home where is your home is it the place where you were born where you grew up
where you were born where you grew up
where you were born where you grew up where your family’s from or is it where
where your family’s from or is it where
where your family’s from or is it where you live now if that’s different or both
you live now if that’s different or both
you live now if that’s different or both what makes it feel look sound smell and
what makes it feel look sound smell and
what makes it feel look sound smell and taste like home to you what defines the
taste like home to you what defines the
taste like home to you what defines the boundaries of the place you call home
boundaries of the place you call home
boundaries of the place you call home is it your language your accent your
is it your language your accent your
is it your language your accent your culture food music a sense of humor a
culture food music a sense of humor a
culture food music a sense of humor a people with a common history a land
people with a common history a land
people with a common history a land borders I moved to this country 1989 to
borders I moved to this country 1989 to
borders I moved to this country 1989 to be married as three grown-up children
be married as three grown-up children
be married as three grown-up children who have British nationality like their
who have British nationality like their
who have British nationality like their father I still have my Belgian passport
father I still have my Belgian passport
father I still have my Belgian passport I was free to settle and work here under
I was free to settle and work here under
I was free to settle and work here under the legislation of the European Union
the legislation of the European Union
the legislation of the European Union which guarantees the freedom of movement
which guarantees the freedom of movement
which guarantees the freedom of movement of people within its borders well for
of people within its borders well for
of people within its borders well for now anyway I made a home here but in the
now anyway I made a home here but in the
now anyway I made a home here but in the last few years maybe since my divorce
last few years maybe since my divorce
last few years maybe since my divorce I’ve been wondering where my home really
I’ve been wondering where my home really
I’ve been wondering where my home really is when I really belong especially after
is when I really belong especially after
is when I really belong especially after the brexit vote because it does feel a
the brexit vote because it does feel a
the brexit vote because it does feel a little different to be a foreigner in
little different to be a foreigner in
little different to be a foreigner in this country now it’s just a feeling a
this country now it’s just a feeling a
this country now it’s just a feeling a perception because nothing has changed
perception because nothing has changed
perception because nothing has changed in my external circumstances and I have
in my external circumstances and I have
in my external circumstances and I have no idea how this will affect my life
no idea how this will affect my life
no idea how this will affect my life here if at all when the theme of this
here if at all when the theme of this
here if at all when the theme of this conference was announced pushing
conference was announced pushing
conference was announced pushing boundaries
boundaries
boundaries I wondered which meaning of the word
I wondered which meaning of the word
I wondered which meaning of the word boundary was intended every speaker
boundary was intended every speaker
boundary was intended every speaker today will interpret that theme in their
today will interpret that theme in their
today will interpret that theme in their own interesting way but I decided to
own interesting way but I decided to
own interesting way but I decided to look up the word in a dictionary okay I
look up the word in a dictionary okay I
look up the word in a dictionary okay I googled it
googled it
googled it boundary a line which marks the limits
boundary a line which marks the limits
boundary a line which marks the limits of an area a dividing line often used in
of an area a dividing line often used in
of an area a dividing line often used in the plural boundaries synonym borders in
the plural boundaries synonym borders in
the plural boundaries synonym borders in other words borders dividers and
other words borders dividers and
other words borders dividers and separators they highlight our
separators they highlight our
separators they highlight our differences they share part of who we
differences they share part of who we
differences they share part of who we are as people I am different from the
are as people I am different from the
are as people I am different from the people who live on the other side of the
people who live on the other side of the
people who live on the other side of the border for instance to use cliches about
border for instance to use cliches about
border for instance to use cliches about Belgian people but they do apply to me
Belgian people but they do apply to me
Belgian people but they do apply to me Belgians love chocolate and beer and
Belgians love chocolate and beer and
Belgians love chocolate and beer and chips served in paper cones with
chips served in paper cones with
chips served in paper cones with mayonnaise on top we have a cell
mayonnaise on top we have a cell
mayonnaise on top we have a cell deprecating sense of humor and a very
deprecating sense of humor and a very
deprecating sense of humor and a very distinct accent the phrase pushing
distinct accent the phrase pushing
distinct accent the phrase pushing boundaries brought to my mind images
boundaries brought to my mind images
boundaries brought to my mind images that I had seen on the television of the
that I had seen on the television of the
that I had seen on the television of the thousands of people crowned in little
