Last X-mas I punched your face

Three girls decided to spend their Christmas night out in a club. One of them has been out of the picture for a few months, so Christmas was also the perfect timing for a reunion. These girls decided to go into a club...one that they've been into before and knew it was ok. Major failure...it was full of pigs that night, probably the ones that escaped the traditional Christmas slaughter. It was the first time in my life when we had to call the club's bodyguard because a guy told us that "you either dance with me or I beat you because I'm drunk"....nice pick up line, what can I say. The event was followed by a wave of unbelievably rude remarks that made other desperate guys follow their pig king. What amazed me was that one of them asked as for an explanation on "three girls decide to go out alone for a girl's night out....and you want me to believe it?". We finally left, of course, and I will definitely not step in that club ever again in my life. For the record I'm talking about El Grande Comandante...the newest attraction for the jerks in Bucharest.

One of the points on my resolution list was to regain my trust in people...but if the tyre of unfortunate events keeps rolling...I'll have to stick to who I know. When these things happen I either imagine a nuclear bomb dropped in the middle of this country, or some sort of a Hitler enslaving (just enslave...based on the level of self respect) probably half of this country's characters.

My 2010

DONE in 2010: 
- became an MA in International Studies
- became a volunteer for an animal association
- got two cats
- visited new places (London, Paris, Miami, Milano)
- rebounded with my people and met a few new faces
- finished a great and rewarding internship
- learned new and interesting stuff - but maybe not as much as I wanted
- kept my international, funny, rewarding and full of the unexpected job

Romania's unwanted grown ups

I'm talking about my generation. By generation I mostly refer to the people born in the '80s. That was a pretty rough period in communist Romania. Ceausescu turned mental and wanted to reach impossible stars. Some of us only spent few years in communism, kindergarden or just the first years of school. Let's say we stared on the wrong foot. I'm saying that because ones childhood is reflected later in all his desires and reactions. Most of us are the product of unwanted pregnancies...same as most of our parents. We are a generation of tormented people, born out of another tormented generation. Abortion was a big no in communism, especially after the 1966 Decree. Ceausescu's industrial dream of equality brought peasants into city factories which brought mixed feelings in people's hearts. The fact that they weren't even allowed to express these feelings made frustrations grow and people change. This is who our parents are ... a rootless generation who did not have the power to choose. Funny how on the bus I only hear elderly people (grandparents) regretting the wonders of communism.

I'd say that we are the same. We started our life as equals and lived our childhood through the biggest change a state could go through - going from dictatorship to democracy. We are just as rootless and even worse. While our parents at least had their plan made by the state, we struggle to make ours. We have no guidance because nobody could even help us understand how to choose what's right, and that's why we lie, we become dependable, we are depressive and don't know how to behave most of the time. We choose to flee and live abroad because we long to blend in. We want to find out who we are, get accepted and mostly respected. We have no hope for/from/in a country that forced us to come into this world and then abandoned us.

This happens everywhere but Romanians, as people, have a certain pride that instead of making them smart, interesting, unique and special in their own country, it turns them into hypocrites, liars and double-dealers that so nicely become nothing but a piece in the grey puzzle. Such a pity to see young grown ups wasting themselves with frustrations and regrets.

Turn the page

Tomorrow is my last day of internship at the US Embassy. I started it out of curiosity and the need to learn new stuff. I hate having spare time and doing nothing, when there are so many things to do and people to discover in this world. I have to admit that after this month and a half of being an intern and employee, I am tired and I need a break. I'll get it at the end of next week...a well deserved trip to Milan.

This was a full week. Monday was the Intercontinental event I helped organize and I met the Ambassador, mr. Mark Gintestein. Not only did I meet him, but I shook hands with him and had a little chat. I could feel the blood rushing in my cheeks, but I stood brave. It was a great experience, and not just because he's an authority in my eyes. Keith praised me and that made me melt....I definitely have to work on my skills in this area. I realized that I hate it when people say good things about me to people who don't actually know me. Olivia would say that this is the "know it all" and "perfectionist" in me who feels the need to prove itself.

