THE STORY OF OFELIA
So, my name’s Ofelia and I to attended Erasmus+ from my 16’s to 18’s, though it was just a year in total.
How come?
That’s what I’d like to talk about…
Sleeping in Roses
It was my first year in Erasmus along with my first crush. Damn, what a cool guy… contrary to his friends. They usually were party goers and one night standers. Including him, but… he was different. He was smart, creative, funny and somewhat responsible. I just had to get his attention, but his exes were like the hottest at school. I was no match for them. At least my face wasn’t. So, I set up a fake account and reached out for him on Facebook and we began to talk and…we eventually started a relationship.
After a month or so, he found this cool post on FB, about a couple that would leave romantic letters for each other at a special place, which also turned out to be a great idea, since we were about to try digital detox. And a global blackout happened basically as soon as we started…
Dreaming in Thorns
Things were real scary at first. There was panic everywhere and it took quite some time for thing to settle again. We were so worried about each other. Luckily everything was fine. None of us suffered an injury. Except me. Officially. He wanted to finally see me after all this time and drama, so I told him I suffered a facial injury. So, we set up a blind date. Late at night in a park.
Bleeding in Nightmares
It was the first time he heard my voice. And it was the first time I heard his. Officially.
Things were a bit awkward at first, but his sense of humor saved the day. We told each other stories from the blackout and then we just walked through the park in silence. Holding hands. First touch. Not just officially.
Then the lights got back on. He saw my face. He saw the lie. Confused, he asked me who the hell I was and after seconds of silence he realized, what happened. He just turned around. And left. I cried. For days.
I gave up. Everything. Erasmus, school, friends, even family. The only thing I had was alcohol. But that made me feel just lonelier. I found a true company among drugs, whether it was at a disco or in a dark alley with dealers. Friends were everywhere. He was still gone though.
Inhaling Reality
Turns out it was me, who had terrible friends. While mine were getting me into deeper trouble, his were trying to distract him. And not just his friends. He even spoke to a teacher about his issues and started reading books and slowly transformed his perspective.
When he heard what happened to me, he approached me and scheduled a meeting. Late at night in the park. Actually, my face did look terrible that night. He didn’t seem to mind. There was no pressure, anger or anxiety even. He tried to convince me to give up drugs, to find help.
Why the heck do you care anyway? Does it even matter? I’m just another person with a trashy life, that isn’t worth a dime.
Well yeah, it basically doesn’t matter. The world needs criminals, drug addicts and fools, so that we can distinguish them from the innocent, abstinent and humble people. Whatever you do, you’re doing the right thing for the world one way or another. But whether it is good for you is up to you, not me, neither the world. It’s up to you and things that matter to you and I’m pretty damn sure it’s not drugs, fake friends or alcohol, if what you told me when we were together was true. So, go ahead. Do whatever suits you…
Well and here I am, after a year of fighting drugs and a masters’ degree. This is where all my mistakes and friends got me. And I gotta say. I’m quite proud and thankful. It was hell of a trip, but it was worth it. Thanks to him.
2:
During the Erasmus group meeting, everyone is wondering why Ofelia suddenly disappeared and what was happening to her. One person feels responsible for the situation and tells the group everything that happened. Having realised that Ofelia doesn’t believe in herself at all, her colleagues decide to help her. They decide to organize an exhibition entitled "Nobody’s perfect but everybody can win” where everyone would present what kind of obstacles they faced in their lives and how they overcame them.
The group wants Ofelia to realize that everybody has problems which may have different causes, can be shameful, cause pain and overwhelm the person they touch, can make the person reserved or even excluded from their environment, but it’s possible to face and overcome every problem. The basis is to believe in oneself, other people, in fight and be aware that you shall never give up.
The group starts to meet more regularly . They are working on the exhibition. Ofelia's ex crush is also involved in the project. He feels remorse and wants to help the girl. After many meetings, the members of just Erasmus + group become close friends. They speak about Ofelia, her problems and the ways to solve them.
