Bumology 101 in Kenya Africa

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Bumology 101 in Kenya Africa
How to be a Bum in Kenya, Africa?

Bumology 101: How to be a Bum?

I believe this young boy aspires to be a Bum; I have met enough Bums in my life to know this boy has what it takes to become a professional Bum.

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Siaya, Kenya
East Africa
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Hotels in Siaya
Siaya is the closest city to Kogelo, the Homestead of Barack Obama.
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I sat down on a park bench in Siaya, Kenya the other day with the goal of watching the world pass by. The people of Siaya, Kenya do not see many white people; I am the tourist, however truly the people of Siaya are the ones who take the tour. They would go out of their way to make sure they took the walking tour in front of my park bench. This makes the art form of people watching easy, there is less strategy needed.

As I was sitting on the bench, this small boy came and started mumbling words to me. At first, I considered him a normal street urchin who saw me as the mark, a person to give him money.

Hmm, I would estimate that 80 percent of people I meet in Kenya ask me for money or help, I assume if a person comes up and wishes to talk, they will soon start to pitch me on something they want something for nothing.

1. Starting a church
2. Relative that is sick.
3. Need a job, but really they want a handout.
4. Working on a project.
5. Buy me a soda or beer.

Why was this boy special?

Beggars can be different from bums, in a way 80 percent of the Kenya people come up and Beg something from me in a roundabout way from wanting a Visa to the USA to the honest one who just wants money.

When a person drops below the level of just a normal greedy person who believes someone rich need to give them money they can start to become ostracized and confused. This boy was confused, his bag is full of plastic bottles he is collecting, and he has no shoes and is wearing what looks like pajama bottoms.

No Shoes

This is the first indication of true bum.

No Fashion

There is a loss of the ability to be fashionable or fit in to normal society.

There was a man and women from the USA I met in Isiolo, Kenya who told me that was making a documentary about street children. They introduced me to a boy they labeled a street child, I was laughing at their naļve understanding of street children. The boy had on shoes, spoke English and was wearing a Bob Marley Ethiopia colored hat, the kid was using them, making some good cash. He was easy to interview, showed well on camera and was available in the afternoon. I thought about advising them,
“If you truly want to find street children, you have to be here when the sun rises and discover who is truly living in the streets.”

I knew they truly did not care; it was more about the image than reality, so I let it go…

This young boy kept mumbling or trying to say something to me, another man next to me who spoke the local languages tried to speak to him. The man said to me,
“He is confused.”

Confusion

Humans are sociable beings, they talk with each other and they know how to obey the norms of society. When a person somehow drifts away from other people, when they for some reason stop having normal conversations, when they stop fitting in, they start to become confused, this is when their mind steps into a new dimension. This boy was not able to talk with me; he was not able to even beg in a coherent manner.

Unpredictable and Frightening

At the bottom tier, the person becomes frightening to everyone around him or her, they become unpredictable, they become difficult, nobody can understand or know them, there is no common ground.

I finally tried to bring the boy back to reality, I pointed at his feet and with the help of the local man, I tried to say.
“Here is some money, go buy some shoes.”

The kid was over the edge, he had lost the plot, I could not reach him, and all I could do was give him a few coins for his survival hoping he would revive.

This is the older version of the boy, ripped clothing and farther down the line a subgroup of one.

The boy had a small bag of bottles; this man has a large bag of something he is collecting. I was still able to get close to the small boy, however I needed to use the zoom lens to capture this photo, this man who walks around in the city of Siaya, he was no longer approachable.

I guess this is the final lesson in Bumology 101, when a person walks away from civilization and does not know how to return.

Bumology 101, asking for help, asking for money, making another person your donor is a great way to start down this path, to give nothing, but to expect something, this is Bumology 101.

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Reader Submitted Comments | Deleted Comments (1)

Pleuhra said on Saturday April 25th, 2009 05:07:01 AM
http://www.delhibudgethotel.com

Frightening but interesting information!

John said on Saturday April 25th, 2009 07:25:30 AM

Sounds like yourself?

MoiMoi said on Sunday April 26th, 2009 11:14:39 AM

John makes a good point.

Merriam-Webster defines Hobo: A homeless and usually penniless vagabond.

I mean, really, you just beg for money to continue your travels. The only difference is that you beg online.

Have you ever stopped to consider the multitude of factors that go into the way an individuals life unfolds. Your presumption that these individuals have chosen to be a bum is typical of your ignorance.

Mike said on Monday April 27th, 2009 09:45:15 AM

I dont think Andy made any presumption that these individuals chose to be bums. Obviously it is primarily circumstantial. However, he highlights the main points that comprise a stereotypical bum. Whats with the hostility? I find it funny when people take the time to affront someone and their beliefs when they have the choice to observe an opinion, or disregard it.

MoiMoi said on Monday April 27th, 2009 03:43:58 PM

Mike--

Youre kidding, right? How about these insinuations that the individuals choose to be bums:

First, the title of the post: Bumology 101: How to be a Bum?

If someone isnt choosing this, then how could they be taught to be one?

How about this one: I believe this young boy aspires to be a Bum...

Would aspiring not be choosing?

And these examples are just at the beginning of the post! Take a closer look. Many more examples abound. But, perhaps, this is my most favorite located near the end of the post:

I guess this is the final lesson in Bumology 101, when a person walks away from civilization and does not know how to return.

