Panhandling seems to be a problem everywhere. While we were in Strasbourg, France we saw the in the tourist areas. Along with people walking around selling junk for exorbitant prices. You just had to pay attention. The teachers were having a cup of coffee while students explored the La Petit France area of town. We had a perfect spot on the middle of the area and it was our meeting place. We had a couple of students that got back early and took a seat on some steps of a church across from us. In due time, Luke fell asleep leaning against the post. His hand lazily flopped down with his palm up. I sat and watched it or a few minutes. When he was completely asleep, I snuck over to him and put some coins around his leg and a couple in his hand. I went back to my chair and waited. As we sat there and waited a couple of other people walking by dropped in some change. It was hysterical and the last person tossing a couple of coins in his hand woke him up. I was in a fog but realized that something was amiss. He looked up and around and started to understand what was happening. We gave away the joke because we couldn’t stop laughing. He was a little grumpy until he realized that he made three Euros.
The picture for today is a group of our students sitting on the same stairs. I couldn’t find the pictures I wanted but his brother sat on the same stairs for me a couple of years later.