The day of the opening of the exhibition set, the tension is growing. Alex promises to bring Ofelia with him. He fulfills his promise. Guests, nice atmosphere, interesting and thrilling presentations and Ofelia in the middle of it: strongly moved and impressed by the exhibition and what the Erasmus group did for her. She realizes that she is not the only one with serious problems, and definitely not the worst one. The idea of the exhibition was brilliant.
While she's watching the exhibition, he approaches. It isn't easy to any of them to strike up a conversation but he explaines his behaviour, his backlash and offensive words which were caused by her lies, not her look. The issue explained, and the couple apologises to each other.
Ofelia thanks all for a magnificent exhibition but she also made a promise to him: she will struggle with her weakness and she will go for rehab. And, of course, she comes back to the group which will support her. The exhibition ends with a group photograph: “ First exhibition of artistic Erasmus+ group”.
While the group is gathering for the photo, it turns out that Chris is missing. Furthermore, the owner of the gallery informs the group that Chris was the only one who hadn’t provided his works for the exhibition. At first nobody wants to believe, then the concern prevails, hence the group decides to find out what happened.
Suddenly, they realise that for over a month Chris behaved quite oddly, skipped the meetings, seemed to avoid the group disappearing right after school. Being so busy with Ofelia, nobody paid attention to that.
And Chris is facing his own problems. Both his parents were working in Spain for two years. Hence, since the beginning of the new school, he has been living on his own what the family has managed to hide from the school authorities. He has managed to hide it from his new friends as well and until two months ago he was just doing fine. Unfortunately, for the last two months he didn’t get money from his parents. They had lost their job and have been struggling to find new ones.
3
Eva started to worry about Chris. He stopped participating in Erasmus + meetings and going to school. She decided to find him and find out, what was going on with him. She didn't have to search for too long. While she was going back from school, she saw a familiar person. It was actually Chris. He was helping with coal unloading. She approached him really quickly
-Hi. How are you? Why are you not going to school and stopped taking part in Erasmus + project? Do you have any problems? Maybe, I could help you? - Eva began asking.
-Right now, I don't have enough time for this. - said Chris, surely surprised by the sight of his friend. - I'm in work.
- I worry about you. We have to talk immediately. Maybe you will visit me in the evening? - Eva proposed.
-Okay. - answered the boy and he got back to work.
As Chris promised he came to Eva's house in the evening. He entered her room and made himself comfortable on the large, pink armchair.
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What's up? - Eva asked him.
That moment into the room came her mom caring two cups of tea and some biscuits. Chris looked at her with sadness in his eyes. He envied his friend that she had her mom by her side. Eva noticed his look and understood what his problem was about. When her mom left she shyly tried to continue the conversation. She asked her question once more and put his cup of tea in from of him. Chris looked deeply in her eyes and said with reproach:
- Why do you even care?
- You are my friend and I want to help you but I can't if you don't tell me what's going on.
Chris got up, walked to the window and he was looking through it for a long time. Eva was impatiently gazing at him and waiting for the answer.
- You know - he whispered quietly - You have everything you may need. Parents, home, Tea everytime you call for one, and you don't have to worry about the freaking money! You can go to school, enjoy life and you don't need to think about getting food, paying bills.... I am not that lucky. My parents left to Spain to earn money. Something went wrong and they stopped sending me money. They have probably lost their jobs, I am not sure. I decided to start being independent. He turned back to look at Eva. She was playing with a chocolate biscuit and crying at the same time. Tears were going down her cheeks.
- Chris, it's impossible! School would be the most important for you. It's adults who should take the responsibility for you. You've still got your grandma. Call her and visit her, tell her your story and I am sure she will help you.
Chris came to get, hugged her and said:
Walking to the frontdoor he shouted:
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I'll call my grandma and for sure everything will be fine!
