uzuburu-buru

I'm again in Dubai, it's my connection flighting destination, but this time, it's for the way back. It's raining outside and it's 6:00 am local time. One more of my adventures, is coming to it's end. This isn't so bad, if you consider that every end, is a beginning of something else. The main difference this time is that I believe that this trip in Tanzania, was the best gift I ever gave to myself.

I promised to my friend Zazu that I 'll write this post in English, but right now, it's so difficult for me to describe my experience in any language. Everything was so unique and so special. From the very first moment I was there, small little problems were coming to my way but I overpassed them all and these small problems, made my trip so great.

The whole story started when I had some money and some time, and I wanted to spent them both. I found the destination, I booked the tickets and after that, I send a mail to my friend if he has some space to his house to host me. I really cannot think what would have happen if he had gave me a negative answer.

Everything was so great to this trip. I lived in a great house with Zazu's parents. They treated me like I their own child. I 'm so grateful to those people because they made me feel like home. Moreover, Zazu made his best to make my stay there, an unforgettable experience.

I would like to start with my first weekend there but it 'll be a big mistake if I don't mention that they send a driver that was speaking Greek to pick me up from the airport. Can you imagine the feeling of going to Africa, after a two days trip and more that nine hours in a couple of planes, trying to sleep in a airport's terminal, facing bureaucracy for your visa and spending more than an hour for that, when everyone took it in ten minutes, and wanting so desperately to see your friend and to feel safe? A came out of the final door, stinking like a trash can, facing a really warm environment with high humidity, full of colored taxi drivers asking me if I wanted a taxi, and instead of facing my friend or his father, I heard somebody looking for me and speaking in Greek.

Everyday there had it's strange part. I cannot forget the day that I brought a huge 15 l. bottle of water caring it on my shoulders and walking in the rain, in a country rood with no asphalt and full of small lakes. Everyone was laughing at me! I cannot forget also the other day, that I was coming again back home, with two big bags full of staff and it was raining so hard that even my underwear was totally wet. That day, I couldn't walk with my flip flops so I took them out and I tried to walk with my bare foot, without any difference. I remember that a guy called me to share a peace of roof. It was less than a square meter and we fitted there seven people. We were squeezed like the sardines in their can.

It 'll sound crazy but during my stay there, I crashed a wedding, a baptist ceremony, an engagement and the best of all, a women bachelor party. I had also the luck to be caught by a Tanzanian soldier and he forced me to ware hand-cops. It was the first time in my life that I was waring hand-cops for not a kinky reason. An other day, in Zanzibar, I was close to go to the court for a taxi driver that cheated us, but here, braiding is the rule, not the exception. These are some of the crazy things that I 've done there the last two weeks.

Coming to the end of my post and the end of my adventure, I wish I had more days to spent there. I also wish, this won't be the last time I 'm visiting Africa and I hope, people to give it a chance and choose to go for vacations in countries that are not so famous. I also hope everyone to take more seriously Africa's problem. Africa is a blessed continent, full of recourses but with the bad luck that foreigners own them and control their market. The people there are happy with their life because they don't have to care for so many things as we do. Those people there have really found the main reason to live, the true meaning of life, and they really enjoy it.

Local market.

Local market.

Baoy Baoy tree.

Road to Bagamoyo.

Είμαι στο κέντρο της Αθήνας, στα Starbucks στο σταθμό του μετρό Πανεπιστήμιο. Περιμένω τον καθηγητή μου που με επιβλέπει στην διπλωματική μου εργασία για να κουβεντιάσουμε γι' αυτή. Λογικά δεν θα προλάβω να το τελειώσω μέχρι την ώρα που θα έρθει αυτό μου το post, αλλά δεν με πειράζει. Θα το τελειώσω μέχρι να πάω να δω τον φίλο μου Stepa.

