Around the world without leaving your bedroom - great for rainy days.

We all know about those days...Its cold and rainy outside, and all you want is to stay home... But you do feel nostalgic and want to experience stuff...

No problem, you can do it all in your own cozy bedroom.

Lets twist the globe and see where we want to go to...hmmm...Jamaica!? all possible! go on instagram, #Jamaica, and feel the nice jamaican vibe...the beautiful island, tropical weather, blue-green sea....






How about you are in Berlin, and are looking at fun things to do tomorrow, when the weather would be looking good again... anything great... Just check out what people are doing in the city that apparently now doesn't seem to sleep...ever...





alright, here we go! Soul Explosion party flyers in Kreuzberg..just so typical!


Now if you would like some more foody experiences...how about we see what is happening in Morocco food wise... everybody knows Moroccan food is just beautifully yummy!

Alrighty, here we go:




So this is all now beautiful...let's go crazy, see what our friends are up to and where they are... #London #Berlin #Paris #Marrakech #Dakar #Jamaica #Bali... You name it!


#Berlin



#Disneyland Paris


#Forest in #Orleans


#NusNus coffee in #Marrakech


#Beautiful woman haha



#Fes #Foody




#Essaouira



#Ladies in #London




#Leicestersquare #London



#Dindefelo #Senegal





#FreeGaza


#Creperie in #Paris



That being said, I believe we should all make efforts and actually google other places at least. We have the internet so fast now, we can go anywhere around the world with just one single click... we can not make excuses of not knowing certain things like "do they have internet in Africa" or "all Asians are Chinese".

I believe that by being open minded and hungry for knowledge, our generation and any following generations should be open minded about a lot of things and also have a general knowledge so much wider considering that we all know people from different background.

Another thing really important is: in contrary to China, we can google everything and find out what really is going on around the world... For example, how Israel is bombarding Gaza over and over again, or how the Syrians are fighting for survival, how a University in Kenya gets blown out and hundreds of student die...

I dont want to get too deep into these subjects as I believe they are too long for this one post... but I will come back with some more fun and intellectual challenging stuff!

Love Letter to the one that got away

The planet earth has five continents, 208 nations, with 208 capital cities, 4416 cities, over 7000 Languages, and has a population of 7.12 billions.


Small choices and decisions have lead to this. Parents decided to move Continent - one step closer. It was all leading to one moment. This one moment. From Berlin to Hamburg. Hamburg to Reims. Reims to Paris. Paris to Orleans and finally to London. It was all leading to one thing, one moment. Alone in a city trying to make it by taking on the first job that came my way even if I was way too overqualified. Fate? I don’t know if I believe in that… Call it a waterfall of decisions directing me step by step to one thing – one moment.


This moment when I saw you for the first time. When I saw a huge black Hulk at the till of this store. Out of all the big black hulks alive, this one happened to be you.

I smiled at you and you smiled back. The sweetest and most genuine soul in this huge body of yours. You were so shy you dropped your stuff when I started talking to you.

I gave you my number hoping I would see you again, and I did.

Our first date was not awkward or weird. It just felt natural. We laughed a lot and I felt comfortable with you. I found that you were exactly what I had always imagined a man should be: respectful, funny, smart, a gentleman with a gentle soul. Your Inner beauty was shining, and you were big and beautiFULL from HEAD to toe.

I couldn’t stop thinking about you, talking to you; I never had enough of you. We would spend hours on the phone when we weren’t with each other.

On our first night together it felt like I knew my Black P for years and years, it was so natural. I knew that I could count on you and I knew that no matter what would happen, you would be the person I would always have love for and I would go through hell for. Unfortunately, I am not a kind of person to show too many emotions. I do regret having been cold to you at times where I should’ve showed you that I did care. I shouldn’t have been such a douche on Valentines Day. Throughout my time in London you were constantly a part of my life and I miss you.

Human beings make mistakes. We can be very stubborn – I know I can. You knew me, the real me, I had no secrets. Every time we had an argument or were fighting over something, you always knew when I was just being a bitch, or when something did really upset me. And you knew how to resolve whatever issue we had. You were the one making the first step when you knew I was hurt and my stubbornness would take the best of me. I loved hugging you. You rarely feel hugs where you can feel the love.