thousands of people crowned in little
thousands of people crowned in little boats crossing the sea fleeing the
boats crossing the sea fleeing the
boats crossing the sea fleeing the violence of the war in Syria seeking
violence of the war in Syria seeking
violence of the war in Syria seeking safety inside new borders yet being met
safety inside new borders yet being met
safety inside new borders yet being met with more violence at times with
with more violence at times with
with more violence at times with prejudice and fear may be understandably
prejudice and fear may be understandably
prejudice and fear may be understandably because the media has been portraying
because the media has been portraying
because the media has been portraying this humanitarian crisis in quite
this humanitarian crisis in quite
this humanitarian crisis in quite opposite ways and comments on social
opposite ways and comments on social
opposite ways and comments on social media range from solidarity and
media range from solidarity and
media range from solidarity and compassion to hatred and racism
compassion to hatred and racism
compassion to hatred and racism I felt that those people were being
I felt that those people were being
I felt that those people were being labelled freeloaders benefits grounders
labelled freeloaders benefits grounders
labelled freeloaders benefits grounders cockroaches and even terms such as
cockroaches and even terms such as
cockroaches and even terms such as refugee and asylum seekers which
refugee and asylum seekers which
refugee and asylum seekers which actually have a legal definition seem to
actually have a legal definition seem to
actually have a legal definition seem to acquire a negative connotation of course
acquire a negative connotation of course
acquire a negative connotation of course we need words to describe situations and
we need words to describe situations and
we need words to describe situations and the people affected by them but I can
the people affected by them but I can
the people affected by them but I can relate to any of these words which I
relate to any of these words which I
relate to any of these words which I fell with stripping these people of
fell with stripping these people of
fell with stripping these people of their individuality their dignity and
their individuality their dignity and
their individuality their dignity and their story doesn’t history shout a
their story doesn’t history shout a
their story doesn’t history shout a warning to us against such
warning to us against such
warning to us against such generalizations which are used to
generalizations which are used to
generalizations which are used to justify treating and judging a whole
justify treating and judging a whole
justify treating and judging a whole group of people with reference only to
group of people with reference only to
group of people with reference only to that label so what defines the
that label so what defines the
that label so what defines the boundaries of your perception we all see
boundaries of your perception we all see
boundaries of your perception we all see reality in our own way
reality in our own way
reality in our own way a and many factors influence how we each
a and many factors influence how we each
a and many factors influence how we each construct our map of the world to make
construct our map of the world to make
construct our map of the world to make sense of it but words are very powerful
sense of it but words are very powerful
sense of it but words are very powerful to shape our perception I respect that
to shape our perception I respect that
to shape our perception I respect that your perception might be different from
your perception might be different from
your perception might be different from mine but today I’d like to share with
mine but today I’d like to share with
mine but today I’d like to share with you what has shaped challenged and
you what has shaped challenged and
you what has shaped challenged and pushed the boundaries of mine the
pushed the boundaries of mine the
pushed the boundaries of mine the boundaries of my perception were first
boundaries of my perception were first
boundaries of my perception were first challenged when I noticed a plaque on
challenged when I noticed a plaque on
challenged when I noticed a plaque on the leaves here in Folkston
the leaves here in Folkston
the leaves here in Folkston commemorating the arrival of 100,000
commemorating the arrival of 100,000
commemorating the arrival of 100,000 Belgian refugees at the beginning of
Belgian refugees at the beginning of
Belgian refugees at the beginning of this first world war and being Belgian
this first world war and being Belgian
this first world war and being Belgian myself this really struck a chord it
myself this really struck a chord it
myself this really struck a chord it made me think that had I lived a hundred
made me think that had I lived a hundred
made me think that had I lived a hundred years ago I might have been one of those
years ago I might have been one of those
years ago I might have been one of those destitute terror stricken refugees those
destitute terror stricken refugees those
destitute terror stricken refugees those are the words on the plaque fleeing the
are the words on the plaque fleeing the
are the words on the plaque fleeing the wall crossing the sea hoping to find
wall crossing the sea hoping to find
wall crossing the sea hoping to find safety and a welcome here and of course
safety and a welcome here and of course
safety and a welcome here and of course the Belgians were very warmly welcomed
the Belgians were very warmly welcomed
the Belgians were very warmly welcomed thank you
thank you
thank you Ferguson is proud of this heritage to
Ferguson is proud of this heritage to
Ferguson is proud of this heritage to this day there was a huge painting which
this day there was a huge painting which
this day there was a huge painting which hangs proudly in the Town Hall