Χρησιμοποίησα τον τίτλο ενός γνωστού σίριαλ γι αυτό μου το post όχι για κανέναν άλλο λόγο, αλλά γιατί αυτός, είναι ο καλύτερος δυνατός για να το περιγράψει. Δεν έχει σχέση ό,τι θα πω με το σίριαλ απλά αισθανόμουν ακριβώς αυτό την ώρα που το ζούσα. Ας ξεκινήσω λοιπόν προσδιορίζοντας τον χρόνο και τον τόπο που μου συνέβη κάτι που είχε τόσο καιρό να μου συμβεί.

Παρασκευή μεσημέρι, λοιπόν, και εγώ γυρίζω σπίτι με το αμάξι από ένα ακόμα "ταξίδι" στην Αττική. Ξεκίνησα νωρίς το πρωί, με το να τελειώσω κάποιες εκκρεμότητες στην Βούλα και μετά συνέχισα για Παλλήνη, για να τελειώσω με τα εμβόλια. Δεν θα σταθώ ούτε στο τι έγινε εκεί, ούτε σε "παράξενες" στιγμές που μου έτυχαν, αυτή την φορά. Θα αρχίσω την περιγραφή μου από το φανάρι από Καρέα, λίγο πριν την πλατεία της Αργυρούπολης.

Κουρασμένος λοιπόν από την πολύωρη, μες την κίνηση, οδήγηση, περιμένω στο φανάρι για να ανάψει πράσινο. Ως συνήθως, έχω χαζέψει κοιτώντας τον Υμηττό, όταν ξαφνικά, γυρίζοντας το κεφάλι μου μπροστά, κοιτάω μια πεταλούδα να κινείται μπροστά από το παράθυρό μου, χορεύοντας τον δικό της χορό, χωρίς να ακολουθεί συγκεκριμένη πορεία και τροχιά. Είχαν περάσει λίγα μόλις λεπτά από την διαφήμιση στο ραδιόφωνο που λέει πως αν βρίσκεσαι στην κίνηση και απομονώσεις τον ήχο των μηχανών, τον ήχο των κορναρισμάτων, τον ήχο των εξατμίσεων, τις φωνές των επιβατών, τότε ακούς το κελάηδισμα των πουλιών, που αποτελεί και την χαρά της ζωής. Έτσι λοιπόν με συνεπήρε και εμένα αυτή η μικρή πεταλούδα και άρχισα να "ταξιδεύω" νοητικά.

Ήταν όλα μαζί, η πεταλούδα που μόλις είχα δει, το ταξίδι που θα κάνω στην Τανζανία, ένα τραγούδι ενός φίλου για μια πεταλούδα που οι στοίχοι του δεν μου έλεγαν τίποτα, μέχρι εκείνη την στιγμή. Λέει λοιπόν ο "ποιητής" :

"Good morning, butterfly,
enjoy your one day life.
Feel it, live it, you 'll see,
it 'll be all right.
Hello, fellow,
what 's up, are you doing fine?
In this morning I met this butterfly,
starting to live, his one day life.

So I took him with me,
to see how my life works daily,
to show him the colored things
like the fully spring, woh o.

So many minutes to spend,
so many faces to name,
so many moments to laugh and to cry,
but watch out because time really flies.

And now I say to you,
goodnight little butterfly.
Now I say to you,
although I'm feeling blue.
-I'll miss you.
-I'll miss you too..."

Έτσι, όλα έμοιαζαν σαν κομμάτια από παζλ, να ενώνονται με έναν ακανόνιστο, μη προκαθορισμένο τρόπο και να δημιουργούν περίεργες εικόνες στο μυαλό μου. Το κερασάκι στην τούρτα ήρθε το Σάββατο το πρωί, όταν περπατούσα στον βράχο της Ακρόπολης μαζί με κάτι φίλους μου από την Ρουμανία, που είχαν έρθει για μια ημέρα στην Αθήνα, πριν πάνε Κωνσταντινούπολη. Αφού λοιπόν, περιπλανηθήκαμε στο νέο μουσείο της Ακρόπολης και αφού, λίγο μετά την είσοδό μας στον "ιερό βράχο" τους έκανα την ξενάγηση, τους εξήγησα τι θα δουν, τις περιοχές τις Αττικής που θα δουν από εκεί ψηλά καθώς επίσης και ό,τι ιστορικά στοιχεία ήξερα, τους άφησα να περιπλανηθούν και να βγάλουν τις φωτογραφίες τους καθώς εγώ άρχισα να βαδίζω αμέριμνος.

