#I’m one of the simplest people to shop for imo

[chaos-wanderer]

got some solid christmas presents but one small present was so bafflingly bad that I thought my parents were pranking me…turns out it was not a prank but instead an earnest attempt at brainwashing me via ugly bathroom decor (????) into not cutting them out of my life like we all know I will inevitably have to 😬

[vacate-et-scire]

hello i’d like a matchup!!

i’m a 16 year old chinese girl (i don’t eat dogs or cats, and i don’t live in china) and i love bllk (if this counts as an interest). i enjoy playing rpg games like genshin and rhythm games like pjsk, and i’m chronically online 🤑. i also like rewatching my comfort animes (bllk, kn8, HxH, love is war, etc) multiple times rather than starting new ones, playing the games i mentioned, going out with my friends (only occasionally, like 3 times a month max), sleeping, baking, playing mahjong, window shopping and writing.

my favourite subjects in school are math and chemistry, and i’m studying to be either a doctor or an engineer. my worst subjects are chinese and social studies. i enjoy learning things that interest me or things i can easily apply in everyday life, like baking and cooking. i’m also studying chinese and japanese since one is my mother tongue, and the other was because i wanted to watch anime without needing subtitles. i also collect plushies and i especially love cats and frogs.

i’m INFP-T and i enjoy physical affection (but only with a select few), words of affirmation and gift giving. ideal partner would probably be someone supportive and understanding, especially since i’m mildly autistic. and since i’m only 16, no age gap larger than 1 year, so only characters aged 15-17 pls. nothing wrong with a 2 year age gap but it just doesn’t feel right to me 😓😓. gotta be same age or really close. also pls no otoya or aiku. i don’t like cheaters, no matter how physically attractive they are. and raichi’s really loud and noisy, so also not him. (they’re all really well-written, but not exactly partner material imo). i’m also not a fan of ness, kaiser, and pretty much most of the international players. kaiser’s an asshole and ness simps for said asshole 😭. and the other international players just didn’t stand out to me 😞

also idk if this is important but my favourite character is chigiri! you don’t have to pick him for this matchup since i love the other characters too, but i thought i should mention that i like that he’s sassy and funny, and extremely pretty.

Your Blue Lock Matchup: Bachira Meguru

Bachira Meguru is an ideal match for you, considering your interests and personality traits. He’s spontaneous, energetic, and playful—qualities that complement your more introspective and sensitive side. As someone who enjoys RPGs, rhythm games, and the occasional chill hangout with friends, you’ll find Bachira’s free-spirited nature refreshing and fun. His creativity and sense of humour, matched with his sassy yet playful vibe, would align well with your love for both depth and lightheartedness.

Bachira understands your need for support and understanding. He has a knack for reading people and making them feel at ease. As someone who’s mildly autistic, you’d appreciate how Bachira doesn’t force things and allows you to express yourself in your own way. He’s not the type to pressure you into being something you’re not, and his emotional intelligence would allow him to be there for you when you need it most, offering comfort and encouragement. His ability to support his teammates in difficult moments mirrors the kind of supportive partner you’re looking for.

Your shared love of playfulness and affection makes for a harmonious dynamic. You value physical affection (though with a select few), and Bachira’s the type to be affectionate without overwhelming you. His playful nature can make even the simplest moments feel special, whether it’s through an unexpected hug or a spontaneous display of affection. He’s aware of boundaries, so he knows when to dial it back and when to show you that he cares. His playful teasing and spontaneous actions would keep things exciting while ensuring that you feel valued.

Bachira’s easygoing personality makes him an excellent match for someone who enjoys downtime and comfort. You’re someone who enjoys rewatching your comfort anime and relaxing with familiar activities, and Bachira would love to join you in those moments of coziness. His energy is contagious, but he’s also perfectly content just hanging out with you in a low-key way. Whether you’re gaming, window shopping, or baking together, Bachira’s presence would make even the most mundane activities feel fun and special.

Your shared interests in creativity and learning would also tie you together. You enjoy learning things that interest you and that have a practical application in your life, like baking and cooking. Bachira, while not academically inclined like you, shares a passion for creativity and personal expression. His art is football, and he’d love to share that world with you. If you were to bake together, you’d find that he’s the type to be excited about trying out new recipes with you, bringing that same sense of wonder to the kitchen that he brings to everything else.

Bachira would encourage you to embrace your playful side more. While you enjoy being introspective and reflective, you also have a whimsical side that could be nurtured by Bachira. His carefree nature would help you relax and remind you that not everything needs to be so serious. He would make you laugh with his sassy, funny remarks, while also making sure you feel supported and understood in the moments when you need it most.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that Bachira’s unpredictability could sometimes clash with your more structured way of thinking. You enjoy subjects like math and chemistry, where things are more logical and straightforward. Bachira, on the other hand, tends to be a bit more spontaneous and chaotic. While this could create some lighthearted tension between you two, it would also balance out your personality by pushing you to embrace a bit more spontaneity in life. He would keep you on your toes and encourage you to take things less seriously at times.

Your Blue Lock Runnerup: Chigiri Hyoma

Chigiri’s emotional complexity matches your introspective personality. While he might come across as calm and reserved at first, Chigiri has a lot of layers to him. He’s not the type to open up immediately, but once he trusts someone, he’s genuine and supportive. Your ability to read people and understand emotions would come in handy here, as you’d likely notice when he’s going through something or needs space. He wouldn’t be the type to push you into uncomfortable situations or demand constant attention, which is something you’d appreciate given your sensitivity and need for personal space.

Chigiri would value your authenticity and emotional intelligence. While he may not always express his feelings openly, he deeply respects others who are authentic and true to themselves, which aligns with your values. He’d appreciate the way you take time to understand people. He, in turn, would offer you the space to process your emotions without pressure, while also being there for you when you need support. He’s not the type to trivialize emotions or act like they don’t matter, which would make him a reliable and comforting partner for someone who values emotional depth.

Your shared interests in gaming and creativity would be a bonding point. Chigiri might not be as into RPGs and rhythm games as you, but he’d value your interest in video games and would likely enjoy playing casually with you since he values you.

Chigiri’s physical affection could be comforting for you. While Chigiri may not be as outwardly affectionate as some others, he’s genuinely kind and caring once he feels comfortable with someone. He’s very in tune with how you feel, and he’d offer gentle touches or words of affirmation when needed. Since you enjoy physical affection but only with a select few, Chigiri would be respectful of your boundaries, offering affection in a way that feels natural and comfortable for you. His supportive and understanding nature would also be reassuring, especially when you need a quiet moment of connection.

