Bari, Trenitalia Station, Track 3, a autonno evening at 23.05.
I missed the train. I thought it was at 22.45. It was 5 minutes before I remembered wrong. Worse still, the other train, the "next", on which they rely, of 23:15, no. I found out looking at the screen and cover the zones. I have to take the Express at midnight, to return home. The problem is that I have a ticket, that of the region, would not allow me to climb. And in my pocket I have not even enough money to pay the difference. I have only 50 cents. It would take twice as much, if it was capable of providing.
Speaking with my parents, the message I received was "go to sleep by her grandmother." Yes, at this time. Forget it. Evil that goes, I'll pay the fine. I'll send me home. But if the question was only to pay the difference, you'd pay in Trani.
I'm tired and worried, I want to sit down. But it's cold. I remember that there is a "booth" there is better. I'm going to see. But initially I do to get away. There are three immigrants who sleep and occupy the chairs. They are worse off than me. It's not fair to ask him to move.
But then I look better. One of the three is not sleeping, sitting, and beside him is an empty seat. Come on, let's go. "Can I?". "Please." For the record, the other immigrant there will be close to move to make room. I'll tell him that you need not.
Well, now we are there. An hour to the train. Or the pitch waiting to fret, or chat with this gentleman ... "Where are you?". "Foggia".
take the same train. The conversation continues. With the Italian is a bit in trouble with the English rule is best (even too much, sometimes I do not understand!). She explains that comes from Eritrea. That there is not live, because of the war. His entire family, except his mother, has been co-opted into the army. So things are looking a bit better since there is the international contingent, which has a separate bit fields. But the conditions remain uninhabitable. All efforts have on the military. Nothing to cultivate the land, and to feel a bit better than the people.
He is here for a year. Does the wood-cutter. To work shifts a lot, from Lecce to power and so on. He manages to live and send money home. "Per month gain sometimes 800, sometimes 1500, it depends." Clearly all unstable.
After a while I feel the need to "do the interrogation." To tell me something as well. I tell him that are of Trani, who come to study in Bari, for policy, and for a newspaper I work online, and that this was the reason for my coming today. Then I do not hold back, and I explain the fact of the ticket, convinced that you will laugh and will hope with me that it goes well.
What happens, however, leaves me speechless. He, who has a problem must be a thousand more than me, has no doubts: "I'll give you the Euro". I am about to dissuade him, saying that it is not right, I could look for other solutions. Do not listen to reason, I put the Euro in hand and picks it back. "The money I sent them home, I've had enough, is not a problem." And the more I continue to talk, the more he insists. "It's not a problem, not a problem."
The train arrives. I go up with him, and I sling in search of conductor. I can fix, fortunately.
I go back to the wagon on which I went to look for it. I have to give him at least the Euro, at this point. The meeting. "Well, all right?" She asks now. Yes, it was all right. I tell him that the Euro will once more give him back, once a station of the Trani will have, but did not want him. It takes me long to convince him to take it back. "I do not need, I do not need."
Well, then the compartment is empty, and there's another half hour, before returning to Trani. We can continue talking.
But at this point I feel I questioned him a bit more delicate. I begin to ask him if he found racism in our country. I answer, surprisingly, no. With us appulo-Lucania is fine. He says he has heard more than a little more than racism by the parties in Turin and Milan.
I am pleased, means that it has not been the victim of unpleasant incidents. And that does not perceive that the tide there. Even if, when I talk about how racism is advancing in Italy, do not tell him things I do not know. Indeed
nods, as one listens to speeches he knows, when I told him how in Italy the growth of the myth of the 'bad immigrant ", how the papers give different relevance to a crime depending on who commits it, how is increasing the 'equation' = African criminal. " And as some parties have built their consent identified immigration as the enemy to fight, and have won the election with the slogan "No more illegal immigrants" (and not just criminals, "which I signed). These things
sa. And he explains that he also saw some of his fellow countrymen (or its neighboring countries) come here to do bad things, from petty theft to drug dealing to Ascisc. "But it's not fair that we pay for them all, we're not."
ask him if he also knows that some people would like everyone to come back to their country. I replied (in English) "to my country if things change and you are better off, going back tomorrow morning, I take the plane and go. But this can not go back. If I go back I die. With that crazy president we have, as do I get back. " Unfortunately
could not have a choice. I ask him if he knows that if he lost the job should go to law. Because certain laws for those who do not work, if an immigrant is automatically criminal. You know. He knows everything! I also explained that 80% of those who are illegal immigrants, he knows, the job does have it. And my question "and are criminals?", The answer is "No". But he adds, "But if they continue like that, left to themselves, many of them will eventually become." Yeah.
He still does not give up: "If I lose this job, I will fight to have another one until the end." On the other hand, or so, or certain death that awaits him in Eritrea, he has not done anything. He adds, explaining that it does not give up, "and then Italy can change." And I think those Italians need to believe, since we believe him.
I'm coming. We salute you. We exchange names for the first time (none of them had felt the need to know the name of the other, until then). And I say "See!". I greet him, saying, "Good Luck." He needs it. And he deserves it. For as I wanted to help. How to live in this country. For the dangers that await him every day of his life. Meanwhile, in his dissent, I will not help him unless instruments. At the station there are some who waiting for me, holding quell'Euro that I return. Even if he does not want.
Trani, Trenitalia Station, 12:31. The train is punctual. I take the Euro who picks me up, I'll do, I go down and I start leaving.
Good luck, man.
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