Fragile

[rav3n]

it's hard to identify who's scamming and who's genuine online nowadays! i really hope those people weren't scamming you, and that they used the money for good. i can see you have a big heart. @Appleblossom 

re the redress, i think i'm a little out of the loop with this conversation too but from what i've read on this thread, i can understand that it can be a difficult and painful process to go through. i agree with you, there's no amount of money that can truly compensate your family's experience. whatever compensation you receive won't change the past, but it could support your son's present/future? i'm also thinking out loud, it is hard when there's risk of retraumatisation too. 

[Appleblossom]

Thanks for your thoughtful response @rav3n 

I sent some money online but it wasn’t a huge amount and I could afford it.  I also sent 2 big parcels by sea. They were tailored to the receivers. One was a huge box of educational office work stuff for the kids. The other was a second hand instrument and music. 

I never made it to Africa and I enjoyed a few years of online friendships during the COVID lockdowns so it was worth it. I loved learning about the individual countries and culture. So it was an adventure suitable for a disabled old lady.

 I now have insight into Nigeria and Ghana in the west, and Uganda, Sudan, Eritrea, Malawi and Kenya in the East…. All through people I have known. Never been a tourist trap type…lol

Redress will have to wait.

[rav3n]

@Appleblossom i'm sure those educational and music related supplies would've been really helpful to them. it's nice that you made the most out of the COVID restrictions and connected with people online, it's always both eye-opening and lovely connecting with people from different backgrounds/cultures. i'm a lil skeptical about online chatting with strangers overseas due my few poor experiences but reading your experience makes me want to have another go.

i had a few Eritrean, Ethiopian and Sudanese friends in high school who shared a bit about their culture and background with me. there were a couple similarities in our parents' views/values, in our clothing, in our way of celebrating. they had such pride in their culture (at the time i didn't have  even like my own culture but seeing their pride made me appreciate my own culture more too).

[Appleblossom]

Yes cultural heritage and cultural crossovers and cultural diversity are all huge and can have a lot of impact on life.

@rav3n 

Pride... Can be great... But also have its issues.

I had a weird culture moment this morning.

A Dutch Nursery song popped in to my head.

I found it online and sent it to 2 Dutch friends. Can't attach it here. 

I am struggling with a lot of pain atm, including hand pain so cannot do much... Go and sing the silly song again lol.

[rav3n]

@Appleblossom definitely agree that too much pride can be problematic. i used to have friends who thought that they were 'superior' to me and others simply because of the place their family was from and because of the colour of their skin... thankfully i'm no longer friends with that group. 

oh what's the Dutch Nursery song called? 

sorry to hear about your hand pain, it's been going on for a while, hasn't it? have you seen a GP about it? singing does help take one's mind of the pain for a bit, hope the Dutch Nursery song makes a nice distraction for you!  

[Appleblossom]

@rav3n 

Klaap es en je handjes

Vor blij blij blij

Blij... Means happy.... Cognate related to bliss... In English 

[rav3n]

ooo it's like the 'if you're happy and you know it clap your hands' nursery!! @Appleblossom it's pretty cool how nursery rhymes are translated and shared across languages.

[Appleblossom]

OMG @rav3n it has been great chatting with you ... Thank you 

I never made that connection myself... Lol...My brain has been in the memories of my mother and Nanna/oma. 

Also was researching operatic stuff for my son and a friend of mine/his. So much going on....

[rav3n]

it's been lovely chatting with you too 💙 @Appleblossom 

how's the research going? how are you holding up?

[Appleblossom]

@rav3n It was good just brushing up. Was clear and creative applying it with my community group. Held the exuberant diva in check so he didn't run too wild.