One thing to consider is that Chigiri’s focus on self-reliance and overcoming his past struggles could resonate with you, but also create moments of tension. While you both value emotional intelligence, Chigiri’s internal battles with his injuries and his past could sometimes make it difficult for him to fully open up to others. You, as someone who values emotional understanding, might find yourself wanting to help him through those struggles, but he could resist relying on others at times. This could create moments where you feel disconnected, but it also offers an opportunity for growth in the relationship as you both learn to trust and open up more.

Chigiri might not always be as spontaneous or playful as Bachira, but his reserved nature could complement your more quiet moments. You enjoy downtime and prefer to stick to familiar activities, and Chigiri’s calm, composed nature would allow you to feel at ease in these situations. However, he might also challenge you to step outside your comfort zone when it comes to pushing yourself both emotionally and physically, encouraging you to break out of your shell a bit more.

[heyguysitseve]

Oof. Yikes. That was angry.

So, I’m not sure if you are talking specifically to me or the original poster for calling these things non-essentials, but I’m gonna reblog and explain my reasoning anyway. I feel like I was a little brief in my original comment and I have clearer thoughts on this.

So, let me start off by saying that I’m very fortunate in many things. I own a working car and I’m not disabled and can drive and do things myself. I can also cook and I spend less on groceries by buying ingredients instead of pre-made food (sometimes). I also don’t live in a “food dessert” and ingredients are fortunately affordable for my budget (I’m also on food stamps). So, with that all said, I have a leg up on many others who are poor because of my circumstances.

However, I’m still pretty dang poor lol. I mean it’s expected in your early 20’s living away from home for the first time. But yeah I have a monthly budget that allows very little wiggle room. And that’s why I thought the original infographic was not only misleading, but hilarious that they think poor people have enough money to even spend 18,000 “extra” a year. Or as they claim them- non essentials. I don’t even MAKE 18,000 a year. And I’m not even THAT poor. And to say that poor people spend 18,000 on “non essentials” implies they are spending that money on top of their budgets. Btw, 18,000 a year is about 1,500 a month. That’s MORE THAN MY ENTIRE MONTHLY BUDGET. And I KNOW I am not alone in this, and I know I’m not even that poor, so how is it that poor people are spending that much?

Now, what I mean by luxuries. I mean it in the simplest form: I don’t have the money for any of that. I don’t know many people my age or in the same financial situation as me, who DO have the money to spend on any of that.

For food: I don’t order out. I just can’t. It’s so expensive. The only times I go to restaurants now is with my family, when they thankfully pay for it, or if I specifically save up for it to do so with friends.

I cook and meal prep yes, but if I know I’m having a particularly busy week or month, I gotta but something that will be quick and easy, but will still be cheap, which for me, means hot dogs, ramen, or $1 frozen meals.

Also I especially can’t eat out because my food is literally paid for through food stamps. I can’t buy lunch at work because the only food I can afford is at a grocery store.

For shopping: forget it lol. If I need something I save up for it or put it on a wishlist for birthday/Christmas. I reuse, reuse, reuse. I go through my every day shoes about every 2-3 years, and again, if it’s not gonna be a Christmas gift, I’m specifically saving up for that. Basically everything else I want I save up for. And everything I need (house supplies, personal care supplies, etc) I have to bite my cheek and watch my monthly budget go a little over. Thankfully I don’t need that much stuff, but it’s anxiety inducing when I do. I spent $6 on a pack of toothbrushes the other day and couldn’t help thinking about how i wish that could have gone to something more fun, like the stuff I have to save up for.

I do also think cable is a luxury because we have the internet and that’s it. But I personally like Netflix and Hulu better (again, I’m still using my family’s, so very fortunate there). But cable is expensive and if I had to pay for my own I’d still choose streaming over cable because it’s just cheaper and nicer IMO. And for subscriptions? Well I certainly don’t get subscription boxes lol. Can’t afford that. I have one subscription for music and that’s it.

So, yeah. I’m not holier than thou or anything because I don’t spend money on these things. And I’m not saying that because people buy them they’re buying luxuries, but for me, and people in my situation, a lot of these ARE, and even if they do get them, I doubt they’re really spending that much money on them. I mean if they can afford it good for them! I would personally feel so much more financially stable if I could afford those things.

Anyway, if you weren’t talking to me that’s fine. I wanted to write this all out anyway for my own reasons. If you were angry with me though, I hope this explained it a bit. ✌️

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT NEWS, RESOURCES & STUDIES, mid-January 2020

Welcome to my latest summary of recent news, resources & studies including search, analytics, content marketing, social media & ecommerce! This covers articles I came across since the December report, although some may be older than that. Since this was a busy time of year, I cut back a bit on the commentary. 

Now that I am mostly caught up, I hope to publish this report 2-4 times each month, with other more-detailed updates on specific issues as needed. (I’m expecting Etsy to roll out some new stuff soon, but I cold be wrong.) Let’s aim for 2 times a month to start 😀

Have any suggestions or feedback?  Leave a comment below, email me through my website, or send me a message on Twitter.

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

If you find yourself making a lot of graphics and images for social media, website etc., but you aren’t a designer, check out this infographic explaining the simplest basics of good design. Yes, it is overly simplistic, but if you don’t really know much about this area, you probably should be familiar with these ideas. 

California’s new privacy law kicked in January 1 (although they won’t enforce it until July 1); here’s a good overview. “users will, as of today, be able to see what data companies have gathered about them, have that data deleted, and opt out of those companies selling it to third parties from now on.” They explain how this will work on their own site: “we track your behavior—what articles you read, for how long, etc.—on WIRED.com using cookies. We use that data internally for research and site improvements, but the information can also go to a third-party vendor, like Google AdSense, which combines it with similar data from other sites to create user profiles that advertisers can target. The infamous shoe ad that follows you across the internet long after you close out your Zappos tab? That’s how it works—and advertisers pay extra for the privilege of this personalized ad targeting. If you ask WIRED.com to stop “selling” your data, you won’t get those types of ads from us anymore, and your browsing history on our site won’t factor into the types of ads you see elsewhere.”

A lot of you have asked me for more info on how to use Google Analytics for Etsy shops. Until I get around to posting more details, here is a not bad set of instructions, including how to set it up to track Etsy search (site search). 

