Ai copilarit in anii '90 daca...

...ai colectie de suprize de la guma Turbo
...te uitai zilnic la Captain Planet
...faceai robotei din pachete de tigari
...ascultai B.U.G. Mafia sau R.A.C.L.A. noaptea ca sa nu te auda parintii
...pierdeai noptile pe mIRC
...jucai elasticul si frunza in fata blocului
...ai fost fan Generatia PRO si Tip Top Minitop
...stiai toate versurile de la Genius pe de rost
...te uitai non-stop la Atomic TV
...te jucai Maroco cu vecina de deasupra
...mergeai cu parintii vara la Mamaia si stateati cate 10 zile cu bilete de la sindicat
...ai baut prima gura de vodca dintr-o sticla de plastic
...gestul maxim de rebeliune era sa fumezi in toaleta scolii
...te uitai cu parintii la Dallas si la RoBingo
...ii faceai mamei tale semne de carte din hartie glasata de 8 martie
...te jucai Tetris
...ai invatat engleza de la Cartoon Network
...te uitai la diapozitive cand nu erau desene animate ca lumea la televizor
...colectionai albume cu abtibilde cu fotbalisti
...ai avut Serbarea Abecedarului in clasa I
...ai tras cu cornete sau cu prastia cu invizoace dupa fete
...de Craciun iti doreai mereu Lego sau papusa Barbie
...cumparai casete video cu Frumoasa si Bestia sau Mica Sirena
...te jucai cu soldatei de plastic
...ai avut sau ti-ai dorit Nokia 5110 si i-ai invidiat pe altii care aveau Nokia 3310
...n-ai plans ca n-ai mers la concertul Michael Jackson decat dupa cativa ani
...stii ce este Center Shock si iti doresti sa mai gasesti
...ai baut sucuri in cutii de carton in forma de piramida
...mergeai cu parintii la teatrul de vara la spectacole cu Nae Lazarescu si Vasile Muraru
...iti aduci aminte ca, la inceput, Vacanta Mare avea 3 membri si erau chiar amuzanti
...nu exista petrecere la care sa nu se asculte Backstreet Boys
...inregistrai casete cu Spice Girls de la prieteni
...inca mai stii refrenurile de la melodiile Andre
...te uitai fascinat la KITT pe Tele 7 ABC
...scriai in oracolele colegilor de clasa
...tii minte cele 5 minute de desene animate dinainte de revolutie
...pronunti perfect "nu zaietz pagadi" desi nu stii o iota din limba aia
...te entuziasmezi daca o vezi pe strada pe Geanina Corondan
...aveai rigle chinezesti 3D si ascutitoare cu oglinda
... te uitai la abracadabra si la arlechino pe TVR duminica dimineata
... ascultai povesti la pick-up
... fetele se imaginau spice girls si baietii backstreet boys (fiecare avea neaparat un preferat intre ei)
...ai avut TAMAGOTCHI
...te uitai la Sailor Moon si te credeai una din ele

... te uitai in fiecare weekend la Abracadabra, Ba Da - Ba Nu, Feriti-va de magarus, 7 note fermecate, O lume disparuta, Xena-printesa razboinica si Hercule
...faceai colectie de jucarii de la ouale Kinder (de fapt, numai surprizele contau)
...te uitai de fiecare Craciun la Dennis pericol public si Singur acasa 1, 2 etc
...te jucai tara tara vrem ostasi, taranul e pe camp, soarecele si pisica si stii versurile de la 'am pierdut o batistuta, ma bate mamica...'
...aveai uniforma in patratele albastre si albe si funda rosie in scoala primara
...aveai penar-pian (verde sau roz) si chiar mergea sa canti la el
...ai fost fan HI-Q, ASIA si 3 Sud-Est la un moment dat..
...vedeai pe garduri semnul D M cu un trandafir in mijloc si habar nu aveai ce inseamna
...te mai trezesti fredonand theme song-ul de la Dallas
...jucai 1-2-3-la perete stai! si omu' negru..
...beai suc de la TEC
.... jucai in fata blocului "fete, filme sau baieti"
... te tundeai bros sau castron
...dansai pe Coco Jumbo in tabere

Rugaminti catre Mos Craciun

Draga Mos Craciun

Intotdeauna am crezut in tine. Am fost intotdeauna cat de cuminte am putut si tu ai fost darnic de fiecare data. De obicei iti cer lucruri mai putin tangibile, iti cer sa-mi dai iubire, sanatate si apropiere fata de cei dragi. Te mai rog din cand in cand sa ma ajuti si cu diverse probleme sau incercari.
Anul asta insa m-am hotarat sa-ti cer chestii mici, tangibile, ce pot fi impachetate, pentru ca pe plan spiritual totul merge exact asa cum mi-am dorit. Stii, mi-am dat seama ca si unele chestii mici, materiale, iti pot imbunatati un pic viata de zi cu zi, si m-am gandit ca poate mi le poti aduce tu impreuna cu spiridusii tai.

