I just did a quick survey amongst my friends about what they would miss most if they lived abroad. For me, it would probably be tea. No one does tea quite like the British. Some of the answers that came up though, included Marmite, Chocolate Fingers, Heinz Beans and Oxo! Home comforts are so important to relieve homesickness and inject a sense of familiarity into a new routine. What else would we miss? Our Health Service, maybe? How about British television? An obvious one would be the English language in general. The language barrier can prove difficult to navigate and the results can be hilarious! Here are some of my favourite examples of innocent English that doesn't translate well abroad.
In Swedish, 'Speed' translates into 'Fart', which is bad enough, but 'Bump', becomes 'Dump', so that speed bump in the road takes on a whole new meaning!
Also from Sweden, 'Kiss', translates into 'Pee', so be very careful how you describe your romantic encounter in the lift, if you are in Sweden.
Over to Portugal, and the Portuguese for 'I farted' is 'Peidei', pronounced 'Payday', giving new meaning to payday-happy or a payday loan!
The most missed item on the list by far though, was family. You would think, with all the advances in technology in recent years, it would be relatively easy to keep in contact with loved ones abroad. This is not always the case, however. Telecommunications and the internet in some countries are still very expensive and not always easy to access. Even something as simple as buying a PAYG SIM can become a real challenge when you desperately need low-cost overseas calls from it.
Lebara Foundation are a company who specialise in communication. The company was set up in 2001 to provide low cost, high quality products and services for migrant communities who needed to keep in touch with their families back home. They provide prepaid, Mobile SIM cards, customised to the needs of international communities, particularly migrant workers. Since 2004, following the devasting effects of the Asian Tsunami, the founders were inspired to create the Lebara Foundation, providing practical help for the some of the world's poorest children, such as housing, health and education, in displaced communties throughout the world.
"We believe it is every child's right to reach their full potential" - Lebara Founders
Lebara are special, because they don't just collect money for charity, or even donate themselves, they go much further, seeking out communities that need a bit of help and working out what they can do to make things better. Here are some of the many and varied projects they have been a part of;
Lebara Village
In the eastern reaches of India, near the Bay of Bengal, lies an area ravaged by war, its inhabitants in dire need of some of the most basic facilities. Lebara Village has been constructed to accomodate the areas poorest children. Refugees, street kids and rag pickers make up some of the inhabitants, amongst many others and they are benefitting from an education, food and, above all, a safe environment in which to thrive.
Lebara Scholarship Programme
Three decades of war in Sri Lanka have left children in some areas unable to access an education, particularly in the North East. Children traumatised by the devasting effects of conflict, such as the loss of loved ones, along with the devastation of the schools infrastructure has meant many young people are growing up unable to read or write. Lebara are providing funding to 500 14 to 18 year olds, to pay for tuition, books, stationery and all education programmes.
Lebara Library
To further support education within the war-ravaged communities in Sri Lanka, this amazing library has been funded by Lebara. It contains a comprehensive selection of electronic and printed texts, in both Tamil and English, along with a fully equipped multi-media classroom, two lecture halls, a language lab and IT and media facilities, such as PCs, printers and copiers. Lebara provide fantastic low-cost phone tarriffs, particularly if you are calling abroad. By investing in their service, you will also be investing in the futures of many displaced and poverty-stricken children all over the world. Doesn't that sound like a great deal?
This was a sponsored post on behalf of Lebara, but it was an absolute pleasure to write, as this is a company I fully support and am more than happy to get behind!
I would the countryside and a nice pint of bitter outside a pub in the summer.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I agree with that one, nothing like lush green grass!
DeleteThat is a fantastic deal. Really worth thinking about
ReplyDeleteIt is always nice to know you're doing some good too!
DeleteI have lived abroad in several countries and I missed different things in different places - supermarket home deliveries were quite high on the list! By the way apparently the name "Pippa" has a rather rude translation in most languages other than our own! :-O
ReplyDeleteI am off to Google that! We do take a lot of things for granted I think!
DeleteI read about this lately and as really interested. Oh and those words, that made me laugh
ReplyDeleteHe he, it's hilarious how wrong our language can sound to the wrong ears!
DeleteIt is great that they provide services for them to communicate back home - family is what I would miss most - it's hard enough living in a different city never mind country.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true, I would hate it, we are lucky to have such good communication these days really.
DeleteHahah fart dump (oh dear my brain lol) its fantastic they are making a way for them to communicate so easily. x
ReplyDeleteYou'll never look at a speed bump in the same way again!
DeleteI've heard of Lebara but had no idea about their charitable work.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't either, I see their SIM cards at the checkout sometimes, and I didn't have a clue!
DeleteI had heard of Lebara but had no idea about the work they do - great post
ReplyDeleteThank you, I didn't either, so it opened my eyes as well!
DeleteHa ha, love all of those "lost in translation" phrases! Lebara sound amazing - love the work they do.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant aren't they?! I will be careful what I say if I ever go abroad now!
Deletehahah had to laugh but this is such a grt post , love what they are doing x
ReplyDeleteIt's great isn't it? It made me wonder why more companies can't do something similar!
DeleteI love Sri Lanka and it sounds like they are really making a difference.
ReplyDeleteIt does look like a special place, it's good they are getting some support where they need it.
DeleteGreat to see a company really going that extra mile to give something back to the world.
ReplyDeleteYes, I hope more follow suit, considering how many companies there are making lots of money, there's a real impact to be made!
Deletei had never heard of the company before, thanks for sharing lovely .. by the way i would miss crumpets!
ReplyDeleteOoh, me too! With jam!
DeleteI used Lebara in the past when other companies didn't offer cheap international phone calls
ReplyDeleteIt's a useful service. I was surprised to learn how hard it was to get a good deal on international calling.
DeleteI have never heard of Lebara or what they do - great post x
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI've heard of this company before, I think it's great what they do xx
ReplyDeleteI agree, they are setting a great example!
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