Spring is Here! Tips for Critical Social Distancing!

See This Time as a Gift: Tips for Social Distance

Wow! Spring is finally here, I am so excited for the change in season because I believe such a change in nature, will have a beautiful effect on all the people. Particularly at this time the world is undergoing crisis. There  is no room or reason to be depressed, see this time as an opportunity to appreciate life and to have a rethink of all the damages mankind has done on the surface of the earth and the neglect of cleanliness. 

How wonderful would it be! If only we can finds meaning in things or events that are beyond the control of humans imagination. By the way, we are all on this little rotating rock, called planet earth together and we have little or no clue of what is happening in our world today. The only thing we have in this wohle wide world, is each other. The only thing that is going to keep us away from the spirit of fear and the „isolation“ called social distances is each other. 

As we all know, that the spring time is a  flourishing  season for nature, as the earth puts on a green garment and flower blooms, I encourage you to enjoy the beauty.

However, this spring season offer you a precarious about the on going social distances due to the current crisis. For most people living at the country side, this is the best time for you to start your planting, go for a walk in the beauty of nature, ride your bike and do home sport with your family to keep fit and take a long walk in the forest. Free your soul from every form of stress and fear. 

Whenever, there is an outbreak of pandemic disease, there is always social unrest and fear but then we should not be carried away in the midst of all of these things. One of the Christian feast during the spring is the Easter celebration, as the Christians believe that  Jesus Christ was ressurected during the Easter period, no wonder the spring time  is a season of rebirth and rejuvenation, isn’t that wonderful? Yes it is, when we embrace life with gratitude to the Creator of all things. This is not the first pandemic and it might not be the last, but the next pandemic will be in the next 100 years again. The first influenza pandemic was in the 1918, where over 500 million people was infected by the virus and 50 million people died from the virus,´´ according, to CDC. ´´I think this is  humans error... because it is not the Will of God for anyone to be sick.´´ Said Mr Temi. He is a God, that is full of compassion.

Tips from queenscourt: Start your day by following the basic hygiene of hands washing with soap and warm water. 

Drink warm water with lime juice and a glass of orange juice because you need your daily recommendations of vitamin C. According to, everydayhealth, a daily recommendation of vitamin C for women and men is 75 to 90 milligrams... and it is always advisable to get your vitamins from your diet. Avoid crowded gathering, keep 2 meters distance from people.Stay home, if you don´t have any important things to do out there. Follow all the advice from World Health Organisation (WHO), CDC, and Health Care. Protect yourself and your family, whoever protects his or herself is protecting others. Everyone can do something, to stop the spread of this virus. To shout down the world for some months, might just be the best solution. There are no cure for virus infection, for now, maybe in the future... so your body is the best medicine to fight the virus, for those who are in good health and who have a strong immune system. 

Happy Springtime! and Stay Healthy.

Preventive Therapie Isn´t Free: Why Preventive Therapie Isn´t Free If the Health Insurance Goals is to keep People healthy for a long time?

"Prevention they said is better than cure.“ but How do one go about this? In this age where the love of money is the peak of the day. Last year, I was having a pain on my gum and I decided to visit the dentist after trying out my preventive prophylaxis with salt and warm water for days without any improvement. Well the dentist assistant removed some plaque and told me I will need to come for professional plaques removal. They asked if I have ever done that before I said yes... Anyway, that is another story.

They told me is from 130-160 Euro... I told them I know because I have done that before. The dentist wrote me some prescriptions for my gum pain to get from the pharmacy but I didn’t buy that anyway my pain vanished.

