The Wayfarer Global - Nov 2021 by SSA Global

NOVEMBER 2021

THE WAYFARER SSA GLOBAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Expo 2020 Dubai , Cover photo by Nedjoua Yakhlef, SSA Dubai, United Arab Emirates

SSA GLOBAL COMMUNITY FACEBOOK PAGE

TAKE A PEEK! SSA GLOBAL COORDINATOR LETTER - 3

MEET THE SSA BOARD - 6

THE LONGEST SUMMER BREAK - 8

SAFEGUARDING HEALTH - 12

LIFE AT FORTY - 16

EXPO DUBAI 2020 - 20

REACH THE PEAK OF MOUNT EVEREST AT HOME - 24

FOSTERING STRAY CATS - 25

NOT SO NIHILIST, A POEM - 27

TOKIO MEDALS -29

WELCOME BACK ABERDEEN! - 31

REFLECTIONS ON 'SAPIENS' BY YUVAL NOAH HARARI - 33

MEXICO INDEPENDENCE DAY - 36

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS SESSION - 38

MONDAY CHALLENGES! - 39

THE PERMITS FOUNDATION - 42

OUR JOURNEY TO ECUADOR - 45

ALOHA HAWAII! - 49

LAST MINUTE TRIP, HABIBI - 53

RECIPES - 55

HI EVERYONE! BY VALERIA BRASILI, NEWSLETTER EDITOR

This edition of The Wayfarer once again shares stories from all around the world. Thank you everyone who contributed and those who are doubting about it, please don't be shy! I hope you all enjoy all the material sent by local chapters coordinators and their members. See you soon!

WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS! The Global Board has opened a Call for Applications! SSA Europe/Russia Coordinator SSA Global Coordinator

Area

The Area Coordinator candidate needs to live in Europe/Russia but the position of Global Coordinator can be done from any location! For more info please contact Pia Dey Verma, SSA Global Coordinator (pia.ssa.gc@gmail.com) or Valeria Brasili, SSA Global Communications Coordinator (valeria.ssa.gcc@gmail.com) 2

AUTUMN GREETINGS! BY PIA DEY VERMA, SSA GLOBAL COORDINATOR

I am curled up on my sofa in a little London apartment that we are temporarily living in. A familiar situation for many of SSA members through the years who are in the middle of a move. The mad house hunting, the uncertain shipment schedules, the stress – made more fun by COVID restrictions – all are a part of the game. Walking the ‘blue trail’ truly makes us stronger! Now that the weather is turning colder (or hotter, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere), it’s the beginning of my most favourite part of the year – the HOLIDAY SEASON!

Growing up in India, autumn meant kicking off a series of festivals. It would start with the skies turning bluer and the excitement building up. I remember my mother buying cloth, buttons, lace, ribbons, thread and lots more. She would pore over patterns in magazines and would then get busy. The material she bought would be turned into dresses for me (with large, practical pockets), pyjamas for my father and grandfather, blouses for her and much more. Tea cloths, cushion covers, tablecloths, etc. would be embroidered and hemmed and we would wait for 3

Durga Puja to begin! Which meant holidays and being off to see parts of the country we had never gone before! Diwali would soon follow. The days before it would be spent in buying firecrackers (we weren’t adventurous enough to make them at home as some people did) and warming them in the sun. My mother wasn’t much into making sweets at home but she would make the nicest fried snacks! The house would be cleaned till it shone and every window had new curtains that my mother would have spent hours stitching and hanging up. Before long, the year would stretch itself out, loosen up and then rolled up its sleeves for Christmas and the New Year. I remember queueing up with my mother to buy the old school candied fruit studded rum cakes and chicken pattice at Nahoum and Sons in Kolkata (or Calcutta, as it was known then) – a confectionary which, I believe, first opened its doors at the turn of the 20th century. Selfishly, I would be more interested in beyond the New Year – as my birthday lay around the corner. I would look forward to the pile of new books that always came with it. 4

So yes, Autumn meant new beginnings, excitement, hope, family, celebration and a feeling of being loved. What are your autumn favourites, dear readers? I would love to hear your stories! With hope in my heart and a prayer for a safer, better tomorrow on my lips. Pia

MEET THE SSA GLOBAL BOARD

GLOBAL COORDINATOR INTERIM AREA COORDINATOR EUROPE / RUSSIA: PIA DEY VERMA (PIA.SSA.GC@GMAIL.COM)

EX-OFFICIO GLOBAL COORDINATOR: ELSA SCHEFFLER (ELSASCHEFFLERSSA@GMAIL.COM)

GLOBAL BOARD SECRETARY: SHWETA BHAT (SECRETARYSSAGLOBAL@GMAIL.COM)

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: VALERIA BRASILI (VALERIA.SSA.GCC@GMAIL.COM)

GLOBAL WEBMASTER: ERNA FARIZAN (ERNAFARIZAN@GMAIL.COM)

MEET THE SSA GLOBAL BOARD

AREA COORDINATOR MIDDLE EAST ASIA: IRMA INDRASARI (SSA.MEA.AC@GMAIL.COM)

