Soarele rasare si nevasta il trezeste sa plece la oras. Moranul se ridica din patul facut din frunze de palmier si lemn de eucalip. Langa usa il asteapta o cana cu apa si o carpa. Inmoaia carpa in apa si incepe sa se spele pe tot corpul. Femeia se apropie ia cana si pleaca. Pe pat sunt asezate hainele si margelele de sarbatoare. Se imbraca incet si tacticos ca intr-un ritual nuptial, isi pune cerceii si bratarile colorate, mai intai la glezne, pe brate si la gat. Pe cap isi aseaza margelele primite de la tatal lui atunci cand a devenit moran. In jurul taliei are curaua de care sunt agatate runcul si sabia scurta.

Femeia intra in coliba cu cana cu lapte si o bucata mare de ugali. Moranul mananca tacticos si soarbe laptele cald si nefiert cu pofta unui vanator. Femeia sta langa el si nu spune nimic.

Moranul se ridica scoate de sub pat papucii negrii de cauciuc si iese. La usa colibei se afla infipta sulita, semn ca un barbat se afla acolo. In urmatoarele 3 zile casa si nevasta lui vor fi expuse, sulita nu va mai anunta prezenta barbatului.

La fiecare adiere de vant praful se ridica spre cer si face aerul de nesuportat. Barbatul isi ridica patura peste umeri si peste cap pentru a-l feri de caldura si praf. In calatoria sa va parcurge peste 100 de mile pana la oras unde va negocia pretul pe laptele pe care il vinde la piata.
Cu toate ca are destui bani cat sa cumpere bilet de autobuz sau chiar sa isi cumpere o masina, masaii prefera sa isi traiasca viata simplu si traditional. Un masai care a primit titlul de masai isi traieste toata viata ca un razboinic ancestral si isi educa mostenitorii sa respecte traditile.

From my little box of philosophy

Sometimes I wonder when was the first time that human beings asked themselves: What is life? What is the purpose of life? What is life all about?
What did trigger this sort of internal curiosity?
It could have been the result of something bad happening, some sort of chain of unlucky events, melancholy, or the boredom before the invention of agriculture tools. Maybe the men and women were sitting in a cave around the fire, eating meat and contemplating the nature. They were relaxed and satisfied with the things the nature was giving them. It was the first time that people realized that since they are born and until they die, all the other events that occur in between, all the moments that you live must have a name, and they call it LIFE. Discovering this must have been very worrying. How can you make all this LIFE be beautiful and meaningful? Dividing it into moments and live every each of it intense, take it as something that happens without having control over it like birth and death or maybe treasure it as the biggest gift one can receive.
People decided that they must do more than just hunting and sitting in the cave. They invented tools for agriculture, women starting cooking and redesigning their lives bringing innovation in cooking, cleaning, making clothes and taking care of children. They were growing vegetables and they discovered that eating meat is not the only option. Hunting was dangerous while corn never bite you back. Humans started develop their settlements, moved out the caves near their crops so that they can protect it. They noticed that seasons change and they must have a plan in which they are doing work. They started working more during warm season and rest in the cold one. Humans were taking control of the way they live every moment, they had plans. From sunrise to sunset it was time for living an intense life, while in the night it was a time for resting. They invented time and harmonized the moment with their needs. Some of them were better than others in living their lives effectively and started growing more crops, building more houses for families. Life become a competition between people.
….. the moments of reflection around the fire became rare, people were to tired “living their lives”

Nowadays.
For thousands of years, human beings struggled to grow more crops, build bigger houses, compete with others, in one word LIVING LIFE according to the ancient philosophy which is passed over from generation to generation. We don’t know if work is in our genes, or is just socially imposed.
But every year, all around the world, before the cropping season starts, people stop working and celebrate Labor Day. On 1st of May we stop everything that is taking most of our sunrise- sunset activity and we gather around a fire. We go into the nature, far-away from our “crops” and we burn some meat. After eating and drinking, we lay there contemplating the nature and we feel satisfied with what the nature has given us. Every time the discussion about life and What is the purpose of life? starts concerning us and challenges to find new ways of fill the time between birth and dead with something meaningful…

