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.