welcome welcome to my and thank you for having me and yours
and thank you for having me and yours
and thank you for having me and yours right now in our bubbles there’s really
right now in our bubbles there’s really
right now in our bubbles there’s really nothing happening other than this talk
nothing happening other than this talk
nothing happening other than this talk right now
right now
right now or is there you might be thinking about
or is there you might be thinking about
or is there you might be thinking about that pile of work waiting for you
that pile of work waiting for you
that pile of work waiting for you tomorrow
tomorrow
tomorrow you might be thinking have your kids had
you might be thinking have your kids had
you might be thinking have your kids had lunch yet someone might be thinking
lunch yet someone might be thinking
lunch yet someone might be thinking about what’s gonna happen on the next
about what’s gonna happen on the next
about what’s gonna happen on the next episode of scandal
episode of scandal
episode of scandal whatever your concern is is what makes
whatever your concern is is what makes
whatever your concern is is what makes your bubble unique to you and there are
your bubble unique to you and there are
your bubble unique to you and there are so many distractions in our lives today
so many distractions in our lives today
so many distractions in our lives today so many concerns and wants and needs
so many concerns and wants and needs
so many concerns and wants and needs that come and fill our bubble we can’t
that come and fill our bubble we can’t
that come and fill our bubble we can’t see through it and that’s what happened
see through it and that’s what happened
see through it and that’s what happened to me I had everything I wanted in my
to me I had everything I wanted in my
to me I had everything I wanted in my life everything I needed to be happy a
life everything I needed to be happy a
life everything I needed to be happy a loving family good health great career a
loving family good health great career a
loving family good health great career a roof over my head and a meal to eat
roof over my head and a meal to eat
roof over my head and a meal to eat every day yet I still had a void in me
every day yet I still had a void in me
every day yet I still had a void in me that I couldn’t fill there’s something
that I couldn’t fill there’s something
that I couldn’t fill there’s something empty eating it out the insides I didn’t
empty eating it out the insides I didn’t
empty eating it out the insides I didn’t know what to do slowly my life became
know what to do slowly my life became
know what to do slowly my life became darker and all I saw were problems what
darker and all I saw were problems what
darker and all I saw were problems what was wrong in my life not what was right
was wrong in my life not what was right
was wrong in my life not what was right that frustration took me down into a
that frustration took me down into a
that frustration took me down into a rabbit hole a downward spiral of
rabbit hole a downward spiral of
rabbit hole a downward spiral of depression heartache and even
depression heartache and even
depression heartache and even self-sabotage
self-sabotage
self-sabotage I was stuck and I didn’t know how to get
I was stuck and I didn’t know how to get
I was stuck and I didn’t know how to get out one day
out one day
out one day a friend of mine from Greece came to
a friend of mine from Greece came to
a friend of mine from Greece came to visit and she told me about her
visit and she told me about her
visit and she told me about her experience on the island of Lesbos which
experience on the island of Lesbos which
experience on the island of Lesbos which is the closest Island to Turkey
is the closest Island to Turkey
is the closest Island to Turkey thousands of refugees were arriving
thousands of refugees were arriving
thousands of refugees were arriving mostly from Syria and Afghanistan on a
mostly from Syria and Afghanistan on a
mostly from Syria and Afghanistan on a daily basis she said to me
daily basis she said to me
daily basis she said to me you speak Arabic that’s a great asset
you speak Arabic that’s a great asset
you speak Arabic that’s a great asset why don’t you go and I said me go to a
why don’t you go and I said me go to a
why don’t you go and I said me go to a crisis area well I’ve never seen
crisis area well I’ve never seen
crisis area well I’ve never seen anything harsher than a car accident and
anything harsher than a car accident and
anything harsher than a car accident and ever in my life so I didn’t know if I
ever in my life so I didn’t know if I
ever in my life so I didn’t know if I could handle it was my heart strong
could handle it was my heart strong
could handle it was my heart strong enough I was thinking you know what I
enough I was thinking you know what I
enough I was thinking you know what I was stuck in a rut stuck and if I don’t
was stuck in a rut stuck and if I don’t
was stuck in a rut stuck and if I don’t do anything if I do nothing at all then
do anything if I do nothing at all then
do anything if I do nothing at all then nothing’s gonna change in my life I
nothing’s gonna change in my life I
nothing’s gonna change in my life I thought I’d go you might think that’s a
thought I’d go you might think that’s a
thought I’d go you might think that’s a selfish reason reason to go yes I admit