Last week I decided to call because I discovered my mouth was smelling and they asked me to come.  So I went there on Friday, the dentist told me that he has to do X-ray to know what is the problem and if there is a problem the health insurance will have to pay for the treatment. I agreed to do the X-ray and after the X-ray he said it is gum inflammation... and the treatment is professional cleaning. But I should not worry the health insurance will pay for that because it about 900 Euro. I will do professional cleaning every three months and after that I will be coming for control and everything will be fine again. So my first appointment was 16.3.2020, 12:30 pm, when I got there, the dentist assistant took me to

where the treatment will commerce. She was very friendly, so I asked her to take me some pictures. Which she did, only for her to start telling me that I will pay 400 Euro and the health insurance will pay more than a thousand  Euro. I said but the doctor told me a different story. Why should I pay if i‘m having a problem in my gum which need to be taken care of? I don’t get it. She replied that , that's their rule. Our conversation was in German language and I told her that I would like to talk with the dentist and she told me that the dentist would be available in 15 minutes. After few minutes he came in and started explaining things to me in another dimension. I quickly cut in, by saying but why didn’t you tell me this before the X-ray? You only told me that the health insurance will pay. What do I do now? He said I will be coming for control they should give me the next appointment for 23.3.2020. hmmm... then he asked the nurse to do the normal plaques removal for me. She replied she had done that already.

 The same thing the other day I went to see a gynecologist for check up ,new though because of change in my environment and they brought out list of prices for every check up, including ultrasound. I was surprised because I have never pay a dine  since I have be visiting gynecologist in Germany ,the health insurance pay for that. I know when I go to my personal doctor for general check up I don’t pay too, only if I do other checks that the insurance don’t cover.Trust me, I don’t joke with all my check up because preventive therapy is just the best and I think is one of the most expensive therapy. Not only in cash but in investing your time doing all it takes to remain healthy for a long time.

Queendaline Schneider Blog: Franco-Nigerian singer Asa talks about Love and br...

Queendaline Schneider Blog: Franco-Nigerian singer Asa talks about Love and br...: African women in Music:Bukola Elemide Asa on Lucid tour talks about love and broken relationship. On the ´Lucid´ tour recently in Germany....

Franco-Nigerian singer Asa talks about Love and broken Relationship with ´Lucid´

African women in Music:Bukola Elemide Asa on Lucid tour talks about love and broken relationship. On the ´Lucid´ tour recently in Germany. In this interview, Asa, sits with Queendaline Schneider to discuss her album Lucid. And her reasons for the five years break...

Asa, congratulations, it was a great show. How did you feel out there on stage?

Thank you! People are very kind here and very nice, i felt at home on stage tonight. So the audience was really warm, you can tell they are having a great time and i’m having a good time too.

Do you have any rituals before or after a show?

What i do before a show. I usually, you know warming up, preparing. I just really like to meditate, you know, for like 10 minutes if i can, so that i can already be on the stage before being there. That is my rituals, just to meditate and breathe pretty much.

It was the first show on your current „Lucid“-tour. Did you enjoy how the audience responded to your new material?

Yes, people have been very open, very warm towards Lucid, it is really good, it is really good rational that I have gotten so far!

Are you nervous when you are presenting new stuff for the first time?

Yes, always nervous, if i’m not nervous, then i know there is a problem. I’m always nervous.

Many of those new songs deal with a broken relationship!

Is about love, Lucid album is about love. You know, different aspects of love; the joy, the happiness, the sad, everything broken. You know, it really not strict, nothing perfect with love. Love is a feeling, love is life, is a way of life and so, that is what i was talking about in Lucid. Lucid is real inspired by personal story from me and what happened.
Yeah heartbreak is one of it, it a whole package, you know, so it is about love, in different colors of love, different aspects of love.

Was this heartbreak the reason for your five years break? What have you been up to in this time?

Actually no ooo, i was working, i was writing, i was just very quiet. I wanted to come out with something that was meaningful. I did just want to go into the studio and i needed something, i have songs but i felt they weren’t the right songs for that time and then life happened, you know which gave me story to write about. You know, i was in a relationship, i was no longer in a relationship, it was fun while i was there, it was heartbreak, it was an interesting experience for me. So i think, in actually, i was writing about this, not knowing it was just an album, so it happened naturally, everything happened natural.

