Warm thoughts, caring hearts

Often the stereotype of Norwegians are that we are cold and reserved. Therefore I'm overwhelmed by all the compassion people have for each other at a personal level. Perhaps we don't politically align with each other at all, but when it comes down to it, it is not about politics. Nor does it matter where in the world people are located.  It's about basic human values of caring about the people whom crosses ones path. I realize I'm in a situation where it's more natural for people to stop up and care a bit extra, which I really appreciate. But it's not to stick under a chair that stopping and caring a little bit extra just because only does good. Because, as a great friend of mine says "if you love someone, you show them". It is as simple as that.

Personally delivered homemade food from a caring heart. The other day, I came home from work only to find a box of porridge in the fridge. It turned out it was from a dear friend who just wanted to show that she cares. Around a year ago porridge had that same extra touch of love to it, when I got homemade porridge at the hospital in Delhi. I never knew I'd learn to appreciate people so much through porridge making and personal delivery. Porridge is a symbol of caring hearts in my world.

What do you do when you can not personally deliver that soup/porridge or warm hug? 
As I have lived abroad for some years, I have come to terms with that sometimes people, or myself, are not physically there when things happen, nor in everyday life. Therefore I continue to try to figure out how to stay in touch with friends located far away. Thus I choose to believe that it is possible to show compassion with the use of technology. Although, I must admit that sometimes a physical hug would be better than a Facebook message, but when that's all there is, then that's far better than nothing at all.

During my years abroad, and hopefully in future ones, I have been extremely fortunate to have strong bonds to the people closest to me. No matter what has hit the fan, be it illness, broken hearts, death or other issues, ways of supporting each other has always been available no matter what the distance or time differences has been. Perhaps you wonder how this really works out or if it actually does. Therefore honestly, one aspect of how it works for me is habit and level of expectations. It might not be for everyone, as it is much nicer to have a face to face interaction with someone rather than over Skype, Facebook, e-mail or the phone. But oh man, the technologies are available making the distances seem smaller, making it easier to actively care.

It's about the little things that when done with warm thoughts and a caring heart can mean the world to someone else. Are you sitting there with a little "I want to make a difference in the world" inside of yourself? If the people around you are not doing well, then how can you go out there in the big world trying to make a difference? Or do you just want to get through the day? Either way start with the people around you.

That's what I'm trying to figure out these days.

Really what I wanted to do with this piece was to say thank you to all the wonderful people in my life, whom are all everyday heroes in my eyes. You all make the world a better place through being yourself with your warm thoughts and caring hearts.

My everyday hero

Who inspires you? What makes a person a hero?

Perhaps you'd mention the name of some great political figure, a musician or activist. That's what I thought to myself a few months back in hot Delhi when I thought about who really inspires me in life. Now, instead of focusing on those big names who has touched many lives, I want to focus on a everyday hero who touched some hearts right here at home in Norway. He certainly touched mine, and the people whom I stand dearly close to.

This man had a wonderfully warm and caring heart. He was a real "kjernekar" as we call it in Norwegian. Fairness and justice was extremely important to him, not to his personal benefit but for the benefit of all. In a sense compromise could be his middle name. He was the person who taught me how to think about and question things. He always made me think more than twice on my ideas and opinions. There was no easy way around it, because having a balanced perspective on issues and situations is essential to understand people and situations.  In order to do what is best for all. My father majorly partook in introducing me to caring about people.

One of my biggest heroes, my father, was the biggest fan of this blog. Therefore I will continue to write it in dedication to his memory and compassionate spirit.

Appreciate the people around you and care about them. In human interaction it is about the little things we do for each other, and it can make a major difference. It can be simple as a smile.

Sexual Rights, Health and HIV/AIDS - Ask Your Questions

Do you have questions about Sexual Rights, Health and maybe HIV/AIDS? 

