"The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
That man to man, the world o'er,
Shall brithers be for a' that."
I went out to help a christian group this morning help feed and offer Hot Chocolate to some 300 homeless that meet in an area of central Bogota called Espana Square.
The first thing that hits you as you approach is the smell, its pungent and similar to what you would come across in any enclosed area that has been used as a temporary toilet except this is an open area. Some 300 homeless and down and out people meet here but the organisation and compliance is amazing to see they quickly lined up and were seperated in groups of 18 the number each worker and his supporters had supplies for. Moving quickly and with purpose each group seperated and soon the homeless were sitting quietly listening to parable that would be their cost for attending. Once over the handing out of the sandwiches and the hot chocolate I was dispensing was gratefully received I took the time to greet each man individually shaking his hand it felt the right thing to do, these men and women are destitute they have nothing some want nothing but others are trapped in a cycle that once in they cannot get out but no matter what has befallen them they are still men and women with a humanity that is hard to ignore. This was proven more by accident than design obviously I was introduced as from Scotland and that I was helping for the day, near the end of the session one man held back and when time allowed he came across and introduced himself as "Hello I am George, But not George of the Jungle" in normal circumstances this would have passed for mild humour in Scotland but to be addressed this way by a somewhat dishevelled homless man in the centre of Bogota in faultless English took all of us back, and opened a dialogue on his life. George it transpired had left Colombia and worked for 12 years in the USA but illegally and this is where his problems started. When he was eventually discovered by the US authorities he was returned (or returned voluntarily) to Bogota. Colombia is a very legalistic society as shown from the need to have finger prints taken for everything medical or legal and George had fallen through the system, unable to get work he turned to drink and drugs to get through the day and needless to say the downward spiral accelerated. George stood infront of us as a well educated and articulate person whose self esteem and confidence had been degraded over the time he was spending living rough. When you consider how desperate Colombia is to teach and learn English, here is a man that could make a living from teaching conversational English if given the opportunity. Could this mans life be changed by the Christian group that supported the homeless giving food and a warm drink is a worthwhile cause but when finding someone like George can't the Church or the contacts within the group do more - yes it would be difficult but to "save" one honest man from a life on the bottom rung of the ladder must surely be a cause worth promoting.
It will be interesting to see if during my time here in Bogota anything happens to George as in a country with a requirement to learn English, George has a gift that should be nurtured not ignored. As we returned to the meeting point after the event a homeless lady came across and spoke to Martha, Martha laughed and smiled at me and said "She says you have the most amazing eyes" something I hadn't considered but almost 100% of the population here have dark brown eyes so my blue eyes really stand out - it would seem I cannot merge into the society even if I were to try, genetics has made me an outsider no matter what I feel or how I look an interesting thought.
Although I took my camera along, today didn't feel like a day to invade the privacy of the people about me.
As an aside I did decide to go for a walk in the afternoon as I had a bill to pay I knew that the Bank in the Palatino was an easy one to use so I walked up to the Shopping Mall paid the bill and then decided to wander down to the Exito, on reaching the Exito I decided to head down to the Panamerican shop I like and once there walked on to find the Centro Commercial I had missed yesterday, before 2 hours after starting, I eventually made it back to the flat. Now as its written it sounds like a nice afternoon stroll but in truth it was BLOODY MILES !!! Think I might go to one or the other in future but never all 4 in one afternoon !!!
The pictures above are looking towards the Andes Mountains though you cant see them for the rain clouds (It didnt rain and I did get a touch of Sun) and also a flower seller selling Roses sadly the photograph does not do the Roses justice as they were the most intense hint of purple I have ever seen, yes I know they look red in the picture but trust me they weren't - cheap digital cameras !!! . Roses are a way of life in Colombia I could make a fortune if I could ship them to Scotland.
Oh final final point as we made our way to the square this morning Martha reminded me about 4 or 5 times not to venture down here alone - she need have no worries I have no intention of venturing anywhere ALONE !!! unless its nice and familiarly safe.
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