Homelessness has a face that most dont see, it's not by any means a choice but an effect of yes drugs/gambling/cost of living/strained relationships, it impacts kids, wives, fathers,parents, friends, and relatives, I know a lot of help is out there but the impacts and pressure placed on the family because of a parent/parents leaving for whatever the reason maybe are enormous, i over the last few months have been so proud of my granddaughter for the things she has been doing with no knowledge of mine or her mum, she has been buying lunches for kids at school that are not getting fed at home, And she rocked up home with a school bag the other day, Is your old bag no good i say,no there is a girl in my class that uses a woolies bag for her books and was being teased ,she has virtually emptied half her savings at school helping other kids, when i went to her parent-teacher night i was taken back by the fact she is failing,and the teachers ask how can we help her at home, Its not how can we help at home its how much better can you help these kids shes helping by providing better information and talking about things in a positive manner, instead of overlooking issues, nothing is as it is, there is a reason for everything ,good/bad it doesn't matter, people are very quick to paint pictures without looking at the canvas,take the time to find out why,I know people choose this life and there is not much we can do but there are people and families that have this thrust upon them ,i only wish they get to meet my granddaughter who is becoming my hero at her young age setting an example for us allEdited 12-Apr-24 19:27pm

Wow ,nothing so scary as that . The sleeping Arabs at Tehran airport with their turbans were a bit of a shock as an 11yr old from down under I would say ,, apart from that I was suprised in Fiji at having to say Bula ( hello) to everyone basically from the airport security ,cleaners ,police in their long skirts ... everyone! At first I was getting exhausted from it a bit . And they will eyeball you coming your way too so you don't miss the opportunity. Kids waving out of the buses with no windows iin them while you're driving next to them "Bula !" ,, When I got back here I missed it, I walked past someone in my own street ,they just looked down kept walking by .. usual city behaviours .. Edited 11-Apr-24 22:31pm

Oh how scary! You were a brave kid to hitch hike all over, I'm sure you had some adventures! I'd say the culture shocks I've experienced were in my own country traveling to other states!Edited 11-Apr-24 22:48pm