Skip to main content

Day 6


Weekends are always over too quickly.  One good thing about having next to no money? Time goes very slowly... your weekend feels longer!!

Up at 6:15am I thought about how to fill my day.  After some life admin, the rain had stopped and the cabin fever was already building by 9am, I went for a run and my parents came over shortly after.  Budget bread for me,  mum's home made bread for everyone else.

Much of the morning was spent reading and sharing the SCMP article that was published about what I have been doing this week (link here).  As expected, there are a few comments from some sad readers who obviously have no better purpose in life than to pick apart the good people are trying to do and criticise.  It makes my blood boil that people can be so ignorant and cold hearted, but in comparison to the positivity I have received, it's nothing.

My biggest issue is that these pessimistic readers have completely missed the point of what I am doing.  They have read the article, recognised that it focuses on a controversial group of people, and have gone for it.  They indicate that I am suggesting that refugees have it worse than anyone else.  Yes they are some of the biggest sufferers in Hong Kong, living in dire circumstances with added restrictions, and this is one of the reasons I want to help, but I am fully aware that there is a large population of locals in Hong Kong who also live below the poverty line. I understand that Hong Kong has massive housing issues.  I get that there are others struggling.

I am raising money for a group of people, who happen to be refugees that I have felt inspired by, that need a cure and relief from past traumas in their lives.  For them, that cure and relief is via the opportunities that Free to Run gives them.

We can't help everyone, but surely helping some is better than helping none, isn't it?  




After a relatively busy morning,  I opted out of the journey over to Kings Park via star ferry and decided to go and support the girls playing in Happy Valley. Beautiful evening, money or no money, I was happy to be there.  Caught up with friends and then parted ways - them towards HKFC for post match drinks and an evening of pub golf- me towards the supermarket to make the wild decision of how best to spend my last $10 for the week. 

Decisions decisions. 


The decision today was definitely quantity over quality.  
Chips Ahoy, its been years.  Half a packet for tonight, half for tomorrow. 
Happy days.

6 days down, $13,256 up.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Free to Run Fundraiser Preparation

Quick link to Donation Page Here  (This is different to the Free to Run donation page) I am currently working out the logistics of replicating life as a refugee in Hong Kong in order to raise money for the charity Free to Run . Free to Run is a charity set up to provide relief to refugees who are residing in Hong Kong after experiencing trauma and conflict in their home countries. Free to Run provides refugees with the opportunity to participate in weekly hiking, running and swimming sessions along with other activities that promote a sense of community and assist with improving mental and physical health. For many of these refugees, these activities are their only chance to engage with others in the same situation and feel valued. What am I doing? My aim is to live off the same amount as refugees receive in Hong Kong; $40/day, with the exception of an additional $50/week for transport in order to raise awareness of the dire situation our refugees are in here i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 5

$10,414!!! Can't believe I have hit the 10k mark. Thank you so much everyone. The school week has come to an end and I'm looking forward to my next milestone of this challenge - the weekend. I had a feeling I was never going to make it through the week without having to walk in the rain - so close but not quite. Sure enough just before I was about to get off the bus it started chucking it down. Despite waiting 20 minutes sheltering in the petrol station, it continued to pour so off I went. Feet soaked, stomach grumbling, ankles aching, I quickly talked myself out of the Friday Fitness session I was originally heading into work early for.  I've been indecisive the entire week as to whether I should even have the opportunity to do it this week - an air-conditioned sports hall isn't exactly a common feature of refugee type living. I opted out. I am tired and today I feel like the hAngriness has really kicked in. One of today's highlights for the kids (and woul...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 3

After a day of rest yesterday I returned to the first thing I do most mornings- exercise. The alarm goes off at 4:45, I have a snack of peanut butter and rice cakes and head to the gym for 5:30am. Since planning this week, I've been determined to keep up my routine despite not having a gym facility. Refugees don't have the money to pay for a gym so why should I have the luxury.  I also don't have any rice cakes, so dry oats with some water it was. It's back to the pitch- Happy Valley 8 - a location far too familiar from countless rugby matches played here from a young age, to running HIIT morning boot camps with my friends a couple of times a week (which fizzled out about a year ago). Thankfully a friend joined me this morning to keep me motivated, as did another on Monday for some interval runs... a great excuse this week to avoid the watt bike!! Astro everywhere The only problem with exercise = hunger.  I write this as I sit on the tra...
Post a Comment
Read more