I admit it: sport is the greatest promoter of all nations.

In the tiny town where we’ve lived for 6 months now I am known as “gringo”. Gringo is for the locals a person not belonging to the Latin-Hispanic group and they tend to give this name to the North Americans. It’s been a while since they understood that I am a Romanian, but still a gringo I am. I am nonetheless not disturbed by that label. I was thinking about keeping you updated on the image the South Americans have about Romanians.

The story goes:

“What part of Argentine are you from?”

“I am not from Argentine, I am a Romanian.”

After this there comes a long break to process the data – and we wait patiently. We should notice here the half or wide open mouth of the other person, depending on the degree of surprise.

We go on!

Hagi, Popescu and Nadia are the emblematic figures that speak about you for the South Americans. In Brazil football is a national sport, but no sunflower or pumpkin seeds like in Romania.

Among the South American nations, Romania is best known in Argentine. Hagi and July 3rd, 1994 are always remembered by the Argentinians. I forgot about it, they didn’t!

The eldest remember Nadia. The youngest ask about Dracula.

Other than that nobody knows where the fish-shaped country really is positioned. It’s mistaken for Rome and the Romani.

If I tell Brazilians that I am a Latin in fact and gringo is not really suitable, they are intrigued. You can hear their thoughts… I don’t know what you’re saying there, stranger, but you’re a gringo still. I am a gringo, a Romani and a Romanian. From Italy.

It’s about time Romania qualified to the next World Championship.

I guess this way the next generation will take Romania out of Italy.

After all, the fountain in Vitan Mall pumps the water higher in the sky even than Loredana or Fontana di Trevi. As for the money, you can barely see Adrian the Wonder Child through the money fall.

Brazilians have their “manele” too, they are called funky. It’s not the same Funky as in the ‘60’s, it’s the music of the favelas. How is it the Brazilian Funky?

It’s sacred.

Coming from the sacred bone’s moves.

Oh, I forgot! South Americans also talk of the largest gold deposit in the world that is supposed to be in Romania and also visible from space. The South Americans know about it and apparently also the Russians. We’ve been told about this treasure by the Peruvians, Paraguayans, Brazilians and Argentinians. They all have the same story.

Oh… and something else, they also know about Zamfir, but they are certain he’s from Chile.

That’s it for today, just a little teasing for a new post.

Coming out on Thursday.

It’s about Jung, Maslow and the Buddhist Tantras.

***

Ei bine, recunosc: sportul este cel mai mare promotor al natiunilor!

In micuta si cocheta statiune unde locuim de peste 6 luni sunt cunoscut drept “gringo”.

Gringo inseamna pentru localnici o persoana in afara grupului Hispanico – Latin si cuvantul asta li se atribuie in general Nord Americanilor. De ceva vreme, vecinii au inteles ca sunt Roman dar tot “gringo” am ramas. Nu, nu ma deranjeaza si nici nu am nimic impotriva etichetei.

Ma gandeam sa va tin la curent cu imaginea sud-americanilor despre romani.

Scenariul se desfasoara in felul urmator:

 – “Din ce parte a Argentinei sunteti?”

 – “Nu sunt din Argentina, sunt roman!”

Intotdeauna dupa acest dialog urmeaza o pauza considerabila de procesare a datelor, pe care o respectam intotdeauna nedisturbata. De remarcat aici sunt ochii mari ai interlocutorilor si gura intotdeauna intredeschisa spre larg deschisa in functie de surpriza fiecaruia!

Sa continuam, zic!

Hagi, Popescu si Nadia sunt emblemele de referinta cu care te asocieaza Sud Americanii.

In Brazilia, fotbalul este sport national, se stie, dar fara seminte de bostan sau floarea soarelui!

Dintre natiunile Sud Americane, Argentinienii cunosc cel mai bine Romania. Hagi si data de 3 Iulie 1994 nu mai pot fi uitate de catre Argentinieni. Eu uitasem data, ei nu!

Cei mai varstnici isi amintesc de Nadia. Cei mai tineri te intreaba de Dracula.

In rest nu se stie pe unde se afla tara in forma de peste. Este confundata cu Roma si cu Romii. Ce sa zic, se mai intampla!

Daca le spun brazilienilor ca sunt latin si ca gringo nu este foarte potrivit se blocheaza. Parca le vezi gandurile… nu stiu ce spui straine, tu aici, dar tot gringo esti!  Sunt si gringo si Rom si Roman. Din Italia.

Ar fi momentul ca Romania se se califice la urmatorul campionat mondial. Ma gandesc ca in felul asta noile generatii vor scoate Romania din Italia.

Nu de alta dar fantana din Mallul din Vitan ridica apa la cer mai ceva ca Loredana sau Fontana di Trevi. Cat despre bani aruncati n-au cum sa vada ploaia ce se asterne peste Copilul Minune.

Au si Brazilienii parte de manele, aici se numesc Funky. Nu este acelasi Funky de prin anii 60’ este muzica de prin Favele. Cum este Funky Brazilian?

Este sacra!

Asta de la miscarile osului sacral!

Aaa, uitasem! Sud Americanii mai vorbesc si de cel mai mare zacamant de aur de pe Pamant, care s-ar afla pe teritoriul Romaniei si care se vede din spatiu. Zic ca americanii stiu de el, cica stiu si rusii! De comoara asta, ne-au vorbit peruanii, paraguasii, brazilienii si argentinienii. Toti au aceeasi poveste.

A, si inca ceva … stiu si de Zamfir numai ca sunt convinsi ca-i din Chile.

Pentru azi cam atat dar fac teasing pentru un nou post.

Apare joi.

Este despre Jung, Maslow si Tantrele Buddhiste.