Conversations with Furkan (II)
Posted by admin on Friday, January 18, 2013 · Leave a Comment
Furkan is one of the volunteers who came to Romania as a volunteer with EVS programme. He came here for seeking and expanding his knowledge of life. Since he arrived he has done all he likes: Football, singing, dancing, learning languages, discovering the city, travelling, make hitch-hiking….Summarizing, he likes to say that he is “learning the learning itself”.
He studied Sociology in Istanbul and thanks to this he could travel as Erasmus exchange to Czech Republic, where he could observe a different world….
You were studying for 6 months in Czech Republic, how was it?
Incredible! Czech Republic formed and occupied important part of my life for a while. It was not postpone something. I can’t tell it was focused hundred percent to Sociology and University. Free time and travelling was stronger. Because all students know that Erasmus courses we’ve taken is not that hard. Also lectures are so soft to us. Nevertheless, I spoke Czech; I studied some of courses in Czech language and some courses in English. My University was so multi-cultural, if I tell you how many nationality I met in one semester in Masaryk not to mentioning even Erasmus friend of mine. I talk about permanent students. So look, Germany, Norway, Kamerun, Ghana, Poland, Turkey, Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Russia. . This is so far what I remembered. It was great university.
What were aspects of sociology that most interested to you here?
Inter-cultural exchanging . A Society in the eyes of foreign student and researcher was the most interesting. Why? simply. Imagine that you’re in a society whose you don’t know its values at all and its background and how people acts out in community. That is so interesting. As I was just observing in Turkey about closed Institutions, In Czech Republic, all society from Bus to Trains, Hospitals, bus-stops, shops were fields where I could have observed something .
Did you see lots of differences between the Turkish and Czech university plans?
Yes I did. Website of Masaryk University was so different. The number of students who study in Class is smaller. As I was Erasmus student, I was not going to University every day as I was going to my Turkish University. Exams were so different. Also during first 7-10 days I had got countless quiz regarding to entrance of Sociology and this small quiz were also affecting your year-end marks in semester. Adding to this, I was doing many presentations every week. It was compulsory for me.
As a Turkish citizen, what were the most important social differences that did you find in Brno?
– Czech People doesn’t scream out to sell their products in open -air bazaar as Turkish people do.
– Czech People (couples, girls/boys) easily were making love in bus, train, subway etc. , even some point public sex. Because after I learnt that a lot Czech girls do this public sex for money. In Turkey, to make love in public is not general attitude.
– In terms of Human respect and Human rights Czech people developed more than Turkey obviously. One thing that made me confused. While subway or train or bus stops and passengers try to ride in, people were making one line and nobody was trying to force someone front of them. It was so in Harmony.
– Czech people are drinking beer instead of water, Coca Cola and fruit juices.
Christmas in Turkey!
Posted by admin on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 · Leave a Comment
Last Christmas I was travelling around Turkey. Although saying this isn’t so simple, because this country is so big….with 75 million of inhabitants dwelling along a vast territory…one has to be accurate for being understood. I consider myself lucky because I visited charming cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Capadocia, Izmir, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pamukkale or Sirince. And the most important, I visited, knew and saw houses, traditions and habits of authentic Turkish families. This country has a great History and people, and a great museums!!!. Actually, the Museum of Civilizations of Anatolia, located in Ankara, contains precious samples of earlier cultures which inhabited this land before Turkish. This museum was considered the most important museum in Europe (2007) regarding its amount of important pieces from ancient ages and its quality. Located on the top of a central hill, just to a hundred meters from the castle of the capital, this unique place is a great source of knowledge for explaining the origin and history of this country. Some examples of its richness are the reconstruction of the tomb of Midas King, sculpture of Cibeles goddess (Phrigyan symbol which represents the mother earth) or pieces from Hititas period that represents the customs of this old cultures who inhabited Central Anatolia around 1700-1200 B.C. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the famous leader who headed the independence and creation of the modern Turkey, considered very important to establish this museum as an attempt for finding, unifying and showing to the turkish population the value of their roots. Through delivering the cultural heritage he created a powerful sense of nationalism, essential for the newborn Turkey in 1923.
With such a big session of anthropology, after visiting the museum I had to take a breath and drink a good Salep!….If you don’t know what is this wonderful juice, ask to Mr. Google or visit Turkey, because Salep is one of its fortunes for the gourmand visitor….I tasted it for first close to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the second day of my trip. Since this moment I couldn’t stop of drinking! It is a soft white liquid, a mixture flour made from Orchid’s tuber and milk with spices and cinnamon inside…a pleasure for tasting. As some turkish told me, doctors recommend to take one a day in winter. If you follow this instruction, you won’t get a cold with the bad weather!……
Lastly, thanks to my dear Ogui, my fellow traveller who kept all the time next to me, helping to me inconditionally with my language barriers, trying to make me feel as a member of his family and culture, giving to me the opportunity to discover another piece of his pure and genuine vision of life.