Easter Bunny is dead

Last weekend kenyan christians celebrated Easter. Apparently slightly different.In Romania we spend this by eating a lot of food, going to the church at midnight to take the holly light, and then party into a club because we are happy that J resurected, eating and drinking until the ambulance takes us to hospital.
This weekend I celebrated Easter thinking about my family and friends at home. I had a lot of intimacy in my personal celebration due to the fact that for everyone else around me it was an usual weekend.
Saturday morning I arrived in Nairobi. I hanged around the streets listening to rock music on the radio. At 6.30 any city in the world looks clean, safe and peaceful. For me mornings are the best time to look for a cafe. I found one near the University and I had the best breakfast since I arrived here ( maybe I am lying). Then I left my luggage at the office and went for a walk on upper hill. It was so clean and green that I felt I am not in Nairobi anymore. At one point I found an anglican church and went inside. Because I really need traditions in my life. In the last years, Easter Holidays were the best time to spend with family. Finding inner peace and strenthening connections with the relatives. At noon I attended a mentorship workshop organized with the Alumnies. It was so nice to discover these beautiful people ( and I am not talking about women only). It's something much deeper that AIESEC does to ordinay people....transforming them into something extraordinay. Or mircles like Deli would say.
In the afternoon I met them. The people who are the substitute for my family here. My friends from different continents. The ones near whom I feel safe and myself.
An hour ago I had dinner with them at a chinesse reastaurant. While we were eating and complaining about the size of the dishes (too small) I realized that even though I miss a real romanian fest, I am so greatful for every second spend with those guys.

I am glad that I managed to kill the Easter Bunny and discover the importance of Easter.

Se facea ca era o data un om care vroia sa schimbe lumea. Asa ca fiind tanar si curajos a plecat in lume si si-a petrecut cativa ani buni incercand sa faca asta. Pentru ca nu a reusit s-a hotarat sa se intoarca acasa si sa incerce sa schimbe tara in care locuia. Acum ca era un om matur a crezut ca poate sa aduca o schimbare in tara lui. Dar nu a putut. Asa ca aproape de batranete s-a intors in orasul lui natal si a zis ca e o idee buna sa isi foloseasca experienta schimband in bine orasul. Cu toate ca facea tot posibilul, schimbarea intarzia sa apara. Intr-o zi si-a intors privirea spre familia lui si si-a dat seama ca in toti acesti ani i-a cam ignorat. A inceput sa caute modalitati sa comunice din nou cu sotia lui , cu copiii si nepotii. Vroia sa-i ajute, sa-i indrume sa aduca o schimbare in viata lor. Anii au treuct si viata inveitabil .
Fiind pe patul de moarte cu familia si prietenii de jur-imprejur omul a inceput sa planga. Si-a dat seama ca toata viata a vrut sa-i schimbe pe ceilalti cand de fapt trebuia sa inceapa cu el, sa continue cu familia, orasul , tara si abia apoi sa schimbe lumea.
Povestea asta ma sperie. Am auzit-o de atatea ori, am spus-o si eu de fiecare data cand s-a ivit o discutie despre schimbarea lumii.
Nu imi dau seama daca eu am inceput "schimbarea" cu mine.Cand ma uit in spate nu regret nimic. Daca ma uit in viitor nu pot decat sa sper ca la sfarsitul drumului voi ajunge la destinatia dorita. Sau macar sa o recunosc.

Cele mai puternice ONG-uri din lume spala miliarde de dolari, in spatele actiunilor umanitare in tari din lumea a treia. In sediul ONU din Nairobi te simti ca intr-un hotel de 6 stele. Angajatii traiesc in case imense cu gradini superbe. In afara de conferinte se pare ca nimeni nu face nimic. Politicienii sunt corupti, inumani si umili in fata tarilor dezvoltate. Sclavagismul nu a disparut ci a evoluat la un alt nivel. Libertatea, egalitatea si vointa poporului sunt cuvinte rostite in discursuri manipulatoare de niste barbari fara minte si suflet. Cei care vor sa se salveze invata sa nu le pese. Conducatori si condusi traiesc o ignoranta egala. Suntem liberi sa nu ne pese. A fost nevoie de o criza sa intelegem ca tot ce e material e trecator si incontrolabil. Revolutia spirituala se apropie si toti cei care au fost la scoala ca sa devina bogati, toti cei care au fost simpatici ca sa fie votati, cei care si-au inchipui ca vila cu piscina inseamna implinire vor disparea.

