Notes for 27-years-and-5-months-old Phil

... even if he won't really understand.

Dear Phil,

Remember:

  • Samos is a beautiful Greek island. With beaches, mountains, history and all the lures of a typical holiday destination from which you might expect.
  • Samos is an inhabited island. It has shops, hospitals, cafes, bars, clubs, ATMs. You're not going there to be marooned.
  • Don't say "I'm hungry" flippantly. Or ever.
  • Don't say "football should be fun and happy" when people start getting competitive. Especially if you're coming from having 'won' the lottery of being from a place with freedom, opportunities, safety.
  • RE: The police. "Serve + Protect." Who? "You and your friends" is not the correct answer.
  • 'All Star' by Smash Mouth is a great boogie / sing along. Leave it at that and don't add it to your karaoke play list. There's a second verse you have no idea about.
  • Your patience will be tested. You will feel like a horrible person for feeling anger towards innocent, needy and traumatised children.
  • Stop your fantasising. They're your fantasies, which is the one thing this shouldn't be about.
  • Learn to like humble pie. You'll be forced to digest it over, and over, and over, and over...
  • Communicating is easy - but only if you find a common language. The good thing is that sometimes, that common language is as simple as standing in silence with someone in the same space. Common ground. Smile.
  • If you're the driver, always know the way.
  • Get it out of your head that 'these people have nothing.' They may be limited in material resources and their opportunities for now, but they all bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, experience, humour and humility with them.
  • You can't remember the last time you cried but it was probably about yourself.. You'll also learn and confirm that you have the sensitivity and openness to cry for others. You will be overwhelmed.
  • Don't take your physical health for granted.
  • "They need our help." - There are many things wrong with this thinking. They, as individuals, don't need anything from us as individuals. But they deserve their rights. They deserve to keep their dignity in tact. You are there to enable this. They don't need your sympathy but show love, care and compassion.
From,

27-years-and-6-months-old Phil

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