Selection-Inquiry Journal #1

September 18, 2019 

4:18 

Location: Museo Reina Sofia

2.Field Note: Museo Reina Sofia

Preparing for departure to Museo Reina Sofia 

Our LIU class gathered in front of the bus we were taking to Madrid. The sun was shining and it was mildly warm with a slight breeze. The bus was huge and could fit about 70 people on it. We filed a line and walked onto the bus, awaiting our journey to the city. 

On the trip: 

As we were driving to Reina Sofia, I noticed rows of large tents in several parks. The first park was to the left of the main street. Before the rows of tents started, there was a sign that said “We are homeless. We are people” written in messy black paint. The sign was on a large piece of pink fabric, and it was hanging from two trees. Below the sign, there seemed to be an entrance into the community. Under the entrance, there were people talking while holding clipboards and pencils. I hoped the bus would stop for some reason, but we were moving so fast I couldn’t take a photo. As the bus kept moving, I saw two other ladies talking with their hands. I thought to myself maybe they were enthusiastic about what they had to say or maybe talking with their hands was a part of their language they shared. A few feet from the two women talking, were two other women sitting on bench eating sandwiches. The women were enjoying their meal over conversation, in the hot sun. Next to them, were three men sitting on another bench directly under the sun. One was smoking and the others were just resting. The bus continued driving in the hectic traffic with loud honks and small cars trying to maneuver around. The bus stopped in the traffic and I looked out of the window again and there was another community of tents. No one was outside of the tents, so assumed that everyone was resting inside or possibly doing errands. The bus continued driving and there was at least a quarter of a mile of these communities, and it was very interesting to see them living there, because they seemed to have everything they needed, considering the circumstances of being what is considered “homeless.” I turned to Max while he was talking to our Professor, and asked him if he knew anything about the communities in the park. During the moments before we walked into Reina Sofia, I saw several undomiciled people. One woman stood out to me as she made conversation with an English couple traveling. I couldn’t hear the conversation but she was smiling and laughing. When she smiled, the sun would hit the middle of her face, and you could tell her spirit was lively. She stood up from the cardboard box she was sitting on and told the couple goodbye as the left. These interactions made me think about several things, one being how can undomiciled people be included back into society. Once a person is undomiciled, they are without more than just shelter, but also the means to re enter society by having a decent job, a place to live, health insurance, etc. I realized today, I want to speak to undomiciled people not about their experiences, but how society can aid in the reduction of poverty and houselessness.