Έτσι λοιπόν, το ακανόνιστο και τυχαίο βάδισμά μου, ήρθε και έδεσε με το πέταγμα εκείνης της πεταλούδας και τον ήχο των πουλιών. Ήταν όλα τόσο ωραία μες το μυαλό μου που έφερα τις εικόνες μπροστά στα μάτια μου. Περπατούσα στον κόσμο μου και ταυτόχρονα και στον κανονικό. Έμοιαζε σαν να ενώθηκαν μόνο για εμένα και μόνο για εκείνη την στιγμή οι δύο κόσμοι, το φανταστικό με το πραγματικό. Αλλά αλήθεια, τι είναι φανταστικό και τι πραγματικό δεν μπορούσα να το απαντήσω εκείνη την στιγμή. Γιατί πολύ απλά, ζούσα σε κάθε στιγμή, δύο ζωές.



Υ.Γ. Τελικά το post το τελείωσα μόλις ήρθα σπίτι, μετά από τον καφέ με τον καθηγητή και μετά τον καφέ με τους Stepa και Fubu.

> Ksidias Yiannis < > uzuburu-buru.blogspot.com <

I just came back. I entered the main door and a weird smell tickled my cold noose. Ms. Riana is cooking again that horrible dish, with fish and onions. Nothing had changed. She made the same plate my last day here. I entered the key in the key-hole. For a moment, I had some doubts to enter or not. I had that strange feeling like that day’s in the lake. I had no choice. Jack was barking so loud that could wake up the neighbors from their nap.

We were starving. I ordered something and I offered him canned food. He was so happy that he didn’t even eat for the first few minutes. He was staring at me. He is great. He is my best friend. I owe him an apology for not taking him with me for my two-day trip. I checked around and everything was clean and clear. He earned a big burger for the day after with his behavior. I went to the sofa and he came in front. He was staring at me with his big brown eyes. After a minute, he crossed his front legs and he lied on the floor.

We were both happy to see each other but in the same time, we were so tired. We passed through a lot the last couple of months. He will never forget the operation he had. “Liver cancer” the doctor said; “I cannot predict how many months it will leave more”. “He, doctor, he will live more…” I tried to correct him. It is really obvious, he is not as active as he use to. He doesn’t want to play games or even to chewing my old football shoes. “Dear god please let him live a couple of weeks more. I promised him that after that business trip, we will go to my village.” I whispered.

I was so tired. I closed my eyes and I felt asleep in a minute. I was so tired that I woke up late at night from the sound of a thunder. It was raining again. I don’t know what I hate more; when it is raining or myself when it is raining. When it rains, I am acting like a rat, trying to avoid walking out and never, never to carry an umbrella. I lighted a cigarette and I went to my desk. I had to finish some things for my job. “Work never ends! Welcome back!!!” was written on the post-it above the pack.

You know how to make me laugh but for sure, you have to practice on timing. You know about Jack and you didn’t even ask about him. Even if I want to be mad on you, when you smile you can change a beast into a lamp. It is really amazing how you can calm me down. You have a great influence on me but it is not the same with Jack. He still cannot forget that you walked over his tail twice during last month.

I took a deep breath and I started. Jack was next to my left leg and was breathing loud and hard. I cannot tell him what is going on. It is better not to know. After an hour I took a break. I lighted another cigarette and I switched on the radio. It was almost eleven. I had to increase my performance because in ten hours, I had to be at work. I tried to focus more but without any great results. He took a deep breath like he could understand my difficult situation.