In primul rand vreau o casca cu fir lung pentru televizorul Beko la care se uita tata. Din pacate, cand se uita la televizor, da sonorul foarte tare, si nu ma pot concentra sa citesc sau sa scriu. Mi-a promis ca atunci cand va avea o casca voi putea studia in liniste.

In al doilea rand, mi-as dori mult o lampa - fie lustra, fie cu picior, fie de birou, cu lumina puternica si calda, ca sa pot citi seara la mine in camera. De cand mi-a disparut lustra din camera, am ramas eu si cele trei fire electrice pe intuneric.

In al treilea rand, acum am un pat mare pe care vechile asternuturi nu mi se mai potrivesc. Mi-as dori sa imi pot cumpara un set de asternuturi frumos, sobru, pentru salteaua mea de 2 pe 2, dar mi se pare mult prea scump pentru posibilitatile mele.

In al patrulea rand, imi e foarte dor de motanii mei Pepper si Popper. Probabil ca nu-i voi mai revedea. Imi lipseste un suflet cald de motanel langa mine in pat, cand dorm. Ai mei zic ca am pretentii, pentru ca le-am zis ca vrea un British Shorthair albastru, dar eu de fapt vreau doar un sufletel zglobiu si fara purici.

In al cincilea rand, mi-as dori mult o pereche de casti de buna calitate pt mp3-playerul meu. Ultima oara cand mi-am cumparat unele n-au costat prea scump, dar nici n-au bass-ul ala frumos care ma facea sa aud melodia mai clar si mai puternic decat la orice boxe scumpe.

In al saselea rand, tin sa-ti spun ca a venit iarna si eu am ramas fara manusi. Stiu ca mi-ai adus niste manusi frumoase negre de piele anul trecut, dar din pacate am pierdut una din ele prin zapada..

Dragul meu Mos, dupa cum vezi, sunt lucruri mici care imi fac viata un pic mai buna si mai usoara. Cu siguranta insa esti intelept si imi vei aduce ce crezi de cuviinta.

Where does philosophy of law lead, after all?....

"This field is very broad, and it is highly unusual for a philosopher of law to do work in all, or even many, of the pertinent areas. Topics that fall within philosophy of law include, for example: the nature of law and the relationship between law and morality; the theory of legal reasoning and adjudication; the duty to obey the law; the justification of punishment; the nature of responsibility, moral and legal; theories of liberty and justice; the philosophical foundations of the substantive branches of law (criminal, law, property, torts, contracts, international law, etc.); theories of legislation and legal interpretation; the methodology of legal philosophy; and the intersection between the preceding areas and issues and themes in ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of language, metaphysics, philosophy of action, etc. Students should pay particular attention to how well faculty interests correspond with student interests-keeping in mind, of course, that your interests may change and develop in significant ways during the course of your graduate education."

— Brian Leiter (Texas)

Ulei vs apa potabila

Stiti unde se arunca uleiul din tigaie dupa o friptura facuta acasa ? Chiar daca nu facem foarte des friptura, cand o facem, aruncam uleiul folosit in chiuveta, nu-i asa? Aceasta e una dintre cele mai mari greseli pe care le putem face. De ce o facem? Pur si simplu pentru ca nu e nimeni care sa ne explice cum se face corect.

Cel mai bun lucru pe care il putem face este sa asteptam sa se raceasca si sa il punem in sticle de plastic, sau de sticla, sa punem dopuri la sticle si sa le aruncam la gunoi. UN LITRU DE ULEI FACE APROXIMATIV UN MILION DE LITRI DE APA NON POTABILA, CANTITATE SUFICIENTA PENTRU O PERSOANA PENTRU 14 ANI. Daca tu alegi sa trimiti acest email prietenilor tai, mediul iti va fi recunoscator

Will Wright's intentions

I found some very interesting comments regarding the features of the games created by Will Wright, such as The Sims, The Sims Online, SimCity and Spore. I personally am a fan of Wright's games, in particular, and a fan of online games and virtual worlds, in general.

