Mai des scriem aici.

Reality snapshot: la 4.30 dimineata suna alarma. Dupa o petrecere strasnica, imi jur din nou ca nu mai beau niciodata. Clima aici nu e deloc favorabila unei zile ce urmeaza unei petreceri. Asa ca imi impachetez ce imi amintesc ca ar trebui sa am intr-o excursie si plec.

Zburam de pe aeroportul domestic, cu Cebu Pacific, cea mai ieftina linie aeriana locala spre Negros, o insula vestita pentru nisipurile negre. Atmosfera din avion – zgomotoasa ca toata tara de altfel… Personalul din avion joaca diverse jocuri cu pasagerii – cine ghiceste numele a nu stiu ce actor din nu-stiu-care film primeste un umeras sau un suport pentru periuta de dinti.

Aterizam in sfarsit in Dumagete, un mic orasel de provincie, f local, cu case micute, fara mall-uri (yes!!), in rest triciclete, jeepeney-uri si piete de fructe si legume. Nu stiu de unde am auzit o data ca, daca vrei sa privesti oamenii intr-un loc, sunt 2 locuri unde trebuie sa mergi: la piata si la teatru. Mi-a placut enorm sa ma plimb prin piata din Dumagete. La tara, viata are o expresie si un chip atat de clar conturat.

Am inchiriat o masina pentru restul zilei ca sa ne plimbam prin oras si sa ajungem la Parcul National Twin Lakes. Parcul, de o frumusete greu de descris, se afla imprejurul unui vulcan. De fapt, de aceea sunt si nisipuri negre in Dumagete, pentru ca eruptia vulcanului, pe vremuri, a innegrit nisipurile. Am mers vreo ora pana am ajuns la primul lac. Ca peste tot, mici asezaminte de localnici ne-au intampinat. Asa ca am luat o bangka (bangka este o barca, destul de micuta, cu vasle, cu un sistem ciudat de echilibru – ar niste barne de bambus de o parte si de alta) pana la lacul urmator. O Filipina purtand un tricou pe care scria “BOATWOMAN” ne trecea lacul, cu bangka.

Intorcandu-ne in oras, planuiam sa petrecem noaptea in Apo Island, o insula salbatica, fara electricitate si apa curenta. Doar nisip. ocean si palmieri. Asa ca am luat o alta bangka (de data asta cam pre micuta) sa ajungem la insula. Oceanul era destul de calm in ziua aceea, dar, negandindu-ne ca, totusi, calatorim o ora si jumatate in ocean, purtam haine. In mai putin de 15 minute, hainele noastre cantareau vreo 2 kilograme si noi salutam valurile cu veselia zgomotoasa a unor oameni care pleaca sa fie naufragiati de buna voie.

Apo Island = Paradise Lost! Un loc salbatic, cu plaja alba la ocean, plin de stanci acoperite de paduri de palmieri si vegetatie tropicala, ape albastre verzui… Am stat intr-un resort chiar pe plaja, alaturi de alte asezaminte din trestie si lemn de bambus. Ceea ce era dragut la apartamentul nostru: era in curte, despartit de gospodaria mare, iar paturile erau acoperite, ca un pat cu baldachin, de aparatoare de tantari. Acoperisul cam semi-acoperis, era o chestie pusa pe piloni care nu se imbinau perfect cu peretii. Si, de aici, o acceptabila distanta intre acoperis si asezamantul propriu zis. Ferestrele nu era de fapt fereste, ci mai mult ca niste jaluzele laminate din sticla si mai tarziu aveam sa inteleg si de ce .

Apo Island are electricitate vreo 3 ore pe zi, produsa de ceva generatoare. Cerul devenise innegurat intre timp, iar daca stateai pe plaja, chiar pe mal, oceanul lovea malul cu atata putere ca putea sa te traga in larg, La 9 s-a dat stingerea ceea ce inseamna o bezna ca de dinainte de facerea lumii. Si, bineinteles, ne-am retras in micutul nostru dormitor, cu paturi-baldachin locale.

