A Roma girl is pictured inside a camp on the outskirts of Rome, Italy, after the Italian far-right Minister of Interior threatened to count and eventually deport the Roma people living in Italy without legal immigration status. Photo: AFP/Alberto Pizzoli.
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Paris, France: Mamoudou “Spider-Man” Gassama is awarded with the city’s Grand Vermeil Medal by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, as the chief of the Paris Fire Brigade, Général Jean-Claude Gallet, attends. Gassama’s extraordinary feat on 26 May, when he scaled four floors to rescue a child, propelled him to global superstardom. The Malian migrant, 22, arrived illegally in France and had been working in the construction industry. Visibly shy and uncomfortable in front of the cameras, Gassama began a new life as a trainee fireman after signing a contract with the Paris service. Photo: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images.
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So our Senegalese friend Goumbala Mbacké Serigne succeeded in being just in time at Calenzano Carrefour bus station, from where, in the early afternoon, he would have taken a bus to Bologna, then another bus ride to Bologna Airport, for finally flying Dakar (home), Senegal via Casablanca, Marocco. I think punctuality was a miracle, and if not for Alessandra, maybe we wouldn't have done it. In fact, we set an appointment at half past eight in the morning, but last night’s standard time synchronisation made me wake up too early, and furthermore, high fever reduced my lucidity. It was a long journey from Via del Mezzetta’s Post Office parking lot to Osmannoro and Campi Bisenzio, in the suburbs of Florence. All Goumbala’s luggage and old suitcases were stored somewhere out there in an underground garage. Any of the arrivals and departures of the extracomunitari (Chinese and North Africans as well) are strictly handled by Italian and Chinese people. And you must pay. For everything. The key to close the garage and open the gate, scotch tape, scissors, pens. Our friend took up his luggage and changed his clothes there, wearing a Senegal’s traditional dress. Then, somehow, we managed to find the Calenzano Carrefour bus stop.
We hope you may have good luck with your family, Goumbala, and hope to see you again pretty soon! |
Our Senegalese friend Goumbala Mbacké Serigne paid today a most welcomed visit to the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” and it was a true joy as it’s been quite some time since we saw him last. He has many projects underway all over his and our countries, and it’s not easy to foresee what and where his future will be. Whatever will be, tomorrow it will be here and so we’ll meet him again to discuss serious issues which can make the difference between what is a problem and what a solution.
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A friend of mine from Senegal came today to see me after a long journey home. He speaks a very good French and we shared our joy that Monsieur Emanuel Macron has won the French presidential election. My friend is no longer allowed to “work” outside the Esselunga parking lot, due to a bad story for all of which he’s not responsible. Actually – and hopefully temporarily – he is working as street seller downtown Florence. If nothing else, today we took a coffee together and made our instant coup d’état: I took a picture of him in front of Esselunga, as in the old days. Just a few seconds, but a lot people recognized him and cheered with affection.
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