The unforeseen situation created for our pioneers Shuklev and Nikolov at the Erenhot border crossing on the Mongolian-Chinese border led to a halt in their journey.
Neither the depths of Lake Baikal, nor the extreme climatic conditions of the Gobi Desert, nor the greatest temptation of the husband and wife, managed to stop the couple in the Renault 4, as much as human limitation and its literal implementation of laws that increasingly forget about man and his personality. The video on their fan page clearly shows the enormous cooperation of Shuklev and Nikolov with the Chinese border guards, seeking a solution to the “problem”. They even suggest leaving their own vehicle and reaching Beijing by train, which would completely disrupt the original idea of their mission. And while Shuklev and Nikolov stand in the unknown and our embassy in Beijing, which is in constant contact with the tandem, tries to find a solution, I wonder more and more whether such challenges to the set goal are part of the Macedonian’s fate or not?
Naturally, one can answer both affirmatively and negatively. In the first case, we would have to face our innate stubbornness, which is beautifully presented in the novel of the same name by Slavko Janevski, and accept and direct it as a constructive and unifying force on which our future would be built. In that way, from a self-destructive trait, it would grow into a recognizable mark of our people. And just as the Italians teach us bella vita, the French l’amour, the Germans quality, the English their language, we would teach the world patience and perseverance (the good qualities of stubbornness). In the second case, however, we would realize that there are no misunderstandings on our part, we even strive more than we should. Then there would be nothing left but to humbly lead and build on the others, and the obstacles created by other peoples, who have forgotten that we are brothers, should be addressed with love.
But there is another characteristic that looms over this whole situation and that perhaps sets us apart the most as a people; the desire to get to know the other, and with it inevitably ourselves. We constantly observe this characteristic of our people to get to know, to accept, to adapt in our recent and distant history. Perhaps this is where the essential obstacles to the undertaking of Shuklev and Nikolov are hidden. And while other peoples see the world as a territory to conquer by setting up borders and walls, we see it as a place for our constant improvement. In order to surpass ourselves, we need to step out of our own self.
I hope that with this trip, Shuklev and Nikolov will convey some of our adaptability and acceptance towards others.
At the following link you can read more about this great adventure of Shuklev and Nikolov and their journey from Stojakovo to Beijing.
Shuklev and Nikolov and their journey as a (t)memory of the past
