''We are the needy relatives, we are the aborigines, we are the ones left behind - the backward, the stunted, the misshapen, the down and out, the moochers, parasites, conmen, suckers. Sentimental, old fashioned, childish, uninformed, troubled, melodramatic, devious, unpredictable, negligent.

The ones who don't answer letters, the ones who miss the great opportunity, the hard drinkers, the babblers, the porch sitters, the deadline missers, the promise breakers, the braggarts, the immature, the monstrous, the undisciplined, the easily offended, the ones who insult each other to death but cannot break off relations. We are the maladjusted, the complainers intoxicated by failure.

We are irritating, excessive, depressing, somehow unlucky. People are accustomed to slight us. We are cheap labour; merchandise may be had from us at a lower price; people bring us their old newspapers as a gift. Letters from us come sloppily typed, unnecessarily detailed. People smile at us pityingly, as long as we do not suddenly become unpleasant.

As long as we do not say anything strange, sharp; as long as we do not stare at our nails and bare our teeth; as long as we do not become wild and cynical.''

From Konrad Gyorgy's To Cave Explorers from the West.

Matei has spent the last decade working in various emerging markets, focusing on corporate finance, asset management and capital markets.