Life never gets Boring

In a factory with various machines one man runs from machine to machine as he is the sol employee there and then there is the administration building with 100 members of staff. One day a letter arrives stating staff expenditures are too high, one person needs to be dismissed; so they wonder: do we still need that man in the factory? - Bureaucracy is highly developed with lots of fantasy, surprises - as in many other countries. Tunisia is fighting against corruption, which often leads to not the most suitable person being the successful applicant but whoever managed one way or another to pay to be chosen, as the "most qualified applicant". Several procedures don't seem to be very logical and could surely be simplified. Such changes take time but they are worth it! A work-study-engineer could have an interesting job here. - The other day a young lady asked me how are you, when I honestly replied that I am sick, her reaction was a real surprise - she looked so happy. Why did I bother to buy removal-cardboard boxes full of toys for children I don't even know, when I can make this kids happy by simply falling sick? No, it's not fair, though I got the same reaction by a young man (my little test), the children are not all like that, thank heaven. But the experience showed what I noticed at other occasions, some folks don't like foreigners, may be even blame them for their own misfortune. I've got a fair idea what is said about Europeans (if you've been abroad for long enough, you are seen as such, not as a Tunisian) in some ignorant families. Foreigners as scape-goats, nothing new, this stupidity  exists in just about every country. - The other day we travelled via mini-bus (a kind of collective taxi for 8 passengers) to Kairouan, though we regard buses as the better choice, safer drive, but  the departure times are uncertain with large crowds waiting. At the counter various persons try to be served first in particular those who just arrived, women and men alike. In Kairouan, travelling back, my husband had to queue up for nearly an hour. I went outside and waited in the yard/ parking area for the mini-buses. Twice young women appeared, briefly entered the building and returned with tickets in no-time, no queueing-up, must be very important persons (?). Some times a driver offers to take passengers without tickets, which he either buys himself, or not. Without tickets there is no insurance and it's not fair to jump the queues. The guy who arranges the procedure of getting the right passengers on the right buses and ensures tickets are properly bought, suddenly turned up and said the first eight at the counter can board a bus to Souse, he'll get the tickets. My husband was meanwhile second in the queue  and we hurried to the bus with a group of other folks, who wouldn't think twice about pushing us aside. We had to complain in order to obtain the last 2 seats on the bus. A young woman thought we "as Europeans" were given priority, which actually she should have, young and fit, with elbows, I guess she would be very happy to learn that we have kids in the neighbourhood throwing stones......The vast majority of the population in Tunisia is very young. If you are confronted with those who lack education, basic manners, respect, life can be very tough should you happen to be a gentle polite person and you better not be old and fragile - unless you've got a "body-guard".  Much needs to be done to make Tunisia great, it is possible, step by step. I think it's important to speak up, educate the ignorant and explain over and over again the importance of tourists, some times elderly, not to be less respected as they may well choose to spend their money in another country the next time, and last not least, how much expats have done for this country and are still doing. They don't deserve to be made unwelcome, be confronted with envy and stones! - Another item that needs to be tackled are those thieves on motorbikes who specialise in handbag snatching, quite professional, as I know from my own experience. I didn't even feel the touch when the 2. guy on the bike removed the handbag off my shoulder, the strap tore,  suddenly the weight of the bag was gone. I know of several persons who have been robbed like that in Jawhara, e.g. a hairdresser, a baker, a shop employee, an elderly couple, a housewife, a tailor - all with little income and no hope to ever have the stolen items returned to them. In Germany the thieves at least throw the papers and keys into a letter box so that these can be given back to the owner. No such luck here. Often folks don't even report the theft to the police "who won't be able to help". I think that is totally wrong, without the accurate statistic the police can not know where the hot spots are, nor the extend of the problem. If they do, though, then hopefully appropriate measures are taken to trace the gang. By the way, one victim was so chocked: "They were kids on a motorbike". - A taxi driver complained, in this neighbourhood you can not park a car without it getting damaged, parts broken off, it's terrible. Not everybody has got a garage and the profit is not such that one can easily pay for that. Yes, some of these street children   proudly damage whatever they can. Unfortunately they have no feeling of wrong doing, these neglected kids from ignorant families. I pray for a project with social workers to get them off the street and teach them basic values to start off with; there is so much they need to learn so that they have a chance in life without violating the laws. Tunisia can be beautiful, it won't be if we let the ignorant create an elbow society.