"Well, call me an idealist or whatever, but I've already told the people in my office not to expect to see me the week that Spore launches.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of thoughts.

1. Looking at WW's games in the light of the (original) Bartle typology, they seem to be getting more and more oriented toward Explorers. And the Popular Science interview makes that goal explicit -- he's trying to create games that reward exploratory play.

Which I love personally, but that's a radical departure from the trend in conventional MMOGs today, each iteration of which seems more determined to provide Achiever-oriented gameplay and rewards. Spore is not quite a MMOG, but the online component is certainly one of its selling points.

So will Spore succeed brilliantly as a kind of online game by satisfying a desire for worldy, non-Achiever gameplay that's going unfulfilled by current (and imminent) MMOGs?

Or will it fail as an online game because it foolishly doesn't supply the very Achiever-focused features that we're told today's online gamers expect?

2. I thought the Q&A in the PopSci interview on whether WW's games were "educational" was especially interesting. From my point of view, the goal behind The Sims was to educate individuals that chasing after material goods was stupid. (Which would explain why the typical Achiever online gamer had approximately zero interest in playing The Sims Online.)

The Sims was computer-game-as-social-commentary. The anti-consumerism message didn't annoy the masses because the gameplay (including design, appearance, and sound) was so strong, but there was certainly an "educational" message there.

So what about Spore? Is Spore also a game wrapped around a sociopolitical theory -- in its case, the belief that too many people care only about themselves and need to be educated into caring about their species?

I'm not suggesting that's a bad message to send. I'm just curious to learn what folks here think about that possibility, both specific to Spore as well as generally.

--Bart"

(the original message here)

On Vacation?

For quite a while I have been in quite a difficulty to describe my status. Why? Because, on one hand, my dad is always telling me "You are on a neverlasting vacation!". And I never argue with him, because I feel he is somehow right. On the other hand, my day is always so full, regardless whether it's Monday or Saturday or summer or winter! There is no difference in my head between weekdays and weekends, no difference between school time and summer vacation. Really. Months, days, seasons, they really make no difference to me. The only thing that matters is the year we're in, because I usually plan things this way ("Next year in September I'm gonna go to the UK").

Fortunately, today, while drinking juice, the solution to the paradox came to my mind:
I do feel on a permanent vacation! And this is because I do only things that I like, and things that I planned to do on my own. Yes, it's a big deal and I know many people would wish to have that luxury. Actually, I'm not sure it's a type of luxury you get born with (or not), but rather the one you create, by refusing to do all things that you are not passionate about. Just like Sartre suggested, I feel I do have the liberty to exit, to choose not to do a thing.

We live our daily lives doing things because "we must". But if you really analyse the things you must do, and their source, you arrive to two conclusions: it was either a duty derived from something you chose to do or to achieve (ex. you must meet X today because you promised you would); or it was a duty imposed by someone whom you consider important and you project their expectations upon you - like your parents, your boss, your professors. You must pass an exam because your parents expect you to get a college degree. You must be on time at work because your boss expects you to do so. You must step outside your own shoes, think out of the box: are those expectation REALLY that important? Aren't there other ways of fulfilling them, with less effort or frustration? Once you start giving them relative importance, you find a way to not see them as a "must" anymore, but rather one of the multiple ways you could achieve an expected result.

In the past I analyzed this kinds of duties and their source. Today, every time I say (to myself or out loud) that I must do something, I know that it is so because at one point I wanted to get to this point, or I let it happen. Maybe there are short-term frustrations, but it really makes me feel that everything I do I do it because I wanted to.

What a wonderful feeling!

Exercise: try to describe one expectation that you now identify as external, imposed on you by others, but you actually deem it very important (you internalised it)!

PEEP is getting larger

PEEP team is looking for volunteers!

It's been a year since we started the program: several students, a lot of enthusiasm and some precious advice from the wiser ones. The program grew (maybe more than our website shows now) but, most important, we grew along with it. We have learned so many things and got older and wiser.

We now want to enlarge our team and pass on the know-how and wonderful resources we have gathered until now to the younger ones!
Join us and grow!

Write me an e-mail at diana.constantinescu@cros.ro if you're interested in joining our team and making a difference in the Romanian educational system.

Interview with Schimba Lumea

Last week I had the opportunity to give an interview for a newly-created online platform, called SchimbaLumea.ro ("Change the World"). SchimbaLumea proposes a very cool idea, that was invented long time ago, but, I guess, never implemented in Romania until now: e-democracy. True, the Internet was not that widely spread so it couldn't be used as a democratic platform.
I think the idea is brilliant: don't limit your political and social choices to the formal system of voting and decision. Don't make your choices only every five years. Make them every day.