The whole internship was a great experience...I attended so many events, learned how to do a professional sector market research and organize an Embassy event. I am so happy I took it. I did not get an employment offer or something, because the internship is not about this, but I am sure that I'll get recommended.

It was a good week at work as well. I love my job in general, and I said it a hundred times already.

PS ...this is a very agitated December and I hate it, because I feel that the year is ending and I don't even know when. It's already middle December and I still have to do so many things before the end of the year and I don't have time. And there's no snow yet....this year I'll mark the first day of snow (probably tomorrow).

What goes around comes around

Ever heard about the "kicked in the ass by karma" thing. Well I have, and it seams that I'm living it. How does it feel? Like a fat annoying man rubbing against you on the bus...that's how bad it is. You can't have it all, they say, but why can't you have a bit of everything?

I know it's my fault and that my attitude is wrong, but where the hell is my invisibility coat when I need it? That might be my only chance to stop making bad decisions and being a fool. This has definitely been a very bad year on a personal level...very bad. That should change next year, and if it doesn't get better, at least I hope it's going to be neutral.

I'm working on that list, and my mind keeps adding new things by the minute. I'm turning 25, quarter of a century and I believe half way through life. Not only should I start anti aging cream, but also reflect on my values and switch my priorities.

My Sun(ny)day

Strange enough, while the weekdays are extremely cold, the weekends are super shiny. As the girls said, the dogs from the association must have their little paws crossed the whole week and pray for a shiny weekend, so they can get adopted and visited at the shelter by lots of people.

I started going to the shelter again, since the cold came. Though I've been there before at the beginning of the year, I skipped during summer. Now, when I went back, I really felt like crying...it was a mix of excitement and happiness to see the dogs again and the sadness of seeing them THERE. It's obvious that for some of them the hope for adoption doesn't exist....and they might spend their whole dog life in that field. At the same time, a whole new row of pens has been build which means that their numbers grew.

Today was one of those Sundays...beautiful weather, lots of people and happy tails. We fed them, cleaned the pens, cleaned around the pens, changed their water, fixed some of the doghouses and loved them. They seamed the happiest creatures on earth. I love to see them happy...especially when I know their sad stories.

I am super tired, but very content for sharing a bit of my time and heart in a worth-full way.

Miami

I realized that I have no spoof about my trip to Miami. It's been almost two months since I went back to the big S. I guess I didn't write anything about the trip because it wasn't that exciting. Strange, but true. I was missing the vibe of the city, I guess it's just not my type of city. 

I spent my first days at the conference, not visiting much...except for the conference room and expensive restaurants. I stayed at The National and had a grand view. The hotel staff read my mind and gave me a beautiful ocean view room. My first jet lagged nights were marvellous nights spent watching out the window and listening to the ocean. Missing the sunrise typical Bolero, I watched the sun raise up from the ocean surrounding itself with a beautiful red blooded curtain.

My first visit outside the hotel was the beach...I can't even remember how I got there, it seamed to be just behind the hotel...just when I got back I realized that I've been walking for a while. The beach was simply beautiful...and after first seeing it, I couldn't wait to go there again and take a swim in the ocean. And that's just what I did as soon as the conference ended. South Beach is really small so as soon as I moved to the hostel, I took a long walk and saw everything there was, bought souvenirs, and then I spent the extra day and a half I had...at the beach. I was completely sun burned, so sun burned that I had to wear a skirt on my flight back, but I just couldn't leave the soft burning sand and the crystal clear water. That was the best thing about Miami...but I'm sure beach paradises can be found in many other places around the world, even better ones. 

It was a great place for complete relaxation...I would go back, but not alone...it has a great wild side that I'd also like to experience.