Conversations with Furkan
Posted by admin on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Furkan has his own style. His face expresses a high variety of gestures and his unique talent: sensitiveness and a great diplomacy. A conversation with him can be full of adjectives, but never boring because he has lots of interests. Even though he would like to be musician (actually, he records himself singing his favorite songs) or painter, finally he studied Sociology. This experience gave him lots of knowledge that he will tell us about in the following interview. Furthermore, thanks to his travels around Europe: Poland, UK or Czech Republicat, where he was studying in an Erasmus exchange, he got a wide view of social and cultural diversity.
On May 2012 he came to Romania from Beyoglu, European part of Istanbul where he was born, for working as a volunteer. Here, he’s not working as a sociologist, but If someone enters into his room, the mark of this ability rounds the four walls long. He has a collection of money from more than thirty different countries and several proverbs hold on the walls, written into different languages. His curiosity and good disposition made possible this interview.
What are you doing in Brasov?
I’m volunteering here in Romania since almost 7 months, I’m working in Asociatia Colors, Romanian organization and I’m trying to make activity that teaches something to local people , to influence them and socialize them and eventually so as to create happy people no matter how old they’re. I didn’t know to be honest that Brasov is such beautiful and awesome city like I noticed so far, I’m lucky to be in this pretty city and I get benefit of it so much. This project is not that special for me, It could be something else. Let’s say, this is just coincidence.
However, you studied sociology, which is not exactly related with this kind of job, isn’t it? Why did you study Sociology?
I studied sociology, because I believed there is a lot of problem in Turkey recently based on structure of sociology. Although the fact that my way to sociology has track out now for some reasons. I did not find some theories so realistic and applicable. For this reason, I decided to discover life, community and people. Not from the books.
From your point of view, what is the objective of Sociology?
Objective of Sociology is based on function of society, social changings, conflicts and identities.
Sociologists are considered as observers of social mass. They try to explain changes in society. In this case, what is the difference between a sociologist and an anthropologyst?
Well, I received Anthropology Knowledge too during my University study. Hence, difference is very simple. Sociologists are observing , analyzing making surveys and questionnaires to enlighten some realities or finding a solution to problems. While doing this, They’re not in the centre of attention, I mean they’ re more likely taking passive role as member of society actively being a part of it.
As to Anthropologists, They’re important part of their research. Because They’re working, giving effort, participating, feeling, living, tasting as well as they observe. Plus, at some point, Anthropologists can work with small tribes and communes as Sociologist most likely focused on general community issues.
Sociology, as a science, tries to explain changes in the cultural movements. So, do you think that foreigner observer are more effective than locals? I mean, does objectivity exist regarding the figure of the sociologist and considering what is its own background?
I think a foreigner observer is more effective than local one, the reason of this is that local observer willingly or unwillingly stuck in culture and tradition of his own nation and society and can’t escape. So He can’t be so objective, probably He would make some comments that can be seen a “healing” on his society that is untrue.
Tell me what is the most important essay or book regarding sociology that most influenced your thinking and why
Peter L. Berger and its essay called “The Social Construction of reality” is the most influenced on me and on my thinking too. Because I noticed that Social code of society and its constructions are everything for a community. Every single thing depends on this how we build the reality on society. For instance, gestures and meaning of body acts, changeable from country to country.
Tell me three aspects of character that a good sociologist should have or develop
1- To be foresee,
2- To be open-minded
3- to be brave
What do you think that a sociologist can contribute more with?
He must be firstly Human and tolerated and open-viewed. Then he can contribute more. Cuz I saw many sociologists that were not human in my opinion. Contribution of Sociologist is depends what country this sociologist belongs to. For instance, While American sociologists can work as press and go through other continents and make interview or question-answer forms or documentaries, Turkish Sociologist almost do nothing. If it is Ph. Dr., then He writes couple of books and makes read his students when he started to work in University.
What would you like to do in the future regarding your career and studies?
I don’t want my future job with sociology. I think I became capitalist, most of my colleagues became ordinary officers with low salary even though they struggled much all over years. Thinking I deserve better, I won’t keep on with it. I like Tourism, Guiding, Language Schools and Museums more…
To be continued…..
Conversation with Alexandra
Posted by admin on Thursday, December 13, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Hello, I am Alexandra, but my friends call me Alexa or Ake. I was born in Brasov in August 24th, 1991. Nowadays I am studying chemical engineering with specialization in environmental protection.