Persuaded by his friend, Chris calls his grandma and presents the current situation prevailing at his home for the last few months. He tells her that his parents went to Spain, then lost their jobs and stopped sending him any money and he explains his absence from school due to his work as a coal unloader. Frightened old woman immediately goes to her grandson, taking with her the basket full of homemade food. Chris is really thankful for her help and support but despite that he does not want to financially burden an older woman so he continues working but this time he does not skip the school.
Chris didn't want to charge financially his grandma, so he decided to work in the evenings. This evening, when Chris came to his workplace, boss ordered him to deliver the chipboards. He told him that he had to do it only late hours, because it is illegal and chipboards burning is very unhealthy. The employer trades them because they are cheap and their sales bring him profits. The boy works late but he tries to reconcile work, school and Erasmus project.
Chris is going to Erasmus + meeting. They just have a talk about smog. He is listening carefully what is this talk about and the pollution effects is a little bit scary for him. He realizes that he also contributes to that pollution by distributing chipboards to his chief (boss) order, which are burnt by people after ward. The meeting is coming to a close, people are saying good bye to each other and getting back to their flats. Chris, on his way home have big dilemma what he should do; on the one hand he needs money pretty much but on the other hand he has huge compunction inner problem because of it. After thinking about pros and cons he decided that health is more important than money.
On his way back home Chris was thinking about his parents. He wanted to help them, but he had no idea how to do it. The thought of that made him feeling more and more helpless and missing his parents more. Walking through the park he got his phone out of the pocket and decided to call them.
-Hi mom, what’s up? - asked Chris - I miss you so much - he added.
-We miss you too, but we have a great news - Said mom with obvious excitement
-Whats new? What happened? - Aaked Chris and stopped.
-Your dad’s friend works in a company that transports some goods and stuff. The company evolved very quickly and it is starting to reach the international market. One of the branch offices is supposed to open in our city! They need some employees there, so I and your dad applied for the job and...we got it! We are starting in 3 weeks! - cheerfully answered Chris’s mom.
-Are you serious?! You have no idea how happy I am! - shouted Chris with disbelief. Finally he could breathe a sigh of relief, even though he couldn’t believe in what he had just heard. He was hoping that everything would start going well again.
After talking with his parents Chris was very glad, that he doesn’t have to connect studying with earning money. He was feeling relieved, that he won’t contribute to producing smog by distributing chipboards anymore. On the next day after school he didn’t go to work and he had more time for studying.
He had been still thinking about the topic from Erasmus+ meeting. He wanted to do something to prevent environmental pollution. He called his friends and together they came up with an idea to organise a picket. On the next day they gathered friends from Erasmus+ group, with them they made banners and reported the picket in the town hall.
Picket has become a big deal. More and more people got involved in it and that made local media interested. So a journalist appeared there, who interviewed Chris for the morning broadcast. Next day the group met in the library to listen to his statement on the radio. Knowing the large scale of the problem, the station asked its listeners for calls in which they were supposed to ask questions or share their experiences. They didnt have to wait long for the first contact. People kept calling all the time. One of the young callers especially attracted attention of the group. Everyone was worried after they heard her words:
- Good afternoon! My name is Vicky. I’ve had a problem with recurrent pneumonia for three years. I live in a housing estate on the outskirts of the city. Everyday I see this black, dense, smelly smoke. I see smoke rising above my neighbors’ roofs. In winter time it’s especially onerous, because there is so much smoke in the evening, that I can hardly see anything through it. And that’s why I wanted to ask you a question: Is it that dangerous and has it possibly affected my health? Should I do something?
4
The ERASMUS+ group was shocked about Vicky´s description and decided to call her again.
“We had a discussion about your problem and decided to send you to hospital, so a doctor can examine the relation between the smog and your recurrent pneumonia.“
She agreed on their idea, but before she was able to see the doctors, her state of health got worse and worse day by day. In these days she talked a lot to the ERASMUS+ students. They started to share their problems and built up a friendship.
