Expect Nothing Less

Two weeks ago something happened to me. Here's a bit of a recap.


On my way to school, I got on the bus at my stop and was wearing my UN shirt. This man comes over to me and says "can I talk to you about something?" and I'm thinking "dude, I just got on the bus, what could I have possibly done?"

He proceeds to tell me how he works for the UN association and wants to promote UN Day, etc. and asks what I know about it, I say nothing and he explains the goals of this project (provide awareness and support for the UN). Clearly, I was super interested in everything and volunteering and such. I gave him my email address and kept talking to him as we're still on the bus. And then I realise that he's doing this against the wishes of the UN, as in he's done this before and they've asked him not to continue doing this - which is get individual people to support the UN. He's done this three times and been met with the same answer from UN headquarters. The whole time though, he's really enthusiastic even though it hasn't worked before, he thinks that this time it'll work. He has plans for the future, a long term concept. He talked to me for 45 minutes, half an hour on the bus and another 15 on the subway. Our conversation ended around this point: he asked me what value I wish I had, I didn't understand the question so he answered it himself first. He wishes he had unconditional love and the ability to make miracles. My thought at this point: Does he want to be god?

Here's a bit of history about JP, he's about 50 and from Belgium. He used to be a butcher until he decided that the animals he was cutting were more intelligent than humans, so he decided to travel. He's been traveling for about 10 years. About 4 years ago when in northern Canada somewhere he heard Bush's declaration of war on Iraq against the wishes of the UN and decided that something needed to be done. Why wasn't the UN doing anything? So he started to get involved in the Toronto UN association, an organization linked to the UN.

The next day, he sent me an email:

Hello Hana,

The mission of the UN62 Project is raising awareness and strength for the United Nations, by celebrating our common humanity in all its aspects, on UN-Day, October 24th 2007.

This creates the possibility to unite people from all over the world and also offers us the opportunity to make a difference and profoundly change history.

I would like to acknowledge you for your courage and intention to forward the UN62 Project by contributing your communication skills and abilities in making UN62 truly happen.

How would you think and feel about the possibility in accepting a leadership position and spearhead crucial UN62 translations into French?

Opportunity: We did not touch the topic of drafting a general UN62 Communications strategy, neither how to integrate and use the potential contributions, skills and abilities of every one applying for assistance in the (broad) UN62. What would you suggest undertaking in the broader UN62 Project?

Please feel free at any time to communicate anything you, or we, might not be totally clear about.

Timeframe:

UN62 faces a tight dead line. Any groundwork or achieved action contributes and inspires our other UN62 team members

For any question, please contact me anytime!

Looking forward to hear from you.

Very best regards,

J-P

And included in this email was his CV! Clearly, I had to include it.

EDUCATION

· Accounting & Business Administration Certificate. St Henri College, Comines, Belgium.

· Meat Processing and Management Certificate, Kortrijk, Belgium.

· Laureate of a national course ‘Meat Processing’.

WORK EXPERIENCE (1980 – 1997)

· Managing own meat shop. Kortrijk, Belgium

· Transformed traditional meat shop to Organic Meat and Deli Shop.

· Stopped business activities. (1997)

EXPERIENCE IN BELGIUM

· Military service in Germany. (1975 – 1976)

· Founder and President ‘The Flemish Horse’. Restoring an ancient Belgian draft horse breed. (1988 – 1993)

EXPERIENCE ABROAD

· Contemplative stay in Lavra Netofa Monastery. Galilee, Israel. (1997)

· Syrian Church. Pilgrims reception. Jerusalem, Israel. (1998-2001)

· Teacher French. Alliance Française. San Pedro Sula, Honduras. (2001)

· Volunteer Vice President for the United Nations Association. Toronto (2003 – 2004)

Conception and coordination of the UN58, UN59 support actions.

· Independent UN60 Project endorsed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa. (2005)

UN Flag raised on Toronto’s city Square on UN-day, October 24^th 2005.

· Contemplative stay in Lavra Netofa Monastery. Galilee, Israel (2006)

OTHER SKILLS & INTERESTS

· Languages: Fluent in Dutch, English and French

Conversational in Spanish, German and Afrikaans

Basic: Hebrew, Arabic

· Sailor’s License, Puerto Cortes, Honduras. (2001)

· Drivers License Small trailers and mini-buses.

· Dog sledding guide/assistant. Sundridge. Canada. (2003)

· Designing a Self Improving and Management System, SiMS. (2006 – 2009)

· Designing a Model to break through Self Obstructive Behaviors. (2006 – 2009)

· Travelling, Judo.

· Walking, nature.

Being entirely freaked out by the whole thing, I decide that this needs to end regardless of it's potential for entertainment value. I explain this. He replies:

Thank you Hana.

I wish you the very best in this important phase in your life.

Perhaps later we can join forces

All the best,

J-P

I swear this actually happened.