SchimbaLumea reunites issues suggested by users and solutions proposed or implemented by others. It has the virtue to reunite people interested in the same issues and in resolving them.
I presented PEEP (my project) as one of the solutions that answer the issue of higher education - namely, it addresses the gap between the offer of the higher education and the demands of the labor market.

I hope SchimbaLumea will be the platform that will make PEEP visible and under debate.

Schimba Lumea

Am iesit dintr-un sistem totalitar si traim in Democratie, nu? Ok - hai sa vedem cum functioneaza: Esti chemat la vot o data la patru ani. In general, ai de votat intre cativa indivizi fatarnici care se ofera sa te reprezinte, dar ale caror intentii reale sunt dubioase.

Sunt cateva partide care, odata la 4 ani, iti propun fiecare cate o suta de solutii mediocre la pachet. Votezi partidele, se creeaza un guvern, un parlament, care, treptat, uita tot ce au promis. Noi ramanem cu problemele.
Si totusi, acum suntem liberi si avem democratie: votam alesi care ne reprezinta interesele. Cu schimbalumea.ro, mai facem inca un pas.

Internetul nu este pe deplin utilizat in sprijinul proceselor democratice. Deocamdata, este folosit cel mult pentru a informa cetatenii sau, in cel mai bun caz, pentru a-i ajuta sa-si plateasca amenzile fara a mai sta la coada. Plecand de la aceasta constatare, schimbalumea.ro iti propune experienta unei noi generatii a democratiei: democratia user-friendly.

Implica-te activ in formularea problemelor si solutiilor care te afecteaza chiar pe tine. Propune si discuta probleme si solutii, organizeaza si lanseaza apeluri la actiune: de la petitii sau initiative legislative, pana la organizarea de intalniri, flashmob-uri si demonstratii. Problemele TALE si felul in care ne organizam INTRE NOI au de acum un spatiu liber, intuitiv si distractiv.

E o corvoada inutila mersul la vot? Te intelegem! Decat sa alegi intre oameni intre care nu ai de ales, mai bine stai pe net. Ramai acasa! Stai in fata monitorului si Schimba Lumea!

Vino la Adfel pe Motoare, Luni 25 Aug incepand cu 16.00 si pana la sfarsit, timp in care vom sta de vorba cu toti cei interesati.

My profile in enneagrams

Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.

* Basic Fear: Of being corrupt/evil, defective
* Basic Desire: To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced
* Enneagram One with a Nine-Wing: "The Idealist"
* Enneagram One with a Two-Wing: "The Advocate"

Key Motivations: Want to be right, to strive higher and improve everything, to be consistent with their ideals, to justify themselves, to be beyond criticism so as not to be condemned by anyone.

We have named personality type One The Reformer because Ones have a “sense of mission” that leads them to want to improve the world in various ways, using whatever degree of influence they have. They strive to overcome adversity—particularly moral adversity—so that the human spirit can shine through and make a difference. They strive after “higher values,” even at the cost of great personal sacrifice.
Ones are people of practical action—they wish to be useful in the best sense of the word. On some level of consciousness, they feel that they “have a mission” to fulfill in life, if only to try their best to reduce the disorder they see in their environment.

Although Ones have a strong sense of purpose, they also typically feel that they have to justify their actions to themselves, and often to others as well. This orientation causes Ones to spend a lot of time thinking about the consequences of their actions, as well as about how to keep from acting contrary to their convictions. Because of this, Ones often persuade themselves that they are “head” types, rationalists who proceed only on logic and objective truth. But, the real picture is somewhat different: Ones are actually activists who are searching for an acceptable rationale for what they feel they must do. They are people of instinct and passion who use convictions and judgments to control and direct themselves and their actions.

In the effort to stay true to their principles, Ones resist being affected by their instinctual drives, consciously not giving in to them or expressing them too freely. The result is a personality type that has problems with repression, resistance, and aggression. They are usually seen by others as highly self- controlled, even rigid, although this is not how Ones experience themselves. It seems to them that they are sitting on a cauldron of passions and desires, and they had better “keep the lid on” lest they and everyone else around them regret it.

[read more at EnneagramInstitute]

The Sonnet

Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLD)


Romantic, hopeful, and composed. You are the Sonnet. Get it? Composed?

