New Type Of Shame...

After having acknowledged that I suffer from "3rd party shame"
(i.e. the shame you feel as if you were in another person's shoes)
I've realized that I also suffer from a new unbapthized type of shame: I am ashamed of giving money to beggars!!
Usually I keep a couple of Kazakh coins in my pocket (something like 10 or 20 euro cents), but before I pass them on to a beggar I anticipate the shame of receiving thanks for something that we both clearly value so differently.

Quim Barreiros Superstar!!

It has now been the 2nd week in a row that my driver picks me up at home and delivers me to the office while enjoying the sound of Quim Barreiros' hit "Garagem da Vizinha".
Can't really blame him though as it was I who gave him that CD...
I wonder what Quim would think if he knew that he has been invading the airwaves in Kazakhstan and would he have any idea where Kazakhstan is?
If you are reading this Quim, I send you a big manly hug...

Airplane "Shit" Chats...

Last time on the airplane I sat down next to an American guy.
We soon started chatting, he seemed quite wise and at some point he told me that he was going back home, to New York.
I replied that I was also going back home, to Lisbon.
After hearing this he congratulated me on my beautiful country.
I was in shock... an American that was aware of the existence of Portugal, it seemed clear I was in the presence of a wise person.
I was lost in these thoughts when he added:
"I was there once you know... in Málaga!!"
At this point, I turned to the side and pretended to sleep for the remaining 6 hours of the flight.
I should have known better about "wise" Americans...
(In case you too are a wise American: Málaga is located on the other country of the Iberian Peninsula, commonly known as... Spain!!)