Post from Ericka
So much has happened today! I can't believe everything I experienced! One moment I'm handing out water to refugees, the next moment I'm flying down the road with aid workers and doctors without borders to a holding camp, police in riot gear, talk about a riot in Budapest, false information given to the refugees that make them panic and hide out in the woods, human traffickers swarming ...I couldn't imagine the things I've seen today, but I just got off a 14 hr shift and I'm going to try to get a little sleep. I want to stay here I think!
This post came after I asked about sharing her experiences with my students.
So Lisa Chretien, here's something for your students, one of the major hurdles we have with the refugees is the Dublin Regulation 3, it says ( basically )that the first country a refugee enters must fingerprint them as their country that they claim refugee status in, a lot of the refugees believe that, say they enter Hungary and get fingerprinted, the country they end up in can send them back to Hungary if they refuse them and then Hungary which only takes in 500 immigrants a year, will send them back to Syria or the country they're fleeing from. That's why we have thousands of people walking for months through the woods to avoid detection, like the grandmother who walked from Syria with her down syndrome grandson, and why 71 men, women and children died in an overheated semi-truck. Seeing the thousands moving through the woods one older Hungarian man exclaimed "oh god, it looks like WW11 again.
http://www.upworthy.com/trying-to-follow-what-is-going-on-in-syria-and-why-this-comic-will-get-you-there-in-5-minutes?g=3&c=ufb2
I love Upworthy, most times.... this is a direct to the comic and brings up way more than just people fleeing war.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
September 3, 2015
http://gu.com/p/49phg/sfb
Post from Ericka
So I made it to Sveged, closer to the Serbian border= more action.It was a slower day with about 50 syrian refugees crossing. About 15 children among them. One father with 3 little kids had been walking for two months. The refugee station provides food, water, a hygiene station and free wifi so there were a lot of frantic calls to relatives and aid groups. As the only native English speaker I helped translate some of the calls to aid organizations. From here the refugees have two more stops before the refugee camps so the group calls down the line to tell other groups what to expect. Interesting, speaking with a journalist from Luxembourg who visited the camp, hungarian police won't let journalists in, and none of the volunteers have ever been. One volunteer explained "it is for them, not for us" To which the journalist responded that not only were no refugees venturing out it sure didn't look like they were free to leave considering the heavy guard presence.
Post from Ericka
So I made it to Sveged, closer to the Serbian border= more action.It was a slower day with about 50 syrian refugees crossing. About 15 children among them. One father with 3 little kids had been walking for two months. The refugee station provides food, water, a hygiene station and free wifi so there were a lot of frantic calls to relatives and aid groups. As the only native English speaker I helped translate some of the calls to aid organizations. From here the refugees have two more stops before the refugee camps so the group calls down the line to tell other groups what to expect. Interesting, speaking with a journalist from Luxembourg who visited the camp, hungarian police won't let journalists in, and none of the volunteers have ever been. One volunteer explained "it is for them, not for us" To which the journalist responded that not only were no refugees venturing out it sure didn't look like they were free to leave considering the heavy guard presence.
August 31, 2015
I think I have figured out the links. I am also posting the photographs that go along with Ericka's posts.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-migrant-deaths-critics-also-blame-europe/2015/08/30/5b01c89a-4dd4-11e5-80c2-106ea7fb80d4_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/as-tragedies-shock-europe-a-bigger-refugee-crisis-looms-in-the-middle-east/2015/08/29/3858b284-9c15-11e4-86a3-1b56f64925f6_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-migrant-deaths-critics-also-blame-europe/2015/08/30/5b01c89a-4dd4-11e5-80c2-106ea7fb80d4_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/as-tragedies-shock-europe-a-bigger-refugee-crisis-looms-in-the-middle-east/2015/08/29/3858b284-9c15-11e4-86a3-1b56f64925f6_story.html
Not a well set up shot from the balcony in Budapest. I'm in cold war era flat with unlit halls and pull door elevator. Found a grocery store and bought some pears, coffee, eggs (the deepest orange yolks I've ever seen), a tin of mackrels, bread, cheese, and a can of beer. Waiting to go to work!
