MEET IN DIVERSITY

MEET IN DIVERSITY
 Before leaving  Donja Stubai I didn't know , to my shame , anything  about Croatia . Preparation , agitation, flight booking , luggages , lists, presentation folders. A few days before departure I got in touch with those who were coming from other countries. I manage to agree with those who came from Cyprus and Bulgaria and to meet them at the airport in Zagreb. I got to Croatia by plane Lufhansa from Turin to Munich , where I had to exchange for Zagreb. Near the gate I saw a group of three young people were sitting on benches ravaged airport . They were tired, but smiling . I recognize Andreas  because  he sent me a photo by email before leaving the airport . " Olimpia , how are you ? " - Andreas recognized me ." It's good to meet you here , and not in Zagreb " - I told myself silently , moving me to the group of Andreas , Maria and Natalia . There were two hours to take off, so I sit near to youngsters and start talking . Poor of them, had gone in the evening from Nicosia and they arrived at midnight in Munich . They stood the night in the airport till in the morning at 11 when had a flight to Zagreb."Hello , are you the group for the Seminary ? " ethereal voice is heard behind me. I turned back and I saw a girl from Bulgaria, Ati, young, tall, with an enviable figure and a charming smile . "The pasangers for Zagreb 's wait to the gate number ..." - I heared the voice of the airport employees microphone. We queued for boarding and after a few minutes I was on the plane. Ati was a little scared because it was the first airplane flight. I took her by my side to not feel alone and to give some security.We arived at Zagreb. I hadn't  seee in my life so that publicans killer figures from the airport . Their eyes gaze at you and make you massive physique shivers down my spine . Poor Mary, they didn't   let her go because she had no passport and only identity card . After discussions for an  hour where we all tried to persuade publicans we need to get to the seminar and that Mary was she in our group happy out of the airport. Andreas finds a Croatian driver who treats price . We had to travel 80 km to the Donja Stubica and I think we got down to the end of the seminar. Using the hands and  the signs, especially words, fall to peace 80 euros and we go. We count every cat hat comes, we accepted.The driver did not know English, but he understood where we wanted to go. We were   lucky wirth Ati because she knew speaking Bulgarian and a bit of Russian languages.That was important purpose. On the way, we was getting hungry. Cute food driver stops in front of a village and we rush to buy something . Wed I was thirsty, so I bought two bottles of mineral water, two bananas, chocolate and cheese box. Fortunately, we got in the car and left us "meet in diversity" with other participants in the seminar.Donja Stubica is a village with a few houses and a dream hotel . We paid the taxi and head to the reception. To socialize better, we had shared the room by organizers . I got a Croat, not yet reached . Others that had come and they were with others from other countries. We're each in our rooms to take a shower , unpack and eat something.While arranging my things in the furniture arrived a  lady, closed to my age . "
 " Hello, I'm Kristina , from Croatia" - she told me with a smile and headed to bed remained free . She put her luggage and we start talking . I explained that I'm not Italian , I'm Romanian, but  I'm resident in Italy , which I represent at the seminar. After I chatted a few minutes , she gets a shower ( meanwhile I ate some cheese triangles and drank half a liter of water) and then we got down to reception where we met other participants in the seminar.We began to make acquaintance. Stupor, I'm stuck. They were youngsters from Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Netherlands, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey, England, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Switzerland, Greece. "All together, butis too much," I said in my mind. See how the war will begin. "Meeting in diversity?" - Hm, I hope I can return safely to Italy..
I never ever imagined knowing the situation of conflict in these countries of the former Yugoslavia found that young people can understand so well. For them there was no conflict, no divergence, only friendship, cooperation and friendship. Moreover, they became friends with others, and when I wanted to participate in group work they took me with them.I had the opportunity to meet Julian, he came from Cyprus and his mother is Romanian and father Cypriot . If you have heard him with how much proude he talked about his maternal grandparents from Romania and about the drink wich burn the throat , it called brandy (TUICA).The seminar gave me more information about European program "Youth in action " and more. I met young people with enthusiasm , imagination. I lbecame more rich than I came.
The last day was the birthday of Sandra from Croatia. Kristina , my roommate , was " guilty " of surprise as we did to Sandra . She ordered a huge tort , and when Sandra entered in the restaurant at lunch we started to sing all "Happy Birthday" . Sandra did not expect a such extreme surprise and we saw happiness on her face. Youth who had never seen , but in a few days were able to make a girl happy that no one knows if they will ever meet , is the signal that there is still hope in  this world. Is not this a sign of unconditional love ? I can say, yes.

