I'm a very sheltered person, I found out today Options

[DaTru KataLYST]

Today -
I found out I am sheltered.

My friend (in my Chinese class, just knew him this year) came to my house to practice for a skit, and he was really amazed at how big my house is. (I really hate it when friends say that, it makes me feel like I'm climbing on top of them, which sucks) Yea, we practiced our skit and then we got to the subject of where we live. We (there were four of us) talked about the topic for 3 hours. And the whole time I was totally shocked. My friend lives in a ghetto, like, a real one. Where there are drug dealers and prostitutes and frequent muggings/robberies and drivebys.

I mean, I knew this stuff goes on, but now I truely have a friend who personally knows about this stuff. I had my first lesson on true street smarts: never be outside after sundown, when taking the bus never make eye contact/sit close to the driver/get off at stops at a convenience store where cops hang around/mind your own business/after getting off run home, stay grouped. The whole time I was shocked because I'm a sheltered dumbass who lives in a district where the only thing close to crime is the infrequent fight and impromptu drag races.

I really respect him a lot now, probably more than anyone else. He's put up with this stuff all his life, and he loves his life. He even says it's not that bad, but in my eyes it looks like a horrible way to live. His friends smoke weed and E and stuff like that. And he's tempted to smoke a joint everytime they're in a circle, but he always hesitates till they take it away from him for taking too long. Man, I totally respect him like crazy for that.

He doesn't look like the type that lives in a ghetto, nothing at all. But hey, he's the kinda guy that breaks stereotypes. He goes to the best public high school in the city, gets good grades, deals with the shit in his neighborhood, and still 100% drug free. I'll never be anything better than him!

So this thread is dedicated to my super kewlest friend Thomas!
For giving me an epiphany today.



Ok, so this thread has not much to do with you guys, maybe some won't even get to this part (long post i know), but:

Do any of you know friends who live in ghettos/bad neighborhoods. How do they deal with it? If you're sheltered like me, were you shocked to find out what happens in their neighborhoods? Sorry about the long post. Its off my chest now.

[*x____duckii*]

No, but I live nearby some ghetto areas. I'm just used to seeing people do drugs and prostitutes standing at the corner now.