— in Budapest, Hungary. Refugees and immigrants
My cousin Ericka Sherman is in Hungary right now working with people who are helping Syrian refugees. I will be copying her posts to my blog, so good news she is much better at updating than I am.
I will start with her first post about traveling first to Iceland and then on to Hungary. Hopefully in order.
The first post is one from friend.
For: Ericka Sherman!! August 16, 2015
May your new chapter of your life be smooth sailing!! Some friends pass through your life as their journey flows where & they are going & we only get your spark for a moment!
But you light our lives in ways you'll never know!!!~~~thank YOU for the brief ride & the beautiful impact you
left me with! My heart
Is warm for knowing you! Ericka as you spend the next 3 years volunteering around the world, I bask in your spirit of making your life count!!!! &
making US look to live a well lived life!!
August 21st a link to an article in the Guardian
http://gu.com/p/4byy2/fb
August 25th she has arrived in Iceland.
Iceland is striking, somehow the green scrub is a darker shade when its growing from the black volcanic rock. I came here to sightsee and ive just been walking, and watching the water.Im surrounded by tourists unfortunately so the idea of taking a tour with more of them is unappealing. Im thinking of changing my plans and flying from here to warsaw, ,instead of stockholm. Hmmm
August 28th an article about refugees in Hungary
http://www.dw.com/en/volunteers-and-vigilantes-watch-over-refugees-in-hungary/a-18677868
Hi everyone, I'm sorry the upsdates have been few and far between, im going with as little internet connection as possible. I decided to walk around for a bit, I spent 4 days walking around Iceland and soaking ingeothermic pools, now im taking a couple of days to walk around Scotland because, why not? Ive just rented a short term flat inBudapest and will meeting with and working with the MigSzol Csoport Szeged group to bring in donations and help feed the thousands of Syrian refugees coming across their border every day. I'm exploring the option of a crowdfunded campaign for them, so we'll see. I'll keep you updated on that front. I just wanted all of you to know that if I don't reply to your comments it's not that I don't love you, its usually that im off to someplace else and the internet service is shaky!
August 31st
Hello friends! I made it to Budapest last night, the city seems lovely but my sole interest right now is assisting the Immigrant Solidarity group right now. They're a dedicated group from all walks of life, students to priests.Hopefully I can take some pressure off them with the students retuning. The situation with the Syrian refugees is more dire than I expected. I'd like to start a crowd fund for the basic supplies they need, at least set up a easy way for people to donate. They need lunch supplies, formula, bandages, sleeping gear, the list goes on. You might have heard of the 71 immigrants that died in the back of a food truck. Hundreds are trying to cross every day and these people operate soley on donations. I need advice on the best way to set up financial donations to the group. I think I can set up a crowd fund site, but can something be set up through paypal? Any advice is appreciated, thank you!
I will start with her first post about traveling first to Iceland and then on to Hungary. Hopefully in order.
The first post is one from friend.
For: Ericka Sherman!! August 16, 2015
May your new chapter of your life be smooth sailing!! Some friends pass through your life as their journey flows where & they are going & we only get your spark for a moment!
But you light our lives in ways you'll never know!!!~~~thank YOU for the brief ride & the beautiful impact you
left me with! My heart
Is warm for knowing you! Ericka as you spend the next 3 years volunteering around the world, I bask in your spirit of making your life count!!!! &
making US look to live a well lived life!!
August 21st a link to an article in the Guardian
http://gu.com/p/4byy2/fb
August 25th she has arrived in Iceland.
Iceland is striking, somehow the green scrub is a darker shade when its growing from the black volcanic rock. I came here to sightsee and ive just been walking, and watching the water.Im surrounded by tourists unfortunately so the idea of taking a tour with more of them is unappealing. Im thinking of changing my plans and flying from here to warsaw, ,instead of stockholm. Hmmm
August 28th an article about refugees in Hungary
http://www.dw.com/en/volunteers-and-vigilantes-watch-over-refugees-in-hungary/a-18677868
Hi everyone, I'm sorry the upsdates have been few and far between, im going with as little internet connection as possible. I decided to walk around for a bit, I spent 4 days walking around Iceland and soaking ingeothermic pools, now im taking a couple of days to walk around Scotland because, why not? Ive just rented a short term flat inBudapest and will meeting with and working with the MigSzol Csoport Szeged group to bring in donations and help feed the thousands of Syrian refugees coming across their border every day. I'm exploring the option of a crowdfunded campaign for them, so we'll see. I'll keep you updated on that front. I just wanted all of you to know that if I don't reply to your comments it's not that I don't love you, its usually that im off to someplace else and the internet service is shaky!
