Circle! Circle! Please, it is late, people are waiting!
Our daily ritual.
It is a normal evening, around 21 or 22? We have just finished eating and putting up our tents. It is already getting dark, but we can still see each other. At the background there is the music of a Turkish wedding that takes place just around the corner. It will be great to join the party after the circle.
‘Any topics for the agenda?’
We are sitting on the ground, more or less in the shape of a circle. Some people are lying on a mat, somebody is a bit outside the circle with a glass of wine. Somebody is using the ‘I am confused’ hand sign - oh no, just enjoying her music from an mp3 player.
The first topic on the agenda is if we want to make lunch packages tomorrow, or if two people should cook and we all meet for a common meal. Actually it is a topic that appears quite frequently on our agenda. The discussion starts.
‘Are there any concerns for having a packed lunch?’
‘Do you want us to stop without siesta??’
‘Some people want to leave earlier than others…’
‘Could you speak up?’ ‘Just repeat.’ ‘No!!’
The discussion continues.
Some Turkish people are asking for translation. The Koreans are discussing the issue amongst each other. Others take a look at their maps or take some more food in the meantime. Great food by the way: aubergine, tzadziki, bread and a fruit salad.
The facilitator tries to structure the discussion. ‘I would like to repeat the question! Are there any concerns with a packed lunch?’ More people raise their hands.
‘I think it is better not to do it’ (Confusement. Not to do quoi??)
‘We have to take into account that tomorrow is a sunday.’ (Surprised reactions. Really?)
‘If it is a short day, and we have lunch packages, we can always stop and enjoy for an hour.’
‘I always see groups of people stop for tea and icecream…’
Direct respond! ‘That is really individual!’
‘I don’t think we really need to discuss that now…’
‘People, can we continue..?’
The facilitator tries once more. ‘are there still concerns with the proposal of having a packed lunch? In that case, can we agree on it??’
Some hands are waving. It seems that we have come to a decision, which is that we will make some sandwiches tomorrow morning to eat them later during the day. It took us about half an hour. By the time we have covered all topics on the agenda it is past midnight. ‘Okay, everybody, time to sleep or to party!’ But the music has already stopped, the wedding has finished and the people went home.