Nu stiu cate ore am dormit, dar ne-am trezit (cu toatele) la un moment dat. Este putin spus ca afara era furtuna. Stiam din Manila cum ploua aici – cand sunt descarcari electrice (adica tot timpul) parca se rupe cerul! Vantul are o viteza inimaginabila, nu poti merge pe strada. Cum era o liniste mormantala, nu auzeai respiratie de om si intuneric bezna, ma puteam concentra la zgomotele asurzitoare si nu-mi puteam da seama daca doar tuna, trazneste sau cad copaci in curte. A fulgerat pentru o clipa si am vazut cum apa curgea pe lamelele de sticla care tineau loc de fereastra si atunci am inteles ca daca nu ar fii fost proiectate astfel, geamul ar fii fost demult la mine in pat. A doua zi ne-am impartrasit cu toatele groaza.

Furtuna a distrus cateva dintre casele de pe plaja, dar acum un soare atat de pasnic stralucea peste maluri incat nu ai fii putut crede ca a fost un vis. Am plecat la plimbare prin sat. Poporul asta a avut atatia stapani, au fost robiti de atatia, si totusi, liberatea pare sa se fii nascut aici. Ma uit la oamenii acestia si nu am nici cea mai mica indoiala ca ar primii cu acelasi zambet pe oricine ar venii sa ii asupreasca din nou… dar intr-un fel ciudat, libertatea ar fii inca a lor! O libertate matura, adevarata, esentiala, o libertate a pamanturilor si a apei, a vietii aproape de viata… Imi dau lacrimile pentru ca imi vine sa ii imbratisez, sa dorm la ei in casa, sa mananc la ei in casa, sa locuiesc cu ei… si stiu ca, totusi, nu o sa ii inteleg niciodata… Noi ce facem zi de zi cu libertatea noastra?

Asteptam bangka sa ne duca inapoi in Dumagete. Ei au cerut sa plecam mai repede decat stabilisem cu o zi inainte pentru ca se temeau din cauza vremii. Oceanul nu era in zilele lui pasnice, era clar.

Cu toate lucrurile in barca, ne departam incet-incet de insula. Ceea ce nu stiti despre mine unii dintre voi este ca nu stiu sa inot si imi este frica de apa. Cand visez urat, moartea pentru mine arata ca oceanul in ziua aceea! But I tried not to freak out! And managed. Cam 20 de minute… Dar brusc, la un moment dat, a inceput sa bata vantul si valurile deveneau din ce in ce mai mari. A inceput sa ploua. Ploaia cadea cu o viteza uimitoare, noi nu aveam decat costumele de baie si era ca acele de acupunctura plus foarte foarte rece si se intetea. Nu aveam vestele de salvare pe noi.Cand deodata, ne-am pomenit cu un vapor care ne taia calea!!! Asta deja era prea de tot. Cu mainile ude incercam sa ma tin de bancuta, dar valurile erau din ce in ce mai mari. Oare suntem in ceva anime si am pornit intr-un quest? Pastreaza umorul pentru cand o sa vezi malul negru al Dumagete…

Cand am coborat din bangka imi tremurau picioarele, but, what the hell? I survived my death. Imapaturite doar in niste esarfe colorate de plaja, care erau aproape singurele lucruri uscate pe care le mai aveam, am iesit la drum sa asteptam vreo varianta sa ajungem in oras. Dupa vreo 10 minute, jeepney. Plin! Nu-i nimic, pe capota! Si uite asa, 4 fete albe, pe capota unui jeepney faceau cu mana ca niste rock starts la fiecare statie unde oprea masina pentru ca cel putin 10 barbati le aclamau aplaudand! Welcome, maaaaaaam’!