selfish reason reason to go yes I admit
selfish reason reason to go yes I admit quite self-serving
quite self-serving
quite self-serving I booked a one-way ticket I just wanted
I booked a one-way ticket I just wanted
I booked a one-way ticket I just wanted to escape escape from my life and I
to escape escape from my life and I
to escape escape from my life and I threw myself right into uncertainty I
threw myself right into uncertainty I
threw myself right into uncertainty I didn’t know where I was gonna sleep yeah
didn’t know where I was gonna sleep yeah
didn’t know where I was gonna sleep yeah now my mom knows where I was gonna what
now my mom knows where I was gonna what
now my mom knows where I was gonna what I was gonna see or do I didn’t even know
I was gonna see or do I didn’t even know
I was gonna see or do I didn’t even know when I was going to go home all I took
when I was going to go home all I took
when I was going to go home all I took with me was a suitcase full of clothes
with me was a suitcase full of clothes
with me was a suitcase full of clothes and an open mind with absolutely no
and an open mind with absolutely no
and an open mind with absolutely no expectations whatsoever of what the
expectations whatsoever of what the
expectations whatsoever of what the future held BAM there I was standing and
future held BAM there I was standing and
future held BAM there I was standing and frozen and utter shock on that Beach
frozen and utter shock on that Beach
frozen and utter shock on that Beach shoreline on the island there I was
shoreline on the island there I was
shoreline on the island there I was watching refugees coming down from this
watching refugees coming down from this
watching refugees coming down from this small rubber dinghy
small rubber dinghy
small rubber dinghy it was meant for only half of them to be
it was meant for only half of them to be
it was meant for only half of them to be on there I was scared
on there I was scared
on there I was scared I didn’t know what to do take off their
I didn’t know what to do take off their
I didn’t know what to do take off their lifejackets a voice brought me back to
lifejackets a voice brought me back to
lifejackets a voice brought me back to reality and I started to approach these
reality and I started to approach these
reality and I started to approach these strangers interfering into their
strangers interfering into their
strangers interfering into their personal space unbuckling their life
personal space unbuckling their life
personal space unbuckling their life jackets in silence I saw a man he was
jackets in silence I saw a man he was
jackets in silence I saw a man he was looking around tending to his family
looking around tending to his family
looking around tending to his family looking for some help so I approached
looking for some help so I approached
looking for some help so I approached him and I said hamdullah Salama which
him and I said hamdullah Salama which
him and I said hamdullah Salama which means thank God for your safe arrival
means thank God for your safe arrival
means thank God for your safe arrival how can I help you
how can I help you
how can I help you and his sad worried eyes brightened
and his sad worried eyes brightened
and his sad worried eyes brightened up and with a smile of disbelief he says
up and with a smile of disbelief he says
up and with a smile of disbelief he says you speak Arabic I thought we were like
you speak Arabic I thought we were like
you speak Arabic I thought we were like aliens arriving on a different planet
aliens arriving on a different planet
aliens arriving on a different planet no one’s gonna understand us here but
no one’s gonna understand us here but
no one’s gonna understand us here but there are so many people waiting just to
there are so many people waiting just to
there are so many people waiting just to help and at that moment I knew why I was
help and at that moment I knew why I was
help and at that moment I knew why I was there I was there for him I was there
there I was there for him I was there
there I was there for him I was there for all of them
for all of them
for all of them and it wasn’t the language there were
and it wasn’t the language there were
and it wasn’t the language there were volunteers for volunteers from different
volunteers for volunteers from different
volunteers for volunteers from different from countries they all didn’t speak the
from countries they all didn’t speak the
from countries they all didn’t speak the language the refugees spoke but the
language the refugees spoke but the
language the refugees spoke but the sheer love shared on that beach that day
sheer love shared on that beach that day
sheer love shared on that beach that day was the strongest language spoken three
was the strongest language spoken three
was the strongest language spoken three months would pass and I was still there
months would pass and I was still there
months would pass and I was still there in Greece and I definitely get got calls
in Greece and I definitely get got calls
in Greece and I definitely get got calls from family and friends saying what are
from family and friends saying what are
from family and friends saying what are you doing and no matter how I would send
you doing and no matter how I would send
you doing and no matter how I would send them the a okay everything’s fine