ETSY NEWS 

Interview with “staff product manager of search ranking and platform at Etsy”, Andrew Stanton. [podcast & transcript] This is very technical and not particularly revealing, IMO. I’m posting it because we do have a few people with a technical background reading here. (Plus, the transcript has typos - 16 million results is actually 60+ million, for example.) Also, around the 24 minute mark he admits they do “need to expose [new sellers] artificially higher in the rankings” for the long term success of the marketplace. 

In case you missed it being splashed all over your dashboard, Etsy’s early 2020 trend report is here. Take a quick browse through for the popular keywords & themes for each topic/holiday. Also of note:

“2019 Valentine’s Day shoppers planned to spend 42% of their budget on gifts for people other than romantic partners”

“Passover (Apr 8) and Easter (Apr 12) fall more than a week earlier than last year.”

They included a craft category this time, with tips on promoting specific supplies at specific times. “Fabrics & Notions are the most popular subcategory, followed by Jewelry-Making Supplies.”

They followed up with a specific Valentine article, here, with ideas for buyers. 

An interesting article covering Etsy’s beginning and first 5 years, including some early videos and interviews. And for those of you who didn’t know where the name came from: “The name "Etsy" comes from a phrase Kalin hears while watching the movie 8½. "I wanted a nonsense word because I wanted to build the brand from scratch. I was watching Fellini’s 8½ and writing down what I was hearing. In Italian, you say 'etsi' a lot. It means 'oh, yes.' And in Latin, it means 'and if,'" Kalin tells Reader's Digest in 2010.”

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Google’s John Mueller answers [video] some of the most common SEO questions his department receives, including a few coding ones to start. 

Google rankings dropping doesn’t necessarily mean you got a penalty. Ranking well on Google isn’t just about the content - it’s about the whole website. What can you control in regards to Google ranking? On-page SEO: what it is, & the 10 most important factors. 

If you are confused about when to use H1, H2, H3 etc. on your website or blog, you will be happy to know that Google says they aren’t as crucial to ranking as many people think, and you should use them to organize your content logically. 

Hackers are now inserting links on blogs & websites to get backlinks to game Google. Many of the affected sites run the open source version of WordPress. “The award-winning Canadian urban magazine Spacing ... identified several articles where unauthorized links had been added long after publication. One post was even hacked during the course of the magazine’s email conversations with BuzzFeed News”

Medium seems to have lost a lot of Google search visibility in the past 1-2 months; no one is sure why. Here’s one theory [tl:dr - they suck at SEO; a few of the reasons are technical]. 

Here’s a good article on the current state of voice search, why it is developing more slowly than expected, and what you can do to optimize now and for the future. 

The most recent Google update rumour was Jan. 7; I’m not seeing much change at the moment. And just in case you missed anything, here are the top Google search updates and changes from 2019.

CONTENT MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA (includes blogging & emails) 

Updated for 2020: the complete guide to content marketing. (There are some good tips here, even if you are only marketing product and not content)

Did you know there are ideal lengths (and sometimes character limits) for social media & blog posts? Here’s the research, but obviously if you don’t have more to say, don’t pad it just to fill space. If you think you need to run a bit longer than ideal, look carefully for places you can cut a few words. Some good tips on that here.

Mailchimp is still the leader in email tools, with over 60% of all people using email list services. They sent over 340 billion emails in 2019. [disclosure: I use them for my blog email list and customer email newsletters.]

If you are looking for more social media post ideas, this infographic is a sample social media content calendar for one month.

Canva introduced a bunch of new tools, including video editing. 

Pinterest introduced Pinterest trends, which gives you the top searches over the past 12 months. (The article also links to Pinterest’s annual trend report.)

Instagram isn’t just about the images: writing great captions is an important way to get people’s attention. 

How to get verified on Facebook & Instagram. 

It’s no longer possible to have a Messenger account without a Facebook account.

Looking for something on Twitter, including one of your own tweets? Do an advanced search. 

Unlike a lot of social media sites in their infancy, TikTok is actually making money early on. 

ONLINE ADVERTISING (SEARCH ENGINES, SOCIAL MEDIA, & OTHERS) 

To get the most out of your advertising dollars, make sure your SEO & PPC campaigns work together. 

Pop-up ads work - if you offer something people want. The article has a few ideas of things to offer, and things you shouldn’t do. 

You can run your own Google Shopping ads from your website; here’s how to get started. 

Microsoft has extended the life of text-only ads until the end of March, so if you are still running them, it’s time to update. 

STATS, DATA, OTHER TRACKING 

Tips for making Google Analytics for your website more accurate. The first part is super technical, and even the last part requires some knowledge of what GA can do, so skip this unless you already use GA & now a bit about it. 

Here’s another list of things you should do to set up Google Analytics properly, also with lots of technical details, although other parts are very straightforward. 

If you have a website or blog, learning the Google Search Console is really useful. [video with print links in the comments]

Twitter is removing the Audience Insights part of its Analytics as of January 30.

  ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS 

Ruby Lane cuts its new buyer fee but increases seller fees to compensate. 

You can’t use Amazon ads to offer a free shipping minimum any more, which is frustrating some sellers. You’ve probably already seen this article in the Atlantic about how shipping isn’t really free and how it can harm small business; here’s an interview with the author [audiofile & transcript]. “It wasn’t always like this in America, and it’s not like this in most other countries—standard European shipping and return policies would probably seem downright hostile here. That’s because U.S. shoppers are used to being coaxed into purchases by retailers who can and will bend over backwards to land a sale—another extreme of capitalism, American-style. The main reason small businesses can’t keep up with the behemoths is economies of scale.” [emphasis added]

Amazon now delivers over half of its own packages in the US, meaning it will soon be a larger courier service than either FedEx or UPS. 

Canada Post got hit with double the expected volume around Black Friday and got way behind, harming businesses who rely on them. (It seems they forgot that warning users about the strike issues last year reduced last year’s volume. That, along with Cyber Week being late this year, should have been factored into projections.)

Google is slowly making is Google Images pages more “shoppable” by including “in stock” & “out of stock” tags, in green and red respectively. This works not only for Etsy but also for private websites as well, if they are coded correctly; the items on my Squarespace site have this change in Images. [and yes, for those who have been following me for a long time, I do realize I will now have to stop saying “Google Images isn’t really a shopping engine” LOL!]

If you care about your data privacy, you might want to delete all retail apps from your devices (and the non-retail apps aren't much better); the vast majority leak your info. 

The basics of cross selling online (something I need to do more on my website!)