….She is shy and patient, and likes to find her own happiness by helping others. Despite of her modest posture, she is an authentic dreamer. All nights she falls asleep, thinking in her future trip around South Korea, whose architecture, customs and culture fascinates her. She likes to imagine herself with a back-sack, some money and her dog, running around the world and living a great love-story…..Actually, Alexandra is not only optimistic, but also a great romantic! Her favorite book is “Wthering Heights” by Emily Bronte, and Patrick Swayze her favorite actor since she saw for first Dirty Dancing. Perhaps this personal view of love, cinema and travel represents an inflexion of her soft and attentive character. She likes animals and has a parrot called Cipi. One of her favorite activities is to go through the mountains and visiting the sea during the summer.
She is modern and likes advanced techniques …a good prove of it is when she talks about her favorite event in the History of Romania…”When the communism fell in 1989, otherwise, I couldn’t have o many things which are so important for me, like technology tools and freedom”
1. Describe in a short sentence your impressions about your city. What Does Brasov represent for you?
I love so much Brasov, because I admire its History and it is surrounded by nature, mountains, Being here you have so many places to visit.
2. What do you like to do in your free time?
Go out with my friends, listening music, reading, shopping, relaxing and so forth.
3. What did you study and why?
I study Chemical engineering. I like my choice, If I could chose again I would do the same. I study how to save the nature, the planet, the air that we breathe, it’s amazing.
4. There was someone who influenced this choice?
Anyone influenced me. I accidentally applied to it, I mean, I didn’t know in depth what I would study. At the beginning, I wanted to run away from my mother’s choice. She liked literature. Actually, I like to read but only for my pleasure. Finally, I decided by myself because I didn’t want to destroy this passion.
- 5. What would you like to do with your work in the future, the practical application or job that would you like to be involved in?
I would like to work somewhere, it doesn’t matter where. For me the most important is to be able on enjoy with my work. If I do what I like it doesn’t matter where, I only want to be involved in my field.
6. Why did you decided to work as a volunteer?
I became volunteer in high-school at one hospital called Hospice Casa Sperantei, because my grandpa was sick and I wanted to do something in order to help him and others like him. There, I used to work within activities in relation with creativity workshops, cleaning. Sometimes I used to read book with children. Merely staying and entertaining them, because those people were very sick (cancer), so this hospital take care of them. On the whole, I helped them to forget a bit about this.
And after 2 or 3 years from this experience, I wanted to do something with my life, I ment, to be involved in activities, to meet new people.
7. What thing, knowledge or value do you expect to take from this experience? Do you think that this would be useful in your future?
I feel more open mind, learning how to deal with others, listening different points of view, learning some things about others. I practice how to be creative and active, and yes I think this will be very useful in my life: both, in my future job and with my family.
8. Till now, what was the best moment as a volunteer?
This question is very difficult for me because I had lots of beautiful memories with all the volunteers, kids, seniors. I can’t remark only one.
9. For you, what are the most difficult challenges as a volunteer?
Speaking English, using imagination and playing with small children.
10. Describe in one word how do you feel working as a volunteer.
Happiness.
Lost in translation: Istanbul (chapter II)
Posted by admin on Monday, November 26, 2012 · Leave a Comment
…When Aitor discovered that he was in Turkey, instinctively he thought “it will be a long trip”.
He woke up in the seaside of Kusadasi, in the South-West of the country. He was lost and he couldn’t remember anything: What happened before? However, He should continue his trip…to where? It doesn’t matter, but that place, thought beautiful, wasn’t his place.
First, he sought into his pockets any trace of money or documents. Nothing. Second, he asked to someone”what is the date?” : June 4th 2012. At least, this information gave him some practical ideas. He made hitch-hiking till Istanbul in order to take contact with any Spanish institution. When he arrived there, he visited the embassy of Spain, he got a passport and some money from his peers. Some of the employers from the embassy invited him to their home and he could get a bag with some useful things and food. Furthermore, he could have a warm shower. In the bathroom, Aitor could see his image in the mirror. Suddenly, the picture of a great storm crossed his mind and closed the eyes. He scared but this feeling was short in time and disappeared. When Aitor opened his eyes again, he could realize himself as healthy, in a good shape and still young. He smiled and prepared all in order to continue his trip. He shaked his hands for last time with his hosts and went out.
“Istanbul is great”, he though. He could bring to his mind some information about the city: G. Flauvert also traveled to here and said that, in the future, Istanbul would be the capital of the world. Aitor felt lucky because he also perceived Istanbul as a rich, beauty and cosmopolitan city. In the way he saw a big bazaar and decided to go inside. In front of him, there were tens of small shops and impulsive sellers, who were offering traditional products: lahmacun, sakuska, patlikan kebab, koban salatasi, cacik, ezo gelik and lots of national products. He took something to drink and walked around the stands. He saw a bright and colorful shop and stopped to see the ornaments. Suddenly, a beautiful woman stopped next to him. Then, both of them looked to each other and smiled. The woman bought a traditional scarf. In a while, Aitor kept in the same position, looking to her.
