People at Open Days: they -you- were all great!

There is one phrase that comes to my mind when I think of the Open Days 2009: “We owe (it) to those who came, who passed by, who will come, who will pass by” (by Greek poet Kostis Palamas). And I have one thing to say to those who came (or not) and who passed by (or not) the WebComm stand last Saturday: I love you -or “y(EU)” if you prefer!

With balloons and music floating in the air, Europe threw its party on 9 May. What made this party a success though was the 35.000 people who visited the Parliament alone, these “normal” people that we always try to take into account when we write an article for “Headlines“.

The handsome 11-year-old boy who started my two-hour shift by answering a quiz for children and making his parents proud.

The Romanian and Bulgarian girls who tried their best to answer (with the help of the available computers) at least three questions on the European Parliament in order to get a USB-key, a T-Shirt or a bag (you didn’t think we were just going to give the presents away, did you?).

The boy-genius who, being already familiar with the EP elections website, answered all questions within 3 minutes and was asked more advanced questions on the Parliament’s pages on Facebook, Youtube, Flickr, MySpace, etc.

The Greek woman who appealed to my compatriotism in order to get two T-shirts without doing the computer quiz (“at her age…”).

The Iraqi couple who said in the end of my quick demonstration and their computer searches that “they learned something today”.

The 80-year-old Belgian woman who warned me about the dangers of nuclear energy and electromagnetic waves (and who actually spoke a bit of Greek!), while I was making sure our stock of blocnotes and other material would not disappear within two seconds.

The guy who thanked me before leaving our stand and who came back two hours later to tell me he was leaving and to thank me again, this time with a kiss (no, Obelix, without ulterior motive!).

Some friends of mine who came (with their mother, their girlfriend, their boyfriend…) and also accepted to do the quiz (even though I would have given them the gifts anyway…) or even help an EP secret agent (“YaB”) reach its destination…

The couple with their two children who couldn’t answer many questions on the EU even with the help of information technology (as I said, “normal” people).

The one who asked me who he should vote for (and to whom I gave my “Cutty Sark” answer -meaning “follow your heart”).

The man who came and asked me to match famous European personalities with the equivalent photos for him (some other stands had much more difficult questions than ours apparently!). The one who asked me who he should vote for (and to whom I gave my “Cutty Sark” answer -meaning “follow your heart”). The colleagues who brought me coffee and whose tongue was also probably as tired as mine from patiently explaining to people how the Parliament’s website works. The security women who asked me to bring them “something” when I met them in the stairs (they couldn’t leave their position…). The two beautiful less-than-a-year-olds who were joyfully playing on the floor near the elevator and who still make me think “it’s a hit!” when thinking of Europe’s party.

All those waiting patiently to find a computer to answer a quiz and earn their way through a present. Those who came, had a look at our stand and left (afraid of the crowd or unwilling to bother with a quiz). Those who did (not) manage to register in time at their consulate in order to vote for the EP elections. Those who asked what language some of the T-shirts were (and my colleagues and I had no clue!). The ones that are part of the European family and the ones that aren’t. The ones that I forgot or that I will forget.  They -you- were all great! So, I just wrote to say “ I love you”! And a big “thank you” for the pleasure it was to have you around…

Really, aren’t people great? Could anybody imagine any other creature so perfect in their imperfection(s)?

P.S: “I love you” does not mean that I am on any kind of drug!