Interning

Here I am, an inter again. Why? I might be mentally deranged, but this internship is actually the closest to the answer "where do you see yourself 5 years from now?". It has a lot to do with what I like, what I learned in school and my work experience till now...not to mention it's US related.

I am an intern for the US Commercial Service. I am very scared and paranoid about reveling information due to the security interview I had to go through, and that's such a pitty, because it is the coolest place ever. I wanted to go there because lately I wasn't feeling so much "out there", and I needed to resuscitate my social life. I went there to meet people I guess. The acceptance process took a long time, but it was worth it. The new morning "job" will end on the 10th of December...and this first week it blended pretty well with my afternoon job.

I'm glad that I can compare the atmosphere and the work done at the US CS with the one from the Romanian Embassy/Consulate in Spain (in both places I was an intern and worked with specially trained Romanians). All I can say is that, sadly Romania is extremely far from the world of the big ones.

Ah yes...this week I had my job birthday - I'm a 3 years old official/state registered working class hero and I've been in the best office ever for the past year. Time flies...

Eat, pray, love favorite

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..."

Cruel punishment

This morning on my way to work I bursted into tears. This has never happened to me, I rarely cry in front of other people, so it must have been special.

All I could think about was why? So many reasons came through my mind - the weather and PMS, of course (though I haven't had that in a long time), appeared to be the best reasons...but then I thought that it could also be:

- the book I'm reading and how other people from other countries become some how famous and have enough money to travel and do what they want - I don't neuter envy...I'm not even able to define that word, but that is my biggest wish ever;

- the fact that I don't get enough affection - I am in denial on that part

- the fact that I started going back to the dog shelter, and though that picture never made me cry, this time I know more stuff about animal cruelty in Romania - and here comes the trigger of my shotgun of tears: a bomj was searching through a garbage bag on the side of the road and an old stray dog was looking at him, shacking with every bone in his body in the rain...the bomj moved towards one of the underground pipe entrances and the dog followed with a broken leg, but waiving his tale, happy that he won't be outside anymore...the bomj couldn't take him underground, so he remained outside in the rain, alone, still shaking...

I'm probably going crazy, but the first thing that came through my mind was "what sins have I committed in my other life to be born here and to experience these things?" It must be a punishment for something...I'm probably acting like a spoiled brat, I know there are worse things, but this doesn't mean that I don't deserve to also experience the nice ones when I go out on the street.

Doing whatever

I'm reading this really nice book about overcoming the self and seeking the freedom and happiness most of us define as life goals. The book is not relevant now, as I'm going to write about it as soon as I finish reading it.

The point is that I am somehow trying to follow the book's motto and see whether it fits. I'm probably going through a personality crises and seeking the answer in other people's experience. Funny for me to say this...but I realized it's best to admit the crises we're going through or we'll all end up like that "godfather of cannibalism" japanese guy.

So, I'm doing what I want. I didn't like the doing "what I want" me from last night...at least not in the morning. I could put the blame on the situation I was in, but even so, man I kinnda feel like a piglet now.

I guess I started with the wrong foot...I am so not the type of person that should go out and be free...I guess I should adapt the book's motto a bit and say "do what you want, but please be rational!"

Cruelty Free Consumer

Here is a list of some surprising animal ingredients to look for on cosmetic labels and some greener alternatives:

Ingredient: Allantoin

Source/Use: Found in cows and other mammals and used as a healing agent in many cosmetic creams and lotions

Alternative: Allantoin is also found in many plants, particularly the extract of comfrey root.

Ingredient: Beeswax 

Source/Use: Wax from virgin bees is used as a sealant in lipsticks, mascaras, eye creams, lip balms and nail whiteners

Alternative: Paraffin, vegetable oils and fats.

Ingredient: Boar bristles 

Source/Use: Hair from boars commonly used in makeup brushes and toothbrushes 

Alternative: Nylon or vegetable fibers.

Ingredient: Biotin 

Source/Use: Found in all living cells and used in cosmetics and shampoos

Alternative: Plant sources.