Numai bine,

Sonia

In primul rand vreau sa va multumesc pt reply, celor care mi-au scris…

Vreau de mult sa va scriu si sa va arat cum arata viata mea de zi cu zi in coltul asta de lume, desi nu am pretentia ca un e-mail va aduce vreo revelatie…

Ultimul lucru pe care mi-l amintesc este aeroportul Otopeni si destinatia de pe bilet: Manila, Ninoy Aquinoy si senzatia ciudata ca locul in care imi voi petrece urmatoarea perioada din viata scapa pozelor. Nu avea sa treaca mult timp pana acest lucru va fii devenit certitudine…

O mana invizibila m-a apucat de incheietura si m-a azvarlit in mijlocul vacarmului de joi dimineata. Claxoane peste tot, absolut nici o regula de decenta in trafic si totusi nu asta cautam cu privirea si nasul lipite de geam. Nu cautam ceva anume de fapt, ci doar sa imi fac o imagine, o idee asupra locului in care ma aflu. Cenusiu, poluat si murdar e tot ce puteam sa vad la prima vedere…

Locuiesc in Kingswood. Locul e destul de bun pentru o locuinta. In fiecare dimineata cineva ma saluta de buna dimineata si imi deschide usa holului. Peste tot exista portari care iti deschid usa si te saluta zambind. Nu incerca sa o deschizi singur, vor fii confuzi si usor jigniti. Doar zambeste si saluta inapoi. Intr-o clipa sunt in standul de triciclete, unde din nou “Good morning, maaaam!” Langa Kingswood exista squattered area, o alee din cartoane, lemne, carpe, metal vechi, e un cartier pe care oamenii ingrozitor de saraci l-au construit ca sa nu doarma in strada. Au folosit tot ce au avut sa improvizeze ceva unde sa poate sa isi creasca copiii… care umbla dezbrcati sau aproape si se joaca in baltile din apropiere. Soferii de triciclete si locuiesc in ele, adica dorm literalmente in tricicleta. Nu am intrat niciodata in squattered area, nu de teama, ci de rusine..

Si apoi e Greenbelt. Greenbelt e ca o insula in Manila. Oricand te simti deprimat de cata saracie vezi pe strada, de toate mirosurile necunoscute de mancaruri care mai de care mai nesanatoase si ciudate, gatite in mijlocul strazii, de vacarmul permanent, de poluarea pe care poti sa o tai cu cutitul, oricat vrei sa iti ascuzi constiinta de faptul ca te simti dezgustat de gandacii uriasi pe care ii gasesti in apartament, mergi in Greenbelt. Greenbelt e unul dintre cele mai faimoase mall areas de pe aici. Irelevant, ca sunt mall-uri peste tot, absolut peste tot. Dar Greenbelt e deosebit. Plin de palmieri, fantani arteziene, maganize scumpe, cafenele si restaurante de lux, are talentul de a te ascunde de lumea de afara.

Filipinii mai deschisi la culoare ii discrimineaza pe cei mai inchisi. Nu gasesc o crema de fata care sa nu aiba innalbitor in ea, tot ce se gaseste de cumparat e tagged “white beauty”. La televizor, toti oamenii aceia sunt albi, desi sunt Asian si toata lumea vrea, prin urmare, sa fie alba. Now how sad can that be?

Daca m-ar intreba cineva ce inseamna Manila pentru mine, lista nu s-ar termina niciodata. Plimbarea cu jeepney-ul sambata, cand strazile sunt pustii si eu nu ma duc de fapt nicaieri anume, ca si tara asta care nu are nici un plan, nici o directie, ci doar traieste de azi pe maine si nu ii pasa si construieste mall dupa mall dupa mall dupa mall pentru ca majoritatea oamenilor sunt masele care cheltuie pe mancare si viata buna toti banii pe care ii au, care fac copii fara sa se gandeasca la viitorul lor. Manila bay, adica faleza unde ma plimb la ocean care nu e un loc romantic, e tixit de oameni pt ca e in spatele unui mall. Atat de obedienta, tara asta e atat de salbatica si necivilizata totusi! “The wet market” unde niste fete galagioase vor sa imi atinga parul pentru ca sunt frumoasa… si sa imi vanda peste si crab, sunt lazi peste tot, apa, dezordine si animale de mare pe jumatate vii… Sunt aproape de a inchide si eu vreau doar un mango shake… Se face! Panourile publicitare gigant pe marginea liniei de metrou, la mancare in general si imbracaminte… Societate de consum… Totul e atat la indemana, nu trebuie sa mergi decat cativa pasi, oriunde ai fii sa gasesti mancare, locul e suprasaturat de restaurante si cafenele de tot felul si am senzatia ca oamenii nu se gandesc decat la mancare si la nevoile primare. Societatea de clasa: daca te-ai nascut sofer de jeepney nu ai nici o sansa in viata asta sa fii ceva mai mult. Nimic mai mult! Oamenii aici traiesc cu familiile lor ca in mici comunitati. Afaceri se fac prin relatii si contacte si doar pt ca cineva te cunoaste si are incredere in tine si in familia ta, niciodata pe criterii de competenta sau de ce poti dovedi. Saguio, un undergroud cultural. Cam ca Papillonul Timisoarei, e un sambure tare de cultura filipina. Antipolo, un munte la marginea orasului de unde se vede Manila pana in punctul in care se inneaca locuintele in ocean. Amorteala: inconjurata de atata saracie, uiti efectiv de ea si plutesti pe strazi ca un nimeni…