Si in fiecare dimineata ma uit la omul din oglinda, il incurajez si-i aduc aminte ca e timpul ca generatia noastra sa aduca acea schimbare de care lumea are nevoie. Ma rog la Dumnezeu sa imi arate calea si sa imi scoata in cale oamenii care se uita in oglinda dimineata si stiu ca schimbarea incepe cu ei.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" , Mahatma Gandhi

Afara ploua.

Ma dor ochii din cauza proiectorului. De 3 zile stam toti in living si analizam fiecare pagina , fiecare cuvant si facem o gramada de SWOT-uri pentru fiecare sector in parte. Mai intai Msambweni si apoi Magarini. Radem si ne distram discutand despre probleme. Fiecare SWOT are mai multe weakneses decat strengths. Apoi cel mai greu devine cand trebuie sa gasim oportunitati.

Poveste reala:

Intalnire cu un membru al parlamentului dintr-o regiune din Nordul Kenyei cu inhabitanti preponderent somalezi. Tipul care acum este doctor, ne spune ca a vazut prima data o sala de clasa atunci cand a implinit 12 ani. Motivul nu era pentru ca nu se ducea la scoala, ci pentru ca in zona existau copaci. Astfel atunci cand cresteau si trebuiau sa promoveze in alta "clasa" erau trimisi la umbra altui copac. Clasele se tineau sub copaci si in functie de umbra fiecare stia unde i este locul. Din cei 45 de copii care erau la scoala doar 20 erau inregistrati si primeau note. De ce ? Pentru ca asa era planificare Ministerului Educatiei. Cei care nu primeau note promovau daca reuseau sa isi atinga urechea dreapta cu mana stanga pe deasupra capului. Am crezut ca este o gluma si am ras. Dar sora lui era acolo de fata si a confirmat ca asa s-a nimerit ca fratele ei mai mare cu 3 ani sa fie in aceasi clasa cu ea. Atunci cand toata lumea il incuraja sa mearga la facultate , pentru ca era cel mai destept din regiune , el a refuzat. Nu vroia sa isi paraseasca satul natal si sa plece la oras de frica sa nu isi piarda camilele.
Acum tipul este doctor veterinar si membru al parlamentului. Cand se duce in regiunea pe care o reprezinta( locul sau natal), petrece cea mai mare parte din timp vizitand scoli si vorbind cu copiii. El nu este un caz unic, ci unul dintre cei norocosi . Norocos pentru ca a avut oameni in jurul lui care i-au descoperit potentialul.

Spre seara primim vizita unor tipi care lucreaza pentru Guvernul Somalez. Discutand despre razboiul civil care continua sa macine tara, despre rapiri si afaceri controlate de arabi, ajung sa ma intreb : Cum de exista pirati somalezi, cand Oceanul Indian este ticsit de portavioane , nave si submarine americane. Zona este foarte puternic militarizata si totusi somalezii ataca vapoare si cer rascumparare. Instabilitatea se produce sau apare din senin ?
Azi am finalizat strategia pentru dezvoltarea pescuitului in zona. Am invatat sa pretuiesc apa si pestele afumat. Atunci cand micii intreprinzatori de pe coasta de est vor avea bani sa produca gheata si sa congeleze pestele , vor renunta sa il afume.
Imi e dor de somon fume si Evian pe Coasta de Azur....cu toate ca ma multumesc si cu guvizi si Borsec in Mamaia.

Taking great decions in times of tempest ,

If I thik about my life , my dreams and my acomplishments I realise that the small decisions I took in different moments changed me a lot. Like every human being I sometimes stop and think :"But what if...".

What if I had joined Police Academy , and now I was a cop. For a very long period of time , taht has been one of my most boiling goals.
What if in the second year of faculty I would have left home for going to UK and work in a farm. Thank you mother that you stopped me than.
What if I accepted a job in a romanian company , what if I wouldnt have joined AIESEC , what if I never left for Exchange .

