A Small interaction with a 67 year old Zhang: A migrant worker in Beijing who migrated from a small village near Chengde, Hebei province.

Q1.When did you first come to Beijing? Why did you decide to become a beggar?

A.Many men from my village moved to bigger cities for better jobs and pay. They moved all over the country. The men went to the cities as laborers, while the women went to work in factories. I decided to pursue the trend, though I was too old & frail to continue doing manual labor. I decided to go to Beijing and become a beggar. That was 5 years ago. I feel this is the only job I can do at this point in my life.

Q2.Tell me about your early life?

A.I am a farmer & I’ve a son & 2 grand children.We have a three room own house now. Due to ill health my wife passed away few years ago.

Q3. Did you attend school?

A. I attended 1 year of elementary school, but then dropped out to work on the farm. I can’t read & write.

Q4. Can you describe a regular day in your life? Where do you “live”?

A. I sleep on the ground under the bridge near Liangmaqiao. I wake up at 5 or 6 am and then begin wandering throughout the city. I make it back in the late evening and sleep.

Q5. How much money do you usually make per day?

A. On average, I make 1,500 RMB ($220) per month in total.

Q6. What do you do with your money?

A. I spend very little, no more than 5 to 10 RMB per day on meals. I actually go home each month to visit my family.

Q7. How do you go back home?

A. I sneak onto a train and sleep between the railway cars. It’s a 7 hour train ride.

Q8. Have you ever been caught?

A.Yes, I’ve been caught several times, but the train staff pitied me. Only once have I been required to pay for a ticket, after being caught.

Q9. Do you ever dream at night?

A. My best dream is that a blowing wind carrying tons of money towards me.

Q10. If you won 100,000RMB what will you do with that money?

A. I will go back to my village & start a small business & also solve my health problems.

Q11. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would u go?

A. I would go to America. Heard that It is beautiful.

Q12. Do you have any plans for the future?

A. I will work here for 2 or 3 more years, then will retire for good.