AREA COORDINATOR NORTH AMERICA: ASTERIA SYLVESTER (ASTERSLY2018@GMAIL.COM)

AREA COORDINATOR - AFRICA: PALLAVI VAID (VAID.PALLAVI@GMAIL.COM)

AREA COORDINATOR ASIA/AUSTRALIA: PREETI CHOWDHARY (PREETIKALER83@GMAIL.COM)

AREA COORDINATOR LATIN AMERICA: MARYESTHER LEON (LEONMARYESTHER@GMAIL.COM)

ARTICLES THE LONGEST SUMMER BREAK OF 2021 BY IRMA INDRASARI, SSA ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Travelling back home since the start of the pandemic in 2020 is not an easy decision for anybody, especially if traveling with family. As we had being monitoring the situation though media, we were prepared for anything unexpected. We had also checked with QHSE manager in Indonesia to make sure that we were following all the Schlumberger travel advise during our trip to our home country. Our journey began on 5th June 2021 and we planned to go back to Abu Dhabi on 15th July 2021. Our trip from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta was very smooth. From the airport we went straight to the quarantine hotel. We had to stay there for 5 days before we could continue our journey to our hometown. Quarantine life was not as easy as we thought, however we were trying to enjoy ourselves by fulfilling our days with some activities such as doing sports, singing and cleaning our room, as housekeeper was not allowed in during days of quarantine.

However, the situation changed unexpectedly! We were supposed to leave on 15th July 2021, and the news shocked us when the border became closed until further notice. To be honest, when I saw how the pandemic was being dealt in my hometown a voice in my head suspected that they could close the borders, why I didn't listen?

Our plans had changed completely. Thanks to Schlumberger that always comes up with very good plans as they always put safety as a priority. As my husband was still doing work from home from Abu Dhabi, he could keep working from Indonesia. Therefore, we just had to wait in our hometown until the borders open. How we coped with this situation? Personally, my mood was not easy. I have never imagined that the second wave of Covid 19 would catch us at its peak and abroad… But we had to keep calm and take care of our mental health, very important when facing a hard situation. The city was very quiet, every resident just stayed home unless really necessary. As the situation improved, the Indonesian government put a lot of effort to fight the pandemic and we also has a lot of things to do to escape from the tension.

Once the city crisis level moved to a lower stage, they let us do some outdoor activities. It was very nice to have hikings to see some nature…we really needed it. And as this summer break was the longest we've spent, we had a chance to explore more on Indonesia Food Galore. First row from the left to the right, Grilled Chicken with Tempe and Red Rice, Mie Goreng aka Fried Noodle, and Chicken Satay. Second row from the left to right, Indonesian Dessert (most of them has a glutinous rice powder as a material and the savory one was on a plate content of shredded cassava), Chicken Porridge and the Spicy Grilled Chicken, has a specific name, we call it Ayam Taliwang, since this food comes from West Nusa Tenggara.

SAFEGUARDING HEALTH BY AMNA AZHAR, SSA ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

Immunizations, also known as vaccinations, help protect you from getting an infectious disease. It is much safer to get the vaccine than an infectious disease because the risks associated with vaccines are very low compared with the risks of the diseases they are designed to prevent. Immunization works by triggering the immune system to fight against certain diseases. If a vaccinated person comes in contact with these diseases, their immune system is able to respond more effectively. Immunization saves lives. It protects you, your family and your community. It helps protect future generations by eradicating diseases. Many infectious diseases are rare or eradicated now as a result of immunization programs, but new infectious diseases are appearing around the world and we are currently facing a pandemic that made the importance of vaccines more significant.

The reason I am using this platform to highlight the importance of getting vaccines is that sadly in our country some people think that the side effects outweigh the benefits of a vaccine. We are still fighting to eradicate Polio in our country while it has been long eradicated from rest of the world except Afghanistan. As far as Covid and the Delta variant is concerned you can play your role in protecting your health by getting the shots timely and according to the schedule and by not throwing caution to the wind. We still have to wear masks and avoid large crowds. Even if someone gets Covid after being fully vaccinated the chances of complications are less. Now I will summarize the important vaccines for infants, school going children, pregnant women and all adults. For Infants and Children: At birth OPV and BCG At 6 , 10 and 14 weeks (Internationally its 2, 4 and 6 months): Hexavalent (DPT,HiB, Hep B and IPV) or pentavalent DPT,HiB,HBV PCV (pneumococcal Conjugate) Rotavirus (2 doses 2 months apart) At 12 to 15 months: Varicella, MMR Dose1, Hepatitis A (Total 2 doses 6 months apart) 1st booster of Hexavalent

At 4-6 years: 2nd booster of hexavalent MMR Dose 2 Influenza vaccine (every year) Typhoid Meningococcal Conjugate (single dose booster. Can be given to anyone above 2 years of age) At 10 years: TT (tetanus toxoid) Influenza vaccine (every year) For girls HPV (Total 3 doses at 0,1 and 6 months) For Pregnant Women: Did you know a baby gets disease immunity (protection) from mother during pregnancy? This can protect baby from some diseases during the first few months of life, but immunity decreases over time so one should get the baby vaccinated on time. Indicated vaccines: TDap (during 27-36 weeks) and flu shots in flu season. Contraindicated vaccines: MMR and varicella Before conception: Make sure you have a pre-pregnancy blood test to see if you are immune to the disease Rubella. The best protection against it is the MMR(measlesmumps-rubella) vaccine. If a woman doesn’t have its immunization it is important for her to get its shot before she tries to get pregnant to reduce the risk of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in the infant as it can cause severe birth defects. It’s a live attenuated vaccine so its not indicated during pregnancy.