BUSINESS & CONSUMER STUDIES, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

Interesting study on how US consumers reacted to online ads for Black Friday sales. The majority said they did engage with ads and almost 1 in 4 people who responded said they became a customer. 

Have some set scripts (snippets?) for common customer service issues; here are some great examples. 

Dos and don’ts of handwritten thank you notes. 

Millennials and Generation Z are not the same, and you shouldn’t market to them in the same way. Check out some important differences, and suggested approaches, here. 

Activism is on the rise, and many people want companies to follow. 

MISCELLANEOUS (including humour) 

Google has become the competition for many industries, instead of just a tool to find those industries. I could have put this in the SEO section, but it isn’t as relevant to those of us who sell physical products. 

The latest version of Firefox will attempt to block “browser fingerprinting”, which many sites use to identify you even if you have your privacy settings as tight as can be. 

Does your website have a cookie consent pop-up/banner? Here are some things to cover. 

Remember the Peloton bike ad controversy? In case you missed it, here is the sequel. [article with video link; humour, although it is, as they say, a great advertising case study as well.]

[comicteaparty]

February 21st, 2019 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on February 21st, 2019, from 5PM - 7PM PST.  The chat focused on Teasday by FeatheryJustice.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB START!

Good evening, everyone~! This week’s Thursday Book Club is officially beginning! Today we are discussing Teasday by FeatheryJustice~! (https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/teasday/list?title_no=169870)

Remember that Thursday discussions are completely freeform! However, every 30 minutes I will drop in OPTIONAL discussion questions in case you’d like a bit of a prompt. If you miss out on one of these prompts, you can find them pinned for the chat’s duration. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is fun and respectfully appreciating the comic. All that said, let’s begin!

QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?

Draco Plato

I really like the most recent scene with Vander because I'm really looking forward to where it's going to lead to, it left me with a feeling of suspense

I also enjoyed the scene with Calen and Folen

FeatheryJustice

My favourite scene is actually Anton and Spyder, especially trolling Spyder with salt instead of sugar. I do love drawing Calen and Folen :3

Also what tea is everyone drinking today?

Cheshire777

Nothing right now- out and about but when I get back chai.

FeatheryJustice

What kind of chai? Traditional or like the new form types?

Draco Plato

peppermint XD

FeatheryJustice

Ohh classic. Plain peppermint or mixed with other stuff Draco?

Draco Plato

just plain, it's pretty watery too since it's the keurig one

Cheshire777

Loose leaf (masala I think?) w/ sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and cream.(edited)

FeatheryJustice

Ohh that sounds so good

Cheshire777

And cinnamon.

RebelVampire

my favorite scene is probably the one with calen and folen. i think they add a lot of dynamic to camellia since before she was just grumpy tea witch. now shes grumpy tea witch with a past. plus i really loved that appearance change because just so many questions. tea party host plot twist: i actually hate tea. long live the coffee witch.

FeatheryJustice

There is a coffee witch

She's cool

RebelVampire

which incidentally i did enjoy the dialogue about the coffee witch and the whole description of camellia's interaction with her. it made me laugh.

Cheshire777

Beat me to it @RebelVampire.

naomi

I always look forward to the author note at the end - it makes me imagine what they are drinking in the story

Also sorry I revealed my tea in general already - but I might make some hojicha for the occasion

FeatheryJustice

/o/

Draco Plato

haha I do really enjoy the author notes at the end too, I've learned so much about tea

Cheshire777

Eeesh, will be going through a dead zone soon for a few mins, don't freak if I stop talking.

mathtans

Here for the moment. Yeah, I liked the tea witch/coffee witch thing where they each made the offer and declined, I can totally relate to that. Coffee is just a no for me.

(I don't drink tea much either, but never coffee.)

RebelVampire

im really hoping well meet the coffee witch and see the spark of rivalry to a degree. friendly rivalry, but rivalry none the less

another less scene but more moment i enjoyed was at the end of sweet tea where the spider is just using multiple arms to pour in more sugar than should ever be allowed in anything ever

mathtans

Random surprise twist, Calen inherits the coffee witch title.

FeatheryJustice

Lol

mathtans

I also thought it was a nice touch in the night scene to have Camillia without her gloves. One wonders if she had a tea mishap in her past... or maybe she worked in fast food and gave it up.

There was more sugar than cup, I think. ^.^

Cheshire777

Ack..

FeatheryJustice

Yeah they are really good friends, the coffee witch and Cam

nintendonut1

I like the lullaby sung in Tea Cocktails. makes me think of how a lot of our childhood songs can get a little creepy

FeatheryJustice

That song is plot important

mathtans

We've also seen a fruit witch. Is there a veggie witch?

FeatheryJustice

In like three seasons ahha

There is one!

Draco Plato

oh i was thinking it had plot relevance, the song

mathtans

(I'm randomly reminded of a bake shop near me called "The Scone Witch".)

FeatheryJustice

That is a good name lol

And yeah of course it has plot relevance, I mean I wouldn't invent a random song without meaning XD

naomi

I hope it's clear when I said I liked the author's notes that it doesn't get in front of the content for me! Although I do think it gives each page something extra

RebelVampire

idk i could head canon camellia just invented it to troll ppl and creep them out

naomi

Same

FeatheryJustice

She would XD

Also I think I want to do a recap section for the longer ones so people can get read through it and get the tdlr

Like I should recap the herbal arc hha

mathtans

She sings it to people who come in and ask for coffee.

Kabocha

Hellooooo~ Favorite Scene? Vander's hiring. Camelia went through so many applicants that it was silly, and then this guy can pick up the simplest lavender tea

Also, aaaaa, I still need to read from the herbal arc. I fell behind a while ago T_T;;;

naomi

I am still reading but I really liked the getting ready to go out/meeting Anton

RebelVampire

i also liked how kind of shrug no big deal vander was about knowing the tea

Kabocha

I think Vander was expecting something more challenging, because he's got some sort of tea magic, but... Camelia has long dealt with normal people, who don't know it well

naomi

Yeah I would be a lot more... I think the word is chuffed? If I guessed a tea challenge

FeatheryJustice

Actually there is a thing why she was so surprised actually

Kabocha

also urgh, is it Camellia or Camelia... I keep forgetting which words have two ls some nights

FeatheryJustice

It was barely hinted at

RebelVampire

QUESTION 2. As hinted by the name, one of the comic’s goals is to focus on all topics related to tea. What is one interesting fact that you learned about tea thanks to the comic? Of the episodes, which episode did you find to be the strongest in terms of how it delivered educational, tea related information? Alternatively, of the episodes, which one did you find most entertaining on how it tackled a certain topic of tea and tea brewing? What other tea brews or information are you hoping to see the comic tackle? Lastly, which of the brews presented so far is your favorite?

mathtans

Well, as I recall it was diluted all to heck. Camillia was waiting for someone to say "it's water, not tea".

