The effects of living on limited rice, lentils and chickpeas are being felt. I’m so fuzzy today that I nearly drove 30 minutes to a south-Sydney beach, convinced I’d left my bathing suit behind (it was in my backpack). I also had to take a serious time-out after I transferred our remaining 6 cups of rice to a new container, only to spill it all over the counter (I saved all of it in a tedious pick-up process, telling Sean that I “needed a moment alone”). Little things like this, which wouldn’t register in a normal person’s life, feel very… significant. I felt guilty, embarrassed, sad – not because anything was actually lost, but because I knew that if I’d spoiled the rice it would be a major downer for the next 2 days for both Sean and I.

While typing this, I realise I sound like a complete nutter – I suppose that’s the point. Feeling despair over a bit of spilt rice is almost