For Adults: Covid-19 vaccine Influenza (flu) vaccine every year TT You may need other vaccines according to your age, health conditions or travel habits.

*Dr. Amna Azhar is a physician and all the information provided by her is approved by the Ministry of Health of Pakistan. This article was written by a member but the SSA is not giving out medical advice. Please, consult with your physician.

LIFE AT FORTY BY KRUPA BHARDWAJ, SSA PUNE, INDIA

When I was a child, nobody I knew was forty years of age. My parents were not yet forty, and in a juvenile manner of projecting this fact, none of my friends’ parents were too. Anyone who referred to my parents as ‘Bhai-Bhabhi’ or used their names, were automatically considered as Aunty and Uncle, regardless of age. Anyone who seemed older, was of course a geriatric. Soon, my father turned 40, and my brother and I started checking out birthday cards meant for older people at the local Archies Gallery. They were filled with messages that caused us to roll our eyes and dismiss the idiosyncrasies of adults. ‘Life begins at 40’ was something that was a popular choice, followed by the saucy ‘Naughty at 40’ and then lastly the very insipid ‘Happy Birthday Parent’ ones. We just couldn’t imagine what people meant by ‘life beginning at 40’, since people who were forty were clearly old, and at odds with what we, as millennials, thought. It didn’t help that we stumbled upon articles talking about midlife crisis, menopause and myalgia; all this really sounded like the ‘old age’ knell – the beginning of the end.

And then, life happened, and got filled with experiences. Many dreams came true and warmed my soul, a few people left and broke my heart. Degrees, careers, marriage, children, travel and multiple moves kept me busy and before I knew it, I was celebrating my 40th birthday. I expected it to be a day filled with epiphanies, but honestly, I felt nothing. My ageist mindset was telling me I should feel old, as I had naively perceived in my childhood, but this was not the situation. This got me to think if anything changed at all; and to my surprise, so much actually has! The first thing that comes to mind is that though I feel young, my body is rejecting what I thought was normal. Recovery is a bit slower, hormones are playing new tricks and wrinkles are getting prominent. Parties that end at 9pm sound marvellous, hangovers are best avoided and of course I will not commit to doing two different things on the same day. And even if I do, the next day is blocked for recovery.

Secondly, there is an absurd sense of urgency that is slowly growing. Presuming half my life has been spent, now there is no time to lose. The other half has to be spent well, if not better. Added to this, is a fear of my own mortality, and of course that of my parents and grandparents too.

On the brighter side, I see a confidence that I certainly didn’t have in my 20s. Naivete and uncertainty plagued me in those years, but now it is so comfortable and convenient to be self-assured and articulate. The number of cares I give to immaterial things and dysfunctional friendships is slowly inching towards zero, and it is so much easier to convincingly say ‘No’. I understand now the need to ensure my mental wellbeing. Around my mid-30s, I had a full plate dealing with two kids below 2, a new location, no good friends and of course no career. Anxiety led to health concerns, hopelessness, irritability, insomnia and depression. There was only one thing to do to fix this – talk to a good psychologist. It was a gift to myself – to place myself in a safe space where I could express myself freely without being judged. At no point did I think it was shameful, and today I am in a much better place. Lastly, quite a few seemingly random dots in my life have connected to make some sense. This is obviously all in hindsight, but now I believe in my karma. Whatever happened, happened for a reason, and by that logic, whatever will happen, will happen for a reason. It doesn’t stop me from doing what I want to, it just gives me a purpose and faith to keep moving forward.

So, did life really ‘begin’ at 40 for me? Not really, I would rather say I am still 18, with about 22 years of experience! My dear mother promises me that the 50s and 60s are far more interesting. So guess, who is going to swap her ageist mentality for a lifetime of being 18 till she dies … with an added 32, or 42, or 52, or even maybe 62 years of fun, adventure and wisdom? Yep, that’s me!

EXPO DUBAI 2020 BY NEDJOUA YAKHLEF, SSA DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Expo 2020 is a World Expo, currently hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 1st October 2021 to 31th March 2022. Originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expo 2020 Dubai will be a celebration of the UAE Vision 2021 by supporting the growth of tourism, stimulating the development of innovative businesses in the UAE, and enhancing the country's international reputation as a location to do business. It’s a festival and a platform where people from all over the world come together and connect with each other, share ideas, learn and innovate.