Si apoi sunt oamenii… Cateodata simt ca as aduce Romania si toata Europa de Est aici ca sa invete o lectie! NU ma pot obisnui cu grija pe care oamenii si-o poarta intre ei, cu grija pe care o au pt mine, a random stranger. Ca si fapt divers, am aflat ca unul dintre colegii din cadrul holdingului, de origine ceha, s-a imbolnavit de febra Dengue. Si s-au dus oamenii, cu mic cu mare la spital sa doneze sange. Singura persoana care putea sa ii doneze sange era un francez. Petr, cehul NU a acceptat, a preferat riscul because “I don’t want to have fuckin French blood in my vains”. Restul oamenilor aveau lipsa de fier si doctorul nu le-a permis sa doneze. Asa ca, incepand de a doua zi, o data cu mancarea, fiecare persoana primea o fiola de fier lichid fiind rugata da o amestece cu mancarea, ca a doua saptamana sa poata sa mearga din nou sa fie testati ca donatori. I mean… no comment..

Just Sugarfree… http://www.trilogistick.com/index.php?id=stream&a=1001

Calatoare,
Sonia

Dupa 2 saptamani de stat in Manila pot spune 2 lucruri cu siguranta: 1. nu fac decat sa lucrez si sa petrec; 2. aici totul se sarbatoreste Deci, din 10 zile lucratoare, 6 s-au finalizat cu petreceri Am avut: petrecere de bun venit – petrecere de bun ramas, petrecere cu vin si branza (ceea ce este chiar o delicatesa, pentru ca lactatele sunt f scumpe aici), petrecere de ziua mea, petrecere de ziua sefului, petrecere cu ocazia ritualului balut. In afara de asta, orasul asta are vocea lui pe care o auzi zi si noapte in continuu. E o galagie infernala de trafic intens 24 de ore din 24 si eu locuiesc intr-una dintre cele mai circulate zone.

Asa ca vineri, eu si Bryan, noul meu coleg din Canada, de nationalitate japoneza, am hotarat sa parasim metropola pentru un weekend mai calm. Multi il iau drept localnic (unii chiar incearca sa vorbeasca tagalog cu el si, chiar daca il iau drept korean sau taiwanez, e mult mai probabil ca el sa locuiasca aici decat eu .

Cum spuneam, eu si Bryan ne-am urcat intr-un autobuz, care era mai mult conserva pe roti decat masina, cu scopul sa ajungem undeva departe in nord. Era cat pe ce sa pierdem autobuzul pentru ca atunci cand am plecat ploua torential in Manila, taxiurile sunt imposibil de prins pe ploaie. Cu chiu cu vai am ajuns in statia de autobuz, cu tenisii uzi urmand sa induram 10 ore de aer conditionat (temperatura maxima 14 grade). Aici aerul conditionat e o mandrie nationala, spre disperarea noastra care avem pulovere si esarfe cu noi tot timpulJ

Autobuzul nostru ne-a dus in Banaue, un superb orasel intr-o zona semideluroasa. De unde ne-a lasat autobuzul trebuia sa luam o tricicleta pana la InfoTuristic. Poti lua tricicleta oriunde in Manila, dar nu e tocmai recomandat, pt ca poluarea e f mare si inhalezi toate gazele de esapament de la jeepney-uri. Dar, la tara, e o optiune. La InfoTuristic trebuia sa gasim o modalitate sa ajungem in Batad. Daca inainte eram disperata ca nu stiam ce numar de autobuz trebuie sa iau, la ce ora vine si ce ruta are (asta pt ca autobuzele, ca si jeepney-urile, nu au un program anume aici), cum ajung in cutare loc si ce o sa fac acolo si unde o sa dorm, acum sunt f chill cand raman pierduta in ceva remote area in Manila… pentru ca, pana la urma, ajungi unde trebuie sa ajungi… e doar o chestiune de timp. Asa ca, de data aceasta, am luat jeepney-ul pana in Batad.

