Ow ow!

Today was a good day. I got a lot of work done. Booyakasha!

Andrea and I went to Surrey today and did a radio interview with RED 93.1. We answered questions from the DJ and callers about the campaign and homelessness, and it went really well. We’re super close to our goal!

Time to tell a ghost story. Earlier tonight Conor was playing a song he had written when a strange man came up and waited for Conor to finish. He asked “you wanna hear a song about homelessness?” as he pulled a guitar pick out of his wallet. Conor passed him my guitar which he proceeded to tune by ear. He proceeded to play with impeccable skill and sang a story about a homeless man’s life, and his dreams of a forest which he eventually dies and goes to. It was a surreal experience. Yooji tried to catch his name but he only said “it doesn’t matter,” shook Yooji’s hand and left just as quickly as he came.

Later in the night we saw sirens and heard about undercover police arresting some man that met this man’s description almost eerily. Make of this what you will.

Me Inc. is tommorrow. Conor and I are going to barge this ‘business formal’ career conference has homeless men to try and rustle up some more donations and possibly a matching sponsor. Wish us luck!

Holla at Paul for having an office. Holla at you too, snuggliepuff!

Take care everyone,

Andrew

So we’re over the hump!

Today was a little bit up and down. We learned about Neutron Stars and Black Holes in astronomy today, which kind of seems trivial based on the past few days’ experiences. Astronomy is actually a very interesting subject, but the last few days have me wondering that we would study things that are so far away while maybe our attentions could be spent on something a little closer to home.

Last night was cold as crap. I can’t believe you guys are still outside out East. Good on ya.

I ran around trying to get work done today and my school performance is suffering. I’m also falling behind on emails and reading other people’s blogs (not to mention writing my own!). It’s interesting trying to fuse some of the aspects of homelessness with the life of a business student. The other guys all have other things going on and Davies even has a couple more midterms this week (friday, no less). Way to go, team. I played guitar today in front of the SUB today and was able to get some more donations that way, as well as a conversation with a man who got fired up about how “when you’re homeless you can go to the government to get free money!” I think he was referring to welfare.

We just got an outstanding donation from Rotary Club Vancouver Fraserview to the tune of at least $1,500. I say at least because the members who came promised to ask others in the club to donate even more. You guys are amazing!

That’s it for today, time to chip away at study mountain. Take care!

Andrew

Them’s what I got! I’d like to thank Rameez Nathu, Matt Cunning, Max Miller, Hanako Okano, Jessica McGuire, Tricia Barr, Megan, Maggie, Lyndsey, the Topleys, the TLOG club, the Fraternities and everyone else that helped us out with dinner last night and breakfast/lunch today, and everyone else who has given us donations of any kind at any time ever. Hanako, being a nutritionist, was even thoughtful enough to bring orange juice and chewable vitamin C tablets! Thar’ll be no scurvey at 5 days Vancouver! Also funny was catching Conor (on camera) in a full-on snoring nap while we were studying at Woodward last night. Boris’ color commentary is amazing.

Today was an awesome day. Tran’s Comm 294 class, pat yourselves on the back. Danielle’s 392 class, you too! Both classes donated a ton of money after our in class presentations. It’s amazing the support we’re getting from our classmates here at Sauder. Thanks should also go out to the volunteers who are manning our donation tables at the SUB, David Lam and the Bookstore. You guys rock.

I’ve you’ve already read Paul and Conor’s posts, you’ll know we had quite the talk over dinner last night on the topic of homelessness. On a personal note, I came into this thinking it would be mostly a lighthearted and fun affair, and I think the seriousness of the issue is starting to hit home for all of us participants. While it is a lot of fun (”see you at home!” is the running joke when we pass each other between classes), it is certainly making me think more seriously about the issue of homelessness. I found Andrea’s blog yesterday extremely powerful, and if you haven’t read it yet you should definitely check it out. I also can’t believe what I just read about frost on sleeping bags in some of the other cities. My heart goes out to you guys. We’ve got it comparatively easy here in vancouver. Keep up the good work.

Take care,

Andrew

Half way through day 1 and 5 days has already been a learning experience. I didn’t sleep very well last night, I was afraid of the raccoons. Conor snores too!

We were learning in comm 299 about the “power suit” and how you feel more powerful/speak more clearly/bring up those around you when you’re dressed up. I feel that the opposite could also be argued. Right now I’m wearing a hoodie and flannel jacket, oldish beaten up jeans, and scuffed shoes from skateboarding. I’m not very polished at the best of times, I’m overdue for a haircut and haven’t shaved in a couple weeks so I look pretty dishevelled. I’m also carrying a guitar and a garbage bag full of some cardboard signs, my sleeping bag and my pillow. It’s amazing the type of looks you get walking around. Friends at school who know about 5 days smile when they see us around, but walking to Hennings for my astronomy option garnered more than a few of the “what are you doing here” kind of dirty looks from passers by. We seem to have a huge contempt in our society for anything that isn’t well put together. It’s a huge downer to be on the receiving end here. People who live on the street must get this every day, and I can’t even imagine how this must make a person feel.

I also did my first TV interviews today/last night, and found that I hadn’t prepared to the extent that I probably should have. One reporter told me to sell the event and I froze…but was able to mumble out something about it being a good cause and a unique fundraiser. I need to get better!

It’s raining today, which is a shame because we have 3 guitars that aren’t being put to use. Hopefully it’ll dry up and we can busk up some donations. I’ve been itching to play some Eagles…

It’s time for another cheeseburger and then off to some interviews. Take care!

Andrew

So it’s finally here!  I’ve got my guitar, pillow, a borrowed sleeping bag and my one  set of clothes.  We’ve been lucky enough to get pizza donated to us by pie-r-squared, thanks guys!  The only thing that worries me is that we’re planning to save it for breakfast and I saw a raccoon wandering around earlier.  Rabies would DEFINITELY be a downer.  Tommorrow will be the first day and it’s gonna be a good one.  See you tommorrow!

So it’s almost that time. I was lying warm and comfy in bed last night and it hit me for the first time that I wouldn’t be in that bed for a week! The good news is it’s beautiful in Vancouver so hopefully that keeps up.

-Andrew