You were born in Paris, then moving back and forth between Nigeria and France. When, where and how did you get into music?

Oh! As far i can remember, getting into music, i was a little girl and music has always been what i wanted to do, i never changed. My father told me, i was singing when i was very little, i couldn’t remember, i just know that, as a little girl, music was what i always did. I did a lot with my mummy spring jazz, i played the guitar with my mummy turning spoons and i played precaution on any flat surface. So music has always been in me since i was a kid.

Did you attend a music school and have you learned any new skill?

Yeah, i left the university to go to the music school in Lagos, Badagry Lagos. That is where i learned to play the guitar for six months and after six months i lef, i was already working professionally. I think when i made the two put steps to go to music school. I didn’t want to go to the music school because my parents, especially my father didn’t wants me to do music. ,He said no child of mine will do music.’ I like to peep and see people who do music but i was not very confident to do it, until i was pro to late 18, when i decided to go for it. So, when i made that decision, it led me here, it led me on tour, it led me almost everywhere in the world.

How does Nigeria music differs from the Europe music and where are the challenges?

Nigeria music, i mean hey, Nigerian music is the famous famous music right now in the world, how does it differs? It differs because it’s Africa music, as Africa inspired is church inspires, it’s what we grew up, for me, the black music is soulful, it warm, how else can i explain africa music. You know, right now it’s the biggest music in the world.

You did some of your song in yoruba language, do you think your audience understand you or you just carry them along with the lyrics?

Well, with the Yoruba songs, you don’t have to understand yoruba, that is one thing when i write yoruba songs you don’t have to understand it but you just need to be in the music, let the music wrap you like a warm blanket. Well, i will talk about Yoruba because it’s my mother tongue. I enjoyed writing in those languages, i think, i express myself differently from Yoruba or Englisch. So, they don’t have to understand Yoruba, the music is there, the music says it all. Yeah!

Do you feel the market for African (influenced) music in Europe is growing?

Definitely, oh yes! You can hear on the radio, Europeans artists are beginning to play afro beats, Africa music yes.

You are travelling a lot in every case. Where do you write your songs? Can you write anywhere?

I can actually, i can write anywhere, i don’t know if i enjoy writing on the tour, it is very fast, i don’t have all the time. I do really love to stop, at least stay in a town, somewhere i can just be all by myself because i really love that quiet and silence, so that i can write well. On tour is really just music, but really i don’t know if i can write songs on tour, i haven’t give it a try. But when i was writing „Lucid“ i was right in front of Nigerian Embassy in Paris (smiles), just in Café waiting to get my passport renewed. Just within the noise environment, just because we get our ideas we can write anywhere.

Do you start with the lyrics or the music?

I start with the music, then the melodies, then the lyrics.

With the new album already out and your tour happening – what are your next goals?

Next goals is to write a new album or to bring out new songs, new singles.

Photo credit: Asa (Trinity Ellis)
Interviewer: Queendaline Schnneider

The Battle of Verdun 100 Years Ago

The battle of Verdun, It was the World War 1 that engaged the French, German and so on. It was one of the most bloodiest war in the human history. There was several casualties from both the French and the German, about 976,000 casualties,  around 300,000  were killed and 1,250,000 suffered around the city during the war.

 

according to the statement made by one of the German General Erich Falkenhayn, ''Only France remains.'' he stated. He believed that the German would won or lost the war in France. On March 4th the Germans captured Douaumont village. The town was completely distroyed during the battle.

According to the wikipedia, In July 1916, the German offensive was reduced to reinforce the Somme front and from 23 June to 17 August, Fleury changed hands sixteen times. Early in July, a German attack on Fort Souville failed.The German offensive was reduced further and deceptions to keep French reinforcements away from the Somme were tried. In August and December, French counter-offensive recaptured much of the ground lost on the east bank and recovered Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux. The battle had lasted for 303 days, the longest and one of the most costly in human history.