Dar, pentru ca esti la tara, nu se poate sa nu te bucuri de frumusetile naturii. Un jeepney poti sa iei si in Manila, dar nu daca vrei sa stai pe capota Da, dragii mei, pe capota. E un lucru f comun aici, ca, la tara, oamenii sa se urce pe capota jeepney si sa calatoreasca asa.

In scurt timp, ceea ce se intindea in fata ochilor nostri era de o frumusete incomparabila. Din cand in cand, soferul , mai oprea si ne intreba daca vrem sa facem o poza. Cu picioarele si mainile tremurand, noi dadeam din cap: “da, da, sigur!”. La un moment dat, a trebuit sa intram inauntru pentru ca drumul devenise prea anevoios.

Obiectivul nostru “turistic” era sa vedem terasele de orez, care sunt numite a opta minune a lumii, si pesterile din Sagada. Intr-un final am ajuns in Batad (vii!!!) si am inceput sa urcam terasele, in drum spre cascada. Terasele sunt mult mai frumoase  decat se spune si decat se vede in poze. Sunt  ca niste piese de domino dispuse curbiliniu… si se impletesc cu dealuri si rau si arbori tropicali si casute mici, saracacioase. Am mers vreo 2 ore, coborand piesele de domino, pana am ajuns la cascada. Apa cadea cu asa o furie ca aveai impresia ca ninge in toata zona…

A doua zi, am luat un autobuz, tot pe capota, ca sa mergem in Sagada, un satuc in creierii muntilor. Drumul pana acolo a fost absolut superb pentru ca taia muntii efectiv si, la un moment dat, eram literalmente cu capul in nori, era o ceata de nu vedeai la 2 metri in fata, si apoi erai din nou sub cer albastru, printre paduri…

La InfoTurist am intalnit un grup de 3 fete f simpatice cu care am decis sa mergem impreuna la pesteri, ca sa impartim un ghid. In drum spre pesteri trebuie sa treci prin ceea ce ei numesc Echo Valley – un cimitir pe stanci. Sicriele sunt atarnate de stanci la propriu pentru ca oamenii credeau ca spiritelor le va fii mai usor sa comunice cu divinitatea. Pe vremuri, erau sute de sicrie atarnate de stanci. Dar ghiciti ce? Au venit albii si le-au luat si vandut la diferite muzee din lume. Am fost f intrigata cand fetele mi-au spus chestia asta. Oamenii aici sunt atat de saraci ca pt 10 dolari te ajuta sa dai un sicriu jos de pe stanca!”

Dupa ce am trecut prin Echo Valley, ne indreptam spre pesteri. Zona devenise f maloasa, incepuse sa ploua… La gura pesterii erau de asemenea o gramada de sicrie si prin unele crapaturi puteai sa vezi oseminte. La Sagada am vazut ce inseamna sa faci literalmente cave diving pentru ca efectiv cobori in maruntaiele Pamantului printre roci f ascutite, mal si guano. Pamanul si stanca sunt reci, trebuie sa fii f atent unde pui piciorul si nu vezi f bine chiar si cu lampa ghidului. La un moment dat ajungi intr-un loc unde sunt atat de multi lilieci si ii auzi pentru ca sunetele pe care le scot sunt atat de pregnante, mirosul este f puternic si e cam bezna. Asa ca dupa ce am strabatut jumatate de pestera prin noroi si guano si roca ascutita, cu piciorele innegrite pana la genunchi, deodata se inalta in fata noastra un bloc imens de piatra dura (de textura pietrei ponce) galben-portocalie pe care curgea cea mai curata apa pe care am vazut-o vreodata. Cel mai adanc loc din pestera este un lac in care poti sa si inoti.

