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      ‎~ is for ∞ for ♥ 

                                      for Lenka!

J'parle pas French

September, 10, 2011. Lyon Perrache train station, 8 am.

AG is travelling back home after an amazing roadtrip through France, ended with a most-of-the-night-long party. She gets off the train and heads towards the bus station to embark upon a 48-hour journey to her hometown in Romania. Waits in line to place her backpack in the bus trunk. The action is, of course, disorganized, bureaucratic and slow. Bare necessities strike AG, together with a slight awe at the amount of weirdoes around, waiting to get on the same bus as her.

About 10 minutes later, she has placed her backpack and still has 15 minutes left. She rushes to the restroom hoping to flush away both needs and fears. But life is not for free, there is an entrance fee of 50 cents. For half-reasonable reasons, AG only carries 20 cents in cash. She runs to an ATM to get some money. Finds only one, which is being assaulted by a literally retarded man. Necessities strike harder, this time accompanied by a slight frustration for the humans’ powerlessness towards genetic failures. After a forever of 5 minutes the guy finally leaves. AG jumps to the ATM. But luck is tough, her account has insufficient funds. Shouldn’t have bought those sunglasses!!!!

However, AG comes back to senses, remembers that the only way to go is forward, physiology supports her philosophy, and AG is AG for a reason, so she goes to the restroom anyway. She starts explaining her horrible condition to the woman at the entrance. She gives her best in French but it doesn’t work. And she didn’t even mention words such as “Roumanie” or “roumain”. She then follows her foreign friends’ advice regarding best practice when abroad and in need of a favour. “Sorry, I don’t really speak French”, and counts on body language. It works, the poor guard gives in. After all, 30 cents is not that much compared to the agony of listening to this desperate alien.

Happy and thankful for the humans’ kindness towards those in need, AG runs back to the bus. On her way she passes by other weirdoes plus 3 armed soldiers who patrol the station. She gets on the bus and manages to sit next to the only young and harmless-looking person in there. “Is this seat taken?” asks she, in Romanian. “Sorry, I don’t speak French”, he replies.

Don’t worry, it happens to all of us.