Don't worry, could be worse!

Life is full of surprises. The house we  bought to settle down, had unofficially served as a kind of playground and football goal for children from streets within a distance of 15 walking minutes.  As they did not tell us to buy, they decided to ignore the changed situation, respectively, make us understand we are not welcomed! Writing on our house wall one day (in Arabic): "For sale." The constant bang, bang, bang from fiercely kicked footballs is killing. Large flower pots behind a metal fencing to protect against these balls. Nice attempt. The teens are strong and not stupid. Flowers broken off or stolen, fencing bend in all directions, their "reply". We placed the flower pots on the terrace and bought cactus plants instead. Removed the twisted fencing and got stronger fencing with metal slaps fitted, painted by me . Some folks tell me they like it. Cactus plants growing well with lateral shoots, even needed supporting sticks, which the kids didn't like and therefore removed. All not good for flying footballs. But not a  problem for these clever kids. Now we have lateral shoots cut or knocked off, likewise thorns, most remaining cactus plants are straight, even tiny green sprouts removed, "clean shaved", looks actually a bit stupid. Yes, they were not lazy! In case football goals should ever be placed in the sky, the teens here are prepared, as they demonstrated on various occasions, kicking footballs over the roof and on to the terrace. Even got one on my head one day. -Anybody wants to buy stones? We get them in all sizes for free from hooligans. We are thankful if they not hit cats. It gets a bit expensive to take all injured to the vet. I try to explain that people who love animals, regard a cat or dog as a "family member" (quite common in Europe) would be quite upset to see how these lovely animals are treated here. Water and food pottery bowls for cats get smashed or stolen, now I use plastic empty ice cream boxes that I just need to replace from time to time. Very sad, cats coming to my house (their little restaurant) looking for some food and water, are not even safe in front of my house. They make an easy target for disturbed kids. For their protection I stay with them while they are eating (Some stones are thrown nevertheless, must be falling from heaven, as those children on site are "all innocent"). Respect appears to be one of those things these kids here have lost with the revolution. Big difference between the educated and those who keep their distance to education (what Germans call "Bil

dungsfern"). Nevertheless, like in every country one can (and we did) find wonderful people here, hamdullah! -  Children represent the future of a country. What we need here are social workers visiting families who don't understand their responsibility. Street workers checking on those children and young adults that roam the streets. Some times kids suggest I should hit one of them who throws stones or kicks a cat. I try to explain beating can never be a solution, it only makes more aggressive. We need love not hate if we want a better world.

We only see what we believe we know

If you like polite behavior, the classic way, you can find it here, for example in a bus, men offering their seat to women, even on long trips. This may surprise you as when entering the bus just about everybody, young and old, try to press in front of you. If you think bad manners, you are mistaken, it is a kind of folk's sport. You are let's say 70 years old and managed to push all aside? Congratulation, you are still fit! The other day at the post office counter (you queued up, are you British?), happy to be served at long last. Three single persons try to  change this as they only just arrived, they didn't have a chance to push me aside at an earlier stage.But no problem the employee behind the counter is sportive and happy to serve several customers simultaneously. The country needs such versatile men and women, one can also find them in shops. With profound understanding I just ask then: "You are in such a hurry, are you wanted by the police?"  - The window pane from a neighboring house fell onto our roof terrace. Since it was smashed into many pieces, it was clear we don't need to return it and therefore the owner didn't waste his and our time to  inform us. Such a considerate man. Tunisians don't like to say no, I can't do that, much too polite for that! The house next door got renovated; in the process cement landed on our terrace, falling rubble damaged a table, paint soiled our walls and a metal fencing. Further, knocking down walls caused cracks in our walls. In some countries you may hear: Couldn't care less, you can take me to court, if you don't like it. Well, not this polite person. Why should he make us unhappy? Too sensitive for that, he released that we need time to get used to the thought, damage without compensation, and so he promises that his tradesmen will "make good" as soon as they finish the other works. After all the neighbor didn't tell us to buy the house next door! I visited a carpentry's workshop to select an entrance door. The carpenter showed various pictures of which I fancied a door with artful glass elements. The door he delivered lacked these....He wondered how I could be so naive to actually think I would get what I ordered.Such glass elements one can of course not obtain in Tunisia. Why didn't he say so at the time? "But it was just a photo!" I gave up and painted the glass elements myself and now have an original. If you want a star from the sky, I am sure you can find someone here who will confirm he can fulfill your wish and only ask for an advanced payment for material. So  he managed to keep you happy for a while.