12.24.15 Merry Christmas to you and your family

May you all enjoy the Spirit of this most blessed Season of Christmas. May you all be safe and enjoy good health. And please do remember  those less fortunate than yourselves and do remember them in your kind acts and prayers. And please do remember the men who arrived on the shores of Yap in that dilapidated green boat. May there be satisfactory resolution of this crisis soon.

We are enjoying very warm weather and I am finally getting used to temperatures less than 80 degrees, as long as I wear my winter coat! We are having rain instead of snow for Christmas, so it won't be a white Christmas in New England this year. Tonight will be spent with friends then Midnight Mass. Christmas Eve is my favorite evening of the year. It is peaceful, and filled with good music, pretty twinkling lights, good friends and good company and good food. I especially love attending Midnight Mass, with the beautiful choir voices and joy in the music.

My very best wishes to you and your family for a very happy and Merry Christmas.

This is just a little tree this year. But, you will notice on the tree angels from Yap and Bangladesh and decorations Ghana and Nicaragua. I will always carry warm memories of the many far away places where I have worked, and the people and places that always will hold a special place in my heart.

And Merry Christmas from Fionnegan and Gunnarr too. And I do miss my dog Shorty. If you see him, please give him a pat on the head and a tummy rub from me! I did send him treats for the holidays.

 

12.19.15 birthday week celebrations

Another year and a birthday to reflect on the past, present and future. Decided that I would make some time to contemplate and enjoy things around me. So the twins (Fionnegan and Gunnarr) and I got up early  for our morning walk, "puppy classes" and treats and then after a rendition of Happy Birthday with the dogs wagging their tails to the beat of  the song, we had birthday cake for breakfast, then I went to work.

Usually it snows on my birthday but today we  had rain. Still did not dampen my spirits. The office staff even sung me happy birthday, then I decided to go to Back Bay in Boston. I haven't walked around there in a long time. I expected more lights and festive feelings but made due with what I found in Copley Square and along Newbury Street and Boylston Street all the way to the Pubic Garden. Still, Mr Mayor, a few more lighted trees would be nice. I also went to the top of the Prudential building for the view. Even though it was raining, the cloud cover allowed  for intermittent peeks of the landscape and cityscape. A glass of champagne and black forest cake for dessert made for a nice celebration. The walk was good for  the spirit and soul. While I had no agenda or deep issues to consider, it was the first time  in a while that I had  unstructured time to myself. So many thoughts came to mind, thoughts of the year in Yap and new friends there and the situation of the men on the green boat from India and Nepal, and of course wondering about Shorty. It was a good year in Yap and I hope that at least some of the work I did will make a lasting and positive difference. You never know. Interesting I had an exchange of several texts/emails with one of the PH staff. while having dinner. The connection remains. Also I was wondering what I should do moving forward. No answers, just the luxury of letting thoughts and ideas flow. The right answer will come to  me, with time.

Then I headed for the Boston Symphony where the Boston Pops are playing the Christmas special all month. There was a sing along for the audience with the orchestra and choir with everyone belting out some old favorites for the season. Does this mean I can add "sang with the Boston Pops" to my resume? A very special treat was listening to the beautiful voice of Justin Hopkins, a bass/baritone opera singer. He has such a gift - his voice was a smooth as silk. I could have listened to him all night. And Santa made an appearance and all is right with the world!

The next day it was lunch with a colleague with the same birthday then dinner and a movie with my friend Sylvia. We saw Star Wars - the Force Awakens. It was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed the movie. And the evening. If you like action, Harrison Ford, or just a good movie, do see Star Wars. Will not spoil it for you by giving any more comments or any details.

A lot of celebrating, a lot of reflecting, and reconnecting with friends and family. A good birthday indeed.

Here are a few pictures of Boston on a rainy night to share with my friends in Yap (and those who are still  following from India and Nepal):

Boston Public Library. An impressive building inside and out.

Trinity Church and tree. Copley Square, Boston.

Later went  to the top of the hub in the Prudential building and took the next few pictures of the city.

 

Clouds moving  in fast. Windy and raining. But still unseasonably warm.

John Hancock tower taken from the Prudential Building. Two of the tallest buildings in Boston.

 

Home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Warming up for the show. I was in the third row.

Keith Lockhart, maestro of the Boston Pops.

A very handsome Santa makes hiw way down the aisle through the audience.

The maestro and Santa share a laugh.