-Hello foreigner, are you lost? The woman said.
– Well, something similar – but suddenly, he changed his speech, considering his real situation such a long and unknown, and he decided to present himself as a traveler.
-Really?
– I mean, I am lost into this bazaar, that’s amazing. I am Aitor, from Spain. I came here because one of my friends recommended it to me.
-Ah! That’s great. Usually I come here and buy some bargains. I was born in this neighbor. Do you like the city?
– Yes, for sure! It’s great. I still didn’t visit too many places but my feelings here are intense.
– It’s good. Well, I have a bit of time till the lunch, would you like to take a coffee?
-Of course! I do. So, what is your name?
– I’m Merve.
Again, an image of a horrible storm crossed his brain. He couldn’t explain why this weird feelings, why this strange images into his mind. But Merve made him to feel something. Aitor touched his stomach in a gesture of pain. Merve become worried: are you ok Aitor?…are you ok? The image of her started to be dizzy….Aitor fainted.
When opened his eyes, he smetl to jasmine. He was in the Merve’s home. The atmosphere was quite comfortable and the space was designed in a Turkish modern style. Merve studied fine arts and her sense of style was pure and sharp. On the table, a cup of hot Turkish coffee was waiting to him. They’re speaking all day about history, art and music, and Aitor felt attraction to her. They became closer, and closer. And don’t know how, but Aitor found his fingers playing with Merve’s hair. Aitor though “there’s no stop, I’ll kiss her”. She caught his intention and decided to take part. She sat on the top of him and rounded his waist with her legs. Suddenly, he touched the TV remote by mistake and the image appeared in the screen. It was an international new offered by an English channel: “We already don’t know the causes of this accident. The surveillance services found the boat completely empty one week ago, in the Mediterranean Sea. The rescue services are still seeking the area, but for the moment, no one knows what could happen. However, we guess that a Spanish person was in the boat because of its international reference code”. Aitor couldn’t believe it. He still didn’t have complete memory, but something burned into him…
-I’m sorry Merve, I have to go.
– Are you sure? Is something wrong? You can keep here if you don’t feel good.
-No, thank you very much. Yes, I have to do something important. It was great to meet you. Perhaps in another occasion.
Merve gave him a book as a kind of souvenir for his visit. In the outdoor, Merve hugged him and whispered to his ear: “Beware the bridge. See you soon”. Aitor couldn’t understand the entirely meaning of it, but he didn’t have much time. In the street, he felt strange and run, run, run till the train station.
Europe and EVS
Posted by admin on Saturday, November 24, 2012 · Leave a Comment
How it works European Voluntary Service? Who is a volunteer?
There is some money, lots of projects, lots of countries and lots of volunteers. Local organizations present their projects and European Union adjudicates financial aid. Theory says that the objective is to encourage international exchange and youth in action among European countries. Once local organizations get approval, they select volunteers from different countries through an intermediary agent, the so called sending-organizations. S0 receives volunteers, gives them information about this program and puts in contact the volunteer and the hosting organization. When the volunteer arrives to the European destination, hosting organization provides flat, food, transport and pocket money. I am still writing about theory.
My second question is: What does it means volunteer? What does an evs volunteer do?
From my point of view, a volunteer would be a person involved in social and educative actions. Philosophy related to this kind of program is based on the development of personal skills. Also means to work without the expectation of getting economic or personal profit. Considering this, I can imply that a volunteer must give in his time and effort as a generous act of voluntary decision. A volunteer should try to help others and offer some value, that is to say, the volunteer gives any useful portion of his/her time and ideals. However, the point where ideal and time emerges, the concept of volunteer starts to be relative. So, the goal should be to get balance between me and others and to understand meanings between local, national and international.
One of the most interesting points of this program is the idea of voluntary work based on methods of non-formal education. This policy protects the subjective conceptions and freedom of expression for the volunteer since he can establish his/her own method of helping or teaching, which doesn’t have to be attached to regulated programs. This topic is directly related with the binomial autonomy – cooperation into a team. It means that if I am a volunteer, I shouldn’t have to follow instructions permanently; but it also means that I must know how to organize my own time; it means that I could make proposals and spend my time in tasks where I could help others or develop myself in a constructive way; but also means that I should get results. At least, I must have the possibility to do it. Where possibilities exist, opportunities can be found.
