Greeting Earthlings :)
It has been the longest time since I had posted anything in my blog and I truly apologize to whoever has been checking out ma blog page for new posts but it was only because I decided to go loco and take five classes, each of which consist of 2 midterms. I ended up dropping one but still, with 8 midterms, I basically have one every week until finals week so I will be super busy this quarter.
Yesterday, I attended an event called "Feed the Homeless" put up by a Christian Group which basically goes downtown and distribute food and drinks to the less fortunate. I had always wanted to go before but something always seem to come up, either I will be going home that Friday or I have a test to study for. Fortunately, fifth week comes and I finally got a chance. My friend Jessica and I arrived late so we bought some apples and bananas from a nearby market by ourselves and began walking down the roads of downtown. I have to say, though, that two girls alone in the dimly-lit streets at night is not the brightest idea but eventually we did meet up with the rest of the group.
Looking down the road from where we stood, one can see the homeless each claiming their spot along the sides of the sidewalk and some are already cuddled in whatever blankets they have to keep warm and trying to sleep. It was 7 oclock at night. For us college kids, we would never be heading off to bed at seven--even midnight is too early; however, for them, it is a way to forget about everything and enter into a world where things might be better. Also, the earlier they sleep, the quicker they can not be reminded of how cold it is outside. To those who are already asleep, we placed a banana and an apple by their side hoping that they would find the surprise delightful the next morning and to others who are still awake, we asked them if they'd like anything and hold some small talk.
It is not true that all of these homeless people who are out here have nothing as some of them are college graduates or even a top chef. It is just that, due to various reasons, either it is their "luck" or the bad economy, they fall into a state of need. For some, it may be temporary, while for others, this may be life-long. Although, evil does strike out in the streets, there is also a somewhat heart-warming side. In contrast to the man who got into six fights in a week and had his shopping cart stolen, one of the lady I met that night said this is the third time she is in the streets and she will be staying out here until her husband is out of prison since "We got separated in the streets, we will get back together in the streets". There was also a man who had a generator and all his electronics (Xbox, TV, etc) with him so he has constant entertainment.
What really got to me was when we talked to the second guy we met. His name was John. I introduced myself as Yoyo and I explained how it is not my real name but it is what everybody calls me. Normally people would respond in surprise or say something like "That is such a cool name!"...not this time--this time, he shocked me. Instead, he told me that I should be proud of my real name since it is something that my parents gave me and not have to be known as Yoyo because that is a toy, not a name. He said that although he does not like his name because it is such a common name, it is still his name. This brought tears to my eyes.
Those tears did not gather up because he spoke my exact thoughts and feelings, it was more than that. I can say with 100% assertiveness right now that I AM PROUD OF MY NAME and I feel absolutely no shame in my real name what-so-ever because I understand and know that it represents who I am and who I always will be. It is the fact that even John, a man on the streets whom I just met, knows the importance of taking the time to learn someone's name. Although he keep mispronouncing it, he did repeat it out loud two or three times when he did get it right and I thank him for that. It make me feel way better than when people say "Yeah, I will stick to Yoyo" even though Yoyo is technically my name too. I truly believe that to know someone's name is a kind of respect and shows that you are treating them as an equal. This is usually why I try my best to remember people's name whenever I meet someone new and sometimes even ask how to spell it.
I understand that a lot of people have nicknames because their real name is too hard to pronounce for others or just so it makes both their time and those of others easier so they do not have to repeat themselves over and over to get their name pronounced correctly. For me, that might be part of the my reason but also, I had been called Yoyo ever since I went to Malaysia so it is what I am use to being called. It is important to know that this does not mean I lose responsiveness to my real name just because I am constantly known as Yoyo. To say the truth, I think more people know me as Yoyo than my real name and this is sad because sometimes it makes me feel like I am cheating them from my true identity. It makes me wonder how important names really are in friendship--Can you call yourself someone's friend if you do not even know their real name? Do some of them even know my real name? What if my future boyfriend/husband only know me as Yoyo?
Some people have to understand that having their name mispronounced is one thing but having people giving up on even trying is another; it can really hurt someone's feeling. I mean, of course, this feeling varies between individuals but I just really think that names are an essential part of someone's identity and everyone should deserve to have their names respected: try your best to learn it and do not put it down by giving up--especially not infront of the person.
Lastly, I think I will definitely go back again to "Feed the Homeless" when I get a chance. Not only does it feel great to help others but I also think I have been exposed to a deeper insight of life. I am sure I can learn something new everytime I go down there.
Ps. On a brighter note, if you ever want to help the homeless out (preferably not by yourself), they enjoy fruits and string cheese and rather have food that isn't too messy to eat. Drinks are also good to keep them hydrated during both day and night. Or maybe clothing such as socks or blankets that will help them keep warm.