RebelVampire

yeah id call that more than a hint XD

FeatheryJustice

It was diluted

Kabocha

I really did like the intro to herbals, though Feather had told us a bit about it in IDC some time ago

also the process of tea flavoring is fascinating!

mathtans

I'd never considered the difference between infusers and the little collander thing that sits on a teapot. Surface area and such.

Draco Plato

I'd never heard of a lot of the tea combinations before so it gave me a lot to try

FeatheryJustice

And yeah it was more than a hint haha XD but people gloss over it a lot

Draco Plato

the banana tea particularly fascinated, and the chocolate tea

Kabocha

the fact that coconut tea is so oily wasn't... surprising

Draco Plato

yeah it was!

Kabocha

I'm shocked it goes with chocolate though

FeatheryJustice

Lol XD

Kabocha

chocolate is a pain to clean up after in my mug XD

FeatheryJustice

Yeah somrtimes you oh

You can put the chocolate tea in a tea bag and then into an infuser XR

Kabocha

...that would keep the oil from escaping wouldn't it

FeatheryJustice

Yup

mathtans

Oh yeah, banana tea, what was up with that. Did not anticipate.

RebelVampire

i have learned all the tea facts. as someone who doesnt like tea and thus doesnt make it, my knowledge equates to basically 0 on anything involved with making tea. like didnt even know there were different ways to flavor things. so all in all the comic has been educational as a whole to me

FeatheryJustice

I am glad I am teaching people!

Kabocha

wait, rebel, you don't like tea?! whaaaaaaaaat

FeatheryJustice

Also man I had to research so much for the herbal flavouring thing

mathtans

It's a "steep" learning curve.

RebelVampire

the research really shows through though because i think in comparison to the other strips this one has been the most thorough

FeatheryJustice

I love that pum

Also I was trying to do a different format as well that time CD

RebelVampire

and no i dont like tea. but tbf to tea i dont like hot beverages in general. even coffee which i do like i take it iced.

FeatheryJustice

Iced tea episode hahaha

mathtans

Funny thing about tea for me. I don't like hot tea. I definitely don't like iced tea. I'll tend to drop an ice cube into tea shortly before drinking it (it melts, admittedly diluting) to split the difference.

Kabocha

yeah, I let my tea cool before drinking it in many cases -- but some just taste better hot

but compared to rebel, I live in the arctic I think

FeatheryJustice

Lukewarm tea is okay

mathtans

Exactly. Gotta go for lukewarm.

RebelVampire

in terms of education, i also liked the alcohol tea drinking. cause it was educational and entertaining. cause idk what it was about the scene, but i got kind of a bar feeling. like camellia suddenly the bartender just serves alcohol tea

to rebel most ppl live in the arctic in comparison XD

mathtans

That reminds me, when Camellia's with her family they call her Amellia. Is she undercover with her C?

Kabocha

I'd honestly never had tea with alcohol... that sounds... pretty good imo

RebelVampire

i assumed it might have been a nickname cause it seems like most charas have their own nickname for her

but then again

she did change her appearance

suspicious

FeatheryJustice

Amelia is what they call her and Ilia is what Anton and Spyder call her

mathtans

Oh, good point, the llia hadn't consciously registered.

She looks different to tend bar.

FeatheryJustice

Yeah becuase she actually attempted to dress up XD

Also I need to bring back Galene sometime soon

RebelVampire

she looked very pretty in those scenes too

i was hoping wed see galene again cause i really like galene's design

FeatheryJustice

I had fun drawing her but I was also like "OH GOD WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF"

mathtans

Galene is Calen's secret informant.

FeatheryJustice

Fun fact, they don't know of each other's existences yet.

Galene and Calen never met in story

Same as how Vander never met Anton and Spyder yet, and Rhurbi only seen Spyder and Anton like once

Also the fun thing about alcohol with tea is that you can put it in hot tea and burn off the alcohol content. Or cook it

RebelVampire

oh man i cant wait till vander meets spyder and anton then. partly cause i wonder who might teach who about tea.

Kabocha

https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/teasday/herbal-part-3/viewer?title_no=169870&episode_no=24 Vander's real shady in this page ಠ_ಠ

mathtans

Maybe Vander already knows Spyder by reputation. "Oh, you're the sugar daddy."

Cheshire777

I'm back!

FeatheryJustice

LOLLLL

You almost made me choke on my tea there Math

RebelVampire

vander knows cause hes seen how much sugar inventory they have to keep and its abnormally high

FeatheryJustice

Fun fact, Vander HATES sweet things most of the time.

mathtans

Don't get him a cute teddy bear for his birthday then.

Kabocha

ahahaha

RebelVampire

i agree with kabo that vander was super suspicious in that one panel. but honestly vander seems suspicious in general cause he seems to know little about making tea at all but somehow was able to recognize a diluted mixture that nobody else could

Kabocha

maybe he's a tea-witch in training

Draco Plato

maybe it's just part of an ability his species has

mathtans

He said he knew tea stuff though, didn't he?

Cheshire777

Hyper taste?

yeah people say things

Draco Plato

i thought he said he was learning from Camellia

Kabocha

theory time

he's a business rival

Draco Plato

ooooooo

mathtans

tries to remember why Vander was looking for a job

Kabocha

he just kind of wandered in, I thought

mathtans

Kabocha: That seems plausible. Guess he's playing the long game rather than trying to buy her out.

Kabocha

https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/teasday/herbal-part-4/viewer?title_no=169870&episode_no=25 oh look at that

support for my theory as I'm reading

Draco Plato

maybe he's related to one of the people calen killed

FeatheryJustice

Pffft, Calen doesn't kill people, no she's an angel Coughlaugh

Draco Plato

O_O suuuuure

mathtans

She outsources.

FeatheryJustice

Folen does it for her

That

Draco Plato

loooool

FeatheryJustice

Also I am laughing because I want to say things, but can not because well that's Spoilers~

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. Despite the tea focus, the comic does take some time to add in a few character mysteries. What do you think Camellia past is with Calen and Folen? Why is Camellia so ardent about not going back to work with Calen? Also, why do you think Camellia changed her appearance to pay a visit to the two? What do you make of the scars depicted on Camellia’s hands? Besides Camellia, there is also her new assistant Vander. Do you believe that Vander can be trusted, or do you believe Calen will find out something shady about him? How will his continued presence affect Camellia and/or himself?

