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20. Rumenia |
Rumenia, country of plastic bags and unexpected friendlyness.
For many years I was not really interested visiting Rumenia. And to be honest, I do not know why. Maybe in the time I was playing music or working as musicmanager, there have been limited options. Maybe because we have not real contacts in Rumenia. Maybe the stories that go around have influenced my prejudgements. Anyway, it never happend. Untill 2008. In 2007 we met Stefania on Sziget festival and she just asked us bluntly if we would like to support her organization with their job; stimulating awareness about HIV. The offer was to present in Constantsa, Rumenia and in villages nearby, where people and children live with low futureperspectives. We mentioned that it would not be easy to arrange this, obviously due to financial consequences. 'Maybe on our way to India', I joked. She was persistent and patience, so when the time came we had a confirmation to go to India, she was the first to make and appointment with: our first stop to India.
We didn't know that much about Rumenia besides that it became part of European Union recently and a rich gypsy history. The Baylor Black Sea Foundation works with the after effects of the communistic era. There is a large amount of children infected by HIV due to medical experiments and neglectance. The country is relatively poor. The possibility to have a bright idea about the future is rare amoung young people. Those who have education leave the country.
But it is also a friendly country doing it's best to get along with other nations, with many people that work hard in order to make the make the best out of it. One minor point: during our journey we were speaking about environmental polution. It was mentioned that in China they banned plstic bags because every day 5.000.000 were dumped. In Rumenia we have seen were these bags came from. On our way, during an early spring time, we have seen many fields completely covered with plastic bags. We have not yet seen people harvesting these bags, but it would be a good job if the Rumenian government tries to avaid corruption, and organizes a national clean up. Not only many people will have a job here, also many many Rumenian people will appriciate it. But now... since nothing happens, many people seem to be fatalistic, and do not care about their surroundings either, since it is a mess anyway.
Although we have been so near, we have hardly seen the Black Sea due to the fact we were busy.
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