them the a okay everything’s fine
them the a okay everything’s fine pictures they would still be concerned
pictures they would still be concerned
pictures they would still be concerned about how I left my life to turn to
about how I left my life to turn to
about how I left my life to turn to refugees in Greece I decided to stay
refugees in Greece I decided to stay
refugees in Greece I decided to stay there for longer but my heart called me
there for longer but my heart called me
there for longer but my heart called me back home I should be responsible I
back home I should be responsible I
back home I should be responsible I should go back to my career how
should go back to my career how
should go back to my career how irresponsible am I being with my life I
irresponsible am I being with my life I
irresponsible am I being with my life I went back home and I went to the job I
went back home and I went to the job I
went back home and I went to the job I sat in front of that computer and I saw
sat in front of that computer and I saw
sat in front of that computer and I saw nothing nothing at all I was just a body
nothing nothing at all I was just a body
nothing nothing at all I was just a body a shell my heart and my mind they
a shell my heart and my mind they
a shell my heart and my mind they weren’t here they were in Greece how
weren’t here they were in Greece how
weren’t here they were in Greece how could I go back to my life my mundane
could I go back to my life my mundane
could I go back to my life my mundane mundane routine life that I was already
mundane routine life that I was already
mundane routine life that I was already getting tired of when I knew that I
getting tired of when I knew that I
getting tired of when I knew that I could make a difference no matter how
could make a difference no matter how
could make a difference no matter how small in someone else’s life so I
small in someone else’s life so I
small in someone else’s life so I decided to go back to the discontent of
decided to go back to the discontent of
decided to go back to the discontent of my family and friends I went back this
my family and friends I went back this
my family and friends I went back this time to Athens
time to Athens
time to Athens where I started to coordinate a riff she
where I started to coordinate a riff she
where I started to coordinate a riff she makeshift refugee accommodation it used
makeshift refugee accommodation it used
makeshift refugee accommodation it used to be a school and at that time the
to be a school and at that time the
to be a school and at that time the borders in Europe were closed and not a
borders in Europe were closed and not a
borders in Europe were closed and not a lot of people were being able to leave
lot of people were being able to leave
lot of people were being able to leave Greece as before so they were stuck
Greece as before so they were stuck
Greece as before so they were stuck stuck desperate uncertain about their
stuck desperate uncertain about their
stuck desperate uncertain about their future or the future of their children
future or the future of their children
future or the future of their children they didn’t know what language to learn
they didn’t know what language to learn
they didn’t know what language to learn which country they were going to end up
which country they were going to end up
which country they were going to end up in or even when the desperation was
in or even when the desperation was
in or even when the desperation was growing and the frustration was eating
growing and the frustration was eating
growing and the frustration was eating them in this building there are about
them in this building there are about
them in this building there are about 350 to 400 families at any given time
350 to 400 families at any given time
350 to 400 families at any given time they had to live together they didn’t
they had to live together they didn’t
they had to live together they didn’t know each other but they had to work
know each other but they had to work
know each other but they had to work together they ended up playing eating
together they ended up playing eating
together they ended up playing eating and even through their deepest darkest
and even through their deepest darkest
and even through their deepest darkest sorrows and frustrations they even found
sorrows and frustrations they even found
sorrows and frustrations they even found a way to bring some cheer this is the
a way to bring some cheer this is the
a way to bring some cheer this is the mr. skeleton in the bio lab all dressed
mr. skeleton in the bio lab all dressed
mr. skeleton in the bio lab all dressed up for Ramadan they had found this
up for Ramadan they had found this
up for Ramadan they had found this building and found each other in this
building and found each other in this
building and found each other in this harsh moment but they built a community
harsh moment but they built a community
harsh moment but they built a community they connected and they made themselves
they connected and they made themselves
they connected and they made themselves a home
I have to tell you about Abu Mahmoud
I have to tell you about Abu Mahmoud Abama mood I met at the accommodation he
Abama mood I met at the accommodation he
Abama mood I met at the accommodation he used to be a groundskeeper for school
used to be a groundskeeper for school