Date and time: 7 days a week | 10:00-00:00 Sat-Wed | 10:00-02:00 Thu-Fri. Accessibility: By car it will take you 40 minutes to reach the Expo site from Downtown Dubai.

You can also use the Dubai Metro. Expo 2020 will have its own dedicated Dubai Metro Station on the route 2020 line, with carriages capable to transporting 40,000 passengers per hour to and from the site.

The subthemes of Expo 2020 Dubai Opportunity is unlocking the potential for individuals and communities to shape the future. Mobility is to create smarter and more productive movement of people, goods and ideas, both physically and virtually. Sustainability is respecting and living in balance with the world we inhabit.

Expo site & Main assets At the heart of the Expo 2020 site will be the Al Wasl Plaza. This will be focal point for the celebrations over the six months. Historically, Dubai was called Al Wasl, or the “Connection”, because it connected people from all over the region. Visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai will gather at Al Wasl Plaza to enjoy celebrations and cultural events from 192 countries. Based on the subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, there will be three thematic districts at the Expo site. Each thematic district will be anchored by a thematic pavilion, also based on the subthemes. The thematic pavilions will house interactive exhibitions and engaging content to explore the themes in a fun and entertaining way. Each Thematic District will also include performance spaces, innovation galleries and art installations and outdoor gardens.

Country pavilions There are 200 pavilions in Expo 2020, out of which 191 pavilions are representative of participating countries. For the first time in World Expo history, every participating country will have its own pavilion. Enjoy immersive cultural experiences and discover what makes each country unique as you explore hundreds of pavilions.

Expo 2020 tickets Your ticket will give you access to a once-in-a-lifetime experience, including 60 live shows a day, futureshaping technologies, performances from worldfamous artists, daily parades, cutting-edge architecture, special celebrations and more than 200 food and beverage outlets serving a world of cuisines. There is free access for children aged five and under and seniors aged 65 and over.

REACH THE PEAK OF MOUNT EVEREST AT HOME BY FIONA LOPEZ, SSA AL KHOBAR, SAUDI ARABIA

Our family spent our second long, hot summer in Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia) due to our concerns about travelling during the pandemic. I found myself being very inactive as it was too hot to go outside. I decided to ‘climb Everest’ on our stairs at home. I roughly calculated that if I went up the stairs 2514 times that would be the equivalent height of reaching the submit of Everest from sea level. It took me 80 days but I enjoyed the challenge. It helped me sleep better at night and improved my fitness!

MY EXPERIENCE FOSTERING STRAY CATS BY VALERIA BRASILI, SSA ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

My experience as expat started in March 2020, when I arrived in Abu Dhabi to settle down and have the opportunity to explore the city and country that will embrace us for who knows how long...? But Pandemic happened and took away all my plans. So I searched for new ideas to entertain myself, and bring some joy during a lockdown that was taking more than the first two weeks proposed by government. I recall an activity my youngest sister has been doing for the past years, and she has strongly recommended to all of us: Fostering stray animals. Dirty, Sick, Misbehaved stray animals? My fears were plenty, but having seing so many stray cats in Abu Dhabi and being my almost only choice (volunteer activities had been stopped until further notice) I contacted a refuge. They were desperate for help. My first experience was with Lucy: a ginger cat that had lived in the streets for 3 years, but was found so dehydrated that needed proper care or would die. She stayed with me for 3 months, and found a forever home in UK.

It was such a great experience that as soon as I came back from holidays, I received a new one. This was Mika: a 3 years old lady that was found living in the streets with a strong pneumonia, and after 4 months in the vet was finally ready to be at a foster home. We all loved her from the first day and she stayed at home for 7 months. She's at her forever home now. Now I'm helping with Bruce Lee: a black and white boy who was abandoned at the vet when he was just a kitty. He's not as sweet as Mika or Lucy, but he's the funniest. He loves to play Hide and Seek with me. Truth is I didn't considered myself an animal person, I never had had a cat or dog of my own. My husband used to say he didn't like cats at all. Now I remind him this every time I catch him cuddling, pampering or speaking to the cats as if they were babies, haha.. Their eyes says Thank you for the food, the love, the meds when needed, the shelter to sleep far from the extreme heat. But I hope mine says that they fill my heart with love in exchange.

NOT SO NIHILIST, A POEM BY FATIMA IMRAN MALIK, SSA ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

I learnt all about this heart break, About this difficult world, the hard way I learnt that it takes a life time to build yourself up, And a minute to be broken down. That you can be a hero for a second, But if you make a single mistake you're a clown. I see, now, that you can't always win, that it takes a lot of guts to do what is right. Sometimes you have to admit that you're wrong, And sometimes you have to lose a fight It takes a million pieces of your own, To help someone; only for them to leave you alone At any time that they want, whenever it is convenient Why are they so tough when I was so lenient? I see now that well thought out plans fail and best friends fallout. I learnt to drink down my anger and not to shout Or when to stand firm and use my voice, or that some people won't give me any choice. I must try to help those who need it and strive for good, Do what I can for whoever I could. To advise and aid those I can, To help as many as possible in their plans.