August 31st
Hello friends! I made it to Budapest last night, the city seems lovely but my sole interest right now is assisting the Immigrant Solidarity group right now. They're a dedicated group from all walks of life, students to priests.Hopefully I can take some pressure off them with the students retuning. The situation with the Syrian refugees is more dire than I expected. I'd like to start a crowd fund for the basic supplies they need, at least set up a easy way for people to donate. They need lunch supplies, formula, bandages, sleeping gear, the list goes on. You might have heard of the 71 immigrants that died in the back of a food truck. Hundreds are trying to cross every day and these people operate soley on donations. I need advice on the best way to set up financial donations to the group. I think I can set up a crowd fund site, but can something be set up through paypal? Any advice is appreciated, thank you!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Adopted part 1
I have known since I was little that I was adopted. When I visualize images of when I was told I always see St. Vincent's where I went to elementary school. I see the side entrance, I can't recall the street name, directly across from the church's main entrance. When that exact day was I don't know, but when I conjure up when I knew I see myself standing or maybe sitting a car looking at the side entrance to my school, the entrance that would lead you to the upper grades or the gym.
I also have an image even deeper in my past that comes about now when I think of when I knew I was adopted. That image is me looking up from a bassinet, the very one my children lay in when they were babies, the image definitely is inside a car I always have the feeling of hearing a car engine and movement associated with riding in a car. A real image or one conjured and pieced together? I don't know.
I just purchased a new book for my Kindle, totally not novel, pardon the pun, thing on my part. In fact I'd have to say that my budget sometimes creaks because of the books I purchase for my Kindle or in actual book form. This book showed up on a blog written by Karen Spears Zacharias when I was talking with two of our teaching assistants about a murder of a child. Ms. Zacharias wrote a memoir about her relationship with the mother of the murdered child, A Silence of Mockingbirds. I read the entire book my first year in Hermiston after I discovered my teaching colleague was mentioned in the book. That discovery I will leave to you, but I read the book not only because he is mentioned in it, but because several evenings of my first year Ms. Zacharias would come and have discussions with my colleague, long discussions. Anyway back to the second newest edition to my Kindle, Karly Sheehan: True Crime story behind Karly's Law. I downloaded the book after talking with Tim Zacharias at a speech tournament where we were both judges. It was nothing he said, it just occurred to me that I was sitting around waiting for a round I could read this particular book.
Karly's mother, Sarah, lived with the Zacharias' for a time and is the connection to Karly.
I already knew, from the previous book that Sarah was adopted by friend of the Zacharais' and that in itself intrigued me, being adopted myself. As I started reading the book sitting there in the band room of Armand Larvie Middle School, I remembered an email from Ms Zacharias about my being adopted. She said I should write about my experience. I thought harhar Lisa the writer, yeah that will never happen.
Yesterday Mr. Zacharais said my teaching colleague and I should write a book about how we have such good success with our GED students receiving their GEDs despite the national trend. Joseph and me writing a book together, what an even bigger HARHAR. But then I thought about Ms Zacharias' comment about writing a memoir about my being adopted. Still quite the HARHAR, but maybe through my blog? I am not very good at keeping up either of my blogs so adding a third is a bit of a stretch. But I think Grammy Tales is a good place to start and see if I can write something that is worth writing more about. This being my first installment.
I also have an image even deeper in my past that comes about now when I think of when I knew I was adopted. That image is me looking up from a bassinet, the very one my children lay in when they were babies, the image definitely is inside a car I always have the feeling of hearing a car engine and movement associated with riding in a car. A real image or one conjured and pieced together? I don't know.
