humanizing

There are a couple things that get me motivated to write a blog post. Obviously, trash talk is one of them.

Nontraditional jobs get a pretty bad rap, though there are people within most countries that are there to do them. This post is spurred by a physical encounter here in my neighborhood over the issue as well as today's CNN article about a man who collects paper to earn a living.

my own dabble: During a stint in LA, I made my way to the paper recycling place with such a small amount of cardboard that people snickered ... So, there are businesses that have really done well from doing something with product refuse (wrappings and such). I like it, but of course, when they exist it makes it quiet difficult for an individual to go about in the more antiquated ways of earning some cash by collecting bottles or kilos of cardboard.  ah, industrializing, a horse vs. train sort of situation.

Here in Yerevan, there are people who do this for work, S.Vet, in particular, if you remember from earlier posts.  Her bottle collecting schedule is 7 days a week and so intense in fact that even an invite to the house will be met with, "Sorry, I can't I've got work to do." So, yesterday when some young men physically pulled me by the arm to save me from interacting with such a 'lazy' person, I of course was a bit unnerved. Don't get me wrong people will give you funny looks in The States too if you are seen associating with people from tabooed industries.

Near the trash bins, I was in the middle of being introduced to a man fluent in English who said he was from Croatia  (admittedly i was not expecting this - a pleasant surprise), when all of a sudden i realize there are two guys in their early 20s calling to me, which was also a surprise. Then of course, i realized that they were trying to warn me...

The reaction of S.Vet and her friend were incredibly classy:  they had raised arms waving at the two younger (by 20 years at least) men while requesting god bless them as they smiled their biggest. I on the other hand  could barely maintain my composure.  I requested that the men wait while i finish my conversation, but of course, they took to physically remove me. In order to keep the scene low key, I apologized to my acquaintances and went off to see what the problem was. You can imagine the defamation.  Over the 3 minutes I countered with,  "They have family," "No, they actually do work," "They're very nice, have you ever spoken with them?" This didn't resonate.

In the minds of both sides, people were being nice and helpful. Whether it was a conversation in some English that hadn't been used in a while or a heroic saving of a damsel, hearts were in the right place. It's too bad, not everyone would agree on that one. i don't know, what would you do?