I remember Valentines Day like it was yesterday. We had so much fun! We always did. I also remember one of our second dates where you asked me to pay so you could see my reaction. That night was the night I realised you were someone special. Nothing in particular happened, but I remember us laughing a lot. I remember that this was the night where I gave you your nickname. The Black P. I remember going home and being positively surprised by how well you actually knew me, without you even noticing. But typical S, I wouldn’t have admitted it, and never will.

That being said, all was not perfect. We had one thing we couldn’t work out, which I think is very frustrating. We gave too much importance to what our family would say about this one thing. I also believe, that we were both stuck on our own stubbornness and argued about something that wasn’t even an issue at this particular point, and secondly was/is out of our control. I am sure we would’ve found a solution to it.

But we couldn’t get over it, and it ended up tearing us apart – for a little while. We couldn’t stay away from each other. But weirdly, something like a power game developed. I do regret my decision on Valentines Day. I shouldn’t have been so caught up in the present. I was enjoying my life and wasn’t sure if I was ready for you. If I was ready to be the one you deserve. I should’ve just gone for it. When I realized I was ready, you were over it already. And this is where our vicious circle started. Blame it on our young age? I don’t know. 

As much as you made me happy, you had the power to hurt me as well. And you did hurt me to the core once. I wont go too much into details, but the decision you made for both of us was, in my opinion out of place, and as a matter of fact, totally against your religion, and in addition to that, not yours to make. Thankfully it did blow away in no time.

This was the moment, the moment that changed our relationship. After that, I couldn’t see you in the same lights anymore, and my view changed. I realized that despite this beautiful human being that you are and the love you had for me, you were never there on any of my birthdays. You didn’t want to meet my partner in crime. I was never there for your birthdays except one, where you came to sleep at mine after partying with your boys. You never introduced me to your friends. I only briefly talked to your brother over the phone ones.

I do understand part of those things you did – or didn’t do.

Despite all those things my lovely P, I still couldn’t think of anyone else when I got asked who was the one who got away.

I know you said you couldn’t be the one that got away as you were still here. But fact of matter is: You are not. We have established this distance between us so we can both move on, which we both did. Even if I am convinced that we were perfect for each other, spent lots of amazing and funny days and nights, hilarious moments (like when I was walking behind you after your birthday party and you got scared and started running – even if you say you were trying to punch…we both know the truth) You will always be part of my life and I will always have love for you.

Whenever you need someone to talk to, someone to laugh with, to cry with…You can count on me, I will be your mother whenever you need someone to take care of you, your brother whenever you need someone to have fun with “So I'll be your water bathing you clean. Liquid blue. I'll be your father, I'll be your mother, I'll be your lover, I'll be yours, I'll be your liqour bathing your soul” #Placebo

Refugee Camp in Berlin Kreuzberg

A few of us are aware of the "refugee camp" that is - or better yet was - established in Berlin Kreuzberg, on the Oranienplatz. Lets dig a little deeper into the subject and find out what it is, and what really is going on here.


As already mentioned, Berlin's most popular district nowadays called Kreuzberg, has been the center of attention for the German left wing parties. A lot of people started to being aware of a camp that, at first, started out just to be a temporary solution for those refugees, but in the meantime, became more and more permanent...until today.


Refugee Camp





In the beginning, a few refugees just started to build a few tents on the Oranienplatz, until a better solution came along. Unfortunately, it took them over 2 years to finally come up with something, which apparently wasn't enough. The first strikes you can actually find about those refugees is the ProtestMarsch - von Wurzburg nach Berlin (Bayerisches Fernsehen, 08.09.2012), which was about Refugees that marched from Wurzburg to Berlin.

From what I know, those refugees were here since the War in Libya in 2011. Most of the refugees at the Oranienplatz are fron Libya, Sudan, but also other countries such as Afghanistan and Iran.

I spoke with one of them, who actually told me about their conditions, where most of the refugees are from, what happened and what is going to happen from now on, moving forward.

He explained how they've started to build their little living spaces with wood, in order to stay warmer as the cold doesn't penetrate as much as tents. That Place became home to some of them, and they all didn't completely understand each other, but they had enough in common. Most of them spoke Arabic or a derivation of the Standart Arabic mostly spoken in the Middle East.