I don't know if it is the some for you , but I always build in my mind how I want my life to be and I start dreaming. And from time to time someone or something tells me to wake up to the real world. Waking up meens doing what everybody expects me to do : live a safe , normal , superficial life. If I hate something in life , I hate dream breakers.

Why I think life is a miracle :

Two days ago I was enjoing a glass of white wine at Comfort. Sitting there outside on the balcony alone at the table and dreming. It was 3 in the afternoon and the street was packed with people. It wasn't very hot but the sun was reminding me that I am in Africa . I was thinking of KWS : living on Wasini Island , protecting the dolphins and training the villagers on HIV and enviornment conservation... really saving the planet. I was thinking about the meeting at EABL in the morning , marketing and beer. I was thanking God for knowing people like Sebi , Angie , Leah and Cathy. AIESEC-ers that cared about me , true friends that were doing everything to help me find a job. A decent job in Kenya. I remembered my friends at home and the reasons why I came here. I couldn't find the reason called :"finding a common job." So I drunk my last zip of wine being proud that I made the decision on going to the island, without salary. After an hour , my Dream Team gathered. We were meeting someone. That someone inspired us again. Beatrice told us about her projects and how we can blend in and help.

I couldn't stop laughing. First project is on Wasini Island , building schools.

I am proud that I made another decision and I even had confirmation from God that I am doing the right thing.

Zilele astea am realizat ceva ce m-a speriat.

In iulie scriam cuiva intr-un mail ca vreau sa traiesc undeva in Africa 2-3 ani. Am scris mai multe tampenii in mailul ala si undeva aparea cuvantul Kenya. Intotdeauna am vrut sa ma duc in Brazilia si in vara inca imi doream asta.

Imi amintesc candva in toamna cand am participat la conferita de pregatire pentru Exchange. Stateam la masa in restaurantul hotelului si mancam alaturi de ceilati visatori care vor sa cucereasca lumea. Toti ma intrebau de ce mananc atat de putin si de ce nu mananc carne. Le spuneam ca ma pregatesc pentru Africa si foamete si vreau sa devin vegetarian. Acum o saptamana stateam la masa la cantina universitatii si mi-am dat seama ca nu am mai mancat carne de foarte mult timp. Am realizat ca sunt in Africa si ca mananc foarte mult orez.

Astazi in autobuz eram singurul alb. Aseara in cafenea eram singurul alb. Nu sunt special datorita culorii mele , dar ma simt foarte constient de cine sunt. Si toata aventura asta a mea , este foarte revelatoare. Mi-am dat seama ca uneori ceea ce cred despre lume poate sa fie gresit. Calatoria de descoperire a Africii s-a transformat intr-o calatorie in interiorul fiintei mele. Am inceput sa dezgrop si sa scot la lumina toate certitudinile mele . Testate la lumina Soarelui , unele certitudini se topesc.

Leaving home

Today I left the family where I was living in the last 32 days. It felt really strange. It was another situation when I just have to move.

Because I don't have any more money I will live for free with an aiesecer , a cool one.

It was funny to use our last money on the bus tiket. Now I am really poor.

It's morning again. I hear Garreth going faster on the stairs and that noise that flip-flops make when they touch foot skin. I want to sleep more because the room is dark. Or I want to sleep more because I like my safe bed. Is safe to sleep.

I go to the bathroom and wash my face and teeth. Because I don't have a mirror , can't see how I look like. My face is wet . Get back in the room and look for the towel. I don't turn on the light because Nuk is sleeping.
Nuk leaves at 8.30 , catches the matatu and goes in the slums. He is teaching there.

I get dressed while Museoka is coming with breakfast. I see him passing through carrying the same things : bread and tea. Last week Nuk asked for butter. Now we eat bread with butter. Almost everyday. Garreth is writing in his journal a lot. Every morning and every evening. I wish I had a diary to write in , but now it is too late. The reason I don't want to do this is because I get depressed ... or at least I think I would. We leave house and go on the same road every day. Pass over the bridge where people are mugged say hello to people working there and get in the matatu. The price is between 20 and 40 bob depending on the hour.

Everyday I read the messages written on cars , walls and buildings believing that there are signs of my theory that "everything happens for a reason". It is soo much happening. Who said that doing good things and helping others is easy ? I guess no one.