hangs proudly in the Town Hall
hangs proudly in the Town Hall by an article Friedel france oniy it
by an article Friedel france oniy it
by an article Friedel france oniy it depicts the arrival of the first Belgian
depicts the arrival of the first Belgian
depicts the arrival of the first Belgian refugees at the Harbor welcomed by the
refugees at the Harbor welcomed by the
refugees at the Harbor welcomed by the mayor and other officials then the
mayor and other officials then the
mayor and other officials then the boundaries of my perception and my
boundaries of my perception and my
boundaries of my perception and my experience were pushed back even further
experience were pushed back even further
experience were pushed back even further when I made a personal connection with a
when I made a personal connection with a
when I made a personal connection with a Syrian refugee a young man the same age
Syrian refugee a young man the same age
Syrian refugee a young man the same age as my son he contacted me through
as my son he contacted me through
as my son he contacted me through Facebook one day in the summer of 2015
Facebook one day in the summer of 2015
Facebook one day in the summer of 2015 and so I blocked his account because I
and so I blocked his account because I
and so I blocked his account because I don’t connect with strangers on social
don’t connect with strangers on social
don’t connect with strangers on social media and it’s early the advice I’ve
media and it’s early the advice I’ve
media and it’s early the advice I’ve always given my children but then I
always given my children but then I
always given my children but then I listen to the whisper of my intuition
listen to the whisper of my intuition
listen to the whisper of my intuition and I answered him and I invited him to
and I answered him and I invited him to
and I answered him and I invited him to tell me his story when I realized he was
tell me his story when I realized he was
tell me his story when I realized he was a young refugee recently arrived in
a young refugee recently arrived in
a young refugee recently arrived in Europe looking for connection he had
Europe looking for connection he had
Europe looking for connection he had seen my name on the Facebook page of a
seen my name on the Facebook page of a
seen my name on the Facebook page of a charity where I’d left a comment in
charity where I’d left a comment in
charity where I’d left a comment in solidarity with refugees and so he
solidarity with refugees and so he
solidarity with refugees and so he thought I might be sympathetic like so
thought I might be sympathetic like so
thought I might be sympathetic like so many thousands of
many thousands of
many thousands of leaving Syria he had crossed the sea
leaving Syria he had crossed the sea
leaving Syria he had crossed the sea from Turkey into Greece travel through
from Turkey into Greece travel through
from Turkey into Greece travel through Europe partly on foot before finally
Europe partly on foot before finally
Europe partly on foot before finally reaching Germany where he now lives so
reaching Germany where he now lives so
reaching Germany where he now lives so today it is with his permission that I’d
today it is with his permission that I’d
today it is with his permission that I’d like to share his story with you so
like to share his story with you so
like to share his story with you so allow me to tell you about my friend
allow me to tell you about my friend
allow me to tell you about my friend Abdullah or Feli age 23 from Aleppo
Abdullah or Feli age 23 from Aleppo
Abdullah or Feli age 23 from Aleppo Syria brought her by loving family the
Syria brought her by loving family the
Syria brought her by loving family the eldest with his twin brother of seven
eldest with his twin brother of seven
eldest with his twin brother of seven brothers and sisters
brothers and sisters
brothers and sisters his father Farmville an and ran a
his father Farmville an and ran a
his father Farmville an and ran a prosperous green grocers business
prosperous green grocers business
prosperous green grocers business Abdullah was a student of economics at
Abdullah was a student of economics at
Abdullah was a student of economics at the University of Aleppo yet friends a
the University of Aleppo yet friends a
the University of Aleppo yet friends a social life lectures to attend homework
social life lectures to attend homework
social life lectures to attend homework fun and dreams and ambition we began to
fun and dreams and ambition we began to
fun and dreams and ambition we began to correspond with each other regularly and
correspond with each other regularly and
correspond with each other regularly and I soon realize that Abdullah valued this
I soon realize that Abdullah valued this
I soon realize that Abdullah valued this connection and so did I able to share
connection and so did I able to share
connection and so did I able to share his experience his difficulties as a
his experience his difficulties as a
his experience his difficulties as a refugee in Germany and his concern for
refugee in Germany and his concern for
refugee in Germany and his concern for the safety of his family left behind in
the safety of his family left behind in
the safety of his family left behind in Syria had not been able to afford the
Syria had not been able to afford the
Syria had not been able to afford the 4,000 euro ahead for the sea passage in
4,000 euro ahead for the sea passage in
4,000 euro ahead for the sea passage in tooth in December 2015
tooth in December 2015
tooth in December 2015 Abdullah spheres were realized when his
Abdullah spheres were realized when his
Abdullah spheres were realized when his twin brother was injured in an air raid
twin brother was injured in an air raid
twin brother was injured in an air raid this prompted the family to finally
this prompted the family to finally
