Living on One Dollar A Day

It probably sounds like an incredibly easy thing to do.

'Maybe the cereal box in the cupboard will last for three or four days, and then there's still some potatoes or yams somewhere in the store and there's probably some bread in the fridge too, I sighted a few cartons of milk and juice in the fridge the other day and I've always got some garri in reserve. So if I split up each food into respective days and save up the money, I could have enough money for other days that lack food. As easy as that!'

However, we forget about the simplest, but very essential things; like toilet paper, electricity, bus fares, soap and so on... But for over 1.1 BILLION PEOPLE, life as we know it doesn't just go without saying. I just watched the movie, or documentary rather, Living on One Dollar and caught myself wondering if I could ever manage this:

But just this morning, I watched a TV programme about the most popular 5-star hotel in Russia. I'm not going to go into the details, but in the end they showed a woman living in a suite there and she boasted about 2 "paintings" which hung on her wall, that consisted of Dollar notes and Russian Rubles I think and then she said she didn't have any other wishes than to be healthy and happy, so she better spend her money while she is still alive and kicking.

I still wonder how those kind of people can look up to you, chin high and say, "I'm drinking a €24 000 wine and it tastes exquisitely ". I mean, if you don't know what to spend your money on, why don't you give it to people who really need it ??!

With my mere 15 years of age, I was once given the honor to attend a seminar called "TOUCH-STREETWISE: Responding to Street Violence", even though I was just there as a Radio-presenter. I just thought all I would do was interview a few people there, get free lunch and a CD and be on my way, but I never did expect to be moved by anything I would see, hear or feel while I was there.

I came back home and informed my dad that I wanted to be a youth-street worker, thinking that he was going to be as enthusiastic about my sudden change of plans as I was. All he said was, "This is not your fatherland", I stood there waiting to hear more but didn't get the approval I wanted, although I promised myself to do just that when I felt the time had come.

The interviews that changed my life for good ;)

Somehow, after that seminar, there were countless brochures and advertisements of help organisations and programmes for exchange students to help researches and things like that everywhere, or maybe I just suddenly became aware of them, and that only fueled my growing fire even more to want to help!! 

This is just one of the countless brochures I mentioned above ;)

And so with all that said, Obum and I have decided to no longer look away. We have resoluted to take part in one of these programmes and help in any way possible after our final exams in two years time :( 

It is surely going to be a time to remember, I know that already!!

I'm not urging anyone to join in, I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to try, and besides, it's not so bad a way of losing weight ;)

Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Having African Neighbours

You think being an African and living in a non-African country is hard? Then try being an African, living in a non-African country AND having African neighbours. That, my friend is hardship! And then if they somehow have kids... You're done!

I am proud to say that in my 5 years and 4 months here in Austria, and 4 times of relocating from 3 different "subcities", I still have to cope with the bountiful African neighbours who surround our recent apartment. There is no day I can seem to look out my window and not see an African pass by our house or knock on the door. 

And so I have stopped looking out the window facing the street, and have now resigned myself to peeping through the one that shows the garden.

Thus, to avoid getting visitors that were "just driving up and down the street and somehow saw your name on the door and decided to stop by", my dad "forgot" to put our name on the door bell of the new apartment even though we were supposed to. 

How on earth having African neighbours can in any way be disturbing you ask?
Lemme make this clear for you then with the help of illustration...


1. They come to "play" (EAT). 

You are forced to say yes, after all, how could you say no? 

"I'm busy"

"Ooh it's no problem, we'll be reaaaally quiet"   

"No. You don't understand, you are NEVER quiet" 

 "I promise we will be this time....pleaaaaaase O.O" 

You see, you just DON'T say no -.- 


Minutes- and I seriously mean minutes- later, they get hungry and you start to ask yourself if they wake up every morning just to disturb your peace. 

They may look cute and all, but don't let yourself be deceived, they are extremely cute when they aren't necessarily jealous of your peace and quiet.

2. They come to drink.

They do not think anything of your being busy. They ask you unnecessary questions whenever they feel like it and God knows ignoring them will cause even more agony. You answer whenever is needed of you.

Approximately 7.5 minutes after having eaten, a drink is requested. And as I said, it is useless to ignore and if you accidentally do ignore in this case, you will find glass shards on your kitchen floor and begin to regret ever letting them in.

They smile at you and reassure you that your getting up and getting them drinks yourself was indeed the right decision.

3. They come to make sure you don't get work done.

I don't think I have to say much here, the fact that this post is uploaded 2 days after the pictures were taken hopefully does explain everything.

All she did was write her name. Don't ask why!

4. They come to poke their noses into your business and lie on your bed.

They don't compliment you on your work, instead they argue about who gets to turn the next page.

Then when they get stressed out from arguing and turning pages, they lie on your bed...and start to fight until someone is on the floor, crying or just admiring the wood.

5. They come to touch...EVERYTHING

She learned to play part of the intro of Rihanna's 'Stay', but still, she was too loud and disturbing!!!  

I hope you now understand what I was trying to point out in the beginning. Having African neighbours can be terrifying, but I love this pair no matter what!! 

Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!