Dupa superba calatorie in pestera, unde e greu sa te gandesti ca afara sunt oameni care construiesc poduri si autostrazi, ne astepta o padure de strabatut pe ploaie torentiala. Am ajuns in sat unde am luat cina intr-un loc f dragut, Yogurt House.

Seara s-a incheiat cu multe rasete. Am impartit toate cele 5 farfurii de mancare, am mancat fiecare din toate farfuriile si ne-am bucurat de o seara superba, la tara. Cand ne-am despartit era deja noapte, nu era lumina pe strada, era bezna total, asa ca eu si Bryan ne-am gasit drumul spre locul unde innoptasem, la lumina lunii. Desculta, murdara, cu pantalonii suflecati si rupti pe alocuri de la catarat, cu hainele ude de ploaie, m-am simtit ca Huckleberry Fin…

Numai bine,

Sonia

These days I was looking at the pictures I took last summer and this winter in my garden back home and I was amazed by how the same place can be so beautiful and dreamy in such different states of existence.  My garden is unrecognizable in the winter after you’ve seen it in the summer…because “different” just might be similar to “another kind of beauty”.  Not all the time diversity is for the best, but here’s the good side of diversity…

Finland/Brazil

-average temperature 7 C/average temperature 25 C

-5 million people/184 million people

- it has 2 million saunas/it is a sauna

-if you are invited to dinner you must be punctual/if you are invited to dinner it is polite to arrive 30 minutes or an hour late

-their national ice hockey team is considered one of the best in the world/their national soccer team is considered one of the best in the world

-extended families live apart, ussualy families are nuclear/extended families live together often all kins live in different apartments of the same building

-they mix Pegan traditions with Christian traditions for example on Easter they make bonfires to keep the witches away/the majority is strictly Christian

Hope you liked it! Next one…Jamaica!! 

A small and heavily forested country, Estonia is the most northerly of the three former Soviet Baltic republics.

The Estonian language is closely related to Finnish but not to the languages of either of the other Baltic republics, Latvia and Lithuania, or to Russian.
The country has unique traditions in folk song and verse, traditions which have had to be strong to survive the many centuries of domination by foreign countries.

The really good part is that AIESEC Estonia is offering internships especially for romanians. The field is marketing. Think about it.

I am an AIESECer for 2 years. In all this time, I sow people coming to Romania from all over the world.

However, I was even happier to see lots of people that I know leaving with exchange and having the experience of their life.

Singapore, Oceania, France, China, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Portugal, they are everywhere.
I look at them and see how much they enjoy this and how much they developed. I love looking at new pics over and over, to see how the fix their hair now or how they look after having a bath in whatever ocean.

It’s a great feeling just to look at them, to see how much they love this experience. I am glad for them, but I am also glad for me because I can see this dream is possible to achieve.

This is why, I am certain that mine will also become a reality.

I will go in exchange starting with August 2009. I am not sure yet about the country, but I know for sure how my job description will look like. I will work in marketing.

Here’s something funny about internationalism and stereotypes…

The representatives of many nations gathered in a restaurant. They all asked for a glass of wine and when the wine was brought to the table, in each glass there was a fly >><< the Englishman asked for new wine in a new glass >><< the Russian drank the wine and the fly with it >><< the Chineese ate the fly and didn’t drink the wine >><< the Jew caught the fly and sold it to the Chineese >><< the Roumanian drank 3 quarters of the glass and asked for it to be changed immediately >><< the Norwegian caught the fly and went fishing >><< the Scotsman grabed the fly by the neck and said “Spit out everything you drank!!” >><< the Irishman hashed the fly and sent the glass to the  Englishman >><< the American sued the restaurant and asked for 65 million dollars moral damage 

And here’s a beautiful video about internationalism. This clip is the best representation of Exchange that I’ve ever seen Words are needlessly…

Enjoy…

Another funny thingy…

As you all know (or some of you) , India is one of the greatest, most fascinating and colourful countries in the world, with more than 5000 years of culture.  It is impossible to write, to resume such a great country and great history in a few words in a post. I would make a great injustice if I would even try to do so. I will not try to resume India, I will only dare to gather few of the many things that impress me about India.