 These are human remains in Douaumont Ossuary, France that dated to 100 years ago. Those skulls brought tears to my eyes. And I thought within me, there will be no Third World War but end of human race... Again this reminds of the book of (Ezekiel 37:1-2) ''The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones. And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and they were very dry.

 

 

Poison gas was one of such weapon that was developed in the (1915-1916 ) and this was used again during the war and a lot of people died by this means.

Why People of Africa Live Span is Shorter

It has been said that African lives span is shorter,when compared to the Europeans or Asian.
However, this claim remain valid since 50% people in the Africa region do not really live long. Africa is a continent, that has over 60 countries in it regions, here I will be using Nigeria as my case study in the course of  this article.

Nigeria has a good weather climate condition, that could enhance the lives span of her inhabitants but rather the reverse is the case, of course, there are people who has lived up to 100 years and above in Nigeria but this statistics is infinitesimal. My great grandma, Herent Abejoye and her huband Prince Philip Abejoye lived to afull old age...

Back to the subject matter- Why Africans life expectancy is short?
To start with, one of the leading factors for this anomaly is the hustle and bustle in Nigeria. For example, in Nigeria, most people do not have a job and yet some of these people marry, sometimes to more than one wife and they will ended up giving birth to numerous children, with the mentality that the children will give them a better future. Sadly enough, how do one expects a child who had no good education, to have a good or a better future and take care of their age parents.

Another factor is pollution- the environmental pollution is overwhelming. The increasing pollution is causing serious health havoc.

Another factor is poor dietary intakes and malnutrition is a major contributor to early death in Africa. For instance, some family will eat rice with tomatoes sauce as their breakfast, and the same food for lunch and dinner. In some cases, the poor people will eat (Eba) madefrom cassava flour three times in a day and all these are carbohydrates, with little or no protein and the neccessary vitamins in all of the above food. Healthy food is essential for good health. Food plays important role in the human body, particularly in the brain.

Another factor we will be looking at is ignorant- ignorant kills and it is major killer in Africa. Take for instance, it is estimated that over 1.7 million people are living with Hepatitis A and B in Nigeria, most people living with this disease are not even aware of their illness until it is too late. Hepatitis is a liver disease that damages the liver if not detected and treated early, the end is early death. The disease is also contagious, when one comes in contact with people living with the Hepatitis B and C- However, Hepatitis A, can be contracted through unclean water and food. To understand why a lot of Nigerians are living with the Hepatitis A, one will need to visit some Africa local restaurants, popularly called "mama put." Some of these restaurants are unkempt, even the food sold in there are harmful. Most of them cook their food with rotten tomatoes because they are cheaper. Many Nigerians have contacted sickness and died through these unwholesome practices of food vendors.

Societal Belief Built on Ignorance and Superstitions are other factors- that contributes to early death in Nigeria. An average African or Nigerian do not even believe that people can contact any disease from another person and so they carry themselves carelessly around the sick one. Unlike here in Germany, for instance, if a perason has a disease that is catagious, such a person would not like to come in contact with other people. He or She will avoid using some public facilities. Such as; public transport or restaurants or any resorts area. But in Nigeria don't if someone come in contact with sick family member or friend, because faimily ties and sympathy.

Also, many Nigerians believe death is more of spiritual attack, than one cause by physical factors. Some Nigerians living in Germany go back to Nigeria, when they sick to the point of death because they believe that it is spiritual attacks from a witch that reside AFRICA or someone in the family member is responsible for their illness. While, the wise and rich Nigerians travel to Europe and America for a better treatment when ill, the foolish one return back to their home country when ill. This again is ingnorant.

This article will be incomplete if I fail to mention of family stress- Unlike in Europe or Germany where people have one or two children as the nuclear family, in Nigera the people value giving birth to several children so much. Although, this is not entirely bad, but could be a burden financially...