Ingredient: Stearyl alcohol or sterols 

Source/Use: A mixture of solid alcohols that may sometimes be prepared from sperm whale oil and is used in skin creams, hair rinses and some shampoos

Alternative: Vegetable stearic acid

Ingredient: Fish liver oil 

Source/Use: A source of vitamin A sometimes used in cosmetics and hair dyes

Alternative: Vitamin A derivatives from carotene (carrots) or synthetic sources

Ingredient: Mink oil 

Source/Use: An emollient used for its moisturizing properties in cosmetics and skin creams

Alternative: Vegetable/natural oils such as avocado, almond and jojoba

Ingredient: Silk/silk powder

Source/Use: The tiny fibers made by silk worms to form a cocoon — used as a coloring ingredient ion face powders and soaps

Alternative: Milkweed seed-pod fibers or synthetic silks

Ingredient: RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

Source/Use: Slaughterhouse waste that is commonly used in many protein-enriched shampoos and conditioners

Alternative: Plant cells

Ingredient: Sponge (luna and sea) 

Source/Use: A sea animal that looks like a plant and is used as an ingredient for sponges and loofahs 

Alternative: synthetic sponges

Ingredient: Stearic acid 

Source/Use: Fat extracted from cows, sheep and pigs and used as a lubricant in deodorant, hair spray, shampoo and soap

Alternative: Vegetable fats or coconut

source: http://www.rominachirre.com/romina_chirre_english/rominas_blog/?cat=5&paged=3

Abandoned

Nowadays empathy is nothing but a faded dream in a reality that can only be defined as cruel. People don't care about people, so what expectations can I have towards animals. Today I was supposed to give for adoption a kitten that I fostered for a couple of days. The girl (she was over 20 years old) neutered an indescribable lack of respect and she was definitely incapable of taking her own decisions at that age. In the end the kitten remained in the association's custody.

Another volunteer had to take her over from me, so we met close to the place where we hold our weekly adoption fair. While talking, we saw a dog with a collar around his neck wondering around, looking lost. I managed to catch him, thinking that he might have a phone number on the collar...how stupid of us...we live in Bucharest...of course he didn't. Just then a women passed by, with her dog, and asked whether the dog is ours. This is how we found out that two girls have just abandoned him and she thought it was we. We couldn't leave him on the street now, it was clear that he wasn't wanted. Silvia soon remembered that two weeks ago, at the fair, two girls came with the dog. They wanted to leave him in our care in exchange for a smaller dog. They claimed that he has gotten too big and they wanted a small dog. We didn't fall for that...but it seems that in the end his faith was to become one of Robi's dogs. After a short adventure, we managed to take it to the president of the association. We felt bad about it, but none of us could take him home. He's going to stay in her car over the night, and tomorrow he will be taken to Glina. We are lucky that tomorrow another dog from Glina will be adopted, and this one will take his place. It seams like a never-ending rollercoaster between the minds of people who just don't seem to care when they let their animal bread and abandon or kill the puppies. In their minds it's much easier to commit murder then to spay or neuter their pets.

Silvia thought that we might be going crazy after this short adventure. I honestly think that we are all crazy, but we are a bunch of crazy people who save lives...could you say that a doctor or a fire fighter is crazy?

How to tell a fake when you see one

No, this is not a post about bags or shoes...it's a post about people. Out of the many fakes a had around me in my life, I must admit that I only recognized a few. Or maybe I could tell long before, but my tolerance accepted to have my powers drained and my nerves cracked at the end.

I have had many "best friends". I mostly trusted people I met in school, my 1-4th grade best friend with who I haven't spoken once the 4th grade finished, my 6-8th grade best friend with who history repeated. Weirdly in highschool I got closer with a few people....some got lost while high school years passed. With my best friend and desk mate a had a quarrel as soon as school ended. I'm ok with her know, after about 2 years of not speaking. Anyway... my quarrel with her confirmed that I shouldn't play this game anymore. But...my stupid stubbornness refused to accept that.