Building houses out of wood


Today, 08.04.2014, was the day where that refugee camp has been demolished and taking off. What happened to the refugees you ask ? They have been put in a Hostel in Friedrichshein for more or less two weeks, and afterwards, they will move into a more permanent place. They received a Visa called "Duldung" - a temporary suspension of deportation, which will be reviewed in 6 months time.


To me it sounds like a pretty fair deal, after 2-3 years of staying out in the cold, living in tents and not having a real home, being able to have a proper job have proper food... But, the left wing parties still want to protest against that, as they think it is not the right way to handle it.

Consequence ? Another pretty wild protest went on today in Kreuzberg, all day, and is still going on as I am writing this (its 11.53). People are fighting for those refugees's rights to remain in the country in good and liveable conditions. The whole area was filled with dozens of police cars and over 1000 protestants. I didn't go check that one out, as my brother who is in the German Military warned me that it might become dangerous, and I have a job to go to in the morning *bad timing for a joke*









Man fighting for his home






Oranienplatz at 6.30 pm




So far, I have kept myself pretty neutral, sticking with the facts, but now here comes my opinion, that is probably not very appreciated by a lot of people...but then again, I am not writing this to please people, but to share my thoughts on different matters.


From my previous post, you can tell a bit about me and how I travelled around a lot, and therefore have a very specific view on subject matters.


I believe that all those protests to keep the camp is way too much... I didn't gather all the facts to the fullest extent though...but from what I know, and what I've seen, I believe that this situation, which was supposed to be temporary to begin with, is not and will never be THE solution for those refugees, as there are a lot of facts that need to be considered.

Firstly, the human rights - It is neither in Germany, or anywhere else in the world, allowed to let people live like this. Berlin and Germany is fighting really hard, especially in winter, to get homeless people off the streets, as records show that the most important cause for them dying, is dying by freezing to death. How would any civilisation agree to let people live on the streets, in improvised homes ? It is not a solution to let those refugees stay here, camping for years, and expect them to be happy - considering that they don't have any Visas, and therefore can't even work and contribute to the society.


Secondly - As usual, the Left Wing Parties want to fight for those refugees's rights, which I do respect a lot. But what really is bugging me here, is that they did NOT consider the political effects that all this might have. Giving all of them a indefinite stay Visa would not only create a huge mess internally, economically but also would generate a huge wave of refugees, which would actually make everything worse. Yes we need to help political refugees, but how about treating the problem at its root, and see how we can ameliorate the situations in their countries, and around the world.


Thirdly - It has all come to an extent where no one is happy about what is going on, and just keeps on fighting for something that hasn't even been considered properly. Whilst I was talking to the refugee earlier today, I was also talking to two other young activist who were enraged by what was going on, and wanted to fight so that those refugees won't be forgotten and they would be able to stay here forever. As good hearted as I thought those two young girls were, their approach still was very immature and not thought through. As I told them, and that young man, there is no way to wanting to move forward looking backwards. What is done is done, the camp is destroyed, there is nothing left of it. They will build an information center, but now it is time to face the reality. Not one single Government would give permeant stays. My argument was in regards to the refugee wave that this would enhance. But the young man I spoke to had a far more interesting point of view - they can't do it, because the risk of refugees going to other european countries, and doing the same in order to get permanent stays there is way to high.


Which is why I believe that a Duldung, a proper roof over their heads, monetary help in order for them to be able to feed themselves is a very good compromise. Yes it will be reviewed in 6 month, yes a few of them might end up being deported... but you can't forget that they all have the capability to play the system and win. Play by the Big Mans rules. Learn German, be pro-active and show that you are looking to being an active part of the society, and they won't have any reasons for deportation. Instead of fighting them head on head, creating big protests (that are keeping me from sleeping...sorry boss, if I'm tired tomorrow at work... I blame the Left wing Party), drawing more attention than needed, they should rather play smart, do what it needed in order for them to at least join a society and not live as outsiders with no home and living in fear of deportation.