Kabocha

I THINK FOLEN wanted to marry camellia(edited)

FeatheryJustice

Leans back to watch fan theories steep

naomi

Kabocha went there

FeatheryJustice

Kabo did.

Kabocha

I always go there.

FeatheryJustice

Welll

I would show you a clip of the next episode talking about cups

Becuase literally it's all Folen and Camellia that episode hahah

Kabocha

Camellia turned Folen down, though, because... Well. She honestly doesn't want that romance stuff. Just give her the tea, dammit.

Folen, on the other hand, is interested in magic, and hey, tea magic is magic... yes right?

Draco Plato

that's pretty much what I had but I think overall the three of them are like family too

so there's probably a deeper connection there

mathtans

As I recall, Calen said that Camellia and Folen used to date, or something. Maybe he runs a fast food place.

Kabocha

Maybe he likes flavored Coffee

mathtans

Doesn't go well with tea.

FeatheryJustice

LOL I wish there was a fast food witch somewhere XD

mathtans

Wendy's, the good witch?

FeatheryJustice

HAHAHA XD I'm laughing so hard

Cheshire777

Obsessed with hair nets... I can picture it now...

FeatheryJustice

"Do you want fries with that?"

Cheshire777

They're magic!

FeatheryJustice

Magic Fries for everyone

RebelVampire

the veggie witch and fast food witch must be friends

to make all those french fries

Cheshire777

Makes you crave more magic fast food

FeatheryJustice

Real potato fries, so real they will teleport out of your stomach

Kabocha

Sweet potato fries are the veggie witch's favorite, I'm sure

put cinnamon on 'em

Draco Plato

Yum yum

FeatheryJustice

Veggie witch was actually schdueled to come around earlier in devlopement but I wanted her to be more placed later in the story as like, weird wacky aunt who visits

She bringing a lot of onions with her

Kabocha

She would invite people over, but she's got a leek problem

FeatheryJustice

LOL

Cheshire777

Onion tea?

FeatheryJustice

Yes!

There is onion tea

RebelVampire

wait theres onion tea

what

Cheshire777

Onion and ginger might be good

FeatheryJustice

Yup

It's made like a cold remedy

But I like Onion tea by itself

Draco Plato

It's full of tears

FeatheryJustice

Tea-rs

XD

Layers of flavour

Cheshire777

Is there tea made with bacon?

FeatheryJustice

I think so

I seen that in like, a weird tea thing

They used like, bacon bits with black tea to get a smoky flavour

RebelVampire

interesting

so anyway camellia's hands: scars from tea brewing or scars from something else? O_O

FeatheryJustice

Also Lapsang Sochong (One of the teas from an episode, has a good smoky taste so you can add bacon to it and give it a try???)

Cheshire777

Maybe!

FeatheryJustice

And I can't confirm or deny why she has those scars, other than man it's hard to draw them all the time

I keep forgetting they exist XD

Cheshire777

So It's a plot point

FeatheryJustice

(Everything I do is a plot point, only when it isn't then it isn't for a plot point XD)

RebelVampire

im personally leaning towards the latter. although i could see the former. like idk how someone becomes a witch in this world, but maybe camellia wasnt meant to be a tea witch. like she had to work super super super super duper hard to be a tea witch.

Kabocha

She burned her hands on tea didn't she

Draco Plato

The scars probably relate to a murder

Kabocha

GASP

maybe she was trying to work with Folen and it didn't work out

Cheshire777

A ERRENT STRAND OF HAIR!! IT WILL BE A PLOT POINT! THERE WILL BE A QUIZ!

FeatheryJustice

Also all witch related questions will be answered soon, after the wrap up of season 1

Cheshire777

What are your views on infusing tea into other food?

rice, cakes,

RebelVampire

i hope that if her scars relate to murder she didnt infuse the victim into tea or something. cause yes i went the dark route

FeatheryJustice

Delicious, I have recipes with tea for DAYS!

:3c

Also there are

Many screams

Draco Plato

Don't give feather ideas XD

FeatheryJustice

Pfft, it was already set in stone lol!

Scalded laps, SCALDED LAPS FOR DAYS

Draco Plato

Omg XD

Cheshire777

So tea infusions in other things?

mathtans

Flower witch too, maybe?

Cheshire777

Probably

FeatheryJustice

There is a flower witch

And also fun fact about the scars, Camellia actually has enough fingerless gloves to match her entire wardrobe, all in the basic colours XD

And my favourite thing to do right now is to try to use teas in savoury dishes

Recently made broiled chicken with a lemon chili pepper white tea, and that was so good

(Be right back, grabbing another cup of tea, getting some apple chamomile cinnamon roobios)

RebelVampire

i hope we can meet the flower witch

although i wonder if witches have to be female

cause part of me wants it to be a guy who wears a flower crown

FeatheryJustice

Well.

Actually.

I wonder if I can say.

Well you will have it explained during the episode of the origins of how these particular witches came to be.

But I haven't designed the Flower Witch so I will keep that in mind.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 4. The story has its fair share of shenanigans while having a lot of future potential. Insofar, which character do you enjoy seeing the most in the comic and why? Are there any potential future scenarios you’re hoping to see them in? Are there any other sort of witch types you’re hoping exist in the world that could play a role in the comic? What about creatures? In the long term, do you think Camellia will keep her current tea brewing style of life, or will something come along and change it in contrast to all the shenanigans? Finally, in general, what other scenarios do you see popping up for the story given any story fact?

i enjoy seeing vander cause he really is a suspicious mofo.

maybe vander is a world reknown thief

and he thinks camellia keeps her treasures in that backroom

and now he finds out nah she just has tea and more tea

so has to convenient go on vacation to never return

FeatheryJustice

Reminds me of the Tuxedo Mask Meme

"My job here is done" "But you didn't do anything" Whoosh

I personally just can't wait to finish Season 1, and then get into the really good stuff in Season 2. I also can't wait to kinda fix my old art ahhahahha XD

But I wouldlike to introduce more of towns folk, becuase there is a good amount of diversiTEA in the town Camellia resides, which is far away from the big city of where Folen and Calen are

Kabocha

What will Camelia think when someone serves her Coffee Puerh

FeatheryJustice

Also Vander being a Phantom Thief really makes me have ideas though haha

The same thing Camelia thinks when people give her Tawinese Coffee Milk Tea. "....Thanks but no." And Coffee tea is going to be an episode on it's own as well.