So...I was there again. Listening, comforting, visiting....accepting that my problems are way smaller that anybody else's, and keeping them only for myself most of the time. When I didn't, I did the mistake of opening my mouth, only to be punished for that after and being called a trader of generosity. My friendly requests have been refused by being told that guys are sometimes better to be around than me. I've been left aside when new friends popped, even when I was suppose to be a guest myself. But I was still there...listening, comforting and visiting. They say a Taurus's trust is not easy to brake, and they'll be there no matter what...but when you do break it and they reach a boiling point...there's no way back. As an atheist I do trust astrology, as it proven right a lot of times...not just to me, but also in the people around me.

I am happy to say, that after one year of being at home, I managed to prioritize things in my social life. No more substance abusers, no more self centered camera guys, no more married people and definitely no more fake friends. Life is cruel and I am afraid to say that it's getting worse. People are confused and the desperation to be pleasant and adored by other makes them say and do stuff, that show their low character and lack of attitude towards life.

Or at least that's my opinion...

Tora Lisa

It's been two weeks since Tora "joined" the cat family of Robi. My sister brought her at the door as I was getting ready to leave the house...she was purring, so I couldn't say no to that. My new studio needed some life, though she was out for adoption.

She's the most loving, purring 4 months cat I have ever seen. Her beautiful eyes mark her kitty attitude, as she gracefully moves around the house. I don't think she was born on the street, or at least she did not spent a big part of her life there. She knows how to use the tray (though that's a cat instinct), she's fleas free and vaccinated. All she misses at this moment is a loving house.

To kill an inner child

History tought us that in the years that pasted, humans fought long lasting, bloody battles for pieces of land or ideologies. Assuming that humans evolved into a less ignorant creature, these battles stopped, or at least are better hidden behind great words such as human rights, ecology etc. - different debate...

These days we are so good at hiding, that we even hide murder. A lot of the people around me go by with no jail time or even a fine for killing their inner child. Worst, there are a lot others who try to convince that this is a wise path to take. I love Romania...but I am afraid that the country has only a handful of people who are able to truly relax and do stupid things...stupid to gown ups, but natural to children. It's stupid to do anything that a child would do, I guess laughing will soon be declared stupid in this country, or even out side the law. I live in a sad place, and try desperately to surround myself with people who still see Tinkerbell. 

What brings me to anxiety, is that among my closest ones, I find those trying to rip you inside and dig hard to kill your spirit, because theirs died a long time ago. I would die without being clumsy, stupid, innocent...but most of all happy! The thought of being a zombie, a shadow frightens me...

Nunu the cat

Nunu was abandoned together with his brother. Once ROBI got a hold of them, they were both adopted. Two weeks after enjoying his happy family life, Nunu was returned. Why?! He was a mess....he "destroyed things", "broke mum's favourite vase", "wasn't able to learn where to pee" etc. So, he had to return to ROBI. Since we don't really have a cat shelter, the girl who initially found him had to take him back. This is a major part of the volunteer work at the association...

Now Nunu is at my place...I took him over for a week. He's the sweetest, cleanest cat possible. He has the bluest eyes, matched with a perfect cat attitude. He stays where you put him, loves to play and hide...and knows how to use the tray. I can't imagine why anyone would return a kitty like him.

Dogrescue lobbying for European pets

April 19, four members of the European parliament, among others Marit Paulsen and Carl Schlyter from Sweden, submitted an official document, 26/2010 on behalf of Pets In Europe (PIE) as to our European pets wellbeing. The Parlamient has never legislated in matters concerning the wellfare of pets, as pets do not count within the common politicians fields. As of today, every single EU-country has to legislate their national laws. In practice this means that massive killings of stray dogs are carried out before every tourist season in many of the EU countries.