used to be a groundskeeper for school back in Syria before the war woke he
back in Syria before the war woke he
back in Syria before the war woke he built a house a beautiful farm with it
built a house a beautiful farm with it
built a house a beautiful farm with it and he unfortunately didn’t have time to
and he unfortunately didn’t have time to
and he unfortunately didn’t have time to enjoy it with his family because when
enjoy it with his family because when
enjoy it with his family because when the war war started he starts to receive
the war war started he starts to receive
the war war started he starts to receive displaced families in Syria he would
displaced families in Syria he would
displaced families in Syria he would feed them and allow them to eat and stay
feed them and allow them to eat and stay
feed them and allow them to eat and stay for as long as they could wanted he was
for as long as they could wanted he was
for as long as they could wanted he was such a big heart in the building every
such a big heart in the building every
such a big heart in the building every day he couldn’t sleep unless he’d
day he couldn’t sleep unless he’d
day he couldn’t sleep unless he’d cleaned the courtyard so the children
cleaned the courtyard so the children
cleaned the courtyard so the children can enjoy it the next morning
Abu Muhammad wanted to get to know me I
Abu Muhammad wanted to get to know me I was the first person from this region
was the first person from this region
was the first person from this region that he met in the situation so he asked
that he met in the situation so he asked
that he met in the situation so he asked me where where exactly are you from I
me where where exactly are you from I
me where where exactly are you from I said I’m from Oman he asked me which
said I’m from Oman he asked me which
said I’m from Oman he asked me which school did you go to which school I
school did you go to which school I
school did you go to which school I didn’t think he’d know any schools in
didn’t think he’d know any schools in
didn’t think he’d know any schools in alman so I I answered him he asked me do
alman so I I answered him he asked me do
alman so I I answered him he asked me do you know someone called is my in su8 and
you know someone called is my in su8 and
you know someone called is my in su8 and I was overwhelmed with emotions and I
I was overwhelmed with emotions and I
I was overwhelmed with emotions and I thought to myself what a small world he
thought to myself what a small world he
thought to myself what a small world he used to be my teacher when I was little
used to be my teacher when I was little
used to be my teacher when I was little he was one of my favorite teachers for
he was one of my favorite teachers for
he was one of my favorite teachers for many years I asked him how do you know
many years I asked him how do you know
many years I asked him how do you know him he said well he was my neighbor I
him he said well he was my neighbor I
him he said well he was my neighbor I couldn’t believe it
couldn’t believe it
couldn’t believe it there was an instant connection between
there was an instant connection between
there was an instant connection between me and Abu Mahmoud and over the months
me and Abu Mahmoud and over the months
me and Abu Mahmoud and over the months as I volunteered in that accommodation
as I volunteered in that accommodation
as I volunteered in that accommodation we became close his wife would mother me
we became close his wife would mother me
we became close his wife would mother me making sure did you eat a sandwich
making sure did you eat a sandwich
making sure did you eat a sandwich because I’m so busy all the time
because I’m so busy all the time
because I’m so busy all the time his children became my brothers and
his children became my brothers and
his children became my brothers and sisters it was lovely it was lovely for
sisters it was lovely it was lovely for
sisters it was lovely it was lovely for that moment and I had to
that moment and I had to
that moment and I had to because I was going to France for a few
because I was going to France for a few
because I was going to France for a few months to volunteer there to help
months to volunteer there to help
months to volunteer there to help refugees sleeping on the streets of
refugees sleeping on the streets of
refugees sleeping on the streets of Paris when I came back from Paris
Paris when I came back from Paris
Paris when I came back from Paris I was broken totally burnt out I went
I was broken totally burnt out I went
I was broken totally burnt out I went back to Athens to find Abu Mohammed
back to Athens to find Abu Mohammed
back to Athens to find Abu Mohammed still there I was sad that he was still
still there I was sad that he was still
still there I was sad that he was still stuck there his approval didn’t come
stuck there his approval didn’t come
stuck there his approval didn’t come through and his son in Germany was still
through and his son in Germany was still
through and his son in Germany was still waiting for him in his family I was
waiting for him in his family I was
waiting for him in his family I was still delighted to find him there well
still delighted to find him there well
still delighted to find him there well and welcoming me I immediately
and welcoming me I immediately
