luni, 27 aprilie 2009

Going to Delhi

I wrote the following on the puke bag from the plane ---which makes it a unique piece of text, as this is the most dignified use I have found for the plane puke-bag, so far.

I have transited Paris. CDG. For crying out loud, that airport is a freakin' maze and I have thanked my mother every 5 minutes for teaching me French. Try speaking English with the staff there and you get the cold shoulder as bonus to the bus ride that will take you to an alleged terminal,that proves to be another bus stop for the next ride. And just when you thought it was over....guess again, mate! You're in for another bus ride, that is supposed to take you to the plane, but there is no parking space over there, so the driver leaves you in the middle of the runway, in pouring rain, with a satisfied grin of punishment for the fact that YOU HAVE NOT USED FRENCH WHEN YOU ADDRESSED HIM.

By this time...I was already praying (IN FRENCH!) that the plane I was heading for was the right one, and that my luggage had developed artificial intelligence that would guide it to the monster-craft taking us to New Delhi.
Looking back on the last 24 h, I realized that I have had my fair share of weird stuff, so I decided to relax a bit, sit down and simply wait for the next bus...
Then there's my regular weird encounter of the day -- a must-happen to all people (if it doesn't go ignored).
As I was counting my contradictory feelings I had about this trip, a guy sat next to me and asked me if I was on the same flight that he was on...I add one more contradictory feeling to the list compiled minutes before, and I reply that I surely am..if he was going to Delhi...

Once on board, the gentleman (of Indian origin, elderly, currently living in the UK) discovered that he had a seat in the front, while I had a sit in the back of the aircraft. One hour later, the guy unveiled for me his experience, his choices, his career.

I learned more about India more than I would have ever asked for...

He told me I have a good future ahead...and I realize he may have complimented me before ...but I have always had selective hearing:)

miercuri, 1 aprilie 2009

In fata Ambasadei Chinei la Bucuresti va asteapta niste oameni…sa va multumeasca

Sunt demni si nu se plang. Nu ar dori sa fie vazuti de copiii lor in situatia in care se afla. Gasesc puterea sa zambeasca atunci cand merge cineva sa ii ajute….atat cat se poate. Ne fac poze cu telefoanele mobile ca sa-si aminteasca de noi.

Chinezii care locuiesc in corturi de plastic in fata Ambasadei Chinei la Bucuresti sunt 170 la numar. Sunt acolo din noiembrie 2008 si pentru ca ei nu striga si nu ameninta, lumea nu a inteles ca sunt acolo pentru a protesta impotriva unor abuzuri. Intermedierea angajarii acestor oameni in santiere de constructii din Romania a fost facuta, pare-se, in conditii ce sfideaza rationalul. Chinezii si-au platit practic venirea in Romania, imprumutandu-se la banci in tara natala. La doar cateva luni de la angajarea in Romania, s-au trezit fara un loc de munca, cu datorii in China, sub cerul liber. Unii dintre ei au actele de sedere expirate. Nu exista banii necesari pentru repatrierea lor, iar ei traiesc din ceea ce li se aduce de mancare de catre o mana de oameni.

Desi sunt 170, par a fi invizibili pentru cei care ar trebui sa fie acolo, asigurandu-le conditii normale de existenta.

M-am gandit ca atunci cand unui om i se neaga drepturile elementare ceva se intampla…Nu s-a intamplat deocamdata nici un miracol pentru ca acesti oameni sa se intoarca acasa. Dar s-a intamplat miracolul numit omenie. Multi dintre cei pe care ii cunosc au adus cate ceva de mancare (da, in vreme de criza economica, oamenii care nu cauta sa-si faca publicitate au cumparat orez si au strans mana cuiva pentru care e PRIETEN).

Aceste actiuni continua si ne-am dori sa implicam cat mai multe persoane, insa ne-ar ajuta foarte mult daca am avea sustinere din partea unui hipermarket…

Ne gandim sa ii ajutam si cu un proiect: cei care doresc sa invete sa comunice in chineza vorbita ( nivel elementar), pot trece prin Herastrau si incerca sa invete chineza…Pun la dispozitia oricui materiale de studiu de limba chineza (Mandarin). Pentru acest minim efort al lor, le puteti dona o suma care credeti ca acopera serviciul.

Imi doresc ca respectul pe care l-am primit eu din partea lor sa poata fi inapoiat prin respectul nostru fata de demnitatea acestor oameni.