The document 26/2010 is a first important step on the way to a tangible law proposal regulating the complex of problems with stray dogs. In Romania, DogRescues, in collaboration with Save the Dogs, are together with PIE supervising the proceedings of the Parliament and tries to firstly help with the intensive neutering- and vaccination program. July 10, at the latest, at least half of the members in the EU-parliament must sign the official letter 26/2010 in order of approval.

At this moment representatives from DogRescue together with the Finnish friend organisation Hemlösa Hundars Vänner (Homeless Dogs Friends) are working together with convincing our Nordic members of Parliament to sign the document. On our web site we will keep you updated as to the campaign.

By: Föreningen DogRescue

Legea 9/2008 - privind protectia animalelor

In virtutea legii 9/2008, in cazul in care sesizati acte de cruzime fata de animale (cu sau fara stapan) va rog sa apelati 9667.

Sub acceasi lege sunt pedepsiti: cei ce ameninta animale (mai ales pe cele fara stapan) cu otravire sau ucidere si cei ce le abandoneaza pe strada.

Pentru mai multe informatii despre cum se face o reclamatie click aici

Fair and Fest

Summer seams to be here and events are bulging into my life. Since I've known myself I hated having free time and the lats two years of my life were full of free time and laziness. I feel like I'm back in action, always too busy and sleeping sound. My weekdays are nothing but work and thesis writing...and occasional beer evenings with Ana. ROBI's animals took over most of my weekends, but I'm not complaining.

A prolific weekend, with 18 adopted animals, started on Saturdays, when I was as usual at the fair in Obor. The purpose of the fair is to give animals, stray animals, for adoption. We have puppies and kitties for adoptions, but even though they are cute and cuddly, at the end of the day just a few find a home. For them, it's crucial to be adopted while small, because people usually look for a dog to grow with. If they are not adopted, they have to be moved to Glina, the animal shelter. It's heartbreaking when we see these puppies, full of energy, clumsy and naive, unable to find a loving home and being transported back to the yard where they are temporarily kept, at the end of every Saturday.

On Sunday I'm usually at Glina. The good weather takes a lot of volunteers to Glina, so it's easier to also attend other events. That's why this Sunday I went to ONGfest to represent the animal association. Romania has a lot of social problems, most of these problems clearly dividing the population: gypsies, abandoned children, abandoned elderly people and stray animals. At the fest, most of the attendants were presenting one of these social issues. I was surprised to learn that out of these, children and stray animals were mostly represented and attracting peoples attention. Opinions are divided...I myself could never chose between helping a child or a dog. The only thing driving me towards animals is that I can't sit around sad children...it's too cruel for me. My mother works in a kindergarden for children with hearing and mental deficiencies and I can't even go there to see the children. Most of them have been abandoned...and it's frustrating. I am future driven, so I always think about what will happen with these souls over the years and while dogs can live in a small yard with some food and a little love, you cannot keep a child like that. I'm a beginner in social helping, so maybe over the years I will become more mature and shift my attention...

It's been a while...

...since I visited my blog. The place where I can lay all my frustrations, read them later, and decide whether to delete the post or not.

It's already May...and I:

- am still happily employed - important fact for the way unemployment rates go

- visited Paris for real - all I can say is: another town down, billion others to go :)

- turned 24 - which is before 25, an important age for me because that's when I should start wearing anti-wrinkle face creams

- miss leaving abroad and always think about what I was doing this time last year

- hate having to start digging more and more into the system - you can ask me anything about the labour law, taxes and income laws, state health insurance etc.

- am getting ready to move out

...but most important:

- am a volunteer for an animal association (ROBI) - I am doing what I always wanted to do: help those who can't ask for it.

I've been a volunteer for 3 months now. I can say that I passed my trial period well.

Yes, I did become a little bit more obsessed with stray animals, and turn my head after each dog.

No, I am not a vegetarian and I don't think I could ever be.

Yes, I've been called crazy and told that there are so many other good deeds that I could do, if I wanted to (like helping abandoned children or elderly people).