I learnt that I have to see right through the liars, cheats, fakers and thieves To filter their words, from my life, with a sieve. I learnt that I could be like them and do the same To hide a few cards up my sleeve and play their game. I learnt that I know almost absolutely nothing, If I pretend otherwise then I am joking. I learnt that the only thing I can do really, Is to be the person I am, sincerely.

TOKIO MEDALS BY RASHA AZAB, SSA KUWAIT, KUWAIT

Now, as we witness the conclusion of the Olympic Games in Tokyo this year, many of the winners of these Olympiads will have special stories to tell and the world will watch them wear medals, the story of their making is no less exciting than the achievements of the athletes in the Olympic Games, as it was made from used electronic devices Tokyo achieved a precedent in the Olympic Games, as the raw materials for the manufacture of medals were from old, useless devices. 80 tons of electronic devices and mobile phones were recycled and collected over two years to make Olympic medals for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Tokyo Olympics spokesperson said that the campaign called on the residents of Japan to donate old electronic devices to the project, expressing his gratitude to all.

Over the course of two whole years, enough metals in electrical devices has been collected to produce 5,000 bronze, silver and gold medals to crown the Olympic champions with them.

The recycling campaign produced 32 kilograms of gold, 3492 kilograms of silver and 2,199 kilograms of bronze. The importance of this achievement lies in benefiting from the billions of precious metals such as gold and silver that are used in the manufacture of most electronic devices and are disposed of every year in the world because some people simply throw away and burn their devices instead of collecting and recycling them properly. We should also mention that each of the 5000 medals was hand-made by craftsmen and carving artists, and it took a whole week to make one piece. A great salute to the owners of ideas that contribute to saving the earth .

ACTIVITIES WELCOME BACK SSA ABERDEEN BY MEETU MUKERJI, SSA ABERDEEN, UK

The Welcome Back Afternoon Tea held by SSA Aberdeen on 29/09/21 was the first indoor post Covid event of 2021. For the Activities Team of Aberdeen this was a change from organising online events. While choosing a venue the location was very important as we wanted a venue that was strict in following Covid safety protocols and spacious. Kippie Lodge Country Club fitted the bill and we were able to book the Greenhouse. The response to our invitation was excellent, and we had 24 members attending the event. We requested all members attending to take a lateral flow test and not attend the event if they tested positive for Covid or showed any symptoms on the day. The members had to scan the Track and Trace App at the entrance and use hand sanitizers before entering. The weather was excellent and the door was left open for Covid safety. All the serving staff had masks on and followed safety protocols. These measures helped all our members feel safe on the day. SSA Aberdeen members were requested to wear a touch of blue to celebrate being part of the Schlumberger family. We all had a wonderful time enjoying the delicious tray bakes and sandwiches with steaming cups of tea and coffee. A Charity raffle was held to raise money for Macmillan Cancer

Support. We raised £60 and members won some lovely prizes while supporting a noble cause. The game ‘Guess the number of Pasta in a Jar’ was held and the member whose estimate was closest won a prize. The response to this event was fantastic. Spouses who had been isolated for so long really enjoyed meeting people and having an afternoon of fun. After the great success of this event we look forward to an enjoyable and safe Christmas party to end 2021 with a bang!

REFLECTIONS ON 'SAPIENS' BY YUVAL NOAH HARARI BY TASNEEM BABAT, SSA PUNE, INDIA

I am neither a pragmatist nor an idealist. When I started reading Sapiens as a Book Club undertaking, I was intrigued by the title of the first chapter - An Animal of no Significance. All these years, I'd assumed that both science and religion considered humans to be at the pinnacle of the food chain, highly evolved, intelligent beings with mental faculties far superior to other living beings. The arguments and postulates in the book validated this hypothesis continually. However, as I flipped to the last page on my Kindle and reflected over what I'd just read, I realized that my world had gradually turned upside down, one degree at a time. I was no longer proud of being a human; in fact, I was ashamed. Did we, the superior, evolved species, reach to the top because we were the smartest? Or the strongest? Definitely not! The reason for our success, our conquests, our resultant arrogance and our future doom lies in an inherent trait that only we, humans, possess - the exploitative gene.

Of course, I didn't buy the argument initially; holding up many layers of defense and reasoning, giving my own race multiple benefits of doubt. But these layers kept being torn down, one at a time, with every historical evidence of what we have progressively destroyed throughout the course of history, in nature, one element, one species at a time. Only to satiate our endless greed. This is only my view, and the book may stir up a different response in another reader. In any case, it is a great exercise in cognitive inquiry as well as spiritual reflection. Some of the aspects I thoroughly enjoyed while reading the book are: ✅ the evolution of language, and its propagating the idea of a collective belief

role

✅the relationship between humans and religion ✅ the tracing of humankind's evolutionary journey from being a forager to a villager, a farmer, a researcher, a professional today, and a humanoid in the future ✅ the evolution of money, the idea of gathering purchasing power and the emergence of an imagined order based on it ✅ colonial exploits and the role of colonizers in collating information for strategic and monetary benefits

✅the industrialization of food & exponential growth in cattle breeding ✅ the future of the human race, scientific developments towards a-mortality and superhuman abilities. These are only a few of the many aspects of the entire history of humankind covered in this breathtaking sojourn. It is a book that I'd have never read had it not been a Book Club exercise, but I'm so glad I did, and I know that its imprint will stay fresh in my mind forever.

