Working Hard at Staying Jobless

WITAM! Below is the first of many (I hope) blog entries which I hope to put on Wielka Lampa every two weeks. I thought the site needed a little more words... I hope you don't disagree.

Working Hard at Staying Jobless

As a filmmaker, I should know a lot about being unemployed. But being without a job is not as bad as you might think. You can sleep late in the morning and stay up as late as you want at night. You can wear dirty clothes and shower every two days. You can spend your day watching movies, going to the park, and going out with your friends. Your time is your own and you can do with it whatever you want. Of course, you have no money, but at least you can relax.

Recently, I have noticed something odd about the beggars, drunks, and homeless people of Łódź who, from what I can tell, are all unemployed. Anyone who lives in Łódź knows the people to whom I refer. They haunt the length of Piotrkowska and are constantly bothering you for money at all hours of the day, whether you are having a beer, eating lunch, or walking to school. Some even wear collared shirts. Some have nice shoes. Once, I even found myself in the following situation with a beggar:

BEGGAR: “Can you give me 50 grosze for some beer?”
ME: “But you have ear phones. You’re listening to music.”
BEGGAR: “So?”
ME: “So you have money for ear phones and an mp3 player, but you are still begging me for money?”
BEGGAR: “Yeah. So?”

I paused to reflect on the situation and heard the music coming from his ear phones.

ME: “Wait. What are you listening to?”
BEGGAR: “Puff Daddy.”
ME: "Is that More Money, More Problems?"
BEGGAR: "Yes."
ME: “Please go away."

Łódź beggars are really the most ambitious I have ever seen. At 8 o’clock in the morning, they are sitting on the corner asking for money. At 8 o’clock in the evening, they are asking for money. And at 4 in the morning, they are asking for money. It’s the same guys every time. When do they sleep if they are always working the streets? And they must recognize me each time. They know they already asked me, but they keep coming back. That’s determination. What if you don’t speak Polish? Not a problem for them. They will ask you in English or in German. That’s ambition. And they all know each other and share their money together. That’s organization.

Call me crazy, but it seems to me that for a group of people determined not to find jobs, the beggars of Łódź are working pretty hard at staying jobless.