Angels & Assholes

Nairobi - Paris - Geneva  - Bordeaux - Paris - Amsterdam - Brussels - Nairobi in 8 days.

291 km/h on a train hehe love it!!

The markets on Sunday in Paris are a treat to the senses

Without question Europe is an amazing place at any time of year. And though cold as fuck - it was a treat to have the opportunity to visit 5 countries at Christmas time to conduct some consultative meetings. The cities decorated bright and beautiful in this magical time, I was there to explore and discuss exciting changes to East Africa Supply Chain strategy for Medecins Sans Frontiers. The changes will help us to be even more agile given rapidly changing context(s), unexpected medical emergencies and continuing need for our services. In other words - we get to save more lives.

Europe is compelling and exciting with it's fancy streets, and stores chock o' block full of strange and wonderful treasures.Around every corner is something to catch your curious spirit and send you off contemplating what an amazing world we share.

 

In between meetings and travel I schlepped around Geneva Paris and so on looking at stuff including the purchase of this fantastic painting. I loved it immediately and when one of my daughter and my favorite songs played -- I knew I had to have it. It was a must have. I am Rabbit - And I am proud!!!... symbolizing for me the importance of being proud of who you are taking the world on - one asshole at a time.

I say assholes because as much as the world is full of amazing wonderful souls  - there are those whose dark hearts bring misery to many and whose conduct is inextricably linked to acts of deleterious intent.

Maybe I stood out too much?

The clear distinction between angels and assholes came to me just after I was robbed in the Paris subway.  The irony that after time in Nairobi Mumbai Juba Delhi Cairo and other places famous for lightening the purses and pockets of passers -by that it would happen to me in Paris. Maybe I was a little too relaxed and then spent a little too much thought on how I had contributed to the situation. Fuck that! It's victims mentality to blame oneself for the scurrilous deeds of others. They are indeed assholes and deserve the title and our utter contempt. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. So good were the robbers that they also managed to get my pin number and within 2 minutes of my using the credit card, they had started withdrawing cash from my account. I do admire their professionalism - very very good robbers.😖





Angels - on the other hand; those who bring lightness to our lives and act to make better the world we share - are far more numerous. On the left happens to be a Victoria Secret Angel but hey -- they come in all shapes and sizes.

As much as getting robbed sucks - it did create quite an adventure as I found myself penniless and without options in the rainy streets of Paris. The police were kind and helpful as was the hotel that took me in on my word to pay later. The Canadian Embassy was phenomenal taking a serious interest in helping me out as best and quickly as they could. An emergency travel document was ready within 2 hours of completing the application. (mind you at $450 it should be quick 😜)








Speaking of assholes once more  - I agreed to "mule" some generously donated laptops from Ernst and Young  (EY) in Belgium. I met Ken (thanks Ken!!!) when he came to volunteer with M-TEP in Nairobi - the charity I work with. He worked tirelessly to get 5 laptops to my hotel in Belgium - my only job was getting them to the slum kids in Kenya. Well - almost through customs I got a "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE"!! "Whats in the bag says the customs guy".... I explained it was a donation for the kids. He immediately saw the opportunity to make himself better off by a few hundred dollars. The bribe price stared at $500 and went quickly down to $100. When I described my still all-too-fresh robbery and explained that I had no money at all - he thought leaving one laptop behind for him was the best option. Thinking quickly I recognized I had only one option. I would need to cry. And so i did. Yup -- that did it. As I blubbered - it's for the kids - his Grinch-like heart cracked a bit and he waved my sobbing ass through. Victory!!! There's always a way to get around assholes.





Maybe the solution to asshole customs guys is more of these little guys. They roam around the airport (not Kenya - Schiphol in Amsterdam)  answering questions from weary travelers. Gates and departure times, temperatures in the city you are going to and so on.

Cuter than Selena Gomez in a onesey , they will also use your phone to take a picture of you. Always cheerful and helpful - the future is interesting indeed!!!!

Thanks for reading.....Layno!!!!!