Jan Golembiewski

I enjoy the kindness diaries, but I have to say, I cringe when Leon goes begging. When I was 19-20 I travelled across Africa (in a story I tell in my book, ‘Magic’ published by Transit Lounge, Melbourne 2018) and I too had nothing. Much less. No car, virtually no clothes. No passport! But I never once begged, I never told anyone when I was hungry or needed a place to stay - that is, unless they asked. I didn’t pressure people to be kind. And sometimes that meant sleeping on the side of the road or going hungry. But like Leon, I too discovered the kindness of people (and sometimes how brutal they can be!) So my cringing is because I relate!