But this is not so easy because: What is the most effective way and how could I measure it? Where are limits between my personal achievements and cooperation into schedules made by others? Do I know myself? Do I assume my limits? How does my personal condition operate within international contexts?
On the other hand; can ideals overcome bureaucracy? If international public institutions regulate and national ones manage the control: How does this administrative division influence the concrete reality of the volunteer? Who are responsible and how are established the gravity of conflicts? In this case: What is the real interest and value of diplomacy? If philosophy of th
is program is designed by macro policies and and micro-policies of each country execute aspects related to the daily routine; can be possible a real balance between philosophy and pragmatism? How are ethical criteria performed by each project and country?
It makes me think about the idea of Europe. A common idea, a common economic policy established over a great cultural and historical diversity. The same policy embraces and works into different realities. It makes me think about the meaning of Europe, and I decided to look for some information. There’re two interpretations highly analyzed: one, regarding its ethimology: Europa is compsed by eu (thurh) and opsis (eyes). Some researches reject the Greek origin of this word and consider influences from previous languages (Europe as extensive view). Europe was also a mythological figure, daughter of Phoenician king Agenon. Zeus, metamorphosed into a white bull, kidnapped and carried her to the island of Crete. However, there is a third meaning of Europe: Jupiter’s satellite discovered by Galileo. When I think about my condition as European citizen, I don’t know why, but the image of a satellite round my mind…
Some questions are not easy.
The price of Money
Posted by admin on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Hassan always was dreaming with a bike. He sought it for first on the way to the school. From long ago Hassan used to take the bus. His father was driver and had lots of friends into the field. Because of this, he could take the bus all day for free. However, since Hassan had started seventh grade, he wanted to go by walking. This was a personal decision that his parents, at the beginning, couldn’t understand very well. The school was almost 45 minutes far from his home and it meant an extra effort. But Hassan took this decision and nothing could change his brain. For him, this walking to the school was the most peaceful moment of the day. Furthermore, he felt that this activity made his body stronger and healthy.
In the second semester, Hassan decided to change his path. From the first day he used to take the same track and he wanted to try a small change. The streets around his neighbor were ordered and this factor didn’t represent a waste of time or any risk. He was walking around a long street and then, beyond the crystal, he saw the bike of his dreams. It was like a perfect skeleton; a real incarnation of the speed made by light aluminum. It was painted in black and red. The wheels were perfectly adapted to the mountain and pedals were reinforced with an especial protection.
After the school, he came running to home and told to his parents that he wanted to get this bike. At the beginning, Hassan was so emotive that even he didn’t ask them. His speech sounded like an order. He was interrupting constantly to his parents, creating the most creative answers in order to convey the most convincing arguments and benefits that the bike would give to him: “ you don’t think so? This is a great invest!”. No one existed around him, nothing could stop him. He had clear idea about what he wanted.
Suddenly, his father told him: “come with me, I will help you to get your dreams”. In this moment Hassan felt the happiest person around the world. Both of them got in the bus and took the way to the shop. However, the bus changed its path and Hassan asked to his father what was going on. Before his father answered, the doors opened and they got out of the bus, just in front of a bazaar. At the beginning, Hassan didn’t understand nothing. His father had a big bag full of lemons and he gave it to Hassan and said: “go there baby, sell the lemons and when you finish, I will be waiting for you at home. Bye”. Hassan couldn’t believe. Was it real? Why was his father doing this? Why to sell those lemons? What does it mean?…..
Hassan did it. He was working four hours without stop into the bazaar. When he checked the money he got from the transaction, he felt depressed. With this money only could buy a wheel, no more. He tough: “so much effort and time…and I only got this small amount of money. This is not fair. I hate my father”. Hassan was so upset. He ran to home, took the money from his pocket and put it on the table. His parents were sitting in the kitchen. They were taking some snacks and seeing the Hassan’s face. He was between flushed and furious. He hit the table with his right fist and said: here is the money. After, he turned and disappeared. He couldn’t understand why his parents did it, why they wanted to humiliate him in this horrible way.
One week later, Hassan was preparing to go to the school. But that day, he is not going by walk. In front of his house, he found a black mountain bike: it was a perfect skeleton, a real incarnation of the Speed made by light aluminum.
Lost in Translation (chapter I)
Posted by admin on Monday, November 19, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Aitor and Merve were travelling around some point over the Mediterranean coast. This day, when the story started, was sunny. The sea was calm and clear atmosphere. It was 12.00 o’clock in the morning and Merve was lying on the prow of the boat. Aitor was checking the sails on the top of the dock. Then, he saw some strange clouds, but so far from them that he didn’t pay special attention. The couple spent all day long inside of the boat, cooking some fishes that Aitor caugh from the sea, and discussing about the rest of this trip. Suddenly, they heard sounds of waves and thunders. Aitor went out for checking what was going on. He told to Merve to keep inside, but she was very curious and couldn’t obey the advice. The sky was totally dark and a big storm began to shake the boat. Aitor tried to pick up the sails and in the meantime Merve looked for her bag. The fog was so intense that they couldn’t see anything. In this moment, an impressive electric ray touched the boat and illuminated the dark scene. It was the last time that Aitor and Merve saw one to each other….
