Urmarind traiectoria uraganului Sandy totul pare un scenariu inimaginabil. Dintr-un simplu ciclon format la sud de Jamaica ajunge in 10 zile un monstru-tavalug ce loveste coasta estica a Statelor Unite.
Am trait spaima a cel putin douazeci de uragane in perioada de cand ma aflu in Florida si in Virginia. Sandy se defineste ca o aparitie meteorologica neintalnita:
– se formeaza intr-o perioada de sfarasit a sezonului de furtuni tropicale;
-un curent rece dinspre nord vest fuzioneaza cu ciclonul tropical dand nastere la un gen nou de furtuna, numita de catre specialistii de la Weather Channel “Superstorm Sandy”
-culoarul, traiectoria luata inspre coasta estica nu mai permite furtunii sa iasa inspre larg si se indreapta catre portul deschis al metropolei New York, zona statutului New Jersey, aglomeratie urban de peste 60 milioane de locuitori.
Astazi mii de copii se regasesc fara elctricitate, strazile, metroul sunt inundate, ei realizeaza tragismul impactului cu forta naturii in adaposturi improvizate in scoli, ori in alte sedii guvernamentale.
Astazi e Halloween si nu pot merge din casa in casa deghizati in Badman, Captain America, Cinderella etc. Se asterne o tristete adanca, imaginile dezolante de dupa furtuna cu copaci cazuti, apa mustind in statiile de metrou, un peisaj apocaliptic.
La mai bine de un an de la uraganul Irene din august 2011 al carui impact s-a facut resimtit in Brooklyn NY cu pagube de bilioane de dolari, Sandy reitereaza un dezastru ale carui pagube nu sunt inca evaluate.
Durerea celui ce isi pierde peste noapte casa, bunurile agonisite nu are nimic cu apartenenta etnica, politica. Americanii nu se bucura intodeauna de simpatie, insa sunt printre putinii ce intervin cu suport financiar, umanitar in multe tari afectate de calamitati de tot felul. Solidaritatea umana nu implica spiritul asa zis religios de facere de bine, ostentatia gestului caritabil atat de bine manipulat de exemplu in ritualirile ortodoxe rusesti, blagoslovenie ipocrita.
Ma intreb de o zi a mastilor, a bucuriei copiilor cate gesturi frumoase, de noblete sufleteasca vor intampina pierderea zambetului, mai ales de catre copii, ei inteleg greu ca sarbatorirea nu e ca si cea din anul trecut.
Cunosc, am amici americani implicati in tot felul de actiuni umanitare, isi sacrifica timp, familii intr-un ideal. Consider aceste randuri o dedicatie unei doamne pe nume Natalie Montanaro, activista in cadrul organizatiei Peace Corps. Si-a petrecut ani in Moldova, intr-o comuna anonima, Brusturoasa. Astazi se afla in Tonga, Australia intr-o alta misiune umanitara.
Ne complacem in senzationalul stirilor si ne e greu sa ne debarasam de cativa dolari meniti sa ajute pe cei afectati de cataclisme.
Altfel lectia de curaj a orasului New York, incantat in refrenurile celebrului cantec NY, NY amplifica increderea in refacere rapida, in reconstructie. Strazile cu numere din NY iti dau mereu senzatia ca te afli intr-o lume anume iscata de catre imigrantii din toata lumea cu etajele dintre nori, ca ramane poarta de intrare in libertate. Am urmarit atent emisiuni, reportaje. In ciuda tragismului situatiei se citeste pe chipul oamenilor ca viata isi va relua cursul normal, ca in vorba cantecului naiv depsre podul luat de ape:
“ Vom face altul pe rau in jos,
Mai trainic, si mai frumos.”
Dear Florin,
Thank you for the kind words. Now that I am in the Kingdom of Tonga as a teacher trainer, I reflect very much on my days in Romania. The richness of experiences and all the classroom, church, holiday and everyday times were occasions never to forget. When going there to work as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2009, it was lost on me since I was a new arrival how much I would gain from being a part of your country in the three years I was there. I learned so much and have great pleasure in sharing this with others abroad, especially those in my own country. I hope to return soon to revisit old friends and to once again explore the facets of Romanian culture and tradition in places where I haven’t been yet such as the Danube Delta and the smallest villages along the Northeastern border of Moldova. I thank you for the prayers that you send to my country in the wake of the Sandy storm. It is a blessing that none of my family or friends in the state of Rhode Island were affected. I pray for the others who lost property and lives and hope that soon, all will return to normalcy. I truly enjoy hearing that my Romanian friends are interested in what is going on across the ocean and have a heart for us as I will always have for all of you.
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
I am so happy to hear your family is well after the storm. When are you coming back to the States?
It would be so nice if you could write a little article about your impressions of Romania. I know you wrote about your stay there, but maybe now, since you are no longer there, maybe you have another view of it.
It would be also interesting to write about the Kingdom of Tonga.
Stay in touch with us and Happy Thanksgiving in case you are able to celebrate.
The best of everything. You are doing wonderful work and I admire you!
Imi plac intotdeauna interventiile Wandei. Ele arata o fire foarte umana si dreapta!