I have always enjoyed seeing new places, watch people in their behavior and try to put myself in the culture of the place. I must say that Albania is really difficult to understand people, their behaviors, their attitudes. Especially if you presume to know how things are, it is them that maybe you're not really managed to get in contact with people. I am not speaking of people and kids who attend, individually they are all normal people, what I still can not understand is the Albanian people as a whole. Tirana, for example, shows its different faces. For a simple tourist will look like a city European full-scale, the center is well maintained, the rooms are always full of people, clothing to the fashion, luxury cars, all to flaunt opulence that is really only apparent. For example, turning the streets, just leave the main roads always come across often in busy streets to create space between the buildings, narrow and often full of potholes. The same is true for people in the center are children who go to dance, drink, listen to live music, then as you push in the suburbs are an entirely different situation.
As I said, I like knowing and being in touch with people I often find myself in the company of Father Bertrand, a French Jesuit priest with whom I collaborate in my work in Albania for 15 years. It 's a particular character but whom I respect very much for your generosity hidden in the attitude of surly dictator. Despite being here long he admits he does not completely understand the people here, but certainly knows more than me. And it is with him that I meet interesting people. When we want to chat quietly brings me a beer from Velo. Veil is the owner of a shop near his home, selling a bit 'of everything and has a sort of garden that serves as a garage and space for tables. It does not have many customers who sit there, but us and a group of Roma who live nearby and go there to drink the money for charity. Yesterday while I was there with him to talk enter an elderly woman, she Roma, perhaps no more than 60 years but her face marked by wrinkles of the disease. I had already seen before. He sits as usual, walking with difficulty, and cold, and as always take the veil a stove to warm the feet. After a little 'come up with a hot soup and serve it to him with a glass of raki, the Albanian spirit.
The woman is alone and has no one to take care of her. The Roma here in Albania are marginalized even more than in Italy, and I am a bit surprised 'that the Velo offers to eat. "It 's a stingy bastard, but he has a big heart," he says Bertrand. In fact he is in the eyes while the other brings a glass of raki to heat it up a bit '. We continue our conversation when at one point the woman gets up to leave. "From a cigarette, even give him two," he suggests Bertrand. I get up and hands it to her, the lady thanked me visibly tired with his weak voice and I see a tear slide between Ruge. A simple gesture of love for her is because of sincere emotion. You read it in his eyes that I do not forget. I say thanks, again, sends us a kiss with his hand. I waited for him to shake hands but it is a gesture that probably has not seen for a long time to do. His hands are dirty and probably not in the habit in these parts too familiar to the Roma.
I sit back and continue to drink my beer. But not without rethinking the lady.
That 's what I like, see people, real people, although sometimes it can be unpleasant or sad. Even a simple meeting, observe behavior, look at a person at the bar can make you understand as much. It is not just mere philanthropy is a need to grow, to know oneself through others, have new experiences, and that is why I'm happy here.
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