When a person walks away. As in, walks away by choice?

And as to your comment regarding hostility? Yeah, when I see people attacking vulnerable populations it tends to make be hostile. Too bad it doesnt do the same to more people in the world.

And I left my comments because there is a comment section. Or is that only for people who agree and reinforce the ol Hobos pre-conceived notions, bias, and ignorance? Only those that agree with him? Or only those that kindly look the other way?

He has his opinion, no doubt, and no one is arguing that he shouldnt have it. Some are simply pointing out that his opinions are flawed.

Wade said on Wednesday April 29th, 2009 06:43:11 AM
http://www.vagabondjourney.com

Moi Moi,

I fail to understand how you can state that someone elses opinions are flawed. Please remember that someone who has been traveling the world for the past 11 years is going to have different impressions and opinions than someone reading about life on a computer screen.

I see little backing to your argument, few references to your personal experiences with the people of Africa, few indications that you know at all what you are talking about.

Basically, all you say is that Andy is wrong, without stating why you think this way. Basically, you are contributing nothing to this discussion.

How do you know that Andy is wrong? Really, why do you think you know what you are talking about?

Have you traveled long term through Africa? Have you talked to the the people that Andy speaks of?

No, you probably havent. I am very confused as to where you find the substance for your criticism.

It is one think to disagree with someone and state the reasons for your disagreement, it is another to baselessly criticize. Understanding is built through disagreements. I stand to learn from your experiences and what you have to say. But I am going to learn nothing from you blithly stating that someone else is wrong. This means nothing to me.

Why do you think Andy is wrong? What experiences have you had to back up your feelings? Please, tell me, I want to learn.

You call Andys notions pre-conceived but he is out testing his theories in real life, he is talking to people, coming up with new ideas, and writing them for other people to consider. I have been friends with Andy for a number of years, and I know that he, himself, knows that he is often wrong and that some things that he writes are not always correct. But this is the hall mark of online daily travel writing. When you publish your ideas and impressions every single day as you travel the goal is not to be correct 100 of the time, but to test new ideas and theories about the world. The fact that readers can contribute to the discussion builds upon the ideas of the writer, and allows to work to progress.

Yes, sometimes online daily travel writers are not completely correct in their opinions, but this is just a testing ground and is not a prim and polished, overly edited final product. The benefit of this kind of writing is found in the fact that it is raw. Raw opinions about the world that you can consider for yourself and share your opinions about.

By stating that someone else is wrong without giving further evidence does nothing for the discussion. It does not make me think anything other than the fact that you really do not have much to say about the topic.

You also commented that the Africans are a vulnerable population. This is a highly preconceived notion. I take this to be a far more degrading assumption than anything that Andy wrote in the above journal entry.

Thanks,

Wade from Vagabond Journey.com Travelogue

jo jo said on Wednesday April 29th, 2009 10:01:56 PM

Wade, my reading of moi mois comment is different than yours. The vulnerable population as I read it was the mentally ill who become ostracized from society and end up bums. If your reading is right and the assertion is that all africans are vulnerable that is indeed degrading. But if my reading is accurate and she(he) was referring to the mentally ill, then that would be a vulnerable population and andys treatment was perhaps a little too harsh. Additionally I dont get the fixation with africa. There are bums all around the world. Travel to any city and you will see bums. There is no need to visit africa if one wishes to understand the menally ill/marginalized/bums. Finally, glad to see your still around.

Bob L said on Thursday April 30th, 2009 07:03:39 AM

jo jo said Wade, my reading of moi mois comment is different than yours.

Jo Jo, I agree with you. I read the comment as teh bums are the vulnerable ones.

It is easy to read things into what someone writes. I am guessing that MoiMoi is a new reader on this site. Much of what Andy says can be interpreted in many ways since it is blunt, off the cuff writing. If I had never read anything Andy wrote and this was the first article I saw, I would be inclined to agree with MoiMoi. But knowing Andys writings, I think the points he was probably trying to make hold up. My interpretation is more along the lines of this being a Recipe for becoming a bum, not a how to become one if you want to. Or maybe signs of someone who is becoming a bum. I thinnk the key sentance here is when a person walks away from civilization and does not know how to return When he does not know how to return. This does not necessarily mean that the person chose to walk away, although that sometimes happens with Druggies, but that they could not return for whatever reason (drugs, mental illness etc.). Of course, I could just be reading my own feelings into someone elses writing.

Bob L

jo jo said on Thursday April 30th, 2009 10:22:13 AM

Yeah Bob, not much I can disagree with in your comment. Andys post was a good observation and seemed insightful. His manner is a little rough for my tastes, but Ive long since learned either to accept it or find a new blog to read. Because he is a shrewd observer of life and custom Ive chosen to look beyond his style and try to focus on the content. Andys site has the ability to generate strong reactions, I was only trying to get Wade to reconsider the comment not actually defend moimois position.

Heidi said on Tuesday June 16th, 2009 03:32:23 PM

when a person walks away from civilization and does not know how to return
Wow, I find your observation so accurate. I did the same thing in 2005 and am just now succeeding in my reintegration back into normal society. One of the most informative things I learnt was that nobody can judge anyone elses situation until they walk in their shoes....