Sonnets want Love and have high ideals about it. They're conscientious people, caring & careful. You yourself have deep convictions, and you devote a lot of thought to romance and what it should be. This will frighten away most potential mates, but that's okay, because you're very choosy with your affections anyway. You'd absolutely refuse to date someone dumber than you, for instance.

Lovers who share your idealized perspective, or who are at least willing to totally throw themselves into a relationship, will be very, very happy with you. And you with them. You're already selfless and compassionate, and with the right partner, there's no doubt you can be sensual, even adventurously so.

You probably have lots of female friends, and they have a special soft spot for you. Babies do, too, at the tippy-top of their baby skulls.

Your exact female opposite:

Genghis Khunt

Random Brutal Sex Master

Always avoid: The 5-Night Stand (DBSM), The False Messiah (DBLM), The Hornivore (RBSM), The Last Man on Earth (RBSD)

Consider: The Loverboy (RGLM)

Check you own profile here.

Commencement

It is weird yet mysteriously beautiful to meet once more the same people that I started my U.S. journey along with, back in 2006. We have now gathered for a final Commencement Conference,
where we tied out relationships even stronger, where we told our stories for the last year, where we presented our projects.. Various and beautiful projects, each of them, made with enthusiasm and entrepreneurial skill. It's amazing how fluently every one of us is speaking English right now, no matter the topic or the joke. Some of us are real masters, they make puns and word games and use highly complicated terms for elegantly expressing simple things.

There are many things that changed in the last year, and I noticed them just now! Firstly, we are all over the culture shocks we've all been through. We're over the agitation and we found our place again, we regained our friends and parents, we got into the flow. Yet some things still remain: we don't regret one bit of what we've done and experienced in the U.S.; we all
call it the "experience that changed our lives"; we have this different glow in our eyes, because we've seen the grass on the other side and we try to grow it ourselves.

I constantly have flashbacks. While talking to the new UEPers (2008), I have flashbacks of Bard, of classes, of friends, of my beloved (yet conscientiously forgotten) New York City. But (and that's new) I have flashbacks of Budapest and the people I'm now spending my time with.
Secondly, I feel we are closer to each other and more relaxed. I personally don't feel that much intimidated by the others and I open myself to them, without discrimination. Why was I intimidated? Because since Budapest 2006 I realized how wonderful and smart and so high-quality these people are, and I could never be sure that I could measure up to them. Now I feel them as equal, as being the same yet so diverse in our languages and countries and interests and professions.
There's a lot to say about what I feel right now. But I rather keep it short (sic!) today and continue my thoughts another time.

Culture shock

A friend of mine arrived to the U.S. a short while ago. She sent me a message full of passion and words written (I'm sure) in the same breath.

She is very disappointed by the discrepancy between a smile that an American throws at you without effort and the coldness that he later shows when getting to a more substantial dialogue. She hates the lack of curiosity that an American has regarding the whole world except for his dear country. I quote: "What's most upsetting is not even [that] they haven't crossed the borders of their own state, but [that] they don't even dream about going somewhere different."

From a psychological point of view, she's right in the middle of the well-known "culture shock". Everyone is going through that, and it's not about having it or not, i's about coping with it one way or another. The interesting part is that, according to the psychological theory, one is getting first through the "utopian phase" (when one gets to see everything in pink), and only afterwards through the "distopian phase" (when one counts all the disadvantages and flaws a culture has, and begins to see "home" as the perfect place to be).

Well, I guess the truth is somewhere in between. I agree, American culture has flaws. I felt them also. But they are not that big as they seem; and Europe is not that flawless as it might look right now.

Ender's Game

I read Ender's Game. Impressive. From two reasons. Firstly, it is catchy and breathtaking. I remember not wanting to put the book down. I remember going to restroom while being impatient about returning to a cozy chair and checking Ender's latest adventure. Do I like science-fiction? I didn't find a pattern yet.... Yes, I loved Dune, but for me it was more like a Bible than like a SciFi book. Other SciFi books? Maybe to harsh, to out-of-this-world, too metallic and non-intuitive. (I have a very bad visual imagination. I find that SciFi descriptions do not create images in my head. That's why I rather enjoy the meaningfulness of dialogues and actions.)
Second reason? Ender's Game is not about some kids. It is myth, it is legend, it is "poveste nemuritoare". It is a holy story about a human being destined to become a leader and becoming a leader step by step. I guess we like to see human perfection, we like to see evil being vanquished, we like to see the constant evolution to the better. And we wish that we were Ender.