Naz Foundation (India) Trust  gives you the chance to ask your questions on their brand new blog.  At nazindia.wordpress.com they will update their readers about their HIV/AIDS Care, support and advocacy work in New Delhi, India every other week. The dedicated NGO’s founder and Executive Director Anjali Gopalan was among the Times 100 Most Influential People in the World 2012. So be sure to ask your questions to an pioneering NGO in the field of sexual rights and health in India! 

Here's your chance to get your questions answered. If you do not want to write directly there please do not hesitate to contact me directly as I'd be happy to ask your questions for you. 

People Come, People Go

There are many situations in life that makes you feel lonely. Forces you to be lonely.

Being an expat in a big city like Delhi, coming from the countryside, I did not consider that it applied to me when loneliness was discussed at orientation. But it did, and it does. Throughout my time here, I've met incredible people. Coming from across the world and they are fascinating people with warm hearts. These wonderful people, who comes and goes have all provided perspectives and insights into their way of understanding the world. Everyone, either I've met them for a day or several months have added spices to my life, as if there's not enough spices in India already. And then they leave, as many people are travelling through or have short-term internships or other incredible reasons to visit.

One day I was asked about missing people - and I miss people everyday, but the reality is it's not all that bad. First of you get used to missing people, but the great aspect is that I have so many incredible people whom I can call friends across the world. I rather have to miss them, than never met them at all.
Then the question you might ponder is; what do you do when no-one you know are there? It has a simple answer; you learn to hug the feeling of loneliness. You learn to appreciate it - the time to do whatever you want to do. If you want to dance like a maniac in your flat, then do it and giggle while you are at it.

But no, I'll not glorify the feeling of loneliness, but it is certainly a feeling and a state of mind worth embracing and appreciate. It might just take time. Learning to cook dinner for one, and eating it yourself may take time. But hey, nobody has ever said you cannot have a candlelit dinner alone, now have they?
The point is, the feeling of loneliness that comes will living abroad can be loved and cherished, it up to yourself how you embrace it. You learn to know yourself better and can make room for new incredible people whom might come tomorrow.

I Live in a Country Where People Break Out in Beautiful Songs and Melodies

Standing in the bus, I hear a man singing.  I cannot remember anything but his voice formulating a Bollywood melody.  I cannot remember how he looked like. But I know he sounded happy. Auto-rides have many a times given me a reason to smile with the loud melodies from the music system, or my favourite; when autodrivers break out in song. I always wonder if they are extraordinary happy in that moment while singing, or if perhaps they just do it because they want, because they can.

Walking down the streets of Oslo, street singers are the only ones seen singing. If I started singing in the streets of Oslo people would questioning my sanity. I’m from a place where people never sing when shopping, now living somewhere I hear it regularly. People randomly break out in song and I love it. It’s one aspect of living in India that teaches you to appreciate all the small things. Appreciate the people around you; your loved ones, and the ones who breakout into song – or back home, those who dearly long to sing out loud while wearing their winter coats.

Thinking back to when I first arrived in Asia, about 10 months ago – I did not imagine that random singing on the streets would be one of the things I will keep close in my heart when I one day return back North. But it is, it really is. It adds a happy melody to everyday life.The singing adds an additional melody to life. Perhaps I will sing in the streets of Oslo when I return home to the cold North? The things that inspires you to smile are worth keeping deep inside your heart. 

Tibet in India

 A Trip to Dharamshala, Himachal 

The beautiful hill station to the Himalayas truly was a wonderful place to enjoy the view of mountains and enjoy some Tibetan Food. Dharamsala is known as the temporary place of exile of The Dalai Lama. The place is influenced by Tibetan Buddhism as the Dalai Lama Temple is located here. It certainly adds an additional peaceful atmosphere to the area. 

Photos by author. 

Please come back for the next post that will include pictures from a hiking trip up into the mountains. 

