously high on drugs at that time. It's certainly nothing I've ever experienced before.
And yet they are just people! The last time I went in August a couple who we gave soup to pushed the truck with me to start it up again before we went on to the next stop. They could've been anyone!
Plus, they all have such stories to tell. They come from near and far. Tonight the topic of discussion were some rather good-looking guys from Uruguay. But then others come from Argentina, the favelas (slums) on the hills and then some are drug users with the munchies.
Anyway, I know I'm talking a bit deliriously now, it's midnight but always feels later after an emotional ride like tonight. To sum up though: it's such a humbling experience and instills hope in yourself and your own personal problems. Like I'm worried I don't have a plan for after university, but after tonight I'm just happy that I at least have food, bedding, four walls and the internet to at least give me some leads on it. :)
Giving back is the best kind of medicine, and when in doubt about yourself there's nothing more healing than the satisfaction of selflessly helping another to make you feel great again. :)
(I now have Bob Marley in my head, but it's so true: "let's get together and feel alright!").
Beijinhos! xxx
I wanted to video it but it was raining so there wouldn't have been much, so I'll try again in a couple of weeks. Four of us went to today and the experience itself was completely different. I felt happy and comfortable in what I was doing this time, as this time I obviously know what I'm doing and where I was at each stop. Yes, I was slightly scared again at the beginning because the first stop we do is normally where there are most people. They all come at you at once, talking away and calling things but it's mostly friendly and they wouldn't do anything to hurt you. If someone did, quite often someone will actually defend you. For example I quite often get comments made about my eyes and where I'm from, but it's natural curiousity and they don't have that kind of exposure to Westerners. You just have to remember that they are just people at the end of the day, and as my friend said they have the same dreams and hopes as any other person, the only difference is their lifestyle and choices. When face to face with the people on the street it is very surreal though, and it does leave you pondering. It makes you grateful for your circumstances and happy for yourself and your life choices. It does however also make you wonder what happened for people to go from being on the same track as you (ie. in school and maybe living in a comfortable life) to where they are now. Today reminded me of when I was on the coach back from Assiss (near Sao Paulo) back in October when we were sat opposite a young family travelling from the north of Brazil to Santa Catarina in the south. There were two parents and two boys of five and seven years of age. The mother was exactly the same age as me at the time. Things like this are so surreal, and it's so interesting how each individual works their circumstances and how the environment of each person shapes them as a person. We can all start the same or be on a similar track, but it only takes one decision to alter it. Whether it's drugs, politics, family, whatever! It certainly makes you grateful for what you have, your own environment and the people you surround yourself with.
Being able to spend an hour or longer of my Sunday evening giving food to people is an extremely rewarding experience, but what makes me sad about doing it is some of the reactions you get. One man tonight for example told us all about his dreams of opening up a Jazz/Blues bar, the hippest place in town and he told us about his guitar too. He then proceeded to tell us that we had saved his life. This made me feel really uncomfortable. I think because it suddenly felt like a pressure had been put on us. But in another way it just made you feel sad at the lack of hope. "You've saved my life tonight with this food", what a sad way of thinking! I still can't decide if it's just because I can easily buy food and shelter when I want, but I didn't want to join in with his conversation because I felt uncomfortable in engaging with him. Everyone else who comes to get food says thank you and leaves. If they stay to talk it's because they want to tell you something positive or they want a solution.
We're happy to do this one kind thing to help out, there's no need to put a dampener on things. Have some faith!!
Urgh, maybe I'm saying this because I come from a place where I can be hopeful about other things, but some positivity (and action) is all it takes for a person to get off the street. It's frustrating to see, but help is perfectly within reach if they want it.
Overall it is an experience, most definitely worth trying because it is eye-opening and also a small thrill. There was one incident tonight when my landlady did say to my friend Nádia and I to stay in the car because she wasn't too sure about a group of people huddled on the street corner who were obviously high on drugs at that time. It's certainly nothing I've ever experienced before.
And yet they are just people! The last time I went in August a couple who we gave soup to pushed the truck with me to start it up again before we went on to the next stop. They could've been anyone!
Plus, they all have such stories to tell. They come from near and far. Tonight the topic of discussion were some rather good-looking guys from Uruguay. But then others come from Argentina, the favelas (slums) on the hills and then some are drug users with the munchies.
Anyway, I know I'm talking a bit deliriously now, it's midnight but always feels later after an emotional ride like tonight. To sum up though: it's such a humbling experience and instills hope in yourself and your own personal problems. Like I'm worried I don't have a plan for after university, but after tonight I'm just happy that I at least have food, bedding, four walls and the internet to at least give me some leads on it. :)
Giving back is the best kind of medicine, and when in doubt about yourself there's nothing more healing than the satisfaction of selflessly helping another to make you feel great again. :)
(I now have Bob Marley in my head, but it's so true: "let's get together and feel alright!").
Beijinhos! xxx