Finally, another factor that contributes to why Africans don live long, is the poor medical system.This affects the poor or lower class people the most. There are still people in some part of Africa or in Nigeria who have never visited the hospital or pharmacy even they are very sick; they just cook some herbs or visit a spiritualist for prayers. Since they do not have medical facilities around them and where it is available it is not adequate. Many Africans have died as a result of poor medical attention. Take for instance the common tropical sickness in Africa is "Malaria," and if it is not properly treated it kills faster than any deadly diseases in the world today.

I am writing this piece for this generation and generation yet to be born to see some of the reasons why the Africa live span is short. I am an African child, who is intolerant to the ignorance of her ancestors. If Africa must achieve her dream as a great continent, she must begin to get her priority right and develop a new mentality and approach to manage challenges to save the mass wastage of the lives of her citizens.

I was born naive but I refuse to die in ignorant. Now is Enlightenment.

Queendaline Schneider.

New Year Tradition In Nigeria And Germany

Wow! And how beautiful to see the end of the year.In few hours it will be already 2018. It going to be big party or celebration all over the Globe.

It is not a wonder, that we all have different cultural backgrounds but it makes us to see the diversity of other people´s cultures and their beautiful heritages.

The New Year Tradition in Nigeria is quite different from the New Year Tradition in Germany. Nevertheless, this may applied to the Christians and Non-Christians in Nigeria. The New Year celebration is the only festival that is been celebrated by all the ethnic group in Nigeria because Nigeria is a multicultural society. It is celebrated by the traditions of both religions. New Year´s Day, which is celebrated in Nigeria on January 1st, is one of the most important festival that is celebrated in all the 36 States of Nigeria.

The most important Tradition is the New Year Eve, which is on December 31st- on this particular day, all the Christians family will gather in the church from 10:pm to offer their praise and thanksgiving to God and the muslims family gather in mosques, while the Idos worshipers offer prayer to their gods. All the people offer their prayers at the stroke of 12 midnight. Prayers of good health, good luck, and prosperity in the coming year.

The New Year, is also believed as a time when the Almight God will answer prayers, so the people offer prayers of; growth, good health, prosperity, peace, joy and happiness. This prayer is not only offer in the chuches or mosques but the people pray anywhere they are, at home, even on the streets and they pray very loud. I'm sure if I try to pray so loud on the street in Germany I will be arrested by the police for disturbing other people. (SMILE). At 12 midnight after the prayers people will start to shouting HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR...! With loud voices. After which the people will return to their various homes to continue the celebration.

Some Nigerians do not leave their home on the first day of the year, which is 1st of January because they believe it is dangerous to go out on this day, because of some evil forces..., so the people stay at home and eat nice meal with their family.

Another New Year Tradition, some Christians bring all their salaries for the month of January to the church, as their first fruit offering to God.

In some parts of Nigeria, the Non-Christians also celebrate the New Year festival with Masquerade party. The Masquerade comes out in different costumes and masks. It is believed that the Masquerade are spiritual beings on earth, who has the power to remove evils from the face of the earth. So during the New Year, they come out in animal or scaring costumes, they perform some ritual dance on the streets, it is believed that the Masquerade dance will bring peace, prosperity and good luck into the lives of the people. One of such Masquerade Party on the New Year's Day is the ''Offrima.''

Some Nigerians also, practice what is called ''New Year, New System-'' Meaning they have to give all their old things away and put on a new personality. They wear new cloths, new shoes, and have a new hair cut. This is means old things are gone with the last year and everything shall become new in the coming year.

Finally, the youths also, celebrate the New Year by partying in the night clubs, restaurants, street carnivals, beach parties and resorts centres.

New Year celebration is a big event in Nigeria. Every corner of  major town and cities sing aloud popular music like; Fuji, Hip hop, Reggae, Juju and so on. The people dance with the happiness that they have seen the New Year and with hope of better life in the coming year. If you ever find yourself in Africa (Nigeria) during the festive season, do not miss the New Year celebration. It is really fun!

Happy New Year to all of  YOU my readers and PEACE to the world!