Nobody knows how long they were lost into the sea, either what happened exactly after that ray….
Aitor woke up somewhere unrecognizable to his eyes. It was a hot day and the sun started to hurt his skin. He stood up slowly and took out of his mouth a rest of sand from the beach. Aitor saw the sea in a strange calm and had a vague feeling of fear. He tried to go back on the track to figure out what was he doing there. It was impossible. He couldn’t remember anything, either why, how or when he ended up in this portion of unknown land.
After a few minutes, he could stand up and check if some part of his body was damaged. He had only a few bounces on his ribs and some scratches along his legs. He had lost most of his physical power but still had energy to walk till some place, to drink something and discover the name of that city. His first insight was “I think I am somewhere in the South”.
He was walking around the nearest streets and he looked some adverts and inscriptions written in a very strange language. Aitor laughed sarcastically and curled his hands into a closed fists. He couldn’t grasp anything and people around him seemed to speak faster than his ability to understand. Suddenly, a tourist bus crossed very close to him and he could read and memorize something useful: Kusadasi – Davutlar. He remembered this first name from a travel agency located close to his work. In this moment, he guessed that he was in Turkey.
-“Oh, gosh, it will be a long trip”, said to himself.
Adi's World
Posted by admin on Friday, November 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Adi always comes from the school running as a horse. But today it isn’t the same because Adi has a strange face. His thinking draws a question mark and crosses his forefront from the left to the right. Today he is silent, calm and breathes as the princess Rapunzel, waiting into her tower to her blue prince.
Now, Adi is in the kitchen. His head is looking to the floor. He seems to be in a different world, however, he is very tied to the reality.
– Mummy, what is a Dictatorship? – Asked Adi.
– What? – answered his mum.
– Well, today in class of history we were studying over our past and I didn’t understand very well.
– What did you misunderstand?
– I still don’t understand why one man could have such a big power. I don’t understand why only one people can be so blind, without seeing how other suffer.
– Baby, that’s true. Dictatorships are bad. This kind of system forbides all kind of individual thinking which is against of the official regime. I remember that in this period, communication was difficult.
– Why?, Adi said.
– Because a Dictatorship is made by a Government that doesn’t care about opinions from the majority. They use the policy considering that their point of view is the only one correct.
– But a Government should listen to the people, doesn’t it? This is the real meaning of a Government.
– Yes, but Dictatorships executed the power without taking in consideration some aspects of the law. I mean, Dictatorships concentrate all decisions in one hand.
– Mum but, why Dictatorships existed?
– Because we are human.
– And…it means that human are bad?
– No, baby, don’t let me wrong. Sometimes, when people get the power, don’t know very well how to use it.
– Ah!…but …if a dictator has the favor of the people, it could be better, doesn’t it?
– Yes, of course. But in this case is not so easy, because most of the dictators used the force in order to get their objectives.
– That’s wrong. I feel sad.
– Adi, could you bring me a bit of salt, please baby?
– Yes mum – said Adi. And his face expressed a sad gesture.
– Come on, don’t be sad. I only asked you for a bit of salt…I am not a dictator…
– Mum, I think that, from now, I am a bit scared about humans.
– Jajajaja, well, that’s good. You must know that not all people are good, but also not all people are bad. Today, you learnt what it is a Dictatorship. Maybe you feel sad, but wiser. If you ever get any power, you already know that most of the dictators were defeated by their own population. So, you shouldn’t be a dictator.
– Are you crazy mum? I will have a lot of friends…. and two girlfriends.
Halloween
Posted by admin on Friday, November 2, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Halloween 2012 has been different for all the volunteers who work as EVS in Brasov. We prepared a lot of games and a contest in order to choose the scariest pumpkin and, despite of the horrible weather that made us almost frozen, we had a really good mood. Yeah, the winter is arriving and Halloween was one prove of it!
The atmosphere seemed like if in a real scary move, because some of the volunteers put some music really cool and dark! at 17.30 pm started to be darkness. We played some games: slalom, bowls….children started to arrive, step by step. Even some of them came with an authentic dress of Halloween. For instance, some girls from high-school came and they worn clothes like witches and many kids as a zombies and ghosts. Most of them felt very engaged with this tradition and they came with very original creations of pumpkins. At the end, almost two hundred pumpkins adorned with its light the sport track of Scoala Generala nr 13, in Tractorul neighborhood. Although this is an American tradition, it was a good opportunity for implementing activity, creativity with children, teenagers, parents and teachers.
