As much as I am passionate about roaming in airports and cruise ports and train stations, enjoying and wondering the dynamics of the travelers, there are a few things that for sure can take you out of your comfort zone.
Although I love traveling alone, mostly for my last minute change of mind, today I felt a little vulnerable being alone and the target for beggars in a European Train Station,
This lady beggar was probably between 55 or 60 years old perhaps, I could not tell her ethnicity, I was seating in front of Juice Bar restaurant, the train station was very cold, so I sat cozily under the heaters, eating a delicious and warm sandwich, after 2 bites, this lady approached begging for a piece of bread, to me and to the other group of people eating right beside me. she would not move and kept asking for a piece of bread, she kept saying “a piece of bread please, please ” needless to say I couldn’t swallow any more bites, Also due to the fact that her finger pointing my sandwich was less than an inch away from it, I decided to offer her the whole bread, Poor lady I thought, maybe she hasnt eat in days, so I lifted my delicious long sandwich and offered to her, she looked at it, and to my surprise she doesn’t accept it and say: is that fish?
I am not joking,
I go no, just take it, is not fish.
She put her fingers on it and would not take my bloody sandwich!!
A few minutes go by, sandwich in hand and lady keep begging and saying she wanted fish and not accepting it.
The girl in next table, let’s call her “kind lady” starts to talk to her, despite all her friends telling her not to,
So this kind lady tells her, there is no fish sandwich, beggar insisted, yes yes fish sandwich. Kind lady grabs her purse, stand up and say “I will buy you the sandwich” and then the moment of truth, the beggar said, no no I’ll buy it, give me one euro please, please!
By then I have already left the sandwich. Grab my bags and started walking away.
I felt deceived, angry, aggravated and what is worse hungry!
How can we read through people that reach out for help?
How do we know if they are really hungry?
Aren’t we supposed to help the needy?
My journey in the station and interaction with people wanting money did not finish there, all this while you hear loudly in the speakers “be aware of pickpockets”. I manage to continue my train journey back to my next hotel.
I totally believe that we must work to earn every euro/dollar, I gladly help someone selling flowers or water because at least they are making the effort instead of just extending a hand, and the truth is that I work and sweat every dime I earn.
I know this is not a singular story perhaps happens to you all the time, and by any means, this will stop me from keep traveling,
I just can’t stop wondering How should I react next time?
are stories like these, the reason why most people just ignored them?
What would you do?
Thanks for allowing me in your Inbox
Cessy Meacham CTIE
Embrace your F8 :
Family, Faith, Friends, Fitness
Fund/GiveBack, Food, Fun, Fulfillment
(*F8 is a Lifestyle and a Journey, the key to happiness is to balance all 8 elements: Family-Faith-Friends-Fitness-Fund/Give-Back-Food-Fun-Fulfillment)
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