Food for Thought.
Suddenly inspired to blog .. inspired to share my thoughts to help spread the message .
Just finished helping Sunshine with her CNY groceries shopping when it suddenly dawned upon me that we were buying quite a fair bit of titbits .. without much of a hesitation ..
The festive mood was in the air no doubt with the depression looming .. but everyone still had to spend.
I suddenly remembered the beggar I met on the streets of Hongkong last week. It was a cold winter afternoon and it was my last day in Hongkong.This lone figure sitting in the middle of the roads caught my eye. He was slouched in a bundle and it wasnt difficult to see the begging cup nearby.
I hesitated over giving money .. as stories of how they should go work and earn their own keeps .. and how they resorted to tricks to evoke our sympathy. But the sight was still unbearable.
I decided that this man was worth helping .. as probably no sane soul would risk his "face" begging on the streets in the Cold .. as "Face" is valued in the chinese society.. this man probably had a real need for financial help.
Deliberated over HKD$10 (S$2) or HKD$20.. decided on HKD$20 .I was glad I made the decision. In his begging bowl, I only saw 3 coins , worth less than HKD$10 .. I put the $20 gently in his hands and mumbled the only few cantonese words I knew .. to ask him to " sek di ye" to buy something to eat.
He mumbled thanks gratefully a couple of times as I walked away. Why S$4 ? Leon asked. I told him that going over to HK was already a paid trip and I was blessed to be on the trip. Also , Giving HKD$10 wouldnt have helped the man as he would still have to beg for HKD$10 more before he could afford a proper decent meal. Who knows How long more would he have to endure the cold ?
Now back in Singapore , I still think of that man .. and also wonder how are our elderly and lonely folks in Singapore coping for the Chinese New Year? Are they able to buy themselves a proper meal ? Are they able to buy new clothes for themselves ? Or will they silently pass the New Year like each other day ? We wouldnt know.
Lets help them out whenever we can.. 2009 is gonna be a tough year .. sadly.
Meanwhile .. Wishing all my friends and readers a Happy Chinese New Year.
Gong Xi Fa Cai..
Mambo XMG out
Just finished helping Sunshine with her CNY groceries shopping when it suddenly dawned upon me that we were buying quite a fair bit of titbits .. without much of a hesitation ..
The festive mood was in the air no doubt with the depression looming .. but everyone still had to spend.
I suddenly remembered the beggar I met on the streets of Hongkong last week. It was a cold winter afternoon and it was my last day in Hongkong.This lone figure sitting in the middle of the roads caught my eye. He was slouched in a bundle and it wasnt difficult to see the begging cup nearby.
I hesitated over giving money .. as stories of how they should go work and earn their own keeps .. and how they resorted to tricks to evoke our sympathy. But the sight was still unbearable.
I decided that this man was worth helping .. as probably no sane soul would risk his "face" begging on the streets in the Cold .. as "Face" is valued in the chinese society.. this man probably had a real need for financial help.
Deliberated over HKD$10 (S$2) or HKD$20.. decided on HKD$20 .I was glad I made the decision. In his begging bowl, I only saw 3 coins , worth less than HKD$10 .. I put the $20 gently in his hands and mumbled the only few cantonese words I knew .. to ask him to " sek di ye" to buy something to eat.
He mumbled thanks gratefully a couple of times as I walked away. Why S$4 ? Leon asked. I told him that going over to HK was already a paid trip and I was blessed to be on the trip. Also , Giving HKD$10 wouldnt have helped the man as he would still have to beg for HKD$10 more before he could afford a proper decent meal. Who knows How long more would he have to endure the cold ?
Now back in Singapore , I still think of that man .. and also wonder how are our elderly and lonely folks in Singapore coping for the Chinese New Year? Are they able to buy themselves a proper meal ? Are they able to buy new clothes for themselves ? Or will they silently pass the New Year like each other day ? We wouldnt know.
Lets help them out whenever we can.. 2009 is gonna be a tough year .. sadly.
Meanwhile .. Wishing all my friends and readers a Happy Chinese New Year.
Gong Xi Fa Cai..
Mambo XMG out
posted by Mambo XMG at Thursday, January 22, 2009
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