At the end of the afternoon, the jury chose the scariest pumpkins, the smallest one, ….. lot of prizes were distributed among the winners. In some point I felt the tentation of cooking some stew with all this pumpkins….if I would have to use all of them, I think that I could feed almost all population living in Brasov! Finally, I didn’t cook nothing, but I took one of the pumpkins designed by the volunteers and decorated my home. I think that my washer is the scariest one over the city!
The Breakfast
Posted by admin on Thursday, October 18, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Everyday, Alina gets up at 6.00 am. She opens the window, even in winter, because she likes to feel the first fresh air of the day. It gives her strong enough to formulate the goals for the coming day. This represents her favorite time. She’s alone and free, and she plays with her will. During the breakfast, her father is still abstemious, her boss can’t order to her stupid tasks and her friends didn’t call, asking for her precious time.
For Alina, the breakfast is the best moment of the day. She prepares a strong coffee and puts in front of the mirror. The image of herself varies each day but never is sad during the breakfast. Is the only moment where she feels as human, conscious and part of nothing. This act represents a kind of ritual. She puts off her pajama and, naked, stands in front of the mirror. Her body is beauty, full of curves. She has a few marks around her waist, perhaps due to the growth. Her bubs are big, but the weight of gravity did not make falling them. Her skin is very clear and her veins can be seen, randomly distributed as a climbing plant, over her body. She has a lot of spots, but the funniest ones are located on her cheeks. Her eyes are touched by the time and the first traces of maturity adorn the corner of her lips. She is very close to the thirty-five but still is beauty and pure. Now she has her cup between her fingers and drinks the liquid curiously, like a kid, quickly, noisy and without pause. Today, her throat didn’t cooperate properly and the coffee leaked out of her mouth. The drops run over her body, as water that irrigates the green veins over her fertile body.
The coffee is finished, the fresh air crisps her skin and the alarm sounds somewhere over the room. The breakfast time ended. But now, she’s ready to face a new day of the modern life.
happy together
Posted by admin on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Mario and Clara are together from 9 months ago. They meet for first in a common friend’s birthday. Clara was drinking a milkshake and Mario a whisky with ice. Their glances crossed in a certain point through the space of the room. The game started with a smile, and from here, they knew as professionals how to look for a meeting point, just in the corridor which connected the kitchen and the bedroom. Good strategic point.
At the beginning, she pretended to be dizzy and he pretended to be hungry. So, it can be said that this history is highly emotional since they started loving each other through primary feelings, among the fatigue and famine. Dreams and food always played an important role during their time together.
– Excuse me, do you know where is the kitchen? I heard that the hosts prepared a good Sicilian pizza, Mario said.
– Oh, I think that it’s at the end of this corridor. Someone told me about a delicious strawberry cake, answered Clara.
– Ah! Maybe some people like to start the dinner eating the dessert, he said.
– Ja, Ja, Ja! – that’s sounds good. Furthermore, fits well with my drink.
– Aha!…a friend told me that this is typical around the South-East countries of Europe.
– Mmmm…..I have never heard about this custom. But I my next trip should be through the South-East countries of Europe.
Six months later, Mario and Clara traveled through Istanbul, Ankara, Capadoccia and the island of Cyprus, over the Mediterranean ocean. Their flight made scale in Bucharest for twelve hours and they decided to go till the center and take something to drink. They were walking around Piata Uniri and the Parlament. They discussed how to use their time here, because Clara had plans for seeing some museums. Mario complained because the time was limited and he preferred only walking a bit around the city. Finally, they were in Lipscani, the oldest part of the city, and sat into a restaurant overlooking the street. Clara sighed while playing with her hair and when the waitress came she ordered a sandwich of vegetables. Mario ate an hamburger with chips. On the table, she had carefully prepared a lot of schedules and maps, even a GPS in the case of renting a car. Mario, however, was reading a book about Mustafa Kemal-Atatürk, a famous Turkish emperor during the twenty century.
– I am so exciting Mario, I think that this is the first time so far from home.
– Don’t worry babe, all is under control.
– But you are so relax, Do you feel anxiety for discovering new places?
– And you, why are so nervous? Did you travel before somewhere?
– Hey! mister self-confident, excuse me, but we are traveling to a country with 75 million of inhabitants, without any idea of this culture. I like to be spontaneous but not careless!
– Do you suggest that I am imprudent? Come on Clara, and you, are you spontaneous? Don’t make me laugh….you brought a GPS, that’s not the perfect example of an exciting journey.