India- Someone once said that in India there is a festival for every day of the year They are characterized by colour, gaiety enthusiasm, feasts and a variety of prayers and rituals.   “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” –Gandhi

India– Their manners, way of communicating with one another,are one of the important components of their culture. Even though they have accepted modern means of living,their values and beliefs still remain unchanged. A person can change his way of clothing, way of eating and living but the rich values in a person always remains unchanged because they are deeply rooted within their hearts, mind, body and soul. “I want freedom for the full expression of my personality”–Gandhi

India- “Respect one another” is another lesson that is taught from the books of Indian culture. All people are alike and respecting one another is ones duty.– “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”–Gandhi

India–To greet a friend or another Indian, they join their hands (palms together), bow down in front of the other person, and say Namaste, Namaskar or Pranam– ” First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. “–Gandhi

   Have you ever wondered what other people do for Christmas? Well, here’s a sneak peak

• Bulgaria – There are always walnuts for everyone in the family on the table. To predict what the year is going to be, everyone cracks a walnut. If it is good and delicious, the year is going to be lucky, if the walnut is empty- you can expect bad year.
• Finland – They eat Christmas porridge. Inside one of them there’s an almond hidden. The member of the family who finds the almond has to sing a song.
• Latvia – People dress up in funny clothes and masks. Characters like gypsies, animals, death, dead man, rattles and pigs walk the streets and make a lot of noise.  Some people believe that in this way they drive out of their houses all sorts of troubles.

   Now here’s something you should remember when you go home for Christmas:

1. “There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions.”
2. “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”
3. “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
4. “When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things-not the great occasions-give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
5. “There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus; he does not believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus.”

   Merry Christmas!

   Usually the story starts like this… “aaa, Slovakia, I heard it’s nice there…”. After any shade of a doubt is gone and Slovenia have been identified on Europe’s map, we can move on and describe this little country with a population that equals the population of Bucharest.

   The almost 3 million inhabitants live above the European life standard, in a country which can be crossed in 3 hours. They have everything. The sea is an hour and a half away front he mountains and the biggest city – Ljubljana, the capital-is the same size as Timisoara. From the 300 thousand inhabitants of Ljubljana, more than 60 thousand are students, many of them came from countries where this capital would be considered a small town.

   I was asked what I appreciate more from living in Slovenia, the first thing that comes in my mind is:it’s a peaceful country. Among the answers I received were: “really, why is that, there’s so much noise everywhere” or “yeah… people don’t shoot themselves on the streets”.

   Now, whom do you believe? Next you’ll see some personal observations regarding life in Slovenia:

• in Ljubljana, riding the bicycle is a status-quo; some bikes have a special seat for small children, this would be shocking for a family from Bucharest for example.
• you can walk peacefully on the streets after midnight… one time we had to rent an apartment in a bad neighborhood… and a few local people start laughing saying there is no such thing…
• in six months I heard about 15 cars honking in traffic… my Portuguese friend thinks that they weren’t Slovenians.

   This doesn’t mean that the world is pink in Slovenia. For example, you know that you live in Slovenia when: 

• you find only 2 brands of beer: Lasco and Union. The Belgians would leave Slovenia as quick as they came; alcohol is expensive here-one Lasco is 90 cents in the supermarket and the cheapest beer in a club is 2.2 euro.
• my bike chain cost me more than the second bike because the first one was stolen from me; a very important thing about Slovenia is that they don’t steel, except bicycles and they admit it to be a national sport.

