Leaving, But Will Not Abandon!
>> Sunday, April 4, 2021
I have been blogging since November 2007, but for this specific blog, I have started only in April of 2009. And yet, of all the blogs I started, this is the only one that has perhaps withstood the test of time. Sure, I have reached more than too many periods of hiatus and come backs, but this blog has remained, thankfully. Maybe it's because I love cooking, I love exploring anything about food, and I also love to share any new information about food. Food, to me, is synonymous to comfort, that whatever happens in my life, it is ever present - whether I prepare it or someone does it for me. I guess that explains why this blog is a survivor, just as its owner. And most of my experiences, especially with food, wherever I may be, are mostly shared here.
My life right now is at another threshold. Our embassy has been sending Filipinos home since last year, at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic. Me and my co-teachers stayed on because we didn't find it worrisome since we taught online and well, we felt safer just staying at home, and conducting everything at home. But something changed all that. February changed the lives of all people who are here in Myanmar, whether its a local or a foreigner, events that took place since that 1st day has a very big impact on changing our lives. People no longer worried about COVID 19, but something else has replaced it. I don't need to discuss further what everyone knows already, but for those who don't, I will dedicate another post for that.
To get to the point, I and another co-teacher, will be going back home soon. Now that I think about it, writing on blogs make people aware of what's going on in the world. Blogs can be written even by ordinary persons like me, and just to be clear, not all influencers are celebrities, and not all celebrities are influencers. Writing on my blog, and sharing it to all social media, will help make people aware of what's truly going on in this part of the world. People who do this are often called an "Influencer". Influencers help in disseminating information, as well as promoting brands. In fact, today's biggest brands are being built by influencers, and not necessarily the celebrities we see on screen. So yeah, me, writing on my blog- on this blog, and sharing my posts in social media makes me an influencer too. That will be me being the voice of my friends and the people of the riverside, in Mandalay, Myanmar. But who am I to be their voice? I am Mommy Dharlz. Not everyone in the world knows me. I may have my audience, a few at least, but maybe, from there we can grow and get a spark going to help them. I guess in my own small way, it will be a great help already. I am actually inspired by this lady I saw on a video, Jessica Gury, the influencer who taught a lot of lunch boxing moms how to make healthy and exciting lunches for their kids. It started out simple, and now she has a dedicated website for just that, and moms are learning, and appreciating all that they can actually do for their kids' lunches.
So with the revival of my blogging journey, I have actually felt the need for my blogs to be of use in a different way, especially now that I know a lot of people here need their voices be heard. Since the pandemic, a lot of people lost jobs, and all means of survival, with the closing of the different industries. Matters became worse this year, that their sense of hope here have become futile. As an influencer with a limited means while in the country, I have felt inner growth. Quite ironic, I must say. Inner growth in the sense that my drive to influence and promote peace, has become very challenging, especially because we have limited time to use the Internet, but it has not wavered, rather, it fuels me to do more. So working in limited conditions have taught me to use time wisely, than ever. I wanted to be useful so I thought of raising funds through our Online Garage Sale page on Facebook, where me and my co teacher sold our items at a very low price. However, it wasn't really that successful as a lot of foreigners who are also leaving have also sold their things at very low prices. But getting a little is better than nothing.
The other day, we have concluded the sales at Online Garage Sale and we were able to donate, from the sales of some items, only 125,000 MMK and $10, which I forwarded yesterday to Holding Umbrellas Foundation/GAIA Food Relief in Mandalay. The unsold items will be collected by The Way Station Vineyard, a group that feeds the people of the riverside, and also supports the Women's Cooperative in the riverside. Specific items that I used to prepare food on will be donated to them, and surely they can help them a lot. The Food Dehydrator that I used to dry fruits, vegetables, herbs and even make jerky with, will surely be very helpful for the group.
The vacuum sealer can maximize the potential of whatever business they will venture on in the future. Below is the packed Chicken Adobo Jerky, as well as the dried fruits dried from my dehydrator, I made last year. These were for personal consumption only. But imagine if they were made into a business. Well, that is what I envision for the Women's Cooperative and my dehydrator and vacuum sealer.
I can already smile at the thought that simple things I used to work on in the kitchen, will be put to good use. We are also donating the mixer with stand to the group. I can imagine more packs of goodies from the Women's Cooperative now.
The director and some of his staff will come and get the said items along with the unsold items from our Online Garage Sale this week. He told me how excited the women were upon hearing that they will soon have said items, so I am optimistic things will be better for them. But of course, it doesn't have to end at the giving part. I will be proposing to them a way where we could collaborate so that more help will be given to this start up community, and help the people of the riverside survive somehow. In this way, I can use my blog as a voice to promote and seek more resources to help this group, and at the same time, grow as a blogger and influencer helping a community in my second home, Myanmar.
I hope Mommy Dharlz can influence a lot of people for this project that I am going to propose. Updates about it will be posted soon. I may leave my second home, but I am not going to abandon the people who needs my help.
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