– Don’t make me upset Mario, you didn’t prepare anything….
– Ok babe, sorry, sorry so much. I love you, really. Excuse my stupid words, I am sure that we’ll have a perfect trip. Sincerely, I really need this holydays. This is our second trip and I want to discover this country and eat a lot of desserts, starting from you.
– You are so lovely Mario, you make me crazy.I love you. But, let’s go! The plane will take off!
When they arrived to Istanbul, they took a taxi till the hotel. Clara opened the suitcase and settled all her clothes slowly and carefully into the wardrobe. She took a short shower, called to her mother, checked the weather and put the Tv to see the international news. Mario took a shower, shaved and changed his clothes. He opened the window, served a beer from the mini-bar and checked some flyers about restaurants, tours around the city and night clubs.
Istanbul was fun, Clara took a lot of photos and Mario chose good restaurants for eating. They ate lot of sweets before the dinner, even Clara took two kilos during their first week in Istanbul. Her metabolism works slowly and when she eats a lot of sweets, become fat in a short time! Each two days she used to complain bitterly when they were into the bed. Mario took her around his arms and very slowly repeated into her ears: – don’t worry babe, for me you are the best, the most beauty woman in this world. In this moment, Clara always breathed and fell in a deep dream.
The journey continued around Capadoccia, Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and they finished in Cyprus. Claudia laughed a lot and forgot her problems with the weight. Mario made the trip an authentic adventure with his jokes and histories about the historical past of the country. His speech about the Turkish conquers sounded as gold poems for Clara, who constantly repeated: “we are happy together”. They arrived to Cyprus. The island was as a real Itaca for them, where the time vanished, where they talked about serious plans together,happy together. They dreamed being queen and king in a foreign land, but owners of the most richness unknown empires. But, as the most important bestsellers or the longest awful books, all the histories have an end, and this trip, too. The last day, Clara meticulously prepared her baggage, checked again the schedule and bought some sandwiches for the lunch. Mario decided to sleep a bit more. He took a fast shower and fought as a warrior in order to close the suitcase. Before the departure, they decided to have the breakfast in a small bar which Mario discovered two days before, when they were coming back to the hotel after a party night. The bar was located to a hundred meters to the beach. It was designed with exotic plants and color crystals. Chairs were made by white leather and simulated the minimal style of the Bauhaus. Mario had a sharp style.
– Tell me, you really love me Clara?
– Yes
– But tell it to me, what does it means yes, tell it to me again…
– I love you Mario, more than ever.
– That’s great baby, I love you, too.
Mario stood up and went to the bar. In this moment, a beautiful woman crossed the room and he looked her for a few seconds. It was one of the most beautiful women who he had ever seen. For first time since he started with Clara, only for one minute, Mario really wished her. Clara saw the scene, his eyes, and became quite jealous.
– What does it means, Mario?
– What, baby?
– What? You know perfectly.
– Come on, it was only a glance, she crossed in front of me. She is beautiful, that’s all.
– Yeah, beautiful, but tell me: do you wish her? Do you want her?
– What? Are you crazy babe? Of course, not. I told you that I love you babe.
– I don’t believe you. You made the same in the restaurant in Cappadocia, in the toilet yesterday night…. would you like to stay with several women, isn’t it? What will you do with your friends? I know men like you, you only think in one thing…..
– Come on, don’t become irrational.
– Love is irrational Mario.
– No Clara, passion is irrational, but not love.
– And what is love without passion? You can conceive an authentic relation with a hundred per cent of rational thinking? Because me not. We are monkeys, still animals.
– Don’t be so dramatic. I promise you that I didn’t feel anything, she is nice and nothing more.
– I think that I am not prepared for a serious relation with you, I’m sorry. I think that you need to satisfy your ego with an established relation, but I am not sure if you can be loyal.
– Clara, I can’t believe you, but you are not the only woman in the universe. I have eyes and these kinds of things are normal, even coherent. You should control your emotions.
– Our relation was born thanks to our emotions, don’t cut our reason of being together. Fuck you Mario, I don’t want to see you anymore.
– Baby, come on, let’s talk about it.
– I am so sad, so empty……….I don’t know if this trip has any positive sense.
– But how can you say something like that?
– I think that I hate you, but very strongly.
– You hate me, and why are you with me? I really don’t understand you. Do you have the menstruation?
– You don’t understand women. You don’t know anything, it is very intense.
– Now, I feel good baby, thank you for your attention, really I love you.
– Me too Mario, it’s only that……… let’s go back to the room. We still have forty minutes till the next bus.
– What do you want to do baby?
– I need to hug you, to tell you something.
– What?
– Let’s keep always together Mario, always, happy together.
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