Being at the social journalism course, I had the opportunity to write about the life of a blind man. His situation is quite interesting, because George, this is his name, is doing very well in everything and the absence of his sight doesn`t bother him to take the best from the life. He became blind by accident…

…They were playing on the bridge across the river, throwing stones into the water. Here he fell by accident.

 

This is the story of George, aged 39, who can be found on the list of the 9500 persons in Moldova, facing visual disabilities.

 

At the age of 5 he lost his sight partially, by a simple accident: he has been thrown into the water by a girl, from the bridge. Thus, at 6 years old, when he had to go to school, he was seeing just 70%. This was the reason he was given to «Nikolai Ostrovskii» school from Balti for people with visual disabilities, where he studied eight years. Then he came in the capital, at the evening school for blind people where he graduated ten grades.

 

 

In 1998, after graduating school, he was hired at Municipal Industry «Luminteh», where they produced illuminators for big factories. Although his activity at this industry was for a short time, George has light memories connected with that period. During this time they organized a lot of contests between organizations for people with visual disabilities, both in Moldova and in ex-USSR. „I have taken part in 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m races. Moldova took the 4th place from 15 then. I also took part in free style swimming competitions on the distance of 100 m and 200 m. It was much better then, because we were feeling appreciated, in a way. We even received prizes”, remembers with nostalgy George.

 

 

 

Three years later, George was hired at Special Library of blind men Society from Moldova, which later became Information and Recovery Centre. Here he began working as sound controller-operator, in spite of his visual disability, and is still working, together with his wife, Irene. His wife has visual disabilities, too, but works as orientation and mobilization instructor and teaches beneficiaries from the Centre to move and to find their way easy. Though her sight is weak, she moves without walking-stick and she is doing greatly.

The first experience

 

 

 

In 2001, after many medical attempts of doctors from Ukraine and Russia to recover his sight, George became totally blind. This moment was a very difficult one in his life, both from physical and psychological point of view. „ At the beginning, I had a fear, even if I had an attendant with me. I worried about finding the trolley door. I was happy at least that the transport was old and made a lot of noise when opening the doors. Anyway, one time was enough for me to get used of the situation”, remembers George.

Beside the new and painful experience for George, the indifference of people was increasing this pain.

 

 

„Here in Moldova, people are very insensible at surrounding persons` disabilities. Often, when I was waiting for the trolley in the station, I was asking people for the number of the trolley, but none was answering me. In Russia people are more sensible. There they were helping me to enter the trolley and even gave me a sit”, says with regret George. „So, being in Chisinau once I took the wrong trolley, because I didn`t know the number. Just on the way I realized that it`s not my route. That day I travelled a lot.”

Other obstacles

 

 

 

 

Beside these unpleasant moments, George confrunts some more difficulties. There are no favorable conditions for people with visual disabilities moving arround Chisinau. A great problem for George are the pits on the sidewalks and the lack of steering rods on them. The wrong stationing of trolleys is a big problem for blind men, as well. „I was getting ready to go out of the trolley. The driver stopped right in front of a pillar. I didn`t have where to know about that obstacle in front of the door. So, when I went out I hit myself from that pillar”, tells George with a smile. „Then I went to the mayoralty and asked them to do something about. They simply answered me: „Do you want us to remove the pillar?”

 

Veronica Matei, methodist within the Centre, says that people with visual disabilities are often frustrated by obstacles they are confronted with, besides, the lack of conditions creates a lot of inconveniences for them. „Our goal is to grow up a facial memory in them that helps to move”, continues Veronica.

Laughing at difficulties

 

 

A blind man`s life has many difficulties, but, at the same time, it has a lot of funny moments. „By the time when cell phones just appeared, I haven`t known about them yet. When somebody was passing by and was speaking on the phone, I thought he was speaking with me and answered him. He said: „Hi!” and I answered; he asked: „How do you do?” and I began to tell him about. When finally I realized I wasn`t listened, I understood he was not speaking with me.”

 

 

At home he is doing greatly, because his wife helps him a lot. At her 27, Irene learned already to appreciate and to accept a man with his qualities and deffects. „I think the most important thing in the life is to accept people the way they are. All the rest are not worthy our attention. I am pleased with the fact I have beside me a person who can understand and help me”, says with pride Irene.

 

George can do everything in the house: fixes cocks and doors, cooks very tasty, cleans the house. All these elementary things he he was taught both at the Recovery Centre from Moscow and from Chisinau, where he works at the moment.

 

 

 

„The Centre offers instruction to persons with a weak sight and for blind men. Here the beneficiaries can get juridic and psychological assistance, elementary recovering, orientation and mobilization courses”, says Tatiana Chiper, the Information and Recovery Centre director. Tatiana adds that this centre has a library in wich one can find audio programs and books in Braille. „We collaborate with other 40 primary organizations of Blind Men Society from Moldova. If they cannot come to us, we send them materials by mail”, finishes the director.

 

 

Even if he does his work at home very well, it happens sometimes that George makes blunders. „I remember once my wife boiled the milk and put the pan near the sink to turn cold. Usually, we put dirty dishes there and other basins with water and I remember things by their place. I finished my work and wanted to wash the dishes. That day we didn`t have water and I thought in the pan with milk there was hot water. So, without hesitating a moment, I began to wash the dishes in the milk!”

 

 

Both George and Irene try to laugh at all their difficulties. They understood that nothing costs more than a happy relation within the family, but the rest of the things can be compensated.

 

„ Of course, it happens that George drops dishes, but I don`t pay much attention at this. Once, a story made me very angry. We were waiting for guests and I wanted to make a steak. I asked George to cut the meet and… he cut it…in very tiny pieces. When I saw he spoiled the meat, I began crying. I was worrying about what I will set on the table. Till the end everything was ok, but this very moment was a tragic one for me”, remembers Irene.

 

 

In visit to friends George is a great master in making blunders. „Once we went visiting our best family friend. When the time for coffee came, the housemaid asked me to bring the sugar from the kitchen. By accident, there was solt instead of sugar. I didn`t taste it, but brought on the table. The housemaid, wanting to be nice, put solt in all cups with coffee. We didn`t drink our coffee then”, tells with much fun George.

Beside all daily pleasures, Rusu family have one big joy from above: Irene is pregnant. Now both of them prepare to meet the first child of their family.