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I am grateful to all for the advice about my traveling to Cali...

I think the main thing is to relax but not let my gaurd down... I will stay close to my cousin and his fathers friend that lives there. My question is living in New York I am complelty rude to the homeless beggers I just totally ignore them due to the fact that I get asked for money at least 10 times a day, how should I handle them in Cali? i not want to be out of line but I also dont want to be to nice and stop and talk to every homeless dude because most likely like in New York these people are the most desperate. Is it ok to just ignore these people or should I take another approach?

By njtea5 on Oct 13, 2006, 13:49 in Friendly Talkzone.

arthur brode says on Oct 13, 2006, 14:29:

i just totally ignore them due to the fact that i get asked for money atleast 5 times a day.but i must say that the homeless beggars in Cali are more civil than the ones in the States.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Oct 13, 2006, 14:47:

I always give money to women with small children. I usually keep a stash of 100, 200, 500 peso coins in the car so I have something handy when I see people like that at traffic lights. I know I'm not really helping them but then again, by not giving, I'm not helping either.

I can't stand seeing kids begging at traffic lights or selling chewing gum or juggling or something, specially if it's late in the evening. I've never encountered any aggressivity by the beggars or street children, just quiet despair.

Cheers {?}
Desi

«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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juanalejo says on Oct 13, 2006, 16:02:

Street People When I am in a car I tend to give them if they do a job: clean my car windows or headlamps and definitely when they juggle or dance or something of the sort. I always look them in the eye, never walk away and if I have no money or simply do not feel like giving to somebody I tell them that not at the moment. They are usually non agresive but I have noticed they (as anybody) get upset when people ignore them, walk away etc. and then they tend sometimes to bitch (quite comprehensively) to those who have no idea how to treat another human being.

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famsearch says on Oct 13, 2006, 16:14:

one example... didn't see too much of that where we were in bello, except for one example, a woman and her small children by a church. i would usually give my sis in law something to give to her whenever we went past, so it wouldn't look like gringo charity.
dan

dan

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Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 14, 2006, 09:52:

When they are selling something (sweets, ..) I usually buy something, especially when they're selling in the bus because at least they're trying.

Poor but snappy

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goin_south says on Oct 14, 2006, 14:14:

you mean in new york, those dudes are making a $100,000 a year - some of the homeless-appearing. in Colombia...not.

“ I would rather be a conservative nut job rather than a liberal with no nuts and no job.” But, really what I am is a colombiana's sex slave; she took me by force, and I submitted ;-)

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