One more try

I've been writing in my blog(s) for a couple of years. That doesn't make me an expert, I'm not the one-entry-a-day-type, but I guess blogging helped me write about the kind of things that we usually think or feel about, but never get the discipline to sit and write it on a piece of paper.
This has been my problem since always. I think a lot, about a lot of things, but I'm too lazy and I lack discipline in writing down my thoughts.
Well, I still believe blogging is a good exercise for people like me who 1: begin writing 10 diaries but end up continuing none; 2: plan to write a lot in their lives. I plan to write a lot.
In my first blog, the one I kept while in the US, the entries were written in Romanian. Excuse? It was meant for my friends and parents to read it and get the latest news about me. When I returned to Romania, I believed it's fair to start writing in English, since at that point I had many friends in US who maybe wanted to catch up with me.
Well, it didn't work. I wondered if I couldn't because writing in a foreign language makes it much more difficult. I quit the initiative and started a new blog, in Romanian.
Still, I have the regret that you guys will never get to read my blog, if you're interested, just because you don't know Romanian. I wouldn't learn Romanian. You probably won't.

So I'll try. I'll give my best to write in English from now on. One more try.

Scoala de antreprenoriat social

Ai intre 16 si 26 de ani si vrei sa inveti cum sa produci schimbare sociala durabila? Vrei sa faci parte din prima generatie de antreprenori sociali romani? Inscrie-te pana la 20 iulie la scoala de vara "Impreuna pentru Schimbare Sociala"! Este incurajata participarea tinerilor apartinand minoritatilor nationale.

Agentia de Monitorizare a Presei si Asociatia ORICUM pentru Educatie lanseaza prima scoala de vara dedicata antreprenoriatului social din Romania. Programul "Impreuna pentru Schimbare Sociala" se adreseaza tinerilor cu varsta cuprinsa intre 16 si 26 de ani, cu potential de lider, implicati in comunitatile din care fac parte, creativi si dornici sa invete mai multe despre metode inovatoare de aduce schimbari pozitive in comunitatile lor.

Timp de 5 zile, in perioada 26 – 30 iulie, 20 de tineri apartinand romani, dar si apartinand minoritatilor nationale, se vor aduna la Predeal, la prima scoala de vara dedicata antreprenoriatului social din Romania. Organizatorii cauta atat promovarea antreprenoriatului social prin training-uri, exemple practice si un incubator de proiecte, cat si stimularea dialogului intercultural prin incurajarea participarii tinerilor apartinand minoritatilor nationale.

Participantii la scoala de vara vor lucra in echipe cu scopul generarii de proiecte bazate pe principiile antreprenoriatului social. Proiectele rezultate in urma scolii de vara vor primi feedback si monitorizare, urmand ca autorii lor sa participe in toamna la un workshop de prezentare a proiectului, iar autorii celui mai bun proiect sa primeasca finantare de start-up pentru implementarea ideii lor.

Puteti afla mai multe detalii despre program pe pagina dedicata acestuia: http://www.antreprenoriatsocial.ro. Tot aici puteti completa online formularul de aplicatie pentru a participa la "Impreuna pentru Schimbare Sociala". Deadline-ul pentru primirea aplicatiilor este 20 iulie.

"Impreuna pentru Schimbare Sociala" este un program finantat de Uniunea Europeana, prin programul "Tineret in Actiune", si de Open Society Institute.

Jurnal de calatorie, by Popper (1)

Eram curios de ceva timp sa vad cum e lumea in afara spatiului in care locuiesc. Inca de mic am stiut exact care sunt granitele teritoriului meu, m-am asigurat ca si ceilalti le cunosc foarte bine si ca ma respecta ca stapan. Ciudat este ca niciodata n-am putut vedea dincolo de teritoriul meu, mai putin cand ma duc mult inspre Est si acolo am o deschidere larga catre o alta lume. In lumea dinspre Est, unde rasare soarele, oamenii se misca neincetat si dispar in cateva zeci de secunde din raza mea vizuala. Inspre sud raza mea vizuala e limitata de o cladire mare dincolo de care n-am avut niciodata ocazia sa trec.
Insa cel mai grav mi s-a parut intotdeauna ca exista o parte in Nord la care nu am acces. De cateva ori am mirosit ca in Nord este o alta lume, o lume tenebroasa si rece pe care ar fi foarte interesant sa o explorez - stii, intotdeauna am fost o fire curioasa.