I do wish them all the best, and hope that they would be able to live a happy life after this not too bright episode. I am not a politician or ideologist, My Background coming from a military family taught me that it is not always easy to deal with those sorts of things. I have lived in a country with war and I have experienced a lot. I do know that my mom was chased whilst being pregnant by me and praying to God that they won't find her and my older brother, who was 1 year old at this time, doesn't make any noise. (She ended up having soldiers guarding the house after that - good thing about having a renowned and good placed military daddy I guess).

Again - I hope this situation will get sorted out and that those refugees will find happiness after all.

Protest this evening @ Oranienplatz

Children of the World

I thought I'd use my first blog post to tell you guys a bit about me, where I'm from, what I do, and why I even decided to start this blog. So here it comes :


I like to call myself a child of the world, coming from everywhere, travelling throughout the whole world, and facing a few struggles I am sure we all go through.

I have been told so many times to just write a blog and tell people about my thoughts and my complexity...and this is the exact reason why I finally decided to start this blog. I believe that I have a pretty particular point of view, and I dont see myself in one specific group of people...So I started asking myself why? I have friends that are so different one from another, but...why is that so ?


Here is what I found out... as I lived 10 Years of my life in Africa, spending at least 1 or 2 month each year in Arabic countries. I heard that in the first few years of your life define how you will become later. I'm talking behaviour, intelligence and even emotional health... Not sure how right this is, but coming from a North-African mother and a mixed raced daddy, me and my family were always very multi-cultural, which has become nowadays something, that I am very happy about. It made me become like a chameleon...No matter the country, the people I am around, the atmosphere, I can integrate myself quite easily.












When I was a child living in Africa, most of my friends called me white, which...well...pretty much sucked as I didn't see myself as a "white girl"... At the end of the day, I was born there as much as they were...spoke the same languages than the other kids and even went to the same school..(I guess now I quite understand how a lot of mixed in this world feel like).


When I moved to Germany, it was the complete opposite, I wasn't white anymore... guess what? I was black..! Ha..! The best part is yet to come... I moved to France when I turned 20...ended up being seen as an Arab Lady..!


What Irony... I mean, this totally could confuse me, but...to be honest... I didn't bother at all as I learned to embrace all of my origins... I am white, black, and Arab (I guess that would count as yellow if we follow the color patterns ;D ) And I absolutely love it..! I can be whatever I want to be, because this is who I am... Everything... When people ask me where I'm from... I can't really be bothered to explain... I only say: I am a child of the world, I am from everywhere.


In my opinion, this is the right way to be... having so many different friends, in and from different parts of the world, living all over the world, I have figured out that every ethnic affiliation has their opinions about other ethnic groups... for example, we all know about the Neo-Nazis in Germany, we know that...well...almost the whole world feels a certain way towards Arabs (this damn Media... Putting them all in the same bowl and calling them terrorists), Africans/Afro-Americans, and Caribbean hold a certain grudge towards Europeans/white people... well... I think you get my point...












Funnily enough, the way the world changed made everything accessible to all of us...and I ended up having a lot of nomad friends as well... they weren't born as nomad...not like me...I mean me moved to 3 different cities by the time I turned 6, but they ended up travelling and explore the world as well...


Back in 2011, I travelled to Tanzania for a few months, and went to this island in Tanzania called Zanzibar, some of you might know this Island...So...I ran into a friend of mine I studied with on an evening on my way to the food market... which I thought was totally random, but again, we studied the same thing we the chances we were in the same place at the same time weren't that small... Now guess what, I walk down the street back to my hotel on my last day in Zanzibar, and hear someone calling my name...first I didn't even turn around...I mean, who would call me...then I heard it again and I turned around...A friend I hadn't seen for over 5 years I knew from back in Berlin suddenly standing there in front of me?! What are the odds ?!




I bet you guys also have crazy stories to share... even though I believe this technology and everything is just moving way to fast, especially being an 80s kid, there are some crazy positive sides to it... you get to go around the world, meet random people, find friends in so many different countries from different cultures and you get to actually know a little about those cultured and you must agree, some of them are just fascinating, and some are really similar regardless the huuuuuge distance in between them...but I will get to that on a different Post with real life examples...

So far that's all I have to share... I'm actually too tired to focus so it's Bedtime for me...


Cheers champs..!