CELEBRATION OF THE MEXICO INDEPENDENCE DAY IN VILLAHERMOSA BY MARTHA MARIA DE LA O COLLADO AND IRINA GARAEVA, SSA VILLAHERMOSA, MEXICO

September 16th is a very important date for all Mexicans. This day commemorates the beginning of Mexico's independence from Spain in 1810. The celebration begins shortly before midnight on September 15th to catch the first hours of the holiday. The colors of the flag of Mexico - green, white, and red - can be seen in any part where this great day is celebrated. Shouts "Viva México" or "Viva la Independencia" are an integral part of the celebration. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is still keeping us at a distance, we can’t organize an event with a large number of people at one place (and SSA Villahermosa has more than 120 members!). At the same time, we can’t ignore this important day. So, to avoid contact and crowds, SSA Villahermosa committee has organized a CARAVAN. All the measures were taken to prevent the risk of contagion. Participants were invited to dress in their national costumes and decorate their cars with Mexican traditional symbols. To make the event more atmospheric and patriotic the Mariachi group* was invited.

Decorated car contest was held and all the SSA Villahermosa members had the possibility to vote either in our closed group on Facebook or by email. The winner was Carmen Ortiz with 26 votes. The committee sent voting results to all the SSA Villahermosa members via WhatsApp. Despite the continuing difficult epidemiological situation and many restrictions SSA Villahermosa organizes events for its members to promote harmony and a cheerful atmosphere! * Mariachi is a traditional Mexican music and a fundamental element of Mexican culture. Traditional Mariachi groups, made up of two or more members, wear regional costumes and interpret a broad repertoire of songs on stringed instruments.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS SESSION BY VALERIA BRASILI, SSA ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

From February 2020 until October 2021 there are 18 months. Months in which we spent a lot of uncertainties of any kind. Luckily, we're slowly going back to normalcy and physical events are starting to take place. On 26th October, we had a Breast Cancer Awareness session, given by a physician and a nurse that went through all the important aspects of Prevention and self check. After the workshop, there was a great discussion between the 20 attendants and the exponents: questions and answers, myths, and personal experiences shared with a cup of coffee. It was lovely to see a large group interacting, some with toddlers that were on the womb the last time the mother came to our meetings. The noise was loud. We were people interacting and a virus was no longer an inconvenient between us.

MONDAY CHALLENGES! BY ZEHRA HUSSAIN, SSA ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

To help women get active on Mondays while being at home due to the pandemic situation the SSA board decided to come up with healthy and fun-filled “Monday challenges”. The first Monday challenge was to stay fit in the summer by rehydrating the body with Detox Water. Footages and pictures were shared by SSA members posing with detox water which enticed everyone. It was a win win for all the ladies as everyone participated and got the chance to exercise healthy practices and learn new recipes from each other during this pandemic. Second Monday’s challenge was about physical fitness hence it was called Sweat It. The activity consisted of doing any physical activity for at least 30 minutes. Participation could be seen through the video and pictures as a testimony. More than 10 members participated actively and shared videos and pictures. The main focus of this challenge was women health and fitness which was achieved successfully.

Third Monday’s motivation was Mindful Monday. A guided meditation for self-love was shared with links. Many members participated and shared their videos and thoughts, some did yoga with it as well. The feedback was super positive everyone felt relaxed, happy with positive energy. Fourth Monday’s emphasis was Clean Eating. The challenge was to get fresh fruits & vegetables to make a fruit dessert or healthy fruit/vegetables salad and a smoothie/drink. The winner was decided on the basis of most ingredients used. Participants came up with different recipes and shared pictures of mouthwatering salads & deserts. Fifth Monday was Eid so the plan was to motivate ladies to dress up & take family pictures and share. Almost everyone participated and it was nice seeing each other virtually. The challenge motivated everyone to dress up and take family pictures, hence creating memories for everyone in the long term.

Last Monday challenge was focused on Skincare. The task was to make a homemade facemask, apply it and share selfies. It was refreshing and everyone loved it. Many women participated sharing different recipes of masks for everyone. So far all the Mondays have been fun days adding some value into one aspect of one’s life each Monday. The members learnt and got motivated through others and also stayed connected through pictures and videos, bringing healthy competition. The goal is to keep on bringing exciting new challenges for women so they can focus on themselves as when women support each other incredible things happen.

NEW MONDAY NEW WEEK

NEW GOAL

IMPORTANT INFO IMPORTANT INFO THE PERMITS FOUNDATION BY CHRISTELLE LABBE, UK HR MANAGER - SCHLUMBERGER

I would like to introduce Permits Foundation to the SSA members. Permits Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organization campaigning globally to improve work permit regulations to make it easier for partners of expatriate staff to gain employment access during an international assignment.