But she died. The autopsy made clear that her health problems were caused by the smog produced by the company Chris also worked for. The members of ERASMUS+ mourned and were appalled. Because of that the teachers decided to talk about the loss of their friend.
“We wanted to help. And now?…“, said Ann.
“Now she´s dead.“, responded Tim quietly.
The teaches sighed:“Don´t blame yourself for something you couldn´t have changed.“
Chris stood up and started walking around: “But I could have changed something. I shouldn´t have worked for them. I should not have taken part in illegal activities!“
Eva followed him and hugged him carefully:“You built up this whole project. You did more than anyone else.“
The others observed the scene between Chris and Eva, until David started to talk: „But we need to do something right now.“
“Yes, we can´t just accept her death!“, Emma shouted.
Everyone was quiet for some moments and thought about how they could do something and help. “What if we take proceedings against the company?“, Eva asked and looked around.
“Maybe you should ask a lawyer first, so you know your about the chances.“, the teacher suggested.
“We can ask my dad.“, Alex said, “He´s a lawyer, maybe he can give us some advice.“
They called Alex´ dad immediately and told him about Vicky´s case and their idea.
“I´m not sure. You can prove that her health problems are caused by smog, but they can place the argument that it´s not just their smog.“, he said.
“But if we have a good lawyer? Do you think he could help us with this problem?“, Alex asked hopefully and waited curiously for his dad´s answer.
He sighed: „Alexander. This is not that easy…“
“Vicky died. And dad, maybe more children in our age are going to die if we do nothing.“
His dad sighed again and thought about his son´s words:“Okay. we can talk to a judge, who's a friend of mine, and ask him about our chances.“
They set up a process with high media attention and they won.
As a result of this, the company had to install a modern filter into the system.
To celebrate the victory and in commemoration of Vicky, the ERASMUS+ students planned a party. They invited everyone and of course the Vicky's parents, too. During the weeks everyone became close friends. Eva and Chris fell in love with each other because of spending so much time together. Although they still mourned, they were happy. Even Ofelia learnt to deal with her problems. Especially because she got to know Lisa. She was always optimistic and helped her through the rough times. That was the reason why Ofelia fell in love with her and she used this special evening to do the first step. Ofelia kissed Lisa. Of course everyone looked at them. But besides the people who were just happy for their young love, there were some who looked at the two girls like they were trash. A boy, named Tom, approached them and separated Lisa and Ofelia. Instantly, he and his friends made silly and even evil jokes. The girls ran out of the room. Chris, Eva and also Alex tried to stop their friends, but all they could do was making the bullies leave the party...
Together they thought about how they could help what to do to end the sexual discrimination.
5
The girls ran out of the room. Chris, Eva and also Alex tried to stop their friends, but all they could do was making the bullies leave the party...
Together they thought about how they could help what to do to end the sexual discrimination.
The Erasmus group meets after the party to talk to Ofelia and Lisa. Ofelia and Lisa feels like they have been harassed and want to spread the word about the problem of sexual discrimination. Birgitte og Lars in the Erasmus group came up with the idea that they could start a campaign. Together they published what happened to Ophelia and Lisa and share their story on social media with the hashtag #URaPartOfUS, and they encourage others to share their story about sexual discrimination.
The hashtag starts spreading and more and more people tell their story and spread the word, even celebrities share their story and the hashtag becomes more and more popular. The hashtag leads to a demonstration to stop sexual harassment based on sexual orientation, in front of the EU-parliament in Brussel with the slogan “The world has bigger problems than boys kissing boys and girls kissing girls”. This leads to people becoming more liberal about sexual orientation because they start to understand the movement and reasons behind it. Even the Norwegian king said in his speech: “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys and girls and boys who love each other.” Astrid S said in her concert: “Love can not be bounded by traditions or religion” and the talented cross country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo supported #URaPartOfUS under the Athletic gala 2017 and he concluded :“We are a part of the world, and the world is a part of us”. People started to realise that people are people regardless of sexual orientation. Since the society became more liberal the homophobic opinions became more silent.