I just purchased a new book for my Kindle, totally not novel, pardon the pun, thing on my part. In fact I'd have to say that my budget sometimes creaks because of the books I purchase for my Kindle or in actual book form. This book showed up on a blog written by Karen Spears Zacharias when I was talking with two of our teaching assistants about a murder of a child. Ms. Zacharias wrote a memoir about her relationship with the mother of the murdered child, A Silence of Mockingbirds. I read the entire book my first year in Hermiston after I discovered my teaching colleague was mentioned in the book. That discovery I will leave to you, but I read the book not only because he is mentioned in it, but because several evenings of my first year Ms. Zacharias would come and have discussions with my colleague, long discussions. Anyway back to the second newest edition to my Kindle, Karly Sheehan: True Crime story behind Karly's Law. I downloaded the book after talking with Tim Zacharias at a speech tournament where we were both judges. It was nothing he said, it just occurred to me that I was sitting around waiting for a round I could read this particular book.
Karly's mother, Sarah, lived with the Zacharias' for a time and is the connection to Karly.
I already knew, from the previous book that Sarah was adopted by friend of the Zacharais' and that in itself intrigued me, being adopted myself. As I started reading the book sitting there in the band room of Armand Larvie Middle School, I remembered an email from Ms Zacharias about my being adopted. She said I should write about my experience. I thought harhar Lisa the writer, yeah that will never happen.
Yesterday Mr. Zacharais said my teaching colleague and I should write a book about how we have such good success with our GED students receiving their GEDs despite the national trend. Joseph and me writing a book together, what an even bigger HARHAR. But then I thought about Ms Zacharias' comment about writing a memoir about my being adopted. Still quite the HARHAR, but maybe through my blog? I am not very good at keeping up either of my blogs so adding a third is a bit of a stretch. But I think Grammy Tales is a good place to start and see if I can write something that is worth writing more about. This being my first installment.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Life and Harry Potter
I have loved Harry Potter since I forced myself to read the first book at the urging of a student. At 57 I still love it. Exactly why as really never alluded me, I love magic, magical things, and the fight of good over evil. Tonight I have discovered one more thing that makes me watch the films again and again: Harry's friends and allies. Harry is a lucky man having allies who come to help despite what may happen to them. While I don't have friends or allies to begin with, I don't really want any I may have and don't know about to sacrifice for me, it is nice to have some out there. But I don't so my pity party is always attended by me.
I have no friends here outside of work and that really doesn't bother me all that much. Though lately I have found it ever more difficult to just get up in the mornings even when I actually have things I have to get done. I have no allies at work and I have to admit that this week I fell deeply into the pit of self pity and voiced what is better left unsaid.
I say I have no allies and that really isn't totally true. Leah is an ally, though one with little power and I am unwilling to allow her to say anything that might jeopardize her job. I think Shawnaci is just using her position as a holding point until her business gets into gear and that is fine because she is doing a good job despite all that Joseph is piling on her.
Joseph is getting his second assistant because can't seem to operate without two. I have to operate with just one. This week he told me I wouldn't be with only one person next year because we were getting a Math and Science teacher. Great, he gets a new teacher and a second assistant and I get a new teacher with my single assistant. That's fair. Or not.
This past week we were told our book list was not going to be supported, then Joseph had a talk with our Principal and now we are getting our book list. But my request for an iPad to use in class with the students has been denied again. Joseph says, maybe he should go with me and talk with the Principal about the iPad. Not a true ally when he always gets what he wants and I usually don't and when I do it is projected that it is a great concession and by implication I should be ever grateful.
I hate that this iPad request has made me bitter and extremely depressed. Every time I say my opinion I fear that I will get axed and I have no where to go. Kelsey and her family have trashed my home and she gets upset when I mention it so I essentially have no where to go. I don't even like going home and staying with them when I visit because of the mess. So I have decided when I do go home I will stay at a motel which will cost me a pretty penny and that is the price I pay I guess.
Also, I like Mrs. Norris. I love cats though I don't have one at the moment. I would have one if I could have three pets, but I can't and that is probably a good thing I guess. I won't become a cat lady again, but the restriction on the number of pets makes me want to find a house where I can have my dogs and at least one cat. But renting a house costs a lot of money and well I don't have a lot of money. If Kelsey helped me by paying rent so I could pay the property taxes then maybe I could rent a house. What I want more than anything is for my family to do well and not have to worry about money. If they had that, then I could also do well and not worry about money. We don't ever seem to get a break, though I have a fear that if they got the break the one who got it would be the one who got the break and the rest of us would have no benefit. Sorry that I wouldn't be falling over with happiness, but I am sick and tired of helping out and really getting nothing in return but the lie that I will be paid back. I have yet to be paid back, oh wait Kelsey paid me back once. Which is the problem her husband should be working at a real job, not a part time something or other that isn't steady and doesn't seem to help them out at all. Oh maybe he gets enough to pay for cigarettes and beer, but as of now I don't see any benefit for being Gary's handyman at all.
