The richness of playing a board game

#291

My Dear Friend of Democracy,

I saw this man on the night train to Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, this weekend. He was about my age and was selling snacks and beverages at a kiosk on the train. But there wasn't much to do. So he played backgammon with a customer or perhaps also a railway employee at the sales counter.

The two men leaned against the service hatch and pondered their next move.

When I ordered a beer and chips at the bar, the salesperson calmly interrupted the game, served me kindly, and then returned his attention to the board.

I imagined the same situation on a train in my home country, Germany. Unimaginable. The staff would never dare to do something like that. And if they did, I suspect there would be great outrage among customers. Salespeople have to be there for the customers. Exclusively. That's how people think there.

Moldova is the second poorest country in Europe after Ukraine. There is nothing good about poverty. And yet, I guess, we lose a lot when a country becomes more efficient, more organized, more monitored. In any case, I enjoyed the time at the on-board bistro on my journey from Bucharest to the Moldovan capital. I drank my beer (it was from Chișinău), ate some potato chips and occasionally glanced furtively and somewhat enviously at the men who were engrossed in their game.

See you in Democracy,

Johannes