THE NUNS GLADE ANGELS

We leave to the Monastery Marcus Brasov , Covasna County . One friend of mine told me that at the monastery was a nun , Serafima Comsa , who takes care of 10 children. She took them directly from motherhood in Brasov in 2003 , children were abandoned by their mothers aged 1-7 months. Emilio and I are lovers of children. We thought to make them a joy these souls and get them some candy , clothes , as does any Christian .
It was a beautiful autumn day , when the trees changing their colors like in a picture made by Grigorescu, a Romanian painter. We came with hearts full of emotions. " What reaction have kids ? They will love what we bring them? Does Mother Serafima let us give them our gifts ? " There were questions that crop up in our thoughts as we head towards the monastery. At the gate of the monastery we saw a yellow van (later I was to find that this bus was donated by the school office to help girls reach kindergarten ). We thought too many guests arrived and Mother Serafima will have not time for us. When we entered on the gate of the monastery and we heared the voices of children . Do I happened to go to a monastery and hear the voices of children . The feeling I had was that we were in heaven. Ten girls about the age of five , six years come across. " Have you come to visit us? " Ask one of our friendly girls. If we wait , and his eyes were full of love and joy. " Yes , I replied to the girl . " "Mother, came to visit us ! ," - says the girl opening the door to the guest room located at the entrance of the house . The other girls were playing in special space in the garden.Mother Serafima had guests, but for a few moments she got out to greet us . With a gentle smile says : "Please wait a few minutes to me . I have a family visit and after i finish talking , I'll come to talk with you ." Late autumn sun warmed our souls . We are in a place where happiness was at home . I watched the girls and enjoy the scenery that they offered. I read something on the internet about the monastery and now I remember Mother Serafima that she gave everything. Begging in railway stations and churches, bear humiliation and harsh words . Working to exhaustion , side by side with men. The place stood the monastery was called Nuns Glade Angels , as foretold many years ago Father Arsenie Boca , when he came to visit this region. And Nicoleta, Mihaela ,Maria, Petruta , Anna, Elena , Stefan, Maria , Alexandra , Anna , Andrew and Ana -Maria are Angels of  Marcus Monastery . Orphan Girls . That was orphaned . For them Mom 's who you increase not who makes . And Mother Abbess Serafima is the Mother of 10 children .In finally , mother got out of the house , accompanying guests to the door . " Come in , excuse me , it's not nice to let you wait " - says nun and cravings in their guest room . Rams girls were out to play, we could hear voices coming from another joyful. Another mother came and asked us if can she bring us coffee and some sweet . We said that we came to bring them some gifts to little girls and make a donation to the monastery. Gentle and tender voice says: " God bless you for your endeavor ." No wonder ,Serafima mother starts to tell us the story of these girls." Alexandra had pus in the ear for that maternity and she had a bottle neck tie and all the milk dripping from her neck and into her ear. Flesh was filled with pus. Their mothers abandoned them in the hospital , with all their diseases , along with the beauty and purity of newborn children . Maria Alexandra had surgery at the eyes . I remember Mary's feet were so fragile , the rickets , I did not believe that he will ever return and will be able to go . We baptized and God wanted them to live . Anna is 6 years old . She was found in a barn and miraculously saved by a family that was sitting there and heard her cries . Knows no other home than the monastery . Ana just past 6 years. "I know why I'm here. Stork who did wrong to me. My mother threw me in the hospital. You know, I left the road . Mom tells me that the monastery should forgive . I am angry with my mother . I don't love her and I will not forgive . "Tears came in our eyes . We should sit down on knees and kiss the hands of those who had the courage to take care of  these 10 girls.
Father Nil, professor of geography, took care until the end of his days as a confessor of the monastery these angels, but God took him in November 27, 2012. Maybe that's up there with Father Arsenie Boca still watching these angels on earth. I left the monastery with joy that I was in heaven for a few minutes.

ALPHABETS IN EUROPE

Man with accordions

I met Dorota , my Polish partner of this project, a year ago, in Spain, at an international seminar . It was a sensation that was created between us since that time. We kept in touch and after about an year she sent me an email asking me if I wanted to find an Italian partner for the project. Of course I found it and I went in early March in Poland with 4 young Italian members of an association of theater from Turin , Viartisti Theatre . The weather in March is capricious in Poland. Wind was blowing from all the sides , the cold froze and froze the blood. The activities of the project were held at  60 km away from Warsaw, in the city Bursuki , in the middle of a forest like in  a dream in a location decorated with everything. The project partners were youngsters together with their leaders from Italy , Georgia, Tunisia , Ireland and Poland .

