It happened today, for the first time in my life. 450ml of blood out of which 410ml are donated and 40ml are blood tests.
I had been thinking of donating blood for some time, but I didn't feel the necessary empathy towards those who really need it, and so, I never donated blood.
Something made me do it this time, and no, it wasn't generosity nor empathy, nor anything noble.
I had unprotected sex with one of my best friends. And I know she is perfectly healthy but we don't know anything about me. When you donate blood, they take 40ml of the whole quantity and do blood tests. In one week, you find out if everything is fine or not. I did it because I did not want to pay for blood tests. Yes, that low.
Oana donates blood every year, and so, she took me to this place where I could do it too. She also does it to get checked, although, I believe she wouldn't pay if she only wanted to do blood tests.
The hospital is an old building constructed - well - during the communist era and you have the feeling that you enter the past.
Remember those commercials in Montreal, where middle to upper middle class people  invite you to donate blood?
In Romania to poorer ones are the only ones. Why? because you get $20 every time you donate. I didn't know that until I got to the hospital and saw a long waiting line. Oana told me they also get a day off from work and discount on public transportation.
The majority of people were poor. Many were gypsies and none were upper middle class. They weren't treated with much respect. There were entire families waiting in line. Some were stressed and were making jokes about it. There were people from the country side, or so they looked, with scarfs of their faces, not knowing who to talk to and what to ask for. Being ditched around as if their blood wasn't as valuable.
I had to present an identity card, and I gave them my passport. They were nice to me. They called me "sir". I spoke to a doctor and ask her for permission to take photographs. She told me she would call me in a week's time and gave me her business card. I told her I would call back. She was gentle with me.

The place is beautiful. Doctors keep many dusty plants in their offices. No window blinds, and the sun bursts into the rooms. It is quiet. The employees complain, whispering to one another. The trash bins are full of cotton filled with blood.
'Next'



Here's a peaceful video