Tuesday, August 17, 2010

walking the line

at the refugee simulation that was put on at davos, there's a boarder crossing that is simulated. one of the actors says he experienced a border crossing just like this in Congo. it was commented on repeatedly during the debrief of the simulation of how scary that encounter with the guard is.

boarders to me mostly comprise of smiling at some camera and looking at a clerk who attempts to quickly work out where to stamp my passport. its tedious.

Dajabon is a border town. it's where the Dominican Republic borders with Haiti. entering the boarder is like entering a hive of people. the gates were shut with a hoarde of people wanting to com across. even there were a range of people touting for business offering some form of help. we were escorted by a 14 year old boy our translator who spoke no english and met us through a piece of paper with our names written on it.

confusion was rife. lots of noise. a myraid of smells and a general sense of slow control and clinging to your possession as a person would cling to some sense of something certain. something normal. 2 sets of paperwork: leaving one country and entering another.

after leaving DR through the gates and the people wanting to cross over we are "grabbed" by a man who says our names. it was a moment that clarified the confusion. a moment where sense came back. our translator transpired to have not been allowed to eneter the DR to come and collect us and sent the 14 year old lad instead.

we had gained several new "helpers", some shine my scuffed sandals, the more trying to shine them. our alcohol smelling helper who helped us cross over, or more like just walked with us, started to ask for money for their services.

i was grateful. i expressed this and thanked them before jumping into the truck for i knew i had just walked the line.

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