Questions....

Three posts in the space of about 3 days? Must be a world record for me...

On the train this morning I was dozing and staring at my lap (no window seat for me) when I heard from across the aisle "Do you believe in God?"
Luckily this wasnt addressed to me - because if it was, in my half asleep state I would of just stared dumbly and went "huh?"

So I curiously turned around to stare at the row of seats next to me (discreetly of course) and watched as a young Muslim girl handed over a tissue to a slightly older lady who was having a bit of a cry by the looks of things.

They then conversed for a little bit, about what I couldnt really hear because the herd of school kids were jabbering louder than normal (watching school kids on the train is like watching the apes at the zoo).

But this got me to thinking (shocking I know...but there's more).

First of all I will admit that I dont "have" a religion, in that I dont really fit into a category as such. I dont go to church or a mosque, I have read parts of the Bible - but not the whole thing, I studied Anthropology at Uni, but wouldnt really describe myself as an atheist.
I read my starsign and in turns believe it and laugh at it, I like the idea of magic and wish that there was more magic in everyday life...some nights I will wish on stars.

Okay so with that announcement out of the way...yet another clarification: I am naive. I dont understand half of the stuff that is going on in the world. There's several wars being fought and I dont know how or why they started or why they are even continuing.
So just remember this is not a religious political debate, because I dont understand politics.

I am trying to get to a point - but I have to make all of these points so everyone can get the idea of what I'm trying to say and not accuse me of anything disastrous. Just know that this is the rambling of someone who just wants to understand what is going on in the world.

When did life become so hard? When did having a religion mean you automatically became an enemy/friend/ally/alien?
Isnt religion meant to be simple - a matter of faith in a higher power? When did so much political factoring come into it all? Arent we all meant to be free to do whatever we want in our lives - without fear of persecution?

Same with our Country of origin...how scary is it that some American tourists pretend to be Canadians when they're overseas?
When I went to the US last year I laughingly joked with my friends that I was going to pretend to be English, Australian & New Zealander on different days of the week.
Will there ever be a point in time where if I say I'm an Australian or New Zealander I'd get treated with suspicion?

Well actually that point has already been reached with the Bali bombings.
I used to sit in the park across from the call centre where the Bali memorial is set up - and watch the fountain...wondering about this world we live in.

So once again I repeat...when did life become so hard? The world become so terrifying? Was there ever a time in history when someone somewhere wasnt damned because of their religion/beliefs/skin colour/sex/race/home country/hair colour/weight? Or has this always been the case?
If so...the human race is a terrifying thing to behold.

And after all those deep thoughts...I got off the train and walked up the steps at the station to be handed a "Dianetics" pamphlet by the Church of Scientology.

Sometimes...you've got to laugh....

Say what now?

Yesterday I went out to lunch as part of a business meeting - so as part of the day I caught a taxi to the restaurant with one of the other managers attending.

He's new, been here a week and is still learning all about the position. He's also VERY chatty, in fact so chatty that I learned all about his separation from his wife, his new girlfriend, his 19month old daughter, the battle over the house, his estranged-wife running away with his 19month old daughter.....
And this was all in the space of a 10 minute walk to the Taxi Stand.

I'm a good listener...I can say that, I do listen. But I was more shocked than really providing a kind ear to his woes.
In fact half of his woes seemed like something pilfered from a daytime Soap script.

There's his estranged-wife who hates his guts half the time, but calls him in fits of tears and he runs to the rescue.
His 19month daughter whom he never sees - and who is now getting whisked away to England by the mother who wouldnt even let him say goodbye.
Then there is his charming & beautiful girlfriend - who is 12 years older than him and has a 16 year old son who grew up in Hong Kong with his father and has only been living with his mother for the last year.

Someone pass me the popcorn! And it better be the caremalised popcorn!

There's no place like home

Well here we go for...what is it now? The third home for the StrawberryKiwi blog/website/thingy.

Hopefully this one will stick around for awhile before disappearing or being moved elsewhere! LOL...I'm glad in real life I dont move around as often as this poor site! I'd constantly be living out of boxes...

Speaking of boxes our new home is relatively unpacked. When I say "relatively" I mean that I am unpacked - and that Vladdy is still living out of boxes.
But I'm getting better at this "nagging" thing so will keep working on him...