It is almost twelve and I am checking the last page. The rain is still trying to piss me off but it cannot. I am in my sweet home, with my best friend and nothing can ruin it. I don’t have the strength even to take off my jeans. I went directly to the sofa because it is the closest place I can lie to sleep. I putted away the small pillows and took off my shoes. Then, I asked from Jack to come there. He didn’t even move his head to my direction.

I woke up and I went to his side. When I touched him, he was so cold. I took a blanket from the closet and I covered him. I lied by his side and I took him in my arms. He didn’t want to share a world with me. I bet he was mad because I hadn’t paid much attention till then. I know that tomorrow, he will forgive me. He always does.

I closed my eyes and I slept by his side. In the morning, I woke up late, because he didn’t lick my face. He was still there, in my arms. He didn’t move during the night. What a great dog. He didn’t want to wake me up so he didn’t move all night long. I had to go to work. I went to the bathroom but he didn’t follow me. It was obvious that he was still mad on me for what I did last night.

I went again close to him. He wasn’t breathing. The phone rang and it was you. You asked me why I am late and if I will come. “I will go to my village today. Actually, we have to go to my village today so I have to hurry up. Sorry. I will explain everything when I will come back.” and I told you that I won’t come for few days. I had promised him that we will go there and I always keep my promises, especially to my best friends.

There, he will be free… and I will be with him…

P.S. English is not my mother-tongue language so any corrections are welcome...

> Ksidias Yiannis < > uzuburu-buru.blogspot.com <

Whenever I ‘m here, I have the same strange feeling. It‘s like something is missing. It‘s like the full of staff room, is totally empty. The walls are white without windows. The sofa is gone, and the TV is missing. Everything leads me to the same thought and the same feeling; I miss you…

I walk on the same roads that we used to walk. I follow the same paths. It’s like the monks, doing every day the same things for a superior reason. From time to time I even speak alone. It’s like I speak to you but without you. I stare the places we used to stay and speak, the places we took some photos. They look the same but in the meantime, they look different. How sad...

I feel empty. My mind is clean, my soul is white and my heart had already stopped biting. How many times I told you that you are everything for me. My mind, my heart and my soul are yours. And now, here is the proof…

I keep smiling. It’s my natural defense. As far as I keep smiling, no one ask me if I ‘m right or not. It’s better like this. You see, I don’t have to apologize to anyone about how I felt, how I feel. But still, inside me, something burns me more and more. And when it burns me, the smoke take your shape and the fire arrows make me bleed. It’s pointless to fight it. It always wins...

How many times I said that it would be over if we will be together again. That you will put the fire out and you will blow away the smoke. There are so many times that I stopped counting. You see, alcohol is not a good advisor and its efficient outlast long. But with a clear mind, without the effect of any staff, I think that it’s better like this. It’s better for you to be there…

The nightmares that you will go away had already gone, by the time you left me. Now, I can dream again and I can fight for my dreams to come true. The only thing is still hard, is to believe in something, to believe in me…

I woke up. I cannot stand the smell of my breath. One more night, I was drinking alone. With my tobacco, I had a great conversation again. Holy shit, my head is going to blow up. This terrible headache is killing me. But I cannot complain. One more night I had a bad dream. I was dreaming you came back. I was dreaming you were here with me again. You were sleeping in my arms and as always, I was playing with your hairs. Your smell was great. I even can smell it right now.

If I had a wish, I wish our story was real…

> Ksidias Yiannis < > uzuburu-buru.blogspot.com <

Yesterday evening, I had nothing to do, so I decided to go for cycling at the south suburbs of Athens. I left home and on my way, I was thinking what I lived all this year, which of my actions were good or bad, with how many people I shared joyful and funny moments and to how many people I made their life more miserable.

As I was evaluating me, myself, my actions, my experiences and this entire staff, I found out that I wasn't alone. All these people that were in their cars, passing close to me, drivers or passengers, each and every of them had a strange sight. It was like they also made their yearly evaluation the same time with me. Men and women, elders and youths, they all were looking through their windows, focusing nowhere, with mystery and loneliness in their sight.

