Day 2 - First Impressions: One Big Party!!
I was incredibly jetlagged, woke up late, had lunch, then went back to bed. My brother left for “Change Square” in the afternoon and I promised to follow. I felt a bit reluctant to get out of bed after the shooting I heard about last night.. but then decided I have to check it out today (before Friday). I decided to keep my camera at home and just observe and take in what I’m seeing slowly (felt compelled to shoot the video above with my iPhone).
At the entrance, I went through three or four levels of inspection, first by military people, and subsequent ones by civilian youth (who were both more scrupulous and friendlier). After that I was free to roam around. What I found was an incredible number of people and tents and groupings it was amazing!
Amidst the seemingly chaotic scene there was order and calm nerves. When I went to the toilets (that were recently erected in the courtyard of a nearby mosque), there was a small group of people around each toilet door with no clear lines. I thought I would have to struggle to get in, but it was organized in a new kind of Yemeni way. People were chatting, and whenever someone came out, a person close to the door would go in smoothly with no pushing around. Also, it seemed that some people who would otherwise just do it in a dark street corner somewhere were all patiently waiting to use the toilet. There is a new sense of ownership.. of place, and destiny that is making people choose their actions wisely, because they can see how their actions determine outcomes.
Tomorrow is “Warning Friday” (the yellow penalty card @ 0:39).
