I’m Theodore Phillip William Cao I. I got this flower at the Hare Krishna Temple this morning. I’m not a member, I’m a polytheist. I’m retiring right now, I’m on disability, but I might go back to whatever available career.

What brought you to San Diego?

I became homeless living in San Francisco after five years so I moved down South. I used to be an engineer in New York. But life gave me another path. I thought of it as an offer. You can say yes or no to it. I said yes. I go with the flow right now. Survival is the key. Something to eat, a shelter to live and family and friends to talk to.

I was born and raised in Yangon in Myanmar. My childhood was very peaceful. When I was Seventeen my family migrated to the US and I entered high school for two more years in Washington, Pennsylvania. I felt very at home. Americans were receptive, caring and loving. Then I went to the Pennsylvania State University. Afterwards I practiced structural engineering in New York for about five years until I became burned out. Then I got on with my life. Life is a journey. I started traveling around the United States in my car.  Mostly I stayed with friends from college or family. I went to every state except Hawaii and North Dakota. I kept traveling until I went bankrupt. Then I became homeless and God brought me to San Diego. It was here that I came in contact with the Rescue Mission. It provides meals, shelter, education and job training to people experiencing homelessness. They also offer an intensive 12-month program that you can go through as a „student.“ They want to confront and overcome the issues that lead to homelessness and focus on the needs of the mind, body and soul. The program consists of three semesters. In the first, wellness, where you will see a doctor and a dentist and begin your therapy sessions; secondly, education and training, where you will receive help in obtaining educational degrees or certificates to achieve your individual goals; and thirdly job training. In the final semester, called Employment and Housing, well, participants learn how to find employment and housing. At the end, there is a graduation ceremony.

Currently, I am staying at Namaste House. It’s a sober living place. I found good friends there. But people come and go. All of them went through a lot of things in life.

Why did you come here today?

I came here to enjoy the ocean. And to meet you.

What means the ocean to you?

The circle of life. The whole thing. Sun, moon, stars and the whole world. Or simpler: life.  

What makes you optimistic about the future?

Right now I’m dealing with a lot of negativity and pain. The earth elements, fire, water, earth, space and air, have been abused by humans and I can feel the pain. Everything is out of balance. But I don’t know what the future brings to us. Yesterday I didn’t know that I will meet you today.

What is your motto for life?

Explore and see. Living is more than being an outsider or observer.

What is the most beautiful thing that has happened to you this week?

Maybe you are. I haven’t spoken to anyone like this in a long time.