The partners in every day , they had to prepare the menu for three meals and present their alphabet in an original way . On the first day were the Irish, the second day Georgia ( group arrived a day late due to the snow that blocked the air traffic to the airport in Minsk) , Tunisia and Italy presented on the third day , and Poland , as host country was the last . There were a total of 27 young people who have seen their lives and that they were able to make friends very quickly , and work together as they knew each other of a lifetime. I've never seen  since I work in European projects  a group so cohesive . It 's interesting to live and work a week in another country , with another young people from different countries and to realize that in reality , they are all perfectly normal beings , they have the same dreams , the same hopes and desires .
Maybe that's why I've always liked to be surrounded by young people who have a contagious enthusiasm . The young Italian  presented an excerpt from the show " Piccirida " in Italian. It was about a young girl who was part of a crime family in southern Italy, and that she died because she did not want to be part of that family , denouncing his brothers and his father. Including abuse of his mother because he had the courage to denounce the family. The story of this young girl went out of Italy, pulling tears of an audience that has heard the emotions conveyed by the four actors , Ivan , Paola , Luca and Francesca, without knowing the meaning of words in Italian .

 What could be more beautiful than to experience the thrill beyond words ? Why the man with the accordion ? Because I met last day of stay in Poland , in the central square in Warsaw. For me, this was the final conclusion of the project "A street actor , a parrot and a barrel organ expressing a perfect harmony between everyday life , past and future, between generations, nations and cultures. "

GLI ALFABETI IN EUROPA - ALPHABETS IN EUROPE

Uomo con organetti

Ho conosciuta Dorota, il mio partner polaco di questo progetto, un anno fa, in Spagna, ad un seminario internazionale. Era una sensazione che si è stata creata tra noi da quel momento. Siamo rimaste in contatto e dopo circa un anno mi ha inviato una mail che mi chiedeva se volevo trovare un partner italiano per il progetto. Naturalmente l'ho trovato e sono patita ai primi di marzo in Polonia con 4 giovani italiani membri di un'associazione di teatro da Torino, Viartisti Teatro. Il tempo di marzo è capriccioso in Polonia. Vento soffiava da tutte le parti, il freddo congelava e ghiacciava il sangue. Le attività del progetto si sono svolte  a 60 km di distanza di Varsavia, nella città Bursuki, nel mezzo di una foresta da sognare in una location decorata con tutto. I partner del progetto erano i giovani insieme ai capigruppo dalla Italia, Georgia, Tunisia, Irlanda e Polonia.

I partner, in ogni giorno, hanno dovuto preparare menù per tre pasti e presentare il loro alfabeto in modo originale. Il primo giorno sono stati gli irlandesi, il secondo giorno la Georgia (gruppo è arrivato un giorno di ritardo a causa della neve che ha bloccato il traffico aereo per l'aeroporto di Minsk), la Tunisia e l'Italia hanno presentato il terzo giorno, e la Polonia, come paese ospitante è rimasto alla fine. Ci sono stati un totale di 27 giovani che hanno visto la loro vita e che sono stati in grado di fare amicizia molto rapidamente, a lavorare insieme come si conoscevano da una vita. Non mi è mai stato dato da quando io lavoro in progetti europei e di vedere un gruppo così coeso. E 'interessante in cui vivere e lavorare una settimana in un altro paese, con altri giovani di diverse nazioni e di rendersi conto che in realtà, sono tutti esseri perfettamente normali , hanno i stessi sogni, le stesse speranze e i desideri.

Forse è per questo che mi è sempre piaciuto essere circondata dai giovani che hanno un entusiasmo contagioso . I giovani italiani hano presentato un estratto dallo spettacolo " Piccirida " in italiano. Si trattava di una giovane ragazza che faceva parte di una famiglia criminale del sud Italia , e che è morta perché non aveva voglia di essere parte di quella famiglia , denunciando i fratelli e il padre . Incluso l'abuso della madre perché aveva il coraggio di denunciare la famiglia. La storia di questa giovane andò fuori d'Italia , tirando lacrime di un pubblico che ha sentito le emozioni trasmesse dai quattro attori , Ivan , Paola , Luca e Francesca , senza conoscere il significato delle parole in italiano . Cosa c'è di più bello che vivere le emozioni oltre le parole? Perchè l'uomo con l'organetto ? Perché l'ho incontrato nel ultimo giorno di permanenza in Polonia , la piazza centrale di Varsavia . Per me , questa immagine è stata la conclusione finale del progetto " Un attore di strada , un pappagallo e un organetto esprimono una perfetta armonia tra la vita di tutti i giorni, passato e futuro, tra le generazioni, nazioni e culture . "