I cannot even begin to describe the things that I saw and experienced today. The sights, smells, stories...everything came as quite a surprise. I never imagined that my coming to Holland would include days like this one. (Maybe this is a bit of a dramatic beginning...but this is really how I feel right now!)
First of all, this morning during my Dutch class, I was learning Dutch words that I didn't even know the translation for in English! I never imagined myself to get to a level of studying a language where I wouldn't even realize that the English equivalent existed. Has anyone ever heard of the word or used the word EXTRADITION before?! I had people in my class answering my teacher for me when she asked "Wat is het Engelse woord voor uitlevering?" I am the the only one in my class who is supposed to know the answer to those questions. Everyone turns their heads in my direction and expects me to be the talking English dictionary...It's such a weird feeling.
But it was after class, when the true adventure began...I went with four of my fellow classmates to celebrate the 50+ birthday of a Turkmen. Ok, I will be very surprised (and very, very impressed!) if anyone reading this blog has actually heard of the country Turkmenistan. Upon arriving at his house, we almost immediately started asking questions about his country. All of us were clueless. And get this, we all came from different sides of the globe: One grew up in Venice, Italy, another was born in Argentina (with a Yugoslavian mother and Austrian father, no less...), Algeria, Indonesia, and of course, little me from the U.S. of A.
Ok, first some random facts about Turkmenistan. It was a part of the former Soviet Union, and so it has really only been recognized as a country since 1991. It is small. About 5 million people. Only in the last 2 years did the dictator, deemed "President for Life" pass away!!! Human rights are not regarded as we know them to be...According to the 2007 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the third-worst restrictions on the freedom of the press in the world. All of this is entirely news to me...and I now am celebrating the birthday of a man whose life was born into a land only recently non-existent in my world. (A world that is expanding, yet ever so small...) I'm so humbled to imagine what it would be like to grow up in a country like this. I imagine it to be like in the film The Story of the Weeping Camel: deserts, camels, nomadic...a beautiful mix between Russian, Middle-Eastern, and Asian cultures.
I think what was so extraordinary about this day was coming together with 5 people from different parts of the world, truly enjoying one another's company and being able to communicate in one language. However raw and incorrect our Dutch came out, we could still understand one another.We all began the afternoon saying we would only stay for 1 hour. Everyone ended up staying for 5+ hours! The Rice Pilaf, Turkish coffee, Russian candies... we were suckered into staying! And we celebrated the life of a man that has faced so much hardship. I wish I could tell his story in detail and post more pictures from this day, but I don't want anyone to be extradited (notice my use of new vocabulary!) The short of it is that he is seeking political asylum here in Amsterdam. His life as he once knew it: his culture, customs, family, friends, education, work... everything is gone. He has to start over completely. At 50! Can you imagine?!
This is something I would love to expand upon one day. The lives of the many foreigners I come across whose former lives are lost through immigration. Their customs, language, family, their way of living and being... ultimately, it is a loss of identity. It saddens me and my heart goes out to these people. In part, because I can also relate to them.
All I can say to end this post... What a crazy day.
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7 comments:
I love the first picture.
But I think you should be extradited for being an English major who doesn't know that word.
It's funny you wrote this--in the last several months, I've decided I'm interesting in learning more about the "stans" (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, etc.) It's funny--it's this whole huge part of the world that is a big blank in so many people's minds, but it's a fascinating cultural crossroads.
I agree, Amber! It's absolutely fascinating!!
And to clarify: I was only an English minor! And you should be talking..."I'm interesting in learning..."? What kind of proper English is that? ; )
Oops! I guess that teaches me. :)
Not that most people would have cause to know, but it could be important to know which countries do and do not have extradition treaties with yours. If for instance, I were to commit some act of treason in the U.S., I know exactly 70 countries that I could flee to and be safely outside the reaches of the U.S.
On a more pertinent note, I've been reading some success stories of people that moved to the U.S. to find freedom and forge a new life for themselves and their families. It's inspirational, and just a smidge depressing as it forces me to realize so much of what I've taken for granted.
It sounds like a fun day! I'd trade a fall excursion in Colorado for that anytime.
jon,
Are you pre-meditatively planning to do something that will force your extradition?! This could be serious : ) where are you reading these success stories? I'd love to read about this too! ... It's true that I'm pretty lucky. Funny how the grass is always greener on the other side.
Ha! It's funny you call it "small", because it's 10 times bigger than "my" country (which I would call big)... But then again, compared to "your" country it's 18 times smaller :) I'd love to visit that region, since I have absolutely no idea what it looks like!
You're right! I guess I was thinking "small" in terms of how many people live there...Less people live there than in the entire state of Colorado!! Which is so weird to me that you can call something a 'country' with so few people. Yet, it would be incredible to see this area!
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