Sambata soarta mi-a suras si am reusit sa evadez fara stirea gardienilor mei, pe langa care nu am reusit pana acum sa trec niciodata. O usa catre alta lume mi s-a deschis, si eu am fugit cat m-au tinut picioarele. In cele trei zile cat a tinut calatoria mea initiatica, am trecut printr-un mediu atat de diferit de caminul meu, incat si acum mi se ridica parul pe spate cand ma gandesc. In Nord e atat de intuneric! Nu exista zi si noapte, ci o noapte continua si fara stele. Si totusi, parca pentru prima oara am vazut mult mai bine lucrurile din jurul meu, ca si cum ochii mei vad mult mai bine in luminozitate scazuta. Si nu am fost deranjat asa cum sunt deranjat in fiecare dimineata de mingea de foc din Est. Aerul in jurul meu mirosea a rece si vechi si ud, cam cum miroase zidul de sud cand vine ploaia torentiala de vara. Si este atat de frig in Nord! Intotdeauna m-am intrebat la ce folos ca sangele imi pompeaza atat de rapid in vine si blana asta atat de deasa si greu de intretinut, daca nu pentru a-mi tine de cald in conditii vitrege!

Primele ore au trecut aproape fara sa le simt, eu simtindu-ma liber si neconstrans sa cercetez fiecare cotlon si fiecare metru patrat de teren nou. Fara constrangeri. Fara supraveghere. Fara jena si retineri fata de familie. Fara timiditate. Da, asta sunt eu, cel adevarat!
Din pacate, la un moment dat mi-am dat seama ca mi se face foame.

[va continua]

P.

P. este sufletul oricarei petreceri. Pare intotdeauna vesel si glumet. Barbatii si fetele au avut intotdeauna simtul umorului diferit, dar el reuseste prin glumele lui tipic barbatesti sa aduca un zambet pe fata unei fete. Nu, nu este un joker. Nu gandi ca are multe stereotipuri. De fapt este un tip inteligent care si-a creat propriile stereotipuri, propriile vorbe, propriile ticuri, si le are pentru ca asa vrea. Initial le-am admirat naturaletea, acum admir maiestria cu care le foloseste pentru a te atrage si a te vraji, pentru a te aduce mai aproape de el. Nu, nu sunt instrumente de manipulare, tocmai pentru ca sunt amuzante si, in definitiv, inofensive.

Ceea ce te poate induce in eroare la atitudinea asta jucausa este ca ai tendinta sa crezi ca nu e un tip serios. Incet-incet insa descoperi ca este un tip poate mai matur decat media, care are o viziune asupra propriei vieti in comparatie cu care majoritatea din noi am parea doar niste copii ametiti. Este un adevarat spirit de antreprenor, stiind sa-si foloseasca talentul si cunostintele din facultate pentru a avea succes. Si, poate ce-i mai important, ii place ce face.

Copilaria lui nu a fost neaparat usoara. Daca nu te certi cu parinti nu inseamna neaparat ca n-ai motive sa te certi. Cu un parinte autoritar, el a preferat intotdeauna sa evite conflictul, pentru ca nu vedea nici un folos in a-l crea sau intretine. Sunt curioasa cat de mult acel model de autoritate il va influenta, si il va face sa devina la fel sau din contra.

Deocamdata vrea sa-si traiasca viata, si desi la capitolul cariera e foarte avansat, nu are motive deocamdata sa avanseze la capitolul sentimental. O viziune sanatoasa, poate, mai ales prin faptul ca este constient aleasa si asumata. Viseaza la ea si o va recunoaste cand va aparea, dar campul posibilitatilor este nelimitat.

Cel mai mare defect: frica de... urmasi
Cea mai mare calitate: atitudinea relaxata de om care isi duce viata asa cum vrea.

Prieteni cuvantatori si necuvantatori

Sunt zile in care te trezesti plin de energie, si viata iti da cateva palme si iti arata ca uneori trebuie sa fii supus incercarilor, sa suferi un pic, pentru a putea aprecia cu adevarat momentele frumoase. Poate soarta a considerat ca in ultimul timp viata mea a fost prea lipsita de griji. Culmea e ca, obiectiv vorbind, ea n-a fost chiar asa lipsita de griji. Nu in fiecare an dai zeci de examene, licente, si te muti dintr-o casa intr-alta. Nu in fiecare zi zbieri la parinti si trantesti usile. Nu in fiecare zi alergi plangand pe strazi.

