Blue Boat Home

  Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa I love being called mother by the African orphans as I always wanted to be a mommy but couldn’t as I didn’t marry on time for biological childbearing nor had the money to raise an adopted kid. I would get very irritated by privileged people who’d say, “You can always adopt. Don’t you want to do social work?” I didn’t think I’d do justice to an adopted child as a single parent because of lack of funds, a hectic job and not good mental and physical health. They were too stupid to understand that. The orphans in Africa understand that I love them and have maternal instincts. I don’t have to give birth to or adopt a child to be a mother. They made me realize that. I’m like a mummy to so many kids I make lesson plans for. I love watching their videos. I write content for their NGOs for free. That gives me a sense of peace. They are so different from many people who’ve said that I must be a promiscuous woman who hates kids and pursues wealth, that’s untrue. O...

  Educate African kids Hope Care Children’s Home [@hope_cared_childrens_home] from Instagram in Uganda messaged me that their children are eating once a day and that too maize flour. We need to have meals three or four times daily. All of us require a balanced diet with carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables are sadly missing from their nutrition as they lack funds. The orphanage authorities are also seeking money to send their kids to school so that they can grow up to be financially independent adults who can break free from the shackles of poverty. Change is the end result of all true learning. –  Leo Buscaglia “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” ―   W.B. Yeats “He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” Victor Hugo #africanorphans, #educateafrica, #feedafrica, #africapoverty, #educateachild    

  Stolen African wealth Many of us love the treasure hunt films where white men go to Africa and loot the jewels and gold from ancient African treasuries. These mines and pyramids are sacred to them. They’re content with their simple lives and till the last drop of their blood, they’ll guard their treasure not because they want to get rich by selling them but these need to stay untainted where they are. The whites are shown as taking gold and diamonds to their countries. They get richer and Africa gets poorer. They condescendingly call the continent poor. Sometimes the film concludes with them missing fetching the valuables or realizing that there was no gold at the end of the rainbow. There’s a frail white and conventionally beautiful damsel in distress. The hunky hero must choose between her and finding wealth. The African custodians of the riches are portrayed as blood-thirsty savages. They are in reality protecting their reserve with simple bows, arrows, stones, rocks a...

  MOMENTS A perfect day: Spent on this island...   The Lake Isle of Innisfree W. B. Yeats - 1865-1939   I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made: Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee; And live alone in the bee-loud glade.   And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet's wings.   I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart's core. #innisfree, #yeats, #ireland, #irish, #irishenglishpoetry, #peace, #travel, #imagination, #sweetness, #minimalism  

  MOMENTS 2 On a typical Friday night I am: working, watching Netflix and YouTube, listening to music while falling asleep Best day of my life so far: My carefree childhood days spent in the tropical island country of Papua New Guinea. Ideal weekend routine: The same as weekdays- working and relaxing. On a typical Wednesday I am: Waking up at pre-dawn, napping in the afternoon, working, taking time off etc. When I die, I will: Be taken to heaven by an angel. #angel, #heaven, #youtube, #png, #fridaynights https://pixabay.com/photos/rothalskasuar-einlappenkasuar-bird-3553188/    

  HOBBIES The last show I binged: The Social Dilemma on Netflix I spend a lot of time thinking about: Ukraine, Africa, climate change, narcissism, zoology, botany, education, teaching, history, geography, humanitarian rights, cats, cuisines, indigenous people, cinema, angels, fairies, travel, cultures, poverty, how to prevent war, inclusiveness, ableism, disability rights, water crisis I like to take pictures of: cats, nature, street life, nature, animals, food, festivals My favourite conspiracy theory: Angels and fairies exist Last video I watched on YouTube: Who are the Maori people of New Zealand? I should spend less time: On Whatsapp #socialmedia, #socialdilemma, #maori, #newzealand, #ukraine, #africa, #angelsandfairies, #photography, #cats, #hobbies https://pixabay.com/vectors/maori-soldier-spear-warrior-2024604/  

  Physiotherapy Session 1 The physiotherapist seems to have expertise but she asks too many personal questions and passes judgment. I didn’t feel comfortable with her asking me: 1.     Why do you put on a mask? [She didn’t wear one and coughed] 2.     Why didn’t you get married? 3.     Do you want to get married? 4.     Why do you have so many diseases at an early age? [I find this question replete with ableism.] 5.     Why do you like angels and have put up their pictures? [Right-winger Hindus seem to roast me for being secular.] 6.     What’s your earning pattern? I cannot give her advance payment for 15 sessions as she insists. I requested her not to bring it up again. Exercise I learnt today: ·       Push forward the fingers of your hand together. ·       Circulate your thumb. ·       Press...