Over 400 Asylum children to be deported from Norway

You Must Not Sleep
"You must not sit in your snug home,
and say: That's sad, poor people!
You must not endure so very well,
the unjustice that does not affect yourself!
I shout with my voice, the last breath,
you are not allowed to go and forget!"
By Arnulf Overland, 1935 (selected verse translated from Norwegian)

Innocent Children to be deported 
Tomorrow on a regular Thursday for most of us, over 400 asylum seeker children along with their families will start facing a new reality.

The Norwegian government has decided to deport children who have spent most of or their lives in Norway. They are integrated into the Norwegian culture and they are just like any other Norwegian child living in Norway, except their parents came to Norway as refugees. Therefore these children along with their parents will be sent back the countries their parents once escaped. Many of these children know no other country than Norway.

The United Nations Convention on Children's Rights states "a devotion to the best interest of a child, and Norway has ratified the whole Convention. Which according to UNICEF means that "national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interest of the child."

In this situation, we must have the best interest of over 400 children at heart, not a governmental policy trying to set an example in a stricter immigration/asylum policy.

Dare Not to Sleep 
Amnesty International Norway has a petition  if you are interested to look further into the issue.


More articles:
Kaldblodig og ummennesklig
A-for-anstendighet

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Hawa Mahal - The Windy Palace

A February trip to Jaipur included a visit to Hawa Mahal, the Windy Palace. The beautiful Indian winter sun made the colours of the Hawa Mahal shine. While we visited the unique five story building, we could observe a lively celebration passing by on the street. Perhaps we were like the royal women who observed street life from the Windy Palace through one of the 953 windows, without being seen ourselves.

Jaipur, India.

Photos by author.

Magic Flute and Snake

In Jaipur, India

Photos by author. 

The Humanitarian Social Network

The Latest Within Social Networking: 
International Development and relief now has its own Social Network!

 

Are you interested in, or perhaps a part of the humanitarian aid community? If so, then you should check out aidsource a new social network. 

Sign up today and take part in live discussions, learn about career building or even living as an aid worker. I've already done it, now it's your turn. 

Fashion Across the World

Living in different countries it the fashion varies and one's own style influenced and changed.

The fashion I talk about is not the one on the runways, I'm talking the fashion of what normal women wear around the world. Inspiring each other. Wearing what they have, either in personal ways or perhaps in traditional ways, or perhaps they did pay close attention to the latest of the latest of a runway? I do not know, but it is interesting in terms of how people dress around the world. It is interesting how fashion can be a symbol of culture, tradition, personal style, economic status, fashion interest, religion or what ever else you make of it. 

Growing up in Norway, I've seen the fashion change season after season. People wearing what they felt like, or following the runway. Traveling and living in other countries, it's not only the fashion that changes, but how it is used that changes between countries.

In the US, living in the Midwest it seemed that hoodies and sweatpants was always in fashion alternating with t-shirts and jeans.

In India I'm not sure how the fashion works really - but it certainly is colourful in every season. Taking the metro, standing in the women's cart, has become one of my favorite things to do. It's colorful and diverse. There are women dressed beautifully in Saris, in Kurta's, in jeans and t-shirts, the lastest of the latest and/or whatever else. Inside the metro cart, I often think to myself that both western, Indian and whatever else type style of dressing is represented and I enjoy it. It certainly is very inspiring if interested in fashion.

Clothing can be a piece of art, and getting dressed can be like painting a picture. 
A dear friend of mine, Sara Strand, beautifully puts outfits together in a truly unique and inspiring way. I recommend you check out her blog, and also vote for her, Sara Strand, to become the Fashion Blogger of the year 2011! (She's already a semifinalist, please vote today, the deadline is fast approaching) 

Happy New Year

I hope you've had a great beginning to 2012 and that it will be a wonderful year, filled with new experiences and perspectives.

A blog post about potential new year resolutions will come soon, whenever I can come up with them. Also, I will come with a reflection of 2011 shortly.