No, my house is not full of animals now, and I don't go around like people from the church preaching my cause and asking for money and moral support.

Yes, I think I became a better person.

I've done my first good deed and castrated two of the "bitches" from my block....tomorrow they will also be pest free. But this is like a star fish in an ocean. :)

I think my experience with animals (added to the experience I get just by walking out of the door in the morning) hasn't enriched my knowledge about them, their habits and diseases, as much as it enriched my knowledge about people. When I say this, I do not refer to the way people see animals and behave towards them, but to the way people are. We (Romanians) are very uneducated, frustrated and scared. The system is rotten, and as positive as I am in general, I don't see anything in the near future. Myself, like the majority of this country's population wait for tomorrow to see what will happen...it is well known that the lack of security can take away lives...unfortunately, this is what defines Romania in 2010.

First time at Glina

This week I became an official volunteer for ROBI - The Animal Association (http://www.4animals.ro/home.html), and today I had my first visit at Glina. This is a small "city" next to Bucharest, 40 km closer to Bucharest than my grandparent's village and it looks nothing different.

The stray dog's shelters aren't far from the main road, in an opened field. Water and electricity represent a luxury for that area. As we got closer a pack of dogs started running towards the car. They seemed to know that we were there to feed them and patiently waited, waving their tails, until a lady we were with got out of the car and gave them something to eat, not much...We weren't there yet. On our way, I got warned that I will be very muddy when we will be leaving, and next time I should pack extra clothes. We got there...150 dogs barking at the same time, rusty shelters, a filed full of garbage and mud, lots of mud. The land is loaned from a man, and there are several animal associations with shelters there. We started feeding them, they were rather hungry and impatient.

A few hours before we arrived "an intruder" was killed there. "Intruders" are dogs that don't belong to the shelters and surroundings. The others dogs attacked and killed him, fearing that he might become competition for food. The dogs weren't even tolerating other dogs from the shelter jumping over the fence and demanding food before their turn. As soon as one of them was doing this the riot started, 150 dogs barking at the same time again.

After we finished feeding them, 190 kg of dried food and about 50 cans (only a part of them got that treat), we added water and a bit of love. The mud and the hungry dogs make everything look scary, but once you start talking to them and see how they wave their tales and jump up the fences so you can put your hand through the bars and pet them a bit, your heart melts instantly. You have dogs of all sizes and personalities. You have three legged dogs and blind and deaf dogs...everything that managed to be saved from really traumatizing environments. Worst story: a female dog saved from a stray person who was...raping her.

This is nothing like Animal Planet. It is nothing like anything...but this is the maximum they can get from the mercy of people. Food is gathered from donations, just like the money for rent and building those horrible shelters. On my next visit I will try to take pictures and post them. 

Till then, a representative movie:

Eco Duties

In one hour I cleaned with Bianca this small public land area that's right under our bedroom window. Of course this is a insignificant area comparing what we have around our building block. We managed to gather 14 X 12 l garbage bags full of plastic bottles and bags, textiles, batteries, glass containers and loads of other plastic containers. Visible in the picture are 4 doggies. They are the reason why all this garbage appeared, not that everything around them is cleaner. People bring them food and water and dump the bags and plastic containers there. I called the District's pound to come and castrate them, and they scheduled for next week. Maybe if they are castrated people will be willing to adopt them :)

We still have a bit left, we will probably clean it next week because it's just behind our car. I was thinking about trying to call the City hall to tell them to do the rest, because it's kinda difficult to clean a whole neighborhood on my own :-§

Twinkly, twinkle, little star

A lot of people have been wondering about the meaning of my star tattoo. I usually say "...well I made it in the USA, you know...stars, freedom!?" I'm not lying when I'm saying that. USA represents a dream for me and I do associate it with my way to freedom, my star, the one that everybody has.