Astazi intre ora 9 si 9 jumate soarta mi-a dat cateva palme si mi-a dat incercari. Prima a fost ca o prietena foarte draga mie se afla acum in spital, din cauze necunoscute, foarte brusc si lapidar. Sunt ingrijorata pentru ea, si desi se afla la zeci de kilometri fata mine, imi vine sa ma urc chiar acum in masina si sa ma duc sa o vad. Ea e foarte curajoasa, zice ca nu e nimic grav, insa stiu cum e sa stai in spital. In acel pat de spital rece si metalic. In acele cearceafuri albe si atat de impersonale, si rugoase, care iti rod pielea. Cu tuburi mari, infipte in venele subtiri, in pielea alba si moale. Cu oameni necunoscuti in jur, cu acea tristete si bolnaviciune in aer, cu speranta undeva mica si ascunsa intr-un cotlon, intr-o cuta de perna. Orele sunt nesfarsite, nu mai ai notiunea timpului, vremea se masoara in telefoanele primite de la cei dragi si vizitele parca prea rare.

Tata ma vedea vorbind la telefon, trista si socata, si n-a avut curajul sa-mi spuna ca pisoiul meu cel mic, cu nume de om mare, Popper, a disparut de 3 zile. "Probabil a murit, daca a cazut de la balcon, e prea prietenos si nu mai are urma de animalitate in el. Nu prea mai are instinct de conservare". Sunt foarte trista! O fiinta, care nu mi-a transmis niciodata iubirea ei prin cuvinte, ci doar prin gesturi, mangaieri, si ochi mari rotunzi si albastri. Si mieunatul specific, chitaitul lui pe care l-as recunoaste dintr-o mie. E prima oara cand o fiinta necuvantatoare dispare din viata mea. Cand pestisorii-zebra mi s-au sinucis aruncandu-se din acvariu pe mocheta rugoasa, nu am suferit prea mult. Erau prea "necuvantatoare" ca sa ma atasez de fiecare in parte, eram doar atasata de ideea de "pestisor". Acum ma incearca un alt sentiment. Imi testeaza limitele. De ce? Pentru ca sunt genul de persoana care nu tine la lucruri, tine numai la persoane. Popper era lucru sau persoana? Da, simt ca maine pot lua un nou pisoi de la magazin, si va incepe un alt capitol. Dar va fi alt capitol. Pentru ca individualitatea lui mi-a ramas intiparita in inima si imi va fi dor de ochii mari rotunzi si albastri, si atat de inteligenti! si de mieunatul lui specific.

R.

R. intruchipeaza prospetimea feminina. Cu fata ei alba, parul blond si zambetul larg, de cate ori o intalnesc parca imi creste si mie inima. Are acei ochi mari albastri care emana sinceritate si care cand vor sunt atat de expresivi.

Rar insa lasa doar ochii sa fie expresivi. Intreaga ei viata este o expresivitate, o exprimare, o explozie de sentimente si de exclamatii. Are o voce joasa, atragatoare. Vorbeste mult, cu sens. Ea crede ca nu vorbeste tot timpul cu sens, si se jeneaza, se autoironizeaza. Ce suflet sanatos e acela care se autoironizeaza! Are un tic verbal, sau poate doua, naturale, rustice, autentice. Ar putea scapa de ele, dar nimeni din jurul ei n-ar vrea asta, o parte din farmec ar zbura odata cu accentul sau intonatia ei.

Cineva ar spune ca ea este o persoana (si o femeie) care isi va cunoaste intotdeauna locul. Nu se da inapoi de la lucrurile pe care stie ca le merita, dar devine atat de timida cand e sa ceara mai mult de atat! Are un simt al corectitudinii atat de adanc inradacinat, si inteligenta ei este atat de innascuta si de dinafara cartilor, incat am impresia ca simte cea mai mica intentie rauvoitoare sau metoda de manipulare. Daca se lasa convinsa, este doar pentru ca vrea asta si pentru ca are incredere in tine ca ii vrei binele.

In ultimul timp a facut salturi. Sunt poate surpinzatoare si pentru ea. Sau poate sunt la fel de naturale ca fiecare lucru pe care il face.

Astept sa il vad pe acel cineva care sa-i ofere protectia si tandretea pe care ea o merita. Pe cineva la fel de natural, la fel de relaxat cu sine-insusi, la fel de increzator ca lucrurile se aseaza de la sine daca tu faci totul cu sinceritate si bunavointa.

Cel mai mare defect: timiditatea fata de lucrurile presus de ea.
Cea mai mare calitate: naturaletea si sinceritatea.