Justin Hopkins. A voice like none other. IMHO. Keep an eye on the progress of his career. He is a star.

From their "Auntie Paula" a basket of flowers to look like Fionngen and Gunnarr.

 

06/07/15 Visit to asylum seekers

Shorty and I went to visit the men and Hope. They are doing well and still hopeful that a resolution is near. Phillip from IOM told them that the lady from the UN refugee organization will be here again this week. Let's hope something good comes from these efforts.
To Amit - please provide some documentation that you are indeed Naveen's brother. The men are not able to call anywhere.

They look healthy,  have planted a vegetable garden of pumpkins - you can eat the tips as a vegetable as well as the pumpkin when they ripen. They have set up two cooking stalls for roti and rice and vegetables. They do laundry, play chess, read books and play cards. It is a ery clean environment and as long as there are no more leaks when it rains they are quite secure. They feel that much has improved with IOM helping on a regular basis.

Here are a few pictures, taken with permission:

This is a police officer who has always been helpful.

Hope is getting big! And he gets very excitedwhen Shorty is there.

Nepalese cooking station. They made me roti today.

Playing chess.

Pumpkin garden.

 

Two is fun.

Three even better!

Making vegetables for the roti.

Indian roti station.

Shorty and Hope trying to help.

Hope and Shorty playing. Hope does chase after Shorty .

 

05.31.15 Update on asylum seekers

Went by this morning to see the men from the green boat. They all look well. There was a representative from the UN refugee agency in Australia who interviewed them separately and as a group. She asked them why they left their own countries. At the end of the meeting, she said she could not promise thm refugee status (this is all second and third hand reporting  now), was not certain that they would qualify for refugee status, and that it could take four to five years for them to be relocated. On the one hand it is good that the UNHRC made contact, on the other hand it is extremely discouraging that the process - if they were confirmed to be refugees - could take so many years. These are youbng vibrant men who could lead productive lives if given the chance. They need that chance. They do not feel that they could go back home. It was suggested that they move fromt eh village to a city to avoid any reprisals, but that is truly wishful thinking. I do not believe that that is a workable option for them. And neither do they.

On a nice note, they are making roti and Indian/Nepalese types of food. I saw them with fresh vegetables too. They should be allowed to open a restaurant here - the ex-Pats in particular would love a good curry. And their little Hope  is not so little any more. He is growing up to be quite the active puppy. He can out wrestle Shorty! Wish I  had the camera but this was an impromptu visit. I'll take a few photos of them cooking next weekend.

05.08.15 A very special thank you.........................

......................... to a very special person. Thank you Mrs. Paula G for the most generous supplies for the asylum seekers. Heidi and I and the four kids took them to the men on Thursday and needless to say, they were thrilled. Heidi has a truck, which comes in handy for delivering boxes and boxes of supplies. She also had boxes herself, so between the two of us, we are keeping an eye out for them.

The men love seeing the kids. One carried baby Theo all around while Heidi spoke in the Indonesian language to a couple of men there and Tommy, Reina and Honora played with and chased Hope, their puppy and the men. I did an inspection of the typhoon damage and the food situation. Things are improving with IOM on board. Still - we must continue to work to ensure that they are treated with respect and fairness and hope that they will be settled somewhere with the opportunity for a better life. That is, afterall, how they ended up here, they want a better life for themselves and their family. No different than the rest of us.

05.04.15 green boat men asylum seekers

Had the opportunity to visit with the men twice this week (Sunday and Monday Yap time). Since I have been in touch with a situation report to the new hospital director, things have improved a bit. IOM is back at the table and has supplied them with some needs, although it seems not enough food. Medicines for the skin lesions remains lacking. A conversation was suggestive that IOM will replace medications used - which was the previous agreement. There is still a  need for them  to receive mosquito coils and repellant. A tarp was placed over the roof. However, another tropical storm is here with threats of heavy rain. Neither the men not  the police were aware of where they would stay during the storm. Have not heard from any human rights lawyers but am hoping someone is involved. On the last check, the UN refugee website still has not  listed them.
Three men asked for contact to be made with family in Nepal. They are aware of the earthquake and are worried about family. I sent email messages to those with addresses. I can also relay any messages posted here in the comment section to any of the men. People must know they are not forgotten.
BTW - the men are taking excellent care of their dog Hope. I do think he brings some of them some joy. He is a cute dog and will post another picture soon.