   I asked some of my MC colleagues what is the first word that runs through their minds when they hear “Slovenia”: calm, family style, diverse, quality of life, relaxing, enjoyable, intense, energetic… the last two things were said by a Slovenian

   Adrian Dobre - http://www.aiesec.org/slovenia

   Have you noticed that nowadays you don’t have to actually visit a country to know almost everything about it? Yes, you did   “The information on the Internet is more than enough… I don’t need to know more… I can go to Asia tomorrow but I’ll just stay home and become a… couch potato”

   The difference between documenting and visiting is like the difference between looking at a cake in the window and tasting it. Yeah… looking and anticipation makes you want more and it’s great and useful… but tasting is even better. Maybe these things about Russia will make you want more:

• Something COOL must happen every day on 1/6 of the Earth’s surface  ;in such a big country it’s very hard for one day to pass and nothing interesting to happen, starting with politics and ending with theater and when Russians say “theater” they mean “live performance” not “cinema”.
• Children don’t study Russian geography, Russian literature, Russian music, they study world geography, world literature, world music and maybe that’s why Russia has the highest educational level in the world  
• Russians do NOT consider their life as miserable. They feel that things are changing for the better and everything is starting to work out in their country (good karma coming in, bad karma going out ). Russians love their country, they criticize it severely but if you try to do the same they will defend it furiously (especially after a shot  or two or… three of vodka hot coco)  
• Russians like to emphasize their different attitude towards material values and consider themselves as sincere, cordial, understanding and unselfish. They like to talk about the “mysterious Russian soul” and repeat the famous phrase ”You can’t understand Russia by your mind”. They feel like citizens of the largest country in the world, which has its rich history and deep cultural roots… and they are proud of it.
• You shouldn’t leave this huge country where the Orient meets Viking Land, before you:
  • visit Sankt Petesburg and Moscow beautiful cathedrals, amazing, unusual architecture => great pictures and cultural enrichment
  • drink with a Russian (no comment)
  • see the Altai Mountains => freezing but praiseworthy
  • go to opera or a ballet theater  => where art meets soviet working discipline
  • buy a matrioshka => so cute!
  • drink with a Russian…

   So… ALWAYS WANT MORE!!!

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   As I remember, a week ago I received an e-mail from our group dooper about an exotic internship in Latvia. Latvians and Lithuanians descend from the indo-european people. They speak their own language, something between Russian and Deutsch but here on the SE shore of The Baltic Sea coexist many nations and many idioms.

   Because Latvians are such a small people, their independence have always been put to the test across time. The standard of life in Latvia is a medium one. They are the worlds 46th richest country. We are the 64th.

   This country, although it’s a small one, gas many beautiful things and Latvians know how to promote them.

   Now a small TO DO LIST for Latvia :

• visit Gauja ancient river valley (ancient river, caiac tripping through strange looking cliff formations)

  

• Cēsis Old Town and Castle (old medieval town, build also by the german settlers… lots of things in common with our Sighisoara)

  

• visit Riga Old Town (lots of preserved medieval history: cathedrals, churches, museums, old buildings, MUST be seen. )

Take care…

Ancush

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   NIHAO! (it’s “hello” in Chineese)



   The strongest memory I have about Singapore is the climate. When I arrived here I had no idea how is it like OUTSIDE!(I only stayed in places with air conditioning, like the subway or the airport). As I was standing still in the coach, suddenly, at the first station the door opened and it hit me! There was a hot, humid air, so stifling that I couldn’t breathe when i got out of the train. (like in our country after a hot summer rain, multiplied by 4! That was my first contact with the tropical climate… but now things got back to normal and I got used to it.

   An absolutely impressive thing about the people here is that they are incredibly kind and polite. Today I bumped into a man on the street and he apologized to me!  Earlier this evening as I was walking, I asked a policeman for directions and walked beside me for 50 meters to make sure I find what I’m looking for.

   Ahhh… another amazing thing: in front of the mall, people stand in line for taxi! Everywhere you look you see exemplary cleanliness. There are no cigarette butts and chewing-gum on the sidewalk. Chewing-gum is forbidden here! The life standard here is incredibly high. Singapore is the 6th richest country in the world.

   My work place is great for me. My office is in my boss’s house. The managers, Zurina and Andrew are two exceptional people. They have already adopted me as a member of their family.

   So… in conclusion I’m going to say a few “bad” things about Singapore regarding their political system. Today I found out that Singapore is a democracy just by name. They have a secret police and you can be sent to jail if you defame the Government. (they have a special law that prohibits you to criticize the Government). During their 40 years of independence, only one party have lead the country!

   I’ll stop here… for now…

   Big hugs!

Radu

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