Columnist Eleonore af Schaumburg-Lippe writes in her weekly column about life as an expat in Romania. This week she writes about a young homeless man called Alejandro, or Alexandru in Romanian, and how the life of a Danish expat in Romania and of a young homeless man came to intersect.

The first time I met Alejandro (Alexandru in Romanian), I did not know his name, he was homeless and was sleeping in the entrance to the door next to the supermarket I was regularly going to or in my entrance, where there was more shelter.

I don’t know why, but one day there was something about him that made me go over to him and ask him if he wanted something to eat, and his whole face lit up in a smile and he said: yes, thank you. So I went into the supermarket and bought him a sandwich and a Cola. This would be what I did not know then: the beginning of a friendship with Alejandro.

He had never asked for money or anything like that, but each time I saw him after that day I would buy him a sandwich and a soda and he would always be very polite and say thank you. As time passed we would begin to talk, he speaks a little English, but otherwise we communicate in a mixed language of English and Romanian. He is a true gentleman and he doesn’t drink, do drugs or smoke as he says it is bad for health.

Each time I meet him on the street when he was walking around, he would come over and say: "hello, my friend how are you?" and we would walk and talk, we actually meet quiet often and he is always in a good mood, considering his life situation, and then he is always colorfully dressed. If you meet him on the street, you wouldn’t expect him to live on the street, he just looks like a happy young man going for a walk.

On one of our talks and walks, and this was when I found out that he is not in his end thirties that I predicted, it turns out he is only 24 years old. He then told me his life story while we went to a shawarma place and had a shawarma together, I am not sure I understood completely all the details in his story sadly, but apparently he comes from Brasov, and for some years he has been living in Bucharest.

His parents are both dead, but he has some brothers and sisters, and on his arm, the names of his siblings are tattooed. He has been searching for some kind of job, and he wants any kind of job, but it hasn’t been easy for him, so he hoped now with his papers in order, it would be easier. Actually he has never traveled outside of Romania, and he hopes one day to be able.

Last winter was actually the first time ever he asked me for something. Someone had stolen his sleeping bag, and he asked me if I could help get a new one to him, because it was getting cold sleeping outside, I didn’t have any idea where to find a sleeping bag, but he said it could be possible to find one on a market for around 100 lei. And I told him I would do my best.

I must admit I searched everywhere after a sleeping bag for him, but I just couldn’t find anyone, the only one I found in an outdoor shop was priced 800 lei, and I found that a bit too expensive, I didn’t meet him for a while, and then I went away for Christmas holidays, and sent a prayer to God to help Alejandro when I went on the plane, and hoped he would be okay, as I hadn’t been able to find a sleeping bag for him.

When I got back from the holidays, I searched for him, but couldn’t find him, and I felt so guilty, maybe he didn’t make it through the heavy winter. Days passed.

Then suddenly one day I saw him near Piata Romana, and we almost run to give each other a big hug, I asked him "where have you been? I have been so worried about you." He told me that he had been in Brasov because he had to get his documents in order, the results of which he proudly showed me and said: "See, I am not lying, I am from Brasov."

This is a little story about Alejandro, sadly it doesn’t have a happy ending yet, but if I share the story, it will maybe have, because Alejandro is truly a good boy, who deserves a better life and future than he has now.

By Eleonore af Schaumburg-Lippe, columnist

Eleonore is Danish, she holds a BA in Organization and Management and specializes in Corporate Communication & Strategic Development. She is also a Market Economist and a Multimedia Designer. She is currently working in Bucharest as the Executive Director of UAPR the Romanian Advertising Association. As a Danish Viking in Romania, with a great passion for ’covrigi’, she has a burning desire to find out more about Romania especially Bucharest, and enlighten the small differences in the culture between Denmark and Romania.. Her weekly columns will give you insights into an expats life in Bucharest written with humor and a big Danish smile.

(photo source: Photoxpress.com)