Eventually the campaign dies out. Birgitte and Lars becomes invisible and their efforts to help Lisa and Ofelia is no longer appreciated by the ERASMUS group and they feel forgotten. They miss being part of something bigger than themselves. Daily lives takes its toll and suddenly they find themselves in old tracks and habits. Birgitte takes ballet to the next level: She trains harder and eats less to fit into the “perfect body”. Due to the hard pressure and stress she develops eating disorder and depression. Lars on the other hand, escapes to the virtual reality. He spends more and more time on online gaming because he feels that he fits better in the virtual world where he can be “hero”.
6
After a few weeks Birgitte’s mom found out what was going on and helped her immediately because she had also had eating disorders when she was a teenager: she asked help to a psychologist and took her to a specialized center. She slowly started to feel better even if she knew it would take a long time to fully recover.
In the meantime Lars was alone, alone in his virtual world… he wouldn’t let anyone enter but he felt more and more lonely until he met Marta playing online. Marta was an Italian 17 year-old girl who lived in Rome. They both liked playing and chatting on the Internet, but while for her it was just a way to spend some time, he was addicted.
They immediately became friends and started chatting to find out more about each other. Lars seemed very interested in Marta’s life and he liked when she talked about her friends, her school days and her volleyball team mates, but every time she tried to ask him more about HIS life he was vague and always changed the subject to the last game he had won.
Marta started to be suspicious about Lars’s condition: she was afraid that he spent all his time playing online and all her worries were confirmed when he told her that the Students’ Reunion of the Erasmus+ was going to be in Italy, but he decided not to go. The girl tried to persuade Lars to come to Italy, but it wasn’t easy. He didn’t want to get rid of his safe virtual world where everything seemed to be so comfortable. Marta tried for many weeks and at the end she succeeded in her intention promising him they’d meet each other once in Rome.
As soon as he arrived he immediately went to Ponte Milvio, one of the most romantic places in Rome, where Marta was already waiting for him. He was very excited to see her: his heart started beating fast and he realized he was in love with Marta.
In that moment his phone, his computer, his videogames disappeared, nothing counted except from Marta and him. He understood that his previous life was only based on “fake emotions”.
They spent a lovely afternoon chatting and eating ice cream and then joined the other members of the Erasmus+ group at Piazza di Spagna.
Here they met Chiara and Giulia, two Italian girls belonging to the Erasmus+ group, together with all the others.
They were getting to know each other in front of a huge pizza when suddenly they heard the noise of a bottle crashing into something. Everybody looked towards the famous “Barcaccia”, a masterpiece by Bernini, an important Italian artist. They were speechless to see that something so beautiful was being destroyed and nobody was doing anything to stop the vandals.
Only a passer-by tried to intervene but the vandals beat him up and ran away.
The friends immediately tried to help the man that was lying on the ground.
They were waiting for the ambulance to arrive when Chiara burst into tears.
“Why are you crying?” Lars asked.
“One of the vandals is Marco, my brother!”
Everybody was shocked. Chiara began to tell her brother’s story…
7
A few months ago our parents told us the truth about our lives. We are not their biological children. We are adopted! At the beginning he was alright with it, but then things went wrong. He stopped going to school and even playing football with his friends. Then he started to meet popular guys, but not good ones. He wanted to be like them, so he made a lot of troubles. But I never thought that he was able to do such a thing.“ said Chiara.
So the group decided to help her, especially Lars, who has already solved his problems.
They looked for Marco and found him in his favourite place. They talked to him and told him positive words, that he was not alone and he could join the E+ group. Because in the E+ group there is always someone who can help you.