Support a gypsy!

There are three bus systems in Jerusalem: One is Egged, wihich is the biggest and offers transportation to other citys, too. Then there is the Bus for orthodox jews were women have to enter via the back door and men and women do not sit together. And there are the Arab busses, which have their routes in east-Jerusalem.
To get to the Dom Center in Shu'afat Street I always take the Egged to Yafo Street, walk down the Old City wall, cross the street at Damaskus Gate and walk on to the police Station were bus No. 81 leaves.

Usually I sit on a single seat next to the window, but today only the double seats were left.
The seat next to me stayd free til the end, then some mid-50s man had to sit next to me, the only one who wore Jeans and a Shirt (with arms) at nearly 30 degrees and didn't cover her hair. He was uncomfortable. As soon as another seat was available he changed, but only after giving me an disdainful look.

It gave me a slight impression of what Amoun must have gone through and still has to experience for opening the Domari Center. A studied unmarried woman is not only a curiosity to all the women among her culture but it's also a threat to every man. And figuring out that even after 10 years running the center there still is a immense lack of support and that all the big foundations only support peace initiatives or are not active in Israel at all, prefer human rights violation or relief programs or support Roma and Sinti but nit the Dom or ... or ... or... It must all sound like a sad excuse and as if the world was mocking her efforts.

But the people that come to the center depend on her. Even though I wonder she ever hears a "thank you" or "good work". I guess it's the problem with "doing good" - you always have to "do better".
I wouldn't want to walk in her shoes...

Dear Amoun, if you read this: Your doing great work! You can be so proud of youself! Love, Katha