On Sunday my charm broke. It is not like something bad will happen , although the message on it :" Sa fie pace in lume" , means more that words to me. Sitting at the table I realise what I am doing...or what we are doing. I guess everyone in the team , is a Mercenary of Peace. We want to do good things , volunteering and community development but we still need money. And because of our good intentions we work for people like politicians or big companies who want their "sins" to be forgiven.

And in moment like this a friend of mine reminded me of something that Oprah said :" You didn't gradute from Harvard University just to get a good job." I guess the same with me and other Mercenaries of PEACE. We didn't invest our time and soul in volunttering work just to get a good job.

Omul este o fiinta cameleonica. Mi-am dat seama de acest lucru in primele zile aici in Nairobi.
Primele 3 zile au fost foarte ciudate. Eram foarte incordat si atent la tot ce se intampla in jurul meu. E si normal ca o data scos din habitat sa ma comport altfel. Primul lucru greu de digerat este acela ca un alb iese imediat in evidenta. Toti cred ca "muzungus" sunt bogati si prosti. Si cam au dreptate. Lumea de aici este o imbinare intre Africa triburilor si Africa noului mileniu. Oamenii se impart in crestini , musulmani , secte si culte religioase , atei dar cand ajungi sa-i cunosti mai bine , afli ca tot ceea ce conteaza este aparteneta la un trib sau altul.
Ma bucur cand vad ca portughezi , englezi , arabi whatever nu au reusit sa aduca mari schimbari . Cu toate ca triburile masai sunt cele mai cunoscute datorita National Geo si Discovery , kikuiu , lua , luio si kamba sunt cele mai raspandite. Fiecare trib are calitati specifice. Limba swahilii este foarte interesanta. Trei zile pe saptamana avem lectii de swahilii cu un tip care este coleg cu noi pe proiect.
Ceea ce ajuta omul sa se adapteze este necesitatea. Nu pot supravietui daca nu ma supun regulilor de aici si daca nu ma adaptez cumva la ele. Pentru a ma adapta am avut nevoie de informatie si raspuns la intrebarea "Why ?" . Atunci cand nu am gasit raspuns la intrebarea asta ( adresata doar in gand ( am luat lucrurile asa cum sunt. La naiba cu ce stiu eu despre lume si despre viata. In mediul in care imi traiesc viata acum , lumea traieste altfel.

Acest post este inchierea procesului de adaptare.

Slum cocktail

In the next moments I will share with you an African Cocktail which is served here in Kenya . The reason I am telling you about this recipe is because it really worked for me getting me dizzy. So here it goes :

You take a few billions people and you put them live in an opened area. You provide them ...nothing and wait. In a short period of time they will start building improvised
houses made by all sort of garbage. Between their houses you let small black children to run naked. You let them very narrow alleys where they can move from a place to another. You make everything very dirty on the edge of life conditions. When they are born , they don't cry because is useless. You don't show them another way of life and they learn to smile. They smile a lot. You can look in the children eyes and see how they shine and how adorable and innocent they are. When they die you can carry their bodies outside the slum , sometimes in a blanket.

Mix it good.

Now you only have to add some feelings :
- hate for the leaders who got people in this situation,
- love for the children who want to hold your hand ,
- fear of the men who just stand there and look at you knowing you have a few dollars in your pocket
- respect for the women who cook in the street to feed family and neighbours
- smiles for the people asking you :" How are you "

You mix all those feelings well in a hot day and you will get a taste of the real world. Thank You. Who ever You are.

Different kind of heaven

Imagine a world without pain , without suffering and crying , without bad people and wars. Wouldn't that be boring ?

Black is beautiful

Frumusetea sta in simplitate. Un apus de soare sau o campie intinsa petecita cu cativa metri de vegetatie sunt sigur miracole ale naturii.

Oamenii sunt simpli si frumosi. Sunt simpli pentru ca nu au nevoie de mare lucru pentru a fi fericiti si frumosi pentru ca zambesc mereu.

