Beggars

Beggars
2007.01.20 1:07

In 1991, in Hannover Station I was asked from a young guy to help him. He just told me that I could help him. I said OK, and asked him what you want me to help. He said it's one coin -one dollar equivalent. I was willing to help him.
The same year in downtown Dublin, I was asked from a guy when I was taking a breakfast that I could give him a pound. We could buy today's soup in one pound and that might be what he wanted. I remember I gave him 50 shillings, knowing he can't buy a soup.
At the edge of the small bridge over the river Liffee, a woman was raising the board that reads 'I need to build a house, please help.' Of course I ignored, thinking who cares whether she can build a house by donations on the street. It's her responsibility, please work and earn money.
In the Philippines in Baguio on the each side of the pass from the church down to the downtown, many beggars were begging. They were just sitting. They seemed to have no energy left to ask one of us to help. Just before leaving the Philippines, in central Manila Cubao, one woman asked me to give her money. I gave her all coins. Coins will not be in use outside the country. She might have noticed that I would leave the country soon since I carried a big bag with my love.
In Millan a middle age guy was wandering before the ticket vendor for subway. The vendor was a bit different from the machine I used in other cities - we can't use banknote, therefore no change can be done. A guy usually have his coins for those vendors and he willingly put his coins into the vendor. He demands the traffic fee plus tips to him. I was about to give him 50000 lira - 50 bucks. He was amazed and gazed at me with groaning voice and declined to accept it. I gave him 1000 lira instead. He said 'gracie, gracie' This was the first Italian word fo me to hear, which was not bad at all.
In Los Angeles, 1986, one young woman asked me to exchange her 1 dollar banknote before the coin locker, explaing she needs 25 cents. I happened to have 4 quaters, so I just showed her 4 coins. She took one from my palm and used it without saying anything.