and welcoming me I immediately apologized saying I’m sorry I didn’t
apologized saying I’m sorry I didn’t
apologized saying I’m sorry I didn’t bring any funds or donations back with
bring any funds or donations back with
bring any funds or donations back with me and I’m quite tired and exhausted
me and I’m quite tired and exhausted
me and I’m quite tired and exhausted from my experience in Paris and he said
from my experience in Paris and he said
from my experience in Paris and he said July that doesn’t matter you’ve offered
July that doesn’t matter you’ve offered
July that doesn’t matter you’ve offered so much the fact that you are in this
so much the fact that you are in this
so much the fact that you are in this building brings my heart ease and peace
it’s that simple all I had to do was
it’s that simple all I had to do was exist be there and I made someone else
exist be there and I made someone else
exist be there and I made someone else feel better see there’s a lot of people
feel better see there’s a lot of people
feel better see there’s a lot of people who would prefer to dish out some money
who would prefer to dish out some money
who would prefer to dish out some money rather than put their heart out and see
rather than put their heart out and see
rather than put their heart out and see others suffer in front of them and help
others suffer in front of them and help
others suffer in front of them and help them face to face and I’m not saying
them face to face and I’m not saying
them face to face and I’m not saying that donations are not good enough
that donations are not good enough
that donations are not good enough they’re great money and material is
they’re great money and material is
they’re great money and material is helpful but for a short term it’s the
helpful but for a short term it’s the
helpful but for a short term it’s the being there it’s the support it’s that
being there it’s the support it’s that
being there it’s the support it’s that human connection that gives a lasting
human connection that gives a lasting
human connection that gives a lasting result it’s that value one human holds
result it’s that value one human holds
result it’s that value one human holds for another that makes a difference I
for another that makes a difference I
for another that makes a difference I came back from Greece and my experience
came back from Greece and my experience
came back from Greece and my experience learning that connection that bond is so
learning that connection that bond is so
learning that connection that bond is so strong in our lives in our daily lives
when we’re sad when we’re desperate we
when we’re sad when we’re desperate we also want to connect we want that hug we
also want to connect we want that hug we
also want to connect we want that hug we want that kind word and it’s a small
want that kind word and it’s a small
want that kind word and it’s a small acts of kindness we can do on a daily
acts of kindness we can do on a daily
acts of kindness we can do on a daily basis that makes us better people and
basis that makes us better people and
basis that makes us better people and the world a better place
the world a better place
the world a better place I’m not saying take a year out of your
I’m not saying take a year out of your
I’m not saying take a year out of your life
life
life because that year was actually a reboot
because that year was actually a reboot
because that year was actually a reboot to mine it opened my mind I have a new
to mine it opened my mind I have a new
to mine it opened my mind I have a new perspective on life it’s like I took my
perspective on life it’s like I took my
perspective on life it’s like I took my whole existence to the laundry and I
whole existence to the laundry and I
whole existence to the laundry and I brought it back all fresh and clean it
brought it back all fresh and clean it
brought it back all fresh and clean it was great but you don’t need to do that
was great but you don’t need to do that
was great but you don’t need to do that you can do it now in your jobs on your
you can do it now in your jobs on your
you can do it now in your jobs on your way to work on your way home wherever
way to work on your way home wherever
way to work on your way home wherever you are those small acts of kindness and
you are those small acts of kindness and
you are those small acts of kindness and that human connection that makes every
that human connection that makes every
that human connection that makes every difference I’m just a simple girl I went
difference I’m just a simple girl I went
difference I’m just a simple girl I went to work I came back that’s all I do in
to work I came back that’s all I do in
to work I came back that’s all I do in my life you don’t have to be a
my life you don’t have to be a
my life you don’t have to be a superhuman to make a difference but the
superhuman to make a difference but the
superhuman to make a difference but the sheer small and simple acts of giving
sheer small and simple acts of giving
sheer small and simple acts of giving and loving others every one of us can do
and loving others every one of us can do
and loving others every one of us can do is what can make you all super humans
is what can make you all super humans
is what can make you all super humans thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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