I have known this guy for say six years, for all the time I have been going to the refugee centre as he has been one of the security guards there. He is always ever so friendly and welcoming when I arrive at the centre, presenting as if nothing ever troubles him. The friendliness is sincere and overwhelming but the rest of it is presentation as I would suspect he has many troubles in life.
For one, he is a single dad with a young daughter. He is very proud of her and obviously loves her but he also worries about her and how to best look after her. Secondly, a security guard's wage would not be enough to look after him and his daughter in a sufficient way.
So as well as being a security guard, he operates a 'motorcy' taxi. This means that he is licensed to used his motorbike to take paying passengers places locally. Then I discovered that he uses his motorbike for another purpose as well. He gathers cardboard and such that have been discarded from shops and carts it all away on his bike for recycling. When I go to the refugee centre early in the morning, I see him tying up the cardboard to take away and get a few more baht for the day.
In the midst of it all, as you can see, he always has a cheery smile and a wave for me. The reality is that life is tough for him, as it is for so many, but he gets on with it. Bangkok is a huge city with its more than fair share of wealth but he doesn't enjoy anywhere near his share of it. He works hard, he struggles every day, he does his best for his little girl. He is a good guy, a happy guy but all is never what it seems, especially in my Bangkok.
For one, he is a single dad with a young daughter. He is very proud of her and obviously loves her but he also worries about her and how to best look after her. Secondly, a security guard's wage would not be enough to look after him and his daughter in a sufficient way.
So as well as being a security guard, he operates a 'motorcy' taxi. This means that he is licensed to used his motorbike to take paying passengers places locally. Then I discovered that he uses his motorbike for another purpose as well. He gathers cardboard and such that have been discarded from shops and carts it all away on his bike for recycling. When I go to the refugee centre early in the morning, I see him tying up the cardboard to take away and get a few more baht for the day.
In the midst of it all, as you can see, he always has a cheery smile and a wave for me. The reality is that life is tough for him, as it is for so many, but he gets on with it. Bangkok is a huge city with its more than fair share of wealth but he doesn't enjoy anywhere near his share of it. He works hard, he struggles every day, he does his best for his little girl. He is a good guy, a happy guy but all is never what it seems, especially in my Bangkok.
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