A better explanation to my tattoo can actually be found in what it really represents - constellations. I am not a religious person, actually I don't really believe in a higher entity a.k.a God. I do believe in infinity, the infinity of the universe and the infinity of essence. The guardian of my sign is planet Venus. Venus has a funny trajectory, reaching five points. Those five points represent the peaks of a pentagon - the kind of star I have on my neck. The pentagon represents a person, human. My tattoo reminds me that I am a nothing but a person born under a star. I am not infinity in shape, body - I am infinity in essence, soul. Venus is still the brightest star we can see during the night.

On top again

You know those things you fall in love it and at some point you love them so much that your afraid of getting disappointed?! This is me and the travelling mania I am slowly developing.

Last week I visited, on fast forward, two of Europe's greatest historical capitals, London and Paris. Maybe the quickness of the visit made the experience "dirty". Of all my travelling I found both as the darkest, dirtiest cities I have ever been in, Bucharest included.

London, I arrived around 6 (UK time) at Heathrow, and the second I looked out the plane's window, I remembered the beautiful Nordic sunset from Denmark. The darkness was similarly warm. I felt familiar, maybe because everything was in English :P. I went around the city only a bit (Buckingham, The Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abby, The Eye). I would have liked to see more, but it was cold and the poor illuminated streets made things look darker and colder, and I constantly had the feeling that I have to go to bed. The chaotic direction of cars was confusing and dazzling...though I wasn't scared, I felt like getting out of the streets as soon as possible. The feeling was tripled by the sight of homeless every here and there. When I got home I realized that I forgot about London's bridge, so I'll just have another reason to go there, this time by day...in a warmer season.

Paris was even quicker. I didn't even realize when the train we were on crossed the channel and got us in the suburbs of Paris. The sight wasn't so great. I've seen these gipsy built suburbs for a million times on TV, but never got goose bumps. You cannot imagine the dirt and poverty standing to be noticed next to a city of luxury and history. Once we got in the city, I had the feeling of familiarity again. The language is a complete puzzle to me, but the faces, clothing and architecture made me feel like home. The stint of the underground in Paris, could not be neutral to me. They urgently need to drop one of those famous perfume bottles in the underground. I didn't see much...but in April I'll go back and investigate :)

On top of it all, these cities are so expensive...and in my opinion....without reason. My no. 1 is still San Francisco...and my no. 1 1/2 is Madrid.

Welcome 2010

I had an odd start in this new year. I started the year with the feeling of needed change, in myself. I decided to change priorities, and switch from the naive school/university girl. I played the role for a while, maybe a bit too long and I'm starting to feel lame. I'm like the guy in those US university movies that never manages to graduate and goes with every generation through the same stupid pranks.

I had a look back at my 2009 resolution list and realized that I am so good at lying, I can actually fool myself. I have no resolution list for this year, except for managing to finish my master program. I have no wishes and no hopes, because having them would make me narrow...I prefer to walk on a wide path this year. There are some things that I know for sure will continue, and those things are related to traveling. I will be out there this year again, switching planes and looking through airport windows. These planes guided in these past 2 years my destiny and showed me that there are no limits to anything. If I can make it, if it happens to me...I believe it exists...destiny, luck, serendipity, whatever you want to name it.

My 2009:

- managed to work for three months by waking up at 5 in the morning and riding my bike, in order to sustain my studies

- managed to get to the thesis part of my master program, not with great grades, but with a beautiful life experience

- lived in Madrid for 3 months, ate the best food, drank the best "cervesa con limon" and most of all, met and lived with the best people in the world

- saw the wonders of Gaudi

- proved to myself that I can very well work for the state system as well, but would rather leave it as a last resort

- got hired by the International Executive Search Federation, in the conditions I asked - and so I have the best job a 23 year old would wish for, working with real professionals

- realized that my parents were right when I was little: there is no such thing as best friends, everybody has their own interest, the only people that will never judge or ask for anything are your parents!!!

- did the craziest thing in my life

I have no regrets, I'm just carefully paving my way to Hell.

Cheers to new perspectives!