Merigoesaround

Today I woke up with the upcoming Spanish election on my mind. My electoral waking up was a novelty. My knowledge of Spanish politics lately is limited to the daily reading of the headlines of two main Spanish newspapers. I feel I am becoming more and more indifferent on whom I prefer to be the winner. Without any kind of prove to support this, I believe this is a common feeling among my fellow Spaniards. After all, the spectrum of Spanish politicians unanimously promise tax cuts, more family, children allowances, more environment and strong hand against terrorism. Pfff... But when did idealism and hope die? Why all this disaffectedness? My American roommate Molly represents the best of the United States to me: she has been campaigning for Obama during the last months and her commitment to her candidate is undeniably admirable. Our house has Obama stickers from the bedroom doors till the fridge. The American flag presides on the living room and she has a plethora of t-shirts with Obama...

The country is not yet independent; it will depend on foreign aid and European Union (EU) tutelage for years. Independence will come with effective foreign aid management and Kosovo’s integration in international organizations. The world has a new country: Kosovo. The independence of this small Balkan territory with only two million, mostly young and unemployed, inhabitants was auto-proclaimed on the 17th of February. Many applaud the decision and will recognize the new country (the United States and 20 EU members at least) and others see it as a dreadful breach of international law and a negative precedent for countries with independence-claiming minorities (Spain, Georgia, Romania, China, Russia). The legal damage has been done and the decision taken. Full stop. It is too late to go back in time. We could discuss how the international community managed to leave a region the size of Connecticut (1/3 of Belgium) in economic and political limbo during nine years, after NATO decided to b...

Right now patriotic chaos dominates Kosovo. They are celebrating an auto-proclaimed independence...As much as I like the Albanian red flag it feels strange to see the pictures and the fraternity with which Macedonians, Albanians and Kosovars celebrate this day. It makes me think of a victory in the soccer cup of the Balkan world, full of all those things I personally dislike so much: populism, uber-patriotism, hatred against the enemy, arrogance, resentment, rage... An era of dialogue an cooperation might be about starting. Or has started, according to the festivities. I am hopefully right. I fear the flooding of donors' funds in Kosovo too. A little territory inhabited by close to 2 million people and immerse in a favorable geographic environment (the EU), Kosovo should be a successful development story...one from where we all learn lessons.

One professor has asked us to break a established norm of conduct during some days. I have had issues deciding what to do...not paying for my meal in the cafeteria? not calling my parents for a week? sleeping with another man in St. Valentines when my boyfriend is 9000km far away? Stealing the neighbor's newspaper? Opening my roommates mail? One male classmate decided to pee in the girl's bathroom...when he was leaving the bathroom the (female) Director of our MSc Program was waiting in the line. Ha. He experienced then the effects of breaking social norms, which was the purpose of the experiment. Another classmate defied a priest telling him that the Trinity was nonsense during his daughter's first communion instruction. There is something that I have always wanted to do...sleep in the first row while a professor is teaching!! I might try in this class. Zzzzz.

Bush is the second President of the United States of Ameeeerica to visit Aaaafrica. The previous one, Clinton, probably made it to the capital of the countries visited, maybe even had time to check some USAID or MCC projects some kilometers away from the capital. Bush stays at the airport. Today Bush is in Benin. Well, to be precise, in Benin's airport. The whole ceremony of "Bonjour Monsieur! Benin says Hello to Bush" took place in those premises. This is not necessarily bad. I understand Bush is a man with a busy agenda and after all, he does not like that much to be away from home. Air Force One might even be more comfortable than Cotonou's (Benin economic capital) Sheraton Hotel. I found it quite amazing how important a visit from the President of the USA is to some places that seem to be in the map but nobody hears or knows about them. Benin is one of those. Albania was another one...until Bush went there last summer and the hidden jewel of the Adriatic became he...