RebelVampire

i hope thats the episode where we meet the coffee witch

Kabocha

You gonna call $CanadianTeaRetailer out lol

RebelVampire

as they both stare in horror

FeatheryJustice

Yes you are

Kabocha

I actually like the Coffee Puerh tbh! It's tasty. But I can see why Camellia might not. Is she not a fan of high caffeine, or does she prefer smaller doses at once

FeatheryJustice

Yes, they look at that and is like "Are they shipping us?" "Probably?" "Weird."

Camellia can not drink coffee because she is allergic.

Like how the Coffee Witch is allergic to tea, but can at least have herbals XD

mathtans

(Back from crib.) I suspect Vander is a spy from the warlocks. Only witches are female, the guys want in on the action.

I love diversiTEA.

RebelVampire

vander can be both, be a spy and a phantom thief. cause who is going to expect the spy is actually a thief

or maybe vander is a secret evaluator

like an undercover food safety inspector

but for tea

hes juding camellia and her knowledge

FeatheryJustice

Vander could also be a student in debt trying to get a part time job and is lucky Camellia doesn't look at resumes becuase he doesn't have any experience

RebelVampire

idk vander seems like he dresses too nice to be a student in debt. O_O unless that is the actual answer in which case vander please, sell your clothes and downgrade

FeatheryJustice

Oh god Vander is one of those guys who are like "I spend all my money to look good and now I am broke" XD

Also maybe Vander is a food inspector waiting for that one bug from the other episode to show up and he never does

Vander also at first wasn't going to be a character actually. It was only after I realized I needed an every day man type character for reasons to exposition at did I create him.

I'm glad people like him

RebelVampire

one thing from the story im really curious about is the vampires apparently? since there was that one dude who showed up and needed tea cause someone named krys was grumpy. im really curious about all that stuff cause i wanna know who this krys person is

FeatheryJustice

OH YEAH KRYS

mathtans

I do kinda wonder about Calen and her sword fighting in the house.

FeatheryJustice

HAHAHAAAA I love Krys, they are great

You will see them later.

And Calen was killing things with a coat hanger actually

mathtans

Just gotta listen for the Krys Anthem - Mum.

FeatheryJustice

Very sturdy coat hanger

mathtans

I guess if you don't have a coat, why not.

FeatheryJustice

Oh yes, and the random sword

That was just from off the wall

Like you know when you have like swords on display

mathtans

So, are we shipping Camellia and Rhurbi? Fruit and tea mix well, as we've been told. ^.^

Cheshire777

Reminding me of Narbonic- kinda creeping me out... @FeatheryJustice

mathtans

They've got that whole "I hate you when you don't call" vibe going too.

Cheshire777

Ping was supposed to be at front?

FeatheryJustice

Lol, Camellia isn't very good at remembering phones exist

And what is Narbonic?

RebelVampire

camellia watched too much harry potter and only sends messages by owl

FeatheryJustice

Also Draco also said they ship Cam and Rhubi

And yes, Camellia would do owl mail

mathtans

Camellia travels by unconventional means too.

Cheshire777

Old webcomic that finished, I'll find the link if you want?

FeatheryJustice

Yup, by the friend express

mathtans

Okay, Cam and Rhubi ftw. Vander will have to make due with Spyder.

Cheshire777

Mad scientists.

FeatheryJustice

LOL

Cheshire777

This conversation is rather disjointed.(edited)

FeatheryJustice

Yeah it is, alright, reeling it back in

mathtans

I gotta get my ships in before time elapses.

FeatheryJustice

So far, that's a popular ship

And I haven't seen that webcomic but I will check it out Cheshire

Cheshire777

Or three conversations...

RebelVampire

i will accept the vander and spyder ship

FeatheryJustice

Well it will be fun when they meet

mathtans

As far as the tea brewing life, I feel like she already had a change in her past. Maybe related to the injury. I don't see her deviating any more.

FeatheryJustice

And no one mentions mysterious person on the other side of magical tea cup

mathtans

Which, the logo?

Cheshire777

I'll put the link on general.

FeatheryJustice

Yup

mathtans

Hm, not sure it consciously registered.

That was the dude by the seaside or whatever.

FeatheryJustice

Don't worry

It's a really long sideplot

Kabocha

I can't wait to read more

FeatheryJustice

But yeah it's a cup that you can share liquids with another person on the other side

mathtans

Interesting how much got set up. Oh, that's clever.

Gotta make sure when you're rising it out that the person on the other end doesn't drink sudsy dishwater.

FeatheryJustice

I tend to write in a way where I am like "Here is Plot point A, which goes into A-A, into A-B, into A-C" Meanwhile "Plot B-G is with plot point G-A"

mathtans

Best with it!

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB END!

Sadly, this wraps up this week’s Thursday Book Club chat for now. Thank you so much to everyone for reading and joining us! We want to give a special thank you to FeatheryJustice, as well, for making Teasday. If you liked the comic, make sure to support FeatheryJustice’s efforts however you’re able to~!

Read and Comment: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/teasday/list?title_no=169870

FeatheryJustice’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FeatheryJustice

FeatheryJustice’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/FeatheryFern

[newssplashy]

My three years in detention drew me closer to god –Chris Anyanwu

Senator Chris Anyanwu is a journalist and author. Detained by the military regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha for three years, she told Eric Dumo how that experience changed her life and how she manages to stay healthy

Even though you are 66, you look younger, what is the secret behind this?

As a person, I don’t take cognisance of my age; I just go ahead and do the things I need to do. I’ve realised that if you focus on age, you are not going to get things done.

Now that I am not currently in the Senate, I run my business and also get involved in a lot of other activities. I am in good health and go about my normal activities, I give glory to God.

As part of my daily routine, I make sure I take a walk in the morning as a form of exercise. I also love to swim even though I hardly have the time to do so. Once in a long while, I do go to the spa to pamper myself. But above all, I make sure I eat well and healthy, too. I work hard every day, because it is part of what stay keeps me healthy.

You spent much of your growing up years in Owerri, Imo State, what was that period of your life like?

I had an amazing childhood and growing up. My parents were both educationists even though my father was a member of the federal parliament in the first republic and so we used to visit Lagos from time to time. After secondary school, I left Owerri for the United States of America for further studies at the University of Missouri and Florida State University.

As the first of twelve children, there was no form of pampering for me. In fact, all of us were raised with discipline and the principles of hard work by my parents.

