What you may or may not like

Errors don't just arise because one doesn't know certain things, but because one ventures to judge even though one doesn't know everything that will be imperative for this. (Immanuel Kant) -

Following the election of a new president, Saied Kais, a man regarded by all who know him as an absolutely honest person, there is hope Tunisia can tackle his problems of high unemployment, in particular among the academic, the young, rising

prises, low income, public debts, spread corruption, lack of animal protection, environmental problems on various levels, etc. Generally speaking folks here lack environmental awareness. Pavements are often kept clean by the house owners, but water and air pollution remain a problem. Many cheap, often plastic short- lived products are on sale. A larger variety of products than before the revolution exists, some are not always available, this also applies to food. Farm workers are badly paid (just like in too many countries all over the world) which led to a lot of folks looking for an alternative in another area, a shortage of staff for the harvest and a requirement of previously unnecessary imports. Folks complain they can't afford to pay for these, yet they travel by taxi not bike. Taxis are cheap but it all adds up, one can easily spend more on these than for a monthly bus ticket in e.g. a German town. The bus and train and non- private healthcare service is rather limited.

One doesn't see many smiling faces, was everything better in the past? Certainly not, but there is a lot of disappointment, more stress and depression, too much noise for my liking and that of expats in general, who learnt to appreciate silence, so relaxing and better for ones health. Even a small group of kids/youngsters can create ear-splitting noise. I then jokingly ask my husband: Are they continuing the revolution? It is sometimes difficult to know whether some people out on the street are just talking or having a quarrel. When it comes to a fight there are always persons from the neighbourhood's quick on the scene to stop it. That is what I like in this community. Whenever I address men who let their car or motorbike engine run idle, ask them why do you do this, pollute the air, every driver seems to do this, I can 't understand such behaviour, you have brains like children! They all apologise, no one got angry ever. A pleasant surprise for me. Actually some even leave their vehicle unattended for a few minutes, engine switched on, not thinking this might be seen as an invitation of a thief passing by. Life is full of surprises, never gets boring. Many in particular young men, feel disillusioned and are thinking of leaving Tunisia, believing they can find a better life in Europe. This means risking their life and even if they can make it, they won't find a paradise, far from it! Life in Europe can be quite hard, depressing and not at all what they are looking for. The open arm welcome vanished following terrorists' attacks and stupid behaviour of some North Africans possibly disappointed with their new surroundings and regulations.  Without a visa and a job waiting for you I would strongly advise not to start such a journey. Tunisia has yet much to offer and you know what? In Europe you can also see folks collecting bottles, only it is not in order to sell plastic but glass bottles returned for cash, refund of a deposit paid by the consumer. Some guys are also homeless there. While in more and more countries people want their often corrupt government to step down, Tunisians can hope to now get a positive change, but it won't happen over night. My advice to young frustrated hopeless feeling young folks: don't risk your life for an uncertain future in Europe, you may yet a chance here to contribute to a better Tunisia. As my husband put it: "I can no longer enjoy eating fish, too many corpses in the Mediterranean Sea."