Hblog

Meeting Albie

I met Judge Albie Sachs at his stunning Constitutional Court offices (or quarters or whatever you call important peoples' office abodes) yesterday. Judge Sachs is of my all-time heroes :) It was a great moment - although I can't help thinking that I would have preferred keeping him up on my wall as one of my all-times and rather not met him in the flesh - people are so... well... "fleshy" in the flesh. Anyway, I managed to meet him because goddess, Eve Gray introduced us and I said that I really needed to talk to him about Creative Commons. We didn't talk for long. I wanted to chew the cud but Judge Sachs is a busy man. We spoke mostly about the Laugh It Off case - what an amazing  ! He said that no other judgement he has written has had as much exposure as that one. But the funniest thing? He said that the SAB advocate had this to say about it: 'The downfall of capitalism.'

I agree with Albie: if only it were that easy!

(Thank you, Joburg.org.za for the pic!)

The bazaar can be fun

The Bazaar can be fun
But get ready to run
When Tajiki bees come out from the sun.

But was it a bee?
Or was it Ali?
Who gave that sting - look at it, see!

Caledon, Simos and Peter were there,
Enjoying the sunny, Dushanbe air,
And laughing at my poor bee-stung bum
As it started to go more and more numb

It was the men who shopped up a storm that day
Shopaholic Omar had the most to pay
Dresses and gowns and hats and socks
Nuts and halva and those famous ‘rocks’.

But what would I buy my boyfriend back home?
Would he believe that Tajiki hills I did roam?
If all I brought back were some black cotton socks?
Or stories of bonfires and showers with shocks?

And then I saw it on one of the lines,
Some patterned long pants with black and grey signs,
‘It could look Tajiki!’ I desperately said
Although it’s from India with ‘Boston’ in red.

But time, as usual, was running quite short,
And brave Parvina looked terribly wrought,
Missions accomplished, sock industry shares
Back to camp, to show off our wares.

On the road

The past two days on the FOSS Road in Tajikistan have been incredible. Everything about this event is innovative - but the most important thing is that its 'real' in every sense. Everyone is included and encouraged to share and communicate meaningfully with others - it is this atmostphere that builds such a strong learning culture among participants.

This morning, Marek asked me to lead the morning circle where we asked participants to describe their "favorite place". We tried asking who their favorite dancer was from the bonfire last night, but there was such a resounding cry of 'Aso! Aso! Aso' that we had to go back to plan A. Everyone was in such high spirits - despite the rain that forced us indoors - especially when latecomers each had to sing a song. We heard a great rendition of a Hindi song from Omar (Afganistan) and a Russian song from Ravshan, an e-rider from Tajikistan. Everyone was so supportive with clapping and singing along that I fear tomorrow the wanna-be-rock-stars will be late on purpose!

Ali, Talat and I are facilitating the 'publishing' track. We were relegated to the kitchen today because the billiard room where we were yesterday doesn't have any windows and its really cold and rainy today. I'm a very sad gal because I mistakenly packed loads of summer gear and my jeans are starting to grow things I've worn them so often.

Our group is great, although the translation can be really frustrating. One thing it is teaching me is how to be more clear and more brief: clear because the translator will ask if they don't understand you (something most people don't do in the middle of you speaking), and brief because it takes so bloody long for the sessions that we're having to summarise really well!

The evening's entertainment started with a wonderful local musician who sang the most beautiful, haunting songs (especially when I heard a translation of the poetic lyrics from Ali). The bonfire was festive and led to much rocking from traditional local songs to rap and hiphop. I drank too much (very good) vodka and said all the wrong things as usual - which prompted me to say for about the third time in 2 weeks that I will never drink again.

After the 'speed geeking' session (7x4 minute explanations of our 'Living Archive' project) I'm starting to feel my energy lagging. Usually the camp is 7 days (this one is 5) and I can't imagine how the facilitators keep it together.

On the way to FOSS Road

"Now that we're in Moscow, about to board the plane, I can tell you: this is a very interesting airline."

If I hadn't been exhausted from lack of sleep, I probably would have run screaming after hearing Dirk tell me exactly how interesting the airline was that I was about to board. 'Tajik Air' is an ode to the 1960s. But Tajik Air didn't have to pay the latest interior designer and architect to replicate its retro "design"; Tajik Air's "furnishings" are genuine - from the mechnical bells to the rope-style baskets in front of the seats and to the little transparent curtains in between sections.

Later, I heard that Tajik Air went through a spate of crashes a while back - mostly because of overloaded planes and people sitting in the aisles. Perhaps it had something to do with 1960s equipment, but hey, you never know. Marek says that they are much better now and that there hasn't been a crash in ages. I live in hope since we have to make our way back and there is only one way ;)

Apparently the airline's monopoly ends next year. This will be a very, very good thing: this place is amazing - the scenery is incredible and the people are warm and so welcoming.

At the beginning of the FOSS Road, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

This week I'm going to be blogging from just outside Dushanbe, Tajikistan where I'm helping facilitate a FOSS camp for central Asian organisations. I'm really excited about the camp - have heard so many great things about previous events in Croatia, Namibia and India, and since we're partners with Tacticaltech in the upcoming 'Africa Source II', this will be great practice! It's also great to see old friends who I spent time with in Namibia last year - I had no idea that when they gave me a book on visiting Tajikistan last year that I would get a chance to use it. So here I am.