arriving in Moldova

Today I arrived in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.
I will be here for 5 days, to give a training on monitoring human rights in institutions, based on Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (which states that service users must be involved in the monitoring). So the training is meant for persons with disabilities (service users) and monitoring mechanisms (NPM/Ombudsman), on establishing a partnership in monitoring human rights in institutions together.

The training “Rights into Action: working in partnership with people with disabilities” is co-organized by Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC), the United Nations Development Programme Moldova and The Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.

I’m one of the 4 trainers, together with Kay Sheldon (UK), Dorottya Karsay and Oliver Lewis (both MDAC). Kay and me are both experts with lived experiences (users/survivors of psychiatry). Kay has got a lot of experience with service user involvement in monitoring in the Care Quality Commission in the UK, and I’m invited as an expert on torture prevention in health care.

I haven’t seen Kay yet, but I did meet the others already, when we had a kind of meeting in the lobby of the hotel, to fine-tune the agenda and to get informed on the training-participants. I was quite tired, just like the others. So we decided to keep it short, go to the supermarket and then go to our rooms. So we did.

I had a good trip, and I managed to get my transfer in Vienna in less than 25 minutes. Actually, I had like 5 minutes to cross the airport, because 10-15 minutes were already gone by getting out of the arriving airplane. So I had to run to catch my transfer-flight, and my name was already on the speakers “Ms. Santegoeds, go to the gate”. I hurried as fast as I could, and I made it – all sweaty.

I was pretty excited for this trip, because I didn’t really know whether my punk-hair would cause problems here in Moldova, but not at all. I wasn’t questioned by the border security or anything. I just entered Moldova like any other traveller does. And also in public places: people are people, and they don’t differ so much anywhere on the planet. It’s really nice to experience that. (It was in fact only at the UN headquarters in Geneva where I have been in trouble with my punky appearance.. isn’t that ironic… And I notice I’m still scared of being rejected... ). Anyway, it was exciting to try out how my appearance would be received in Moldova. And I’m happy to find out I’m welcome here just the way I am. I’m glad I didn’t hide myself under a hat: I don’t want to feel like a scared pussy, after all I like Pussy Riot :) And my Mohawk (or chero as they call it here, from Cherokee) is my freedom-support act :) I like it :D

The only thing I didn’t like today was the taxi-driver who wasn’t fair. The man was trying to sell me a taxi-trip, and first he said it costed 50 euros. I laughed at him and said that was way to much and it should be 10 euros, about 150 Lei. He tried 200, but I didn’t accept it, and made a move towards the regular taxis. Then he was willing to accept a deal for 150. But at arrival at the hotel he didn’t want to give me a receipt, unless I paid 200. I rejected that, and so I had no receipt. (I’m just too stubborn to give in to such a nasty manipulative thing) I felt really bad about it for a while, just because it hurts to be treated unfair. I just can’t stand people who lie, especially when the goal of lying is generating money.. I felt really sad. My trust was abused. I had been warned for rip-offs and pickpockets, but I felt like supporting a small entrepreneur, maybe that was naïve. Next time I will take a regular taxi, just to avoid a sad experience.

Anyway at the hotel I was warmly welcomed, and not very long after that I met Dorottya and Oliver (MDAC), and Magdi and Arcadie (UNDP), and some other nice people. So the positive experiences rule. And now I’m in my hotel room with some snacks and cheap cigarettes, and a lot of Russian channels on TV :)

Tomorrow Magdi and Oliver will do the first day of training, and Kay, Dorottya and I will be preparing our sessions, which start on Tuesday. So for me there is no immediate pressure. I can relax now, take a shower in the classy bathroom, and catch some sleep in the big double bed.

I’m in Chisinau! And it’s great to be here.