Today we moved out all of the farmers stuff from the storage downstairs in order to make room for the stuff stored in the spare bedroom to be moved out from there.
A friend lent us a bed, mattress and sheets, another friend a duvet and pillows. Anton cleared the room whilst I was out volunteering and attending the opening of a local art exhibition where some of my work is being shown.
The room by the end of the day is ready. My friend made it over the border and has spent last night in the car, tonight they will be sleeping in a refugee makeshift center in a school. They had to get legal advice as they were despite asking people not to be registered as refugees in Romania the authorities did it anyway. So I spent some time dealing with that finding out information which could help.
Eventually they manage to find a volunteer with a law degree and sort it out. Reaching any consulate in Romania and in Spain seems impossible. There are no places on the train to Madrid they’ll have to wait until the 8th March to start off their journey here. Another day in the refugee center tomorrow.
In the meantime we continue preparing here to try and make the place welcoming and put together some things — clean clothes, a washing kit, some house slippers these things was seems small and insignificant but after days on the road and in refugee centers perhaps will help a little.
I didn’t really have time to follow the news of the usual groups but I did read again about the racism at the borders and how it is being denied. I am appalled that this is happening. In my anxious desperate state I resist the temptation to feel helpless. I am not helpless. I can speak out. And so that it what I am doing here and elsewhere to show solidarity with BIPOC as they are faced with the terrible situation of fleeing Ukraine without perhaps speaking the language and without familial help that they should on top of this face blatant racism is infuriating. Ukrainians are suffering yes but there is no excuse for racism. No justification.
I am exhausted.
Tomorrow starts a new week and I feel like I am about to implode.