this prompted the family to finally leave and seek refuge in a United
leave and seek refuge in a United
leave and seek refuge in a United Nations camp at the Turkish border by
Nations camp at the Turkish border by
Nations camp at the Turkish border by now closed
now closed
now closed that same month December 2015 on my way
that same month December 2015 on my way
that same month December 2015 on my way to visiting friends of mine in Bavaria I
to visiting friends of mine in Bavaria I
to visiting friends of mine in Bavaria I went to see Abdullah in his camp but
went to see Abdullah in his camp but
went to see Abdullah in his camp but this used military base outside a
this used military base outside a
this used military base outside a village in the former East Germany when
village in the former East Germany when
village in the former East Germany when I arrived there I met another young man
I arrived there I met another young man
I arrived there I met another young man with whom Abdullah shared a room I was
with whom Abdullah shared a room I was
with whom Abdullah shared a room I was welcomed with a simple meal prepared and
welcomed with a simple meal prepared and
welcomed with a simple meal prepared and served with pride and with flatbread and
served with pride and with flatbread and
served with pride and with flatbread and hummus and coriander which I was amazed
hummus and coriander which I was amazed
hummus and coriander which I was amazed it found locally we spoke of our
it found locally we spoke of our
it found locally we spoke of our families our friends our countries it is
families our friends our countries it is
families our friends our countries it is a meeting I shall never forget for the
a meeting I shall never forget for the
a meeting I shall never forget for the rest of my life for in that moment for a
rest of my life for in that moment for a
rest of my life for in that moment for a moment
moment
moment and that soulless concrete building
and that soulless concrete building
and that soulless concrete building there were no refugees no foreigner only
there were no refugees no foreigner only
there were no refugees no foreigner only people maybe a little out of their way
people maybe a little out of their way
people maybe a little out of their way but just connecting sharing chatting
but just connecting sharing chatting
but just connecting sharing chatting they made me feel at home I went to see
they made me feel at home I went to see
they made me feel at home I went to see Abdullah again twice on one occasion
Abdullah again twice on one occasion
Abdullah again twice on one occasion with my partner in a different part of
with my partner in a different part of
with my partner in a different part of Germany where Abdullah now has a little
Germany where Abdullah now has a little
Germany where Abdullah now has a little flat he’s attending language school he’s
flat he’s attending language school he’s
flat he’s attending language school he’s learning German and he’s already passed
learning German and he’s already passed
learning German and he’s already passed his first level exam in time he’s hoping
his first level exam in time he’s hoping
his first level exam in time he’s hoping to go back to university and resume his
to go back to university and resume his
to go back to university and resume his studies to become a computer engineer he
studies to become a computer engineer he
studies to become a computer engineer he goes to the gym he plays football and
goes to the gym he plays football and
goes to the gym he plays football and has made a few German friends in the
has made a few German friends in the
has made a few German friends in the school he attends I met other refugees
school he attends I met other refugees
school he attends I met other refugees and a game was so warmly welcomed by
and a game was so warmly welcomed by
and a game was so warmly welcomed by them
them
them we shared an amazing meal which had been
we shared an amazing meal which had been
we shared an amazing meal which had been prepared by a young man who’d been a
prepared by a young man who’d been a
prepared by a young man who’d been a chef in Aleppo he made capsule which I
chef in Aleppo he made capsule which I
chef in Aleppo he made capsule which I understand is a popular dish in our
understand is a popular dish in our
understand is a popular dish in our country served with rice colorful
country served with rice colorful
country served with rice colorful vegetables and amazing spices it was
vegetables and amazing spices it was
vegetables and amazing spices it was delicious I was really touched by their
delicious I was really touched by their
delicious I was really touched by their hospitality they made me feel at home
hospitality they made me feel at home
hospitality they made me feel at home last summer Abdullah was a guest in my
last summer Abdullah was a guest in my
last summer Abdullah was a guest in my mother’s house in Belgium for a few days
mother’s house in Belgium for a few days
mother’s house in Belgium for a few days and I showed him around my home city of
and I showed him around my home city of
and I showed him around my home city of Brussels we met up with a friend of mine
Brussels we met up with a friend of mine
Brussels we met up with a friend of mine and had dinner in a Syrian restaurant in
and had dinner in a Syrian restaurant in
and had dinner in a Syrian restaurant in the capital you see our friendship has
the capital you see our friendship has
the capital you see our friendship has freed Abdullah from the label and the
freed Abdullah from the label and the
freed Abdullah from the label and the stereotype of refugee and allowed him to
stereotype of refugee and allowed him to
stereotype of refugee and allowed him to be just a fellow human being I didn’t
be just a fellow human being I didn’t
be just a fellow human being I didn’t meet a refugee I met a brave young man
meet a refugee I met a brave young man