Being the first of 12 children, there must have been added burden on you from your parents and others to be a good girl, was that the case?

Indeed that role made me very responsible even from a tender age. I grew up knowing that I had to be mindful of what I did or said because of the people behind me who looked up to me for leadership. I learnt to take care of my siblings and also how to give and love others even when not convenient for me. Being the first of 12 children really helped me develop fast and in the right way.

As a result of the type of people my parents were, there was plenty of discipline in the house but also fun time too. I remember my father used to play lawn tennis with us in the compound in those days, we all enjoyed those sessions. There was freedom to do the things you wanted even though you knew what your limits were. My father was indeed a role model for us.

You studied journalism in the US, was that what you always wanted to do as a child?

As a child, I remember somebody asking me what I wanted to become in life and I telling the person that I wanted to become an ambassador. I dreamt of becoming that in life without even knowing what it was all about.

Later in life, when I was a bit grown, I remember my father always buying Time Magazine and giving it to me to read. It was through that way that the interest in reading and writing started. Also, by reading different publications that I came in contact with much later, I learnt to emulate very successful women in Nigeria and abroad. It was a foundation that helped me become the woman I am today.

Upon your return to Nigeria after your studies in the US, you worked with the Nigerian Television Authority, what was that experience like?

It was an amazing period for me. The experience of always being on the field and reporting stories is something I can never forget.

What I and my colleagues at the time tried to do was to bring back to Nigeria the type of professionalism in broadcast journalism that we saw overseas. As a result of the passion I brought into the job, I was able to do a lot of reports that captivated people. As a reporter on the energy desk of NTA, I followed a lot of stories in the industry and broke it down in the simplest form for Nigerians to understand what was going on in that sector. It was a very interesting period for me as a journalist.

As one of the big names in television journalism during your time; did you get any sort of nickname as a result of your work?

I don’t remember any nickname but I used to get a lot of letters of commendation from people while at the NTA. Apart from this, people showed their appreciation through different means. I remember visiting the Ido Market in Lagos one day to shop for items and hearing a man behind me say “This is Chris Anyanwu reporting for NTA”. I was a bit embarrassed because I never knew that people knew me that much. Even though it was a nice thing, I particularly didn’t like that sort of attention. There were other instances as well.

So, did that experience keep you away from visiting markets subsequently?

It didn’t really stop me from going to the market but that encounter made me apply more caution while in places like that so as not to attract such undue attention again.

For three years, you were detained by the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime for reporting a story. In those periods, what were some of the things that ran through your mind?

That is a chapter I wish not to look back to again because I have written a book about it. For me, the entire episode shows what is possible in a state of anomie, in a state where things get out of hand.

The quality of leadership in any environment is very important to the existence of the people there because it can make life tough and also beautiful. But when people allow the wrong set of persons to emerge as their leaders, they pay a very high price for that. Nigerians have to be very careful who they make their leaders because they can suffer very grave consequences as a result of this.

A lot of international recognition came after you were released from detention. When you look back today, do you feel compensated for those years you suffered unjustly?

Even though I appreciate and cherish each of those recognitions given to me upon release from detention, I do not really dwell much on those horrible three years. For me, I learnt the necessary lessons there were to be learnt and moved on.

The truth is that nothing can compensate a person for injustice suffered. Abacha wanted to punish me but he used his hands to elevate me before the world. I consider myself to be lucky for being alive, I’m grateful to God. I learnt a lot of lessons and gathered plenty of strength from the experience.

So, what are some of those big lessons those three years taught you?

The period of my detention by the military drew me closer to God. I remember the first day I was detained; my sister came to visit me and gave me a Bible. Out of anger, I threw it back at her, asking where God was when I was being detained. But as time wore on and my understanding of the scriptures began to grow, I realised what God had in stock for my life. By the time I fully understood the word, I had become a different person, closer to God than ever.

Those three years in detention taught me a lot of patience. I learnt to be calm no matter what the situation is.

In those three years you were held, how did your husband and children fare, it must have been a very traumatic period for them, wasn’t it?

My family had to move abroad at the time because the government was a very ruthless one that was ready to hurt me in any way. It was a time of great tribulation for us as a family. In fact, most of what I had were lost, so upon my release, I had to rebuild from the scratch. As a family, we survived those turbulent days through the mercies of God.

In this part of the world, it is common for people to desert us when we are in trouble. In those three years; did you lose friends and others close to you?

It was a frightening period for everyone; only few people could afford to brave the risk involved. But some friends still managed to stand by me and maintain a link through my siblings who were allowed to visit me.

However, the striking thing I found out was that Nigerians had not learnt to stick out their necks for people who suffer injustices. We don’t have that culture here and we need to develop that. Once one person is dehumanised, we are all dehumanised. We must understand this fact and not sit on the fence to watch such persons suffer injustice. That attitude must change if we are to develop on the right path as a society.

You represented Imo East at the Senate for several years, coming from your background as a journalist, how did you cope in your first few months in the upper legislative chamber?

At a point in my career with NTA, I covered the senate, so fitting into the processes at the Senate wasn’t strange to me or difficult.

But what I also discovered was that being an observer from outside and a participant from inside are two different things. The knowledge learnt has really enriched my understanding of governance and leadership.

As a female, how did you cope in a parliament dominated by men?

As a journalist, I have always operated in a man’s world, so it wasn’t any different when I was elected to the senate. My background as a journalist helped me to settle in well among the men.

People who know you consider you to be a good dresser, what informs your fashion sense?

I really do not consider myself as being stylish or a great dresser, I just think I am a simple person who likes to be comfortable in what she wears.

In terms of music and maybe wine, which ones do you prefer?

In this aspect, I think I will fail. I cannot really say what my preference in those regards are but one thing I know is that I like to eat vegetables a lot. Fruits are also a regular on the things I like to pamper myself with. I am trying to stay off starch and red meat as much as possible.

In terms of relaxation and holiday, which strategy do you adopt?

I like nature a lot, in fact gardening is one of my favourite hobbies and that is why I make sure I do the landscaping of any house I live in. As a matter of fact, I make sure any environment I am, there are lots of trees. In my house, I often sit under trees; it is a great way of relaxation for me.

What is the greatest advice you’ll say your parents ever gave you?

Even though my parents used to dish out advice all the time, they always told me to be careful in selecting my friends. I consider this a great word because it has lived with and guided me throughout my journey.

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  source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/04/my-three-years-in-detention-drew-me.html