Poveste :

Duminica ne-am trezit de dimineata pentru a merge in excursie pe dealurile Ngong. Dealurile astea sunt la 30 de km distanta de Nairobi. Sunt 6 dealuri care seamna cu monturile mainii , in swahilii ngong inseamna degete. Grupul era format din 10 kenyeini ( aiesec-eri & friends ) si 1 sud-african, 1 japonez , 1 chinezoiaca , 1 italianca , 1 canadianca , 1 roman.
Pe la ora 11 am ajuns la poalele primului deal intr-un sat populat de masai si kiuwiu , granita dintre cele 2 triburi. Dupa 2 ore de urcat mi-am dat seama ca nu exista nici un alpinist negru faimos care sa fi cucerit vreun pisc maiestos. Christie imi spune ca e ciudat ca englezii cred ca au urcat primii pe Muntele Kenya cand de fapt localnicii mergeau acolo in fiecare an sa se roage la zei.
The view seen from the third hill is extraordinary. De fapt cand esti acolo sus pe al treilea deal esti super ostenit , vantul sufla cu putere si te face sa uiti ca sunt 35 de grade in aer. Poti sa vezi teritoriul Masai Mara si asezarile lor presarate in apropierea petecelor verzi , sursa de apa.
Coborarea a fost foarte amuzanta . Ne-am impartit in grupuri mici si asa am realizat de ce exista atatea triburi : africanii nu prea pot sa stea grupati si socializeaza diferit. Ajunsi in sfarsit la strada ne-am dat seama ca pe acolo nu trec autobuze. Asa ca eu , chinezoaica si 10 africani am luat-o la pas spre satul ala mai mare care avea autobuze. Dar pana acolo m-am simtit ca Indiana Jones. Mergand prin satele alea vreo 5 km toata lumea se uita la mine si imi facea cu mana. Copiii alergau aratau cu degetul si strigau "muzungu".
Era haios pentru ca ma simteam ca primul om alb care a trecut pe acolo. Toti vroiau sa ma ajute cu ceva sa ma intrebe : "How are you" dar cu accent african suna ca un singur cuvant.

Duminica a fost cea mai tare zi de pana acum. Momentan am dureri in talpa si bataturi. Doar pentru ca am vrut sa le arat cat sunt de tare in hiking.

Back to the origins

It is said that humanity was born in Africa. The prof may stand in the animals that live in the wild. Have you ever heard about the Big 5 ? Because I have read a lot about this and I was always fascinated about elephants.

Next week I will be in Nairobi and experience the feeling of being hot in January. After all this cold and winter here , I will finally feel the warmth again.

It was a joke with the romanian who saw a giraffe for the first time. He looked at the long-neck animal fully amazed and said :" No, I still can't believe it , this is impossible."

Diference between Good and Bad ?

Things are as simple as this :

You have two drops of water : one is cold and one is hot . Which one will be good for the earth ?

By train

The train station is the most interesting place of all . If I think of some important moments in my life , in every story there is a train or a train station. First time when I travelled with my brother coming from the summer holiday it was by train. I was 13 and he was 9 , and I felt so responsible for his safety and beeing so paranoid like a grown-up. Things like "stay here , don't go there " which I hated on my parents were my first signs of "maturity".

Me coming from Bucharest after not being accepted at the Police Academy. All the discussions with the people in the train . The dissapointment and pain inside my soul trying to admit I was a loser . And my father's "told you so" look at the train station.

First faculty year and the Friday night train to Bucharest . A lot of parties during the weekend and the hang-over Sundays spent in the come-back train.
All the trips to job interviews to Bucharest in the second year of faculty. Travelling without a tiket dressed nice , tipping the conductor only to feel the freedom of not being a wuss.

A big group of AIESEC-ers leaving from the train station to their first conference. Me being the only one without tiket , the black sheep of the pack .All the sugarcubes wrote during the trip back home.

The eurotrip with Adi and Sergiu , traveling for a week only by train . We slept mainly in trains , train stations , tents , benches , police stations. But we had a damn of an experience.

Me and Raluca in a no-man's land station near Slobozia singing " Cine pleaca e un bulangiu !" and wondering if we behave so stupid in our own country how will we manage in Brazil or India ?

The trip from Durau to Constanta after I have experienced training in an amazing way. Me and Ake came without paying a tiket, being grateful that I passed this ritual to another "disciple".