On my way back, the night had come. The road to Athens was almost empty. The houses close to the seaside road were full of lights, with their Christmas tree's decorated and with the lights, sparkling inside and outside of their houses. It was like they come out of a paint!! But still, as I was staring them through their windows, they seem to be miserable and lonely. Some of them were smiling, some others were drinking and talking with their nearby one's, some other were watching on the TV or the amazing view to the Aegean, but still, they were looking so lonely.

I came back home, trying to find an answer to this "bloody why" but I couldn't. After a shower, as I was watching a "Christmas movie" on my pc, I realized that everything in the movie was so opposite from what I lived during that afternoon. Everything was so perfect. Love was all around and there was always somebody to look after those that were feeling lonely and desperate. Everyone found what was looking for.

In the mid-time, I was wondering why this year I had so few phone calls and even less SMS for compliments. As for the mails, I can't complain. They were more than enough. But still, I was thinking that nobody was thinking of me and (as the topic says) I was feeling so lonely(!?).

Finally, I came to a point. It doesn't really matter how many phone calls or SMS we receive, how many e-mails and latter's we get in our mailboxes, or even how many presents we get. The thing that really matters is what we give. What it really matter is not the quantity of the presents-latter's-post cards-SMS-emails that we give/receive but the quality. What it really matter is if we attach to all these, a small piece of our soul...

So, after this, I reconsider everything. Whatever I saw and I felt is not the real object. Now, nothing can change my mood. It seems so clear which are the people that take care of me and which they don't. And even more, now it's more than clear, which are those that I take care and which that I don't...

And something else: It seems that these days, we all feel lonely, up to a level. We all feel that something is missing or something is not complete... So, few things that we should do, are described perfectly by the following songs... Enjoy them!!! (Unfortunately, they both are in Greek...)

> Ksidias Yiannis < > uzuburu-buru.blogspot.com <

Dear Santa,

I would like to thank you for not bringing me a present last year. I don’t know why you decided that because as far as I remember, I was a good child last year. Maybe you didn’t have time because I had sent you my mail, few hours before Christmas Eve. So, this year I ‘m ready! I‘ll mail my letter almost a month before.

In the beginning, I would like to thank you that although you didn’t brought me a present, you made your best so this year to be the best year of my life, till now. It was a year full of experiences, full of achievements, full of feelings, full of passion and full of moments with unique and special people (as they came to be).

I want to thank you for making me live moments, simply unforgettable, moments that I won’t forget in my life. Thank you for making me meet people so special, people that I shared few of my moments with them, people that make me feel feelings that I had hided them deeply in me. Thank you that my friends, were always nearby me, in the funny and in the sad moments. Thank you that you made our friendship stronger!! I also want to thank you that you keep my family safe and sound, healthy and united. It‘s not so easy to find these characteristics in our days.

For this year, I would like to ask you for few things. Firstly, I would like to ask you not to take any of these that you gave me all these years. It’s true that the last couple of years, although you give me a lot, you are taking also things from me. You took two people that I really loved from my life. So, please, don’t take anyone else.

Secondly, I would like to ask you to get graduated this year because it’s been a long time since I entered the university. I tried my best the last couple of years so, I think I deserve it. It would be a great pleasure not only to me, but also to people that really loves me.

Moreover, I would like to ask you to keep out of trouble, healthy, wealthy, happy, full o feelings and strong moments, full of great once-in-life experiences all my friends. But most of all, I would like to ask you to keep them as my friends!!

For the end, I would like to ask you for few things that I know they are a little bit difficult for you. I would like to ask you the same things that I asked you last year, and the year before and so on. I would like to ask you for peace. Peace in our societies, peace in our world peace in our souls and peace in our minds. I think that peace is the only ideal that has so many dimensions which can affect, effect and reflect in every action of our lives.

So, that‘s all. Thanks in advance and I hope you’ll keep between us what I’ve asked you…

Yours sincerely,

Ksidias Yiannis

> Ksidias Yiannis < > uzuburu-buru.blogspot.com <