day 28

Let me talk about the people here. The picture I've chosen doesn't mean to be offensive in any way. This woman doesn't represent the classical beauty but she's awesome. I was simply walking in the marketplace and she saw me taking pictures, she called me and asked me to photograph her. When I showed her the result she was really happy. I stayed to talk to her a little bit as I always try to do. I chose her because she's representative of many people here. Easy-going, available and smiley. It happened to me many times that people stopped me to ask for a picture and then we started talking. Everybody is proud of what they do and happy to show me a small part of their life.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking and I asked a young guy the way for a walk I had been advised to do. He not only told me the way, but came with me. We talked about everything, I asked him a lot of questions, and in the end he showed me his small workshop where he makes Kente, a typical fabric. After that day I just bumped into him once more. He told me he wanted to give me a small piece of fabric as a present before I left, and so he did. That simple gesture was really touching.

It's just one example among many: a lot of people shared a small part of their life with me, showing me their farm, telling me about food, traditions, families,  and letting me into their homes.

Since I got here, I have felt like I am in a big family, and what I'll remember the most are the smiles I received, no matter if they were toothless, old or whatever else, they were perfect the way they are.

P.S. I'm starting to collect offers to support this local initiative in order to keep the school in Dzemeni open and to hire at least one full-time teacher. If you want to help, please contact me privately.