Our Shades Tour was fantastic - minus the heat. I can’t believe how HOT it has been lately. This time around we had a rough time meeting up with them. I couldn’t see their Shades Tour sign and they couldn’t see us. We were at the same place on different sides of the concrete - maybe 20 yards apart. But because we were both on the edges of the area, many people looking at the statues were in between us MOST of the time. We finally got going, and immediately I found the guide, Nina, inspiring and in my heart. As she would continue, her tragic story would unfold. She spent a lot more time (or so it seemed at least) sitting or standing and talking with us - opening our minds and perspectives toward the homeless towards greater peace and compassion. At the age of 14 she found herself homeless. What!!! How??? My mind reeled in all different directions. It is so easy to judge the homeless - especially in America. But I found that these same stereotypes and stigmas exist here too. But during tours like this, I begin to see that all homeless people are not lazy, did not enter because of laziness and lack of willingness to work. Nor might they have been addicted to drugs or alcohol and THEN found themselves homeless. It is difficult for me at home to look at them with compassion at times as they sit on the corners begging for money. In my mind I judge them that what they SHOULD be doing is looking for a job. While that may be true, who would give them a job? I know so little of this life as I have grown up with such privilege.
Though in the United States, Nina would not find herself homeless as much as she would find herself within the foster care system. She ran away because her mom had become violent, beating her for 2 years. She stayed that long so her younger sister would be in school and hopefully NOT be beaten. But she could stay no longer. She slept on benches in the park. Men raped her. She finally stopped sleeping in the park but turned to drugs as that is the only way she could find to supress all her suffering. THAT, is sooo sad to me. I don’t understand drugs at all. NOT AT ALL!!! But at the tender age of 14, when most girls are running and jumping or playing with friends, she found herself growing up too quickly. In and out of prison for fighting and then for selling drugs, she felt hopeless. When the judge told her that she could stay in prison for selling drugs for 3 years or go to therapy for 1 year, she thought long and hard. After two months, she opted for therapy and has been heading in an upward direction ever since. She is now 33 and seems to be doing well. She is hoping to save enough money to get a degree in social work and spend money to get a drivers license - which costs an incredible amount (around $1200 or so). THAT is crazy!
Sean and Robert had come with us so we all went to lunch after and then to Bratislava … Priya ended up coming too. What a fun day, again just walking and talking and having a good time. I’m glad Priya came, and I am so happy to have met Sean and Robert. We laughed a lot….and sweated a lot too! Got back very late again though. Goodness, I enjoyed the slow times...to just be. But I have seen some fun things, new things, and made new friends and memories along the way.