I am very bitter and I can't seem to get out of it, sigh. The beautiful weather should help, but isn't.
I have no friends here outside of work and that really doesn't bother me all that much. Though lately I have found it ever more difficult to just get up in the mornings even when I actually have things I have to get done. I have no allies at work and I have to admit that this week I fell deeply into the pit of self pity and voiced what is better left unsaid.
I say I have no allies and that really isn't totally true. Leah is an ally, though one with little power and I am unwilling to allow her to say anything that might jeopardize her job. I think Shawnaci is just using her position as a holding point until her business gets into gear and that is fine because she is doing a good job despite all that Joseph is piling on her.
Joseph is getting his second assistant because can't seem to operate without two. I have to operate with just one. This week he told me I wouldn't be with only one person next year because we were getting a Math and Science teacher. Great, he gets a new teacher and a second assistant and I get a new teacher with my single assistant. That's fair. Or not.
This past week we were told our book list was not going to be supported, then Joseph had a talk with our Principal and now we are getting our book list. But my request for an iPad to use in class with the students has been denied again. Joseph says, maybe he should go with me and talk with the Principal about the iPad. Not a true ally when he always gets what he wants and I usually don't and when I do it is projected that it is a great concession and by implication I should be ever grateful.
I hate that this iPad request has made me bitter and extremely depressed. Every time I say my opinion I fear that I will get axed and I have no where to go. Kelsey and her family have trashed my home and she gets upset when I mention it so I essentially have no where to go. I don't even like going home and staying with them when I visit because of the mess. So I have decided when I do go home I will stay at a motel which will cost me a pretty penny and that is the price I pay I guess.
Also, I like Mrs. Norris. I love cats though I don't have one at the moment. I would have one if I could have three pets, but I can't and that is probably a good thing I guess. I won't become a cat lady again, but the restriction on the number of pets makes me want to find a house where I can have my dogs and at least one cat. But renting a house costs a lot of money and well I don't have a lot of money. If Kelsey helped me by paying rent so I could pay the property taxes then maybe I could rent a house. What I want more than anything is for my family to do well and not have to worry about money. If they had that, then I could also do well and not worry about money. We don't ever seem to get a break, though I have a fear that if they got the break the one who got it would be the one who got the break and the rest of us would have no benefit. Sorry that I wouldn't be falling over with happiness, but I am sick and tired of helping out and really getting nothing in return but the lie that I will be paid back. I have yet to be paid back, oh wait Kelsey paid me back once. Which is the problem her husband should be working at a real job, not a part time something or other that isn't steady and doesn't seem to help them out at all. Oh maybe he gets enough to pay for cigarettes and beer, but as of now I don't see any benefit for being Gary's handyman at all.
I am very bitter and I can't seem to get out of it, sigh. The beautiful weather should help, but isn't.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Talking to myself
Heh! The other day I was having a conversation on the phone with my daughter while at work. My assistant, Leah, was listening in. When the call ended she smiled at me and said, "What's it like talking to yourself?" It seems Kelsey and I sound very much alike. It made me think about my children and how I miss them so living so far from home. I still call Salem home, my plan is to move home at some point, though I don't when that will be.
I also know I am just talking to myself when I write here, but it honestly does help to get my thoughts in order and to air my brain of the cobwebs of dealing with the stress at work. Somewhat incongruent I suppose, cobwebs sort of bring to mind a lack of goings on, where stress is a chaotic blend of too much going on. So much going on and so little able to come out today.
I also know I am just talking to myself when I write here, but it honestly does help to get my thoughts in order and to air my brain of the cobwebs of dealing with the stress at work. Somewhat incongruent I suppose, cobwebs sort of bring to mind a lack of goings on, where stress is a chaotic blend of too much going on. So much going on and so little able to come out today.
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