Can't believe that I have lived so many moments...
by train

Writing in God's language

And the moment came. This year I will write only in english on my blog. I will write more because I have to describe a lot of things occuring in my heaven.
It is so strange that this blog is such a mirror of my spiritual life. Since I started posting a lot of things have changed... like me and my life and the friends near me.

Some of the most interesting people in my life read it. I am very honoured that from time to time you enter "my heaven" and join me in my journey through life.
I promise that in 2009 I will not dissapoint you.

Thank you for inspiring me ,

Despre bucuria Craciunului

Simt miros de portocala si deschid ochii. Sar din pat si ma indrept spre fereastra. Intind mainile si ma urc cu coatele pe pervaz si genunchii pe calorifer. Imi lipesc nasul de geamul rece si inghetat si incerc sa imi strecor privirea printre cristalele inghetate care s-au format.
Afara e zapada. Ma duc repede la bucatarie sa mananc. Mama ma cearta ca nu m-am spalat pe dinti. Fug la baie si apoi repede sa ma imbrac. Ma imbrac gros , imi pun manusile. Mama imi aduce fularul...
Nu e vorba de cadouri , e vorba de sanie si derdelus.

Laser frate


Prima operatie cu laser a avut loc la sfarsitul clasei a 12 a. Vroiam sa dau la Academia de Politie si trebuia sa scap de dioptrie. Ce imi aduc aminte de atunci este ca unul din doctori a spus :" Pfff , ce corneee frumoasa are, si ce cristalin sanatos ." In mintea mea era doar : " You kinky old man , spank my eye ball..spank it "

Zilele astea am ajuns iar la operatie cu laser. Cabinet medical modern , doctor .. un domn profesor. Operatiunea incepe in camera de consultatie unde imi baga in nas . pe fiecare nara ,niste sireturi imbibate cu solutie anestezica.

Scopul operatiei : largirea canalelor respiratorii si desfundarea "turbinelor".

Sunt condus de asistenta in alta camera. Sunt asezat pe un scaun de Star Trek si mi se dau urmatoarele indicatii : " Dupa ce anestezicul isi va face efectul , vom incepe operatia. Pe toata durata ei veti inspira pe gura si veti expira pe nas. La fel ca la tigari . Fumati ?"
Nu eram atent la ce spune si ce intreaba si am raspuns ca :"Da , fumez." Eram cu ochii la mana ei pentru ca in timp ce vorbea tinea in mana niste ochelari mari cu lentile verzi... foarte funky ei asa. Mi-a dat ochelarii si mi-a spus ca sunt pentru a ma proteja de fum. Da. Din nasul meu avea sa aisa fum.

Primul reflex a fost sa imi pun ochelarii la ochi. M-a sfatuit sa-i dau jos pentru ca voi vedea in curand viata in roz. Lentile verzi , viata roz. Am zambit si i-am dat jos de pe fata, jenat fiind ca ma comportasem ca o maimuta. Am asteptat vreo 15 minute timp in care au inceput sa ma doara dintii din fata si mi-am dat seama ca imi amortisera. Cand a intrat doctorul eram deja ametit.. sau era doar efectul placebo. In fine ma simteam high.
Si-a pus ochelarii , masca de chirurg ( sa nu intre fum ) si a apasat pe butonul de pornire la "generatorul de laser." In timp ce statea in mana cu o tija metalica prevazuta cu un cablu subtire , se intoarce spre asistenta si spune :" Astept sa se incinga".

Laserul ERA ROMANESC !
Nu are rost sa spun ca m-am speriat. Mi-a dat cu un sprai paralizant in nas si durerea era acolo . Mi-a spus ca atunci cand durerea devine insuportabila sa strang pumnul si se va opri. Eram cu ochii inchisi , lacrimam de durere si simteam ca si cand mi-ar smulge plete de par din nas. Era destul de dureros si am deschis ochii .

Avea dreptate : iesea fum si vedeam totul roz, cu toate ca lentilele erau verzi.
Timp de 12 ore dupa operatie mi-a curs sange din nas. Atat de abundent incat m-am gandit sa imi introduc OB-uri in nari.
Concluzia : Laser romanesc frate.