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24 November 2009

Tree Houses

R: "Have you noticed that there don't seem to be any homeless people in Hanoi?"

-- "Yeah. What's with that?"

R: "I wonder if they ship them away from tourist areas. Like in Beijing before the Olympics?"

-- "I wouldn't be surprised ...

-- "But you do still see a lot of very poor people hanging around ...

-- "You just never see them sleeping out."

R: "Hey - Olive! Can we ask you a question?"

O: "Yes kiwi. Yes daddy. What?"

R: "Are there any homeless people in Hanoi?"

O: [Wide eyed interest] "People?"

R: "Homeless. You know? No house. Have to sleep outside."

O: "Yes. Homeless. Yes there are many homeless."

[She couldn't have looked less interested if she tried. Complete unconcern.]

R: "But we don't see any? Where are they?"

O: "They go to the park." [Smiles]

R: "All of them?"

O: "Yes." [Smiles and nods, somewhat dismissively.]

R: "Really? Are you sure?"

O: "Yes kiwi. Yes daddy." [Smiles ethereally and returns to her work.]

2 comments:

Cheesel said...

Thanks for this. I will know where to go if I get lost. Actually I wouldn't mind spending a night there - an experience not to be missed and I would be quite safe. Pete once told me that I was one step up from the homeless and you said I was equal one day in Russia when I thought I looked pretty good.

nancy1 said...

at least they won't find out in the morning that they slept on dog poo. (dogs hang out on plates, not in parks.)