Schlumberger is a founding member of the Permits Foundation and has been supporting its advocacy work for over 20 years. This work is important to being able to support the aspirations of our dual career couples in the company. Since its start-up in 2001, Permits Foundation has been progressively successful in influencing change throughout the European Union, as well as in the USA, Asia (India, Japan, Hong Kong) and Latin America (Brazil and Peru). Thirty-five countries now allow

accompanying spouses or partners to work. We continue to promote best practice and monitor legislative improvements in all these countries, as well as setting up new projects (for example, in South Africa and China) in our global campaign. Our surveys show that governments that allow partners to work attract highly skilled employees associated with international business, investment and development; creating a ‘triple win’ for host countries, employers and families alike. Here is a great interactive tool created by Permits Foundation I would like to advertise: a map of partner work access legislation around the world. This map is the only one of its kind, providing a hub of information on country legislation and key criteria on this particular issue. Government authorities and global mobility professionals can instantly identify those best practice countries which enable direct work access for dependants of mobile employees. And this can also be very useful for a dual career couple about to decide whether to accept an assignment overseas and how this may or not impact their parnter’s career.

Given the impact of the pandemic on mobility and travel, the Permits Foundation has launched a global survey on international dual careers to understand the views of spouses and partners in relation to their recent experiences. The survey data will help multinational organizations like ours to better understand what drives your decisions when accepting an international move as a working couple particularly in the context of the pandemic, and it will help the Permits Foundation identify areas of focus for their activities moving forward. Thank you in advance for completing THIS SURVEY (Deadline Nov 19th), your input is important to support the advocacy work carried out by Permits Foundation and in turn help improving access to employment for partners globally.

TRAVEL STORIES OUR JOURNEY TO ECUADOR (COVID TIMES) BY ANDREA SALAZAR, SSA ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Hey SSA members! I’m Andrea and I’m a mom of two boys. For us it has always been a long trip to fly back to our country Ecuador as we’re currently living in our lovely UAE, only a few thousand kilometers away! Our first doubt was whether to travel or not due to COVID restrictions around the world. But our first priority to travel was to get our passports renewed as they were going to expire and we don’t have an embassy here to process them. Another main reason was to see our family after two long years that we hadn’t visited them. When we finally decided to buy the tickets, we looked for the best route that is through Amsterdam (a total flight of 19hs plus the waiting time for the connection flight). Fortunately, the cost of the tickets was convenient because we were thinking that maybe it had increased due to the pandemic. The tickets were ready, so now we had to check all the requirements for our flight. The requirements change depending on the country and the situation. The basic one was to have a PCR negative result before you get on the plane. It was something easy for me but not for the kids so after convincing them that without it we can’t see “los abuelos” (grandparents) they decided to do it and their experience was not bad at all. The other requirements are basically health forms before arriving at your destination.

Now, the time to start our trip has come. We all were very nervous as we haven’t traveled in a long time and now, we have to take extra precautionary measures during the whole trip. The one-way trip was really smooth, we really enjoyed it a lot and it was a little weird to be in an airport again with all these people covered with a face mask. Traveling with kids is not always easy but I have to say that they are so good at following rules and hygienic procedures, even better than adults, even better than my husband haha!

The feeling of arriving in our home country was amazing, the happiness to finally meet our family again was endless. But as our country didn’t ask the passengers to do a mandatory quarantine, we decided to stay away voluntarily from our loved ones for a few days. Just to make sure it was safe to meet each other without any risk of infection. After that time, we spent almost two months with them. It was really great to hug and kiss them again. We really missed them a lot!

Unfortunately, we had to come back and it was not easy to say goodbye. But it wasn’t the most difficult thing, two weeks before our trip back home Netherlands authorities decided to not allow people from high-risk countries to enter their territory even if it was only for transit. So, the question was: What to do now?! It was the stressful part of our lovely trip, to think about the possibilities to come back home. However, the good news came! After some days the restrictions changed and we could transit through Amsterdam to our final destination Abu Dhabi. But I didn’t believe it until I was sitting on the plane looking above the clouds ha-ha. Finally, we arrived in Abu Dhabi, our home, and it was also a very good feeling! The process at the airport

was very efficient and we had to do a mandatory quarantine that I totally enjoyed as the jet lag was killing me for almost a week! For sure times have changed and travelling is not the same as almost two years ago but we are capable of adapting to these changes and continue enjoying the pleasure of experiencing new places or going back to our favorite ones!

