Flamingo shit

Tania Kross

“Normally your valuables live on top of your pedestal cupboard”, states thirty year old mezzo-soprano Tania Kross. “At least, mine do.” Her laptop, phone, music ànd rock of flamingo shit live on her pedestal cupboard permanently. “When I was around twenty years old, someone asked me what I would take with me if my house would be burning down. I immediately thought of my rock of flamingo shit. This rock isn’t expensive and it doesn’t give me special powers, but it reminds me of Curacao.” Tania leads the life of a gipsy, she lives out of her suitcase. Therefore she cannot take a lot with her, only work related items. “As a young girl I already dreamed of discovering the world. When I was fifteen I went to New Orleans by myself for the first time, and when I was seventeen I studied at the Conservatorium in Holland. I was allowed to enter the wide world, as I would be fine. But I still need something to hold on to. I love Curacao, with my entire heart. It is beautiful to be born there. I therefore always carry my rock of flamingo shit with me. Of course I know that I wont die if I don’t carry it with me, but still. It’s like with my mother, she is very precious to me, but life also goes on when she is not around.” The flamingo shit originates from the red flamingo, that lives in the Caribbean. The red flamingo mainly feeds itself with lobsters and similar creatures as well as algae. This nourishment is responsible for the rock’s beautiful pink colour.“ Most people will probably think such a rock made out of dried shit is disgusting. For me it is a piece of Curacao that I carry, explains Tania Kross. “I take my pride everywhere.”