READ YOUR BIBLE or something

Hey Charlie!

There’s this book that I would really like you to read. It’s called “Frères d’exil” by Kotchka (well ok it's not the bible but nearly). Now I know that it’s not in English, but as Okakura Kakuzo said “All translation is treason” so you’ll have to read it in French I’m sorry.

Anyway, this book is the story of a family of three fleeing their native island that is sinking under the rising sea level. My ten-year-old sister read this book for school and her teacher told her that even if the island in the book is fictional there are still people in the world in the same situation as the refugees of “Frères d’exil”. She told them that we can all do our part in helping these people out, and what can ten-year-olds do? They can give the book to another person who then gives it to another person until the whole world knows what refugees go through, because everyone needs to know that they are human beings just like us that have had to leave their home against their will to a foreign country. They are not just numbers!

My sister Madeleine can do more than just pass on the book to raise awareness, she happens to know Sally and Yahyah and their son Farouk. They are a young family of Syrian immigrants who currently live at our friends’ house while waiting for the statute of refugee. They’ve come to our house a couple of times and made a huge Syrian meal to share with us. It’s amazing how much they trust us, they let Madeleine play with baby Farouk unsupervised and they told us their story without wondering why we were asking for so many details. We ask for so many details because unfortunately, the more gruesome their story, the longer they’ll be able to stay. 

So, my message to you is READ THAT BOOK its message is universal and if you have the time and energy go out there and help, you can host a family like our friends, be their “driver” like my mum (as our friends can’t look after them in the day time she drives them around Marseille so they can get their food, she queues up with them to get their papers done, she explains everything to them…) or just get in contact with an association and ask them what you can do.

I would lend you mine but I left it in Lille by accident, it's illustrated and very moving so READ IT