ALOHA HAWAII! BY PATRICIA BONILLA, SSA RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

I celebrated this year a milestone birthday. Long before Covid, I wanted to celebrate my birthday with my twin sister. Unfortunately, my twin lives in Germany and there were many restrictions to travel there during the summer. I still wanted to do something special that I would have always remember. I wanted to go to a place with plenty of outdoor activities. We check some national parks in the US and, most camping sites were already fully booked. We decided to go to Hawaii. It was our first time there. We were fully vaccinated. The state of Hawaii was requiring travelers to have a PCR test for unvaccinated people and kids. If you were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before arriving to Hawaii, you could enter filling an online health form and showing your vaccination card. Because of the jetlag, we woke up at 3 a.m. the very first day. We drove to the Haleakala National Park. We arrived only 10 minutes before the sun started to rise. There were around 30 people of all ages. From the summit of the dormant volcano, we watched the sun rose above the clouds.

It was cold, around 1°C. We were at 10,000 ft above sea level. I felt so grateful to be there. After that, we looked at the huge volcano crater.

(My husband, Javier and my son, David watching the huge crater. The work of lava and erosion.) We spent 12 days in Hawaii, we visited the island of Maui and the Big Island. The Hawaiian Islands were created from lots of volcanoes and still are being shaped by shifts of its tectonic plate. We hiked the Pipiwai trail, where we encountered beautiful trees, a bamboo forest, and narrow bridges.

The Mahai’Ula Beach in the Big Island has crystal clear water. It was easy to appreciate how lava reached the sea and mixed with the sand.

The Thurston Lava tube is a long subterranean cave surrounded by Tropical Forest

I loved Hawaii. It’s a beautiful place like no others. One of the things that I learned is how much Hawaiian love their land. They believe this group of islands was a gift from their Divinities. They feel they are responsible to keep it clean and protect it. Tips for Traveling during Covid19: Book flights that depart early in the morning: less people during check in and at the airport and flights tend to be on time Pack snacks for the plane and airport. I always have the main meal before boarding the plane, so I don’t have to remove my mask during the flight.

LAST MINUTE TRIP, HABIBI BY VALERIA BRASILI, SSA ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

My husband works as a Field Engineer, with a crazy work schedule that makes him work without stop until he can get days off, which are more often than not unexpectedly! That goes pretty well with a non working, no kids, wife, who loves to organize trips in her head, day dreaming. One of the last holidays were like that, one morning boss called and say: Hey, what about taking two weeks off starting today?, haha. Positivity before anything, Let's pack dear, we're on holidays! And a road trip through UAE was by far the best idea.

First stop: Al Ain. An oasis in the desert, for real. It used to be the most populated city due to the availability of drinking water. For thousands of years, before the black gold was discovered.

Second stop: the Empty Quarter. The most extense desert of the world, that goes from Saudi Arabia to UAE. Pure red dunes, the silence and the feeling that we are so helpless in such a harsh environment. My admiration to those superhumans who lived here in the past without current technologies.

Third stop: Hatta, there you can find the biggest dam of the country and it's a perfect spot to find serenity and adventure. We did kayak, mountain bike and long hikes. Final stop: Ras Al Khaimah, where stands the highest mountain of the country. The temperature descend in this region, and the air is clearer. You can stop there to appreciate the magical view.

RECIPES CORN “CHATPATA” BY PIA DEY VERMA, SSA LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

The world loves to snack. Deep fried, hot, tangy, spicy, crisp and quick – this snack is just as delicious as it sounds! Ingredients: 2 cups of boiled, drained and cooled sweet corn kernels 4 Tbsp Cornflour 1/2 Tsp Roasted Cumin Powder 1/2 Tsp Chaat Masala (substitute chaat masala with mango powder or ¼ tsp of harissa or ¼ tsp tajin seasoning, if you cant get hold of chaat masala) 1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder 2 tbsp of finely chopped coriander leaves Lime juice – as per taste Oil for Frying Corn Salt to taste Method: Sprinkle the cornflour over the corn kernels and lightly toss to evenly coat them. Heat oil in a wok or deep fryer. Once the oil is hot, drop the corn kernels in batches and lightly spread them out in the oil so that they become crisp.

Once done, spread the corn out on a baking sheet or large plate lined with kitchen towels. Cool. In a bowl, combine the fried corn, salt, lime juice, red chili powder, chaat masala and finely chopped coriander leaves – that’s it!

LEBANESE FATTOUSH SALAD BY MARCELA TORRES, SSA DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

A traditional Lebanese Salad that quickly became a favorite in our home Ingredients (1 person): For the salad: 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped 5 cherry tomatoes, quartered 1/2 cucumber, seeded, chopped 4 radishes, chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup green onions, chopped 1/4 green pepper, chopped 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds 1/2 pita bread, chopped and baked* For the dressing: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lime juice 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tsp sumac 1 tsp honey or pomegranate molasses Salt and pepper

PROCEDURE: Mix all salad ingredients Mix all dressing ingredients Add dressing to salad Enjoy! *I chopped the pita bread in squares, added some avocado oil in spray and put it on air fryer for 3 minutes. You can do the same in a pan at low heat for about 10-15 mins, or in the oven, for about 5 minutes. The pita bread should be crispy (original recipe is fried).

A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR TAKING A MOMENT TO COLLABORATE ON THIS EDITION OF THE WAYFARER

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM ALL OF YOU IN THE FUTURE!

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