Living Library at Magdi festival 16.05.2009

Marta: The Living Library project I realised with Orsi and Tünde we can call a real success!
It took place during the Magdi festival on 16/05/2009 between 2-6pm. The methodology of the Living Library was taken from the Living Library Network Association (www.living-library.org) with their acceptance and blessing. We could use legally their logo and all the materials provided on their website. The most difficult part of the project was looking for living books, but eventually, mostly due to personal contacts and huge work of Orsi and Tünde, we managed to have 5 books: feminist, lesbian, ex-priest, ex-druggie and refugee from Afghanistan. It was even more rewarding when it turned out that most of them speak English or French so we could read the books in foreign languages as well. There were more than 20 readings and all the books were borrowed almost all the time!

Living library is a tool to fight prejudice and promote tolerance. It is a unique chance to talk to people we usually do not have a chance to talk and ask them things we have always wanted to ask but never got the chance!

I want to thank all the people who sacrificed their time and heart to this project:Moni for letting me do it; Orsi, Tunde and Ida for finding the books; books and volunteers for arranging the place; Pawel for fixing the copying machine, Amanda and books for hanging the posters; Tunde and Pawel for artistic help in painting the banner; Rony from UK for help and support in my questions; readers for their respect for diversity and simply for coming there and of course books for having courage to talk about their lives. Without you it wouldn't have worked!

Critical Mass Budapest 19.04.2009

It is said it is the biggest Critical Mass in this part of Europe. It was really amazing to see all these people biking in places usually reserved for cars! That day bikes ruled in Budapest!

Anti-GMO demonstration - march 2009, in front of Csech embassy

We only planned to go and see how a real demonstration in Budapest looks like. But shortly after we had arrived we were ask to actively participate;) That's the way it works when you happen to know some Greenpeace activists:) Actually it turned out we had known almost all of the organisers. So there we were - wearing too big t-shirts with some letters attached and fighting for a hungarian cause! Afterwards it turned out that the protest was successful, so if you do not have to eat GMO food in Hungary - bear in mind is thanks to us:)

Movement Workskop in Kesztyűgyár Közösségi Ház

Every week, on Wednesdays we had a chance to participate in a movement workshop for Roma kids in Kesztyűgyár Közösségi Ház in the 8th district of Budapest. It was a really difficult task because kids sometimes were very aggressive and just wanted to fight between each other. Nevertheless, there were weeks when it was really cool, like the day those pictures were taken.

Here is Budapest... I beg the pardon ?

Last Sunday I visited Budapest with a Hungarian guy I knew thanks to a website. For the future EVS and anyone else who likes travelling this website can be interested : www.hieverywhere.com

There you can find people who accept to be your touristic guide. And of course in return you’ve got to be their touristic guide in your own city.

With Csaba (pronounced Tchaba) we’ve been walking 3hours in this cold but pretty Budapest. We’ve been to touristic places, to the Jewish district (3 synagogues at 15 meters from each other) and close to the Danube !!! I don’t know why I really wanted to see it. Maybe because all the documentaries I’ve watched before coming were talking about the Danube. By the way, Csaba took a picture of me front of a bridge. This is the bridge where the French student have disappeared in December. So ironic isn’t it !

Budapest doesn’t look like Paris. Paris is beautiful but seems to be so “uniform” with its Haussmann style. Here you can find in one street 4 following flats with different architectures (from different periods sure). I can hear some people to say : “what’s this upside down city ?!” But I like it. Just by looking the buildings you can see a part of the Hungarian history. On some walls there are still the holes done by the shootings of the 1956 uprising (ok this is not a history lesson, so just remember that this year is important for Hungarian people and there was an uprising). Ok no conclusion. Just… It’s so good.

Welcome... In airports !

Ouuh ! 19H30 (7.30 pm) and not yet at Budapest. I'm proud to say that I've learned another English word today : Delayed ! I should be in Budapest for 1 hour already, but the strange women said "Flight delayed. Bad weather".
Waiting 3 hours in Paris (the plane should have left at 1.00 pm and left at 4.00 pm), missed my transfert plane, and I'm waiting now for another one which should (at first) landed at 7.55 pm and finally should land at (I can't use will yet) 8.30pm.
As I want to arise pity I want you to know that I lost 5€ to call 30 seconds my hosting association and tell them I will arrive at 9.00 pm (and not 6.30 as it should be). But in fact I will arrive at 10.30pm.
Anyway, this (these) delay(s) give(s) me time to think about everything I left and the choices I've done to live this experience (EVS I mean). It's not so joyful but very useful. And as my friends reminded me, I always wanted to make an EVS. I'm not running away something like I could say before. I want to do this.

Just something running in my mind... Why this fucking former plane wasn't delayed ? Je porte la pois se ou quoi ???

Well, go back to my favorite activity right now... Looking at the window.

[5th of January 2009, almost 8.00pm and still in Prague]

... Not ready yet !

10 days and I didn’t pack my bags yet! Lot of things to prepare. I also lost my identity card and so I’m not sure to leave the 5th. HAAAAAA! Take it easy Baby!