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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

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, that few cultures manage to exemplify quite like the Chinese seem to do.

e40 10y ago
There's one in Oakland around Lake Merritt. She's been around as long as I have (15+ years). I've always wondered where she goes at night.
- alanh 10y ago
  I’m sure there is more than just one. :) I live in Lake Merritt too and one of them is always rooting through our trash and recycling bins, even when some residents have tried asking her not to. I haven't read the article yet, but I would rather that my trash and recyclables were strictly between me and the processing plant. For one thing, we all throw out paper with loads of exploitable information. Secondly, I am fairly certain the Bay Area sorts its trash after collection, so extracting recyclables earlier in the process isn't really of consequence.
  - IvarTheHomeless 10y ago
    Humans sort it later in the process. The elderly are just sorting it a little earlier.
zdean 10y ago
"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 an exception if you look around the world.
- swuecho 10y ago
  The Chinese who are in their 50+ probably is the most hard working people, even in China. If you check history, when they are young, china is very poor. A lot of them may have a memory of starvation. You are right, the Chinese in the young generation are not as hard working now. (Maybe I am geting old)

e40 10y ago

There's one in Oakland around Lake Merritt. She's been around as long as I have (15+ years). I've always wondered where she goes at night.

alanh 10y ago
I’m sure there is more than just one. :) I live in Lake Merritt too and one of them is always rooting through our trash and recycling bins, even when some residents have tried asking her not to. I haven't read the article yet, but I would rather that my trash and recyclables were strictly between me and the processing plant. For one thing, we all throw out paper with loads of exploitable information. Secondly, I am fairly certain the Bay Area sorts its trash after collection, so extracting recyclables earlier in the process isn't really of consequence.
- IvarTheHomeless 10y ago
  Humans sort it later in the process. The elderly are just sorting it a little earlier.

zdean 10y ago

"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 an exception if you look around the world.

swuecho 10y ago
The Chinese who are in their 50+ probably is the most hard working people, even in China. If you check history, when they are young, china is very poor. A lot of them may have a memory of starvation. You are right, the Chinese in the young generation are not as hard working now. (Maybe I am geting old)