11–20 of 46 posts
I used to live right near there; the Cadbury factory is on Gladstone just north of Dundas street. If she owns that house with her husband, it's probably worth just a bit north of a CAD $1 million. Just the rent on a semi-decent house in that neighbourhood would be at least $2,500/month, if not $3,000.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> To the city they're a nuisance, because they take recycling money out of the pocket of the municipality. For the metal cans, maybe, but minimally for the bottles. Scrap glass isn't worth much, but the ones the bottle ladies' returns get refilled, which is far less energy-intensive than recycling.
Wouldn't the city be able to collect the bottle deposit too? I'm assuming 5-15 cents each is much more than they'd get by recycling the glass.
I'm sure this is a common phenomena anywhere with bottle deposits, but everywhere I've lived in the GTA has had at least one of these people. They can be polarizing. Some hate them, some are indifferent, others appreciate them. To the city they're a nuisance, because they take recycling money out of the pocket of the municipality. To some residents they're considered a threat or an annoyance, afraid of theft or annoy…
When I hired the janitorial company at the office I included in the contract that they could keep any proceeds they collected from extracting recyclables in the office trash. For me the benefit was that it didn't matter which can you threw out recyclables in, the janitorial staff would sort them out and recycle them. It gave them a bit more money in their pocket, and it made it easier on folks trying to figure out which can to use for what.
I live in a microstudio condo building in SoMA, San Francisco. Rent is ~$2000. It's always surreal to see this old lady with an asian "carrying pole" in the elevator. There's no rent control here or government sponsored housing of sorts. Either the lady makes a lot of money doing this (doubtful), or some generous person is letting her live for free (these are ~100 square feet microstudios, barely space to roommate),…
I know at least one old timer (early eighties) that gets really happy when heading over to exchange his bag of aluminum cans. He lives in his daughters home and he doesn't really need money. My thinking is that it makes him happy to earn a bit of money completely on his own, at his age.
I live in a microstudio condo building in SoMA, San Francisco. Rent is ~$2000. It's always surreal to see this old lady with an asian "carrying pole" in the elevator. There's no rent control here or government sponsored housing of sorts. Either the lady makes a lot of money doing this (doubtful), or some generous person is letting her live for free (these are ~100 square feet microstudios, barely space to roommate),…
I live in a microstudio condo building in SoMA, San Francisco. Rent is ~$2000. It's always surreal to see this old lady with an asian "carrying pole" in the elevator. There's no rent control here or government sponsored housing of sorts. Either the lady makes a lot of money doing this (doubtful), or some generous person is letting her live for free (these are ~100 square feet microstudios, barely space to roommate),…
There are quite a few of these ladies in San Francisco too. They have enormous bags filled bottles and cans, which can sometimes stink with the remnants of old beer or soda. They ride public transport between locations with their huge bags taking up a seat next to them. Sometimes the bus driver or passengers object but mostly people just leave them alone. They represent a testament to hard work, even in later life, t…
Really? I can't think of a culture/society where people that need to work hard don't do so...even into old age. Even as migrants to America, the first and sometimes second generation bring a strong work ethic with them. I'm sure the Chinese are very hard working...but they're hardly an exception if you look around the world.
I live in a microstudio condo building in SoMA, San Francisco. Rent is ~$2000. It's always surreal to see this old lady with an asian "carrying pole" in the elevator. There's no rent control here or government sponsored housing of sorts. Either the lady makes a lot of money doing this (doubtful), or some generous person is letting her live for free (these are ~100 square feet microstudios, barely space to roommate),…
For Most of the old people collecting bottles, when they were young, China is very poor and have to work very hard to get enough food. I guess they are in the habit of hard working.
Do something and get some reward, even it is so small, is very different form do nothing.
In the article, "June" get a way to communicate with the neighborhood, and the people are kind to her. In this kind of mutual kindness, She feel her life.
There are quite a few of these ladies in San Francisco too. They have enormous bags filled bottles and cans, which can sometimes stink with the remnants of old beer or soda. They ride public transport between locations with their huge bags taking up a seat next to them. Sometimes the bus driver or passengers object but mostly people just leave them alone. They represent a testament to hard work, even in later life, t…
"They represent a testament to hard work, even in later life, that few cultures manage to exemplify quite like the Chinese seem to do." Really? I can't think of a culture/society where people that need to work hard don't do so...even into old age. Even as migrants to America, the first and sometimes second generation bring a strong work ethic with them. I'm sure the Chinese are very hard working...but they're hardly…
You are right, the Chinese in the young generation are not as hard working now. (Maybe I am geting old)