meet a refugee I met a brave young man resilient talented with a deep trauma a
resilient talented with a deep trauma a
resilient talented with a deep trauma a lovely sense of humor an appetite for
lovely sense of humor an appetite for
lovely sense of humor an appetite for life and in need of friends and a safe
life and in need of friends and a safe
life and in need of friends and a safe place to call home for now yet crossing
place to call home for now yet crossing
place to call home for now yet crossing that sea made him in thousands of others
that sea made him in thousands of others
that sea made him in thousands of others loser identity to become a number a
loser identity to become a number a
loser identity to become a number a statistic an economic problem even
statistic an economic problem even
statistic an economic problem even perceived as a threat by some when we
perceived as a threat by some when we
perceived as a threat by some when we label people and don’t see the person
label people and don’t see the person
label people and don’t see the person behind the label we deny them their true
behind the label we deny them their true
behind the label we deny them their true identity our own identities compromise
identity our own identities compromise
identity our own identities compromise for we fail to
for we fail to
for we fail to preciate who they are and who we are as
preciate who they are and who we are as
preciate who they are and who we are as compassionate human beings so where is
compassionate human beings so where is
compassionate human beings so where is home there is a saying home is where the
home there is a saying home is where the
home there is a saying home is where the heart is but I’d like to turn it around
heart is but I’d like to turn it around
heart is but I’d like to turn it around and see where the heart is there is home
and see where the heart is there is home
and see where the heart is there is home I’ve come to the conclusion that my home
I’ve come to the conclusion that my home
I’ve come to the conclusion that my home is where my heart connects with people
is where my heart connects with people
is where my heart connects with people our love and that has nothing to do with
our love and that has nothing to do with
our love and that has nothing to do with geography or national borders in july
geography or national borders in july
geography or national borders in july 2014 german astronaut alexander gerst
2014 german astronaut alexander gerst
2014 german astronaut alexander gerst was on board the International Space
was on board the International Space
was on board the International Space Station he said that one of the things
Station he said that one of the things
Station he said that one of the things he could not see from a bear in space
he could not see from a bear in space
he could not see from a bear in space were borders so I challenge you to push
were borders so I challenge you to push
were borders so I challenge you to push the boundaries of your perception if you
the boundaries of your perception if you
the boundaries of your perception if you have a negative image of refugees and
have a negative image of refugees and
have a negative image of refugees and here is an idea seek out refugees in
here is an idea seek out refugees in
here is an idea seek out refugees in your community go and meet them free
your community go and meet them free
your community go and meet them free them from the label and the stereotypes
them from the label and the stereotypes
them from the label and the stereotypes given to them by the media make your own
given to them by the media make your own
given to them by the media make your own experience ask them their story and let
experience ask them their story and let
experience ask them their story and let them meet you share your story with them
them meet you share your story with them
them meet you share your story with them what’s your story when we share our
what’s your story when we share our
what’s your story when we share our stories with people we deeply connect
stories with people we deeply connect
stories with people we deeply connect with them for we are wired for
with them for we are wired for
with them for we are wired for connection we are wired for community we
connection we are wired for community we
connection we are wired for community we are wired for love we live in a world
are wired for love we live in a world
are wired for love we live in a world that is fast changing don’t we we have a
that is fast changing don’t we we have a
that is fast changing don’t we we have a unique opportunity to think of new ways
unique opportunity to think of new ways
unique opportunity to think of new ways of living together in our diverse
of living together in our diverse
of living together in our diverse communities and really find the
communities and really find the
communities and really find the boundaries of the places we call home
boundaries of the places we call home
boundaries of the places we call home neither Abdullah nor I live in the
neither Abdullah nor I live in the
neither Abdullah nor I live in the country of our birth for very different
country of our birth for very different
country of our birth for very different reasons but whenever we meet and
reasons but whenever we meet and
reasons but whenever we meet and wherever we meet we are home with each
wherever we meet we are home with each
wherever we meet we are home with each other I’d like to leave you with a
other I’d like to leave you with a
other I’d like to leave you with a photograph of my new Syrian friends
photograph of my new Syrian friends
photograph of my new Syrian friends Abdullah is the second from the left
Abdullah is the second from the left
Abdullah is the second from the left thank you for listening
thank you for listening
thank you for listening [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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