Wow! What a story you tell. If nothing else, it was worth the wait, and, I think, worth the effort. Thank you for this contribution, @cicisaja.
In some ways, your youth and bits of your life remind me of my own! Leaving home at a young age and activism. It took me a while to stop that lol. Still haven't in some ways. I found your description of the tsunami compelling and frightening. I am so glad you survived and so sorry you lost so many friends and family in that disaster.
The survival of the Mosque - it's a miracle how God looks after his places of worship. As he did of the church near 911. I don't care about religion or dogma, we all have the same God.... Sorry, not sorry.
Thank you for sharing your journey and so happy you're part of the Silver Bloggers Community, Silver Thumb.
Thank you @fionasfavourites , I believe that God has His own plan for me, that's why He kept me away from the place which affected by the tsunami since Friday, I passed my 27th and have not reached my 30th yet that year, not yet on my prime, I still have so many things on my plate, dreams and I did it all until my retirement (actually I made a promise to myself when I got married, I'll quit everything and stay at home to take care of my husband and have long long honey years). But now, I'm back to work again, LOL (even though this is kind of a new type of work for me). When I read yours, I know why we can flock together here too. you are just a few years older than me, full of knowledge and interesting stories of your South Africa. Remind me of my missing book "Lady Detective" which has a setting in South Africa too.
Thanks for the warm comment and your encouraging words as always (why can't I stop considering myself as a teenager, hahahah) I'm not a noob on hive too. it must be you and @lizelle. both of you made me feels like a teenager here, LOL. anyway I think we're all 17 with 30-40-50 years of life experience, right?
You are, indeed, a wise old soul and young enough to be my daughter - I am twice your age. And change, hahaha! Don't ever lose the teenage feeling! It's good to work - for a whole lot of reasons. As I keep on telling people, I don't feel a day over 36!! That's another story. It's my turn to apologise: RL got in the way of my contribution this week, so I'll have to store the stories for another time - or just share them in my usual ramblings on my blog and on the blockchain! As I do... lol.
Oh, and let me share a secret with you:
The Husband went to school with that author of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency...
whooaaaaa.... that's amazing!! I only have book 1 given by a friend from England when she's coming back to Aceh, well she's working with UNDP when Tsunami relief, that's how I know The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. I like her spirit the most (now that I think about it, did you and lizelle join the agency too, LOL) I need to collect the books later, maybe from e-bay. Thanks for sharing.