DAY ONE - ANTICIPATION
DAY ONE - ANTICIPATION
Sunday - usually a relaxed easy start to the day with a leisurely breakfast. Not today. I am sitting waiting for my 'congee' to cook. That's a pot of rice with lots of water - it needs to cook for about 45mins until the rice breaks apart - I guess it's kind of rice soup! That's my breakfast for the next 3 days - smells ok - doesn't look that appetising!
It's hard not to carry on with regular habits. I stood by the coffee machine and automatically turned it on to make a hot chocolate - only to realise I couldn't do that! The apples and mandarins in the fruit bowl look good to munch on while waiting for my congee to cook, but I can't do that eaither.
Instead I sat down to watch some footage of refugees, to remind myself why I am doing this. It's not only to raise money to help, but also to raise awareness, to get people thinking about the plight of the refugees. I just can't imagine not only eating like this regularly, without an end in sight, but dealing with the emotional anguish of having lost everything - posessions, a way of life, and often even family and friends.
A video I watched this morning sticks with me. Maya - a seven year old - reminisces about a time when they were still in Syria in happier times when her Dad brought home a bunch of bananas. The joy on her face as she remembers the taste (and no doubt the feelings she had too) and tells of how her brother and her ate the lot while her Mum was sleeping! Simple memories that mean a lot to her. Here is the link to several videos of Syrians who have had to flee to Lebanon. There are over 1 million of them - almost the population of Auckland! Regular everyday people whose lives have been changed forever by conflict. 'Life on Hold' by Aljazeera.
Sunday - usually a relaxed easy start to the day with a leisurely breakfast. Not today. I am sitting waiting for my 'congee' to cook. That's a pot of rice with lots of water - it needs to cook for about 45mins until the rice breaks apart - I guess it's kind of rice soup! That's my breakfast for the next 3 days - smells ok - doesn't look that appetising! 
It's hard not to carry on with regular habits. I stood by the coffee machine and automatically turned it on to make a hot chocolate - only to realise I couldn't do that! The apples and mandarins in the fruit bowl look good to munch on while waiting for my congee to cook, but I can't do that eaither.Instead I sat down to watch some footage of refugees, to remind myself why I am doing this. It's not only to raise money to help, but also to raise awareness, to get people thinking about the plight of the refugees. I just can't imagine not only eating like this regularly, without an end in sight, but dealing with the emotional anguish of having lost everything - posessions, a way of life, and often even family and friends.
A video I watched this morning sticks with me. Maya - a seven year old - reminisces about a time when they were still in Syria in happier times when her Dad brought home a bunch of bananas. The joy on her face as she remembers the taste (and no doubt the feelings she had too) and tells of how her brother and her ate the lot while her Mum was sleeping! Simple memories that mean a lot to her. Here is the link to several videos of Syrians who have had to flee to Lebanon. There are over 1 million of them - almost the population of Auckland! Regular everyday people whose lives have been changed forever by conflict. 'Life on Hold' by Aljazeera.
So hard to imagine how it must feel, when we are so blessed in New Zealand. Good on you Debbie - especially for raising awareness.
ReplyDeleteAlso...I have no idea why my name has come up as "big baby'" - sorry about that....it's actually me - Barbara :)
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