Gloria
She approached me this afternoon while I was walking to Kinko's. Speaking in a totally broken English, she asked me where she could "wash" her money. At first I thought she asked about the exchange money centre. It turned out later that she wanted to "wash" her watch to money, and take the watch back the month after.
At first I thought she was Italian. She told me later that she came from Uruguay and spoke Spanish. She kept on talking and talking and talking about everything : her grandson, her retirement money, her completely empty bank account. I took her to the Traveller's Aid centre, thinking that some people would help her there somehow.. but there was no such luck. No one speaks Spanish there. This 80-something lady was very confusing. I met Sophie, tho.. She is a backpacker who's staying in Australia until October as a part of her 1 year travelling. She came from Holland (in other name : Orlando.. I'm not kidding) and she speaks Portuguese. Which makes her able to understand Gloria a lil bit better than I did.
So the three of us were searching for this place which I can't remember the name.. pawn broker? whatever. I kept on asking people whether they speak Spanish, or know where I could find someone who does. Sophie left after about 30 minutes or so because she needed to take care of her Medicare insurance. We gave Gloria some money so that she could buy some food, but after Sophie was gone and I said goodbye to her (and sorry to Sophie for dragging her into this), Gloria just sat on the bench. So I came back, bought her a sandwich and gave her my water. She asked for my telephone number, she wanted to call me later she said, but I bet I would not understand a single bit, so I gave her my address instead (so that if she does write and it's in Spanish, I can look up the online dictionary.. oh the joy of technology)
Then I said goodbye, left her, walked around the corner to search for some Italian guys in their restaurants (coz their language is not that different to Spanish) just like what the 7-11 store guy suggested me to. There were no Italian guys, unfortunately, and when I went back to the place where I left Gloria, she's already gone.
That's the end of my story. I don't know how hers ends. I hope she's okay out there.
I started thinking about the possibility of her being a resident of an age centre who ran away. I should have taken her to the police station instead. (Not that police are that helpful, but still..)
The rest of the day was normal. Went to Kinko's (finally) and did my assignment there.. still haven't finished it and there are so many things to catch up for other subjects. Gah. And I still have no concept for the typography project(s) that will be reviewed tomorrow morning. Nice..
At first I thought she was Italian. She told me later that she came from Uruguay and spoke Spanish. She kept on talking and talking and talking about everything : her grandson, her retirement money, her completely empty bank account. I took her to the Traveller's Aid centre, thinking that some people would help her there somehow.. but there was no such luck. No one speaks Spanish there. This 80-something lady was very confusing. I met Sophie, tho.. She is a backpacker who's staying in Australia until October as a part of her 1 year travelling. She came from Holland (in other name : Orlando.. I'm not kidding) and she speaks Portuguese. Which makes her able to understand Gloria a lil bit better than I did.
So the three of us were searching for this place which I can't remember the name.. pawn broker? whatever. I kept on asking people whether they speak Spanish, or know where I could find someone who does. Sophie left after about 30 minutes or so because she needed to take care of her Medicare insurance. We gave Gloria some money so that she could buy some food, but after Sophie was gone and I said goodbye to her (and sorry to Sophie for dragging her into this), Gloria just sat on the bench. So I came back, bought her a sandwich and gave her my water. She asked for my telephone number, she wanted to call me later she said, but I bet I would not understand a single bit, so I gave her my address instead (so that if she does write and it's in Spanish, I can look up the online dictionary.. oh the joy of technology)
Then I said goodbye, left her, walked around the corner to search for some Italian guys in their restaurants (coz their language is not that different to Spanish) just like what the 7-11 store guy suggested me to. There were no Italian guys, unfortunately, and when I went back to the place where I left Gloria, she's already gone.
That's the end of my story. I don't know how hers ends. I hope she's okay out there.
I started thinking about the possibility of her being a resident of an age centre who ran away. I should have taken her to the police station instead. (Not that police are that helpful, but still..)
The rest of the day was normal. Went to Kinko's (finally) and did my assignment there.. still haven't finished it and there are so many things to catch up for other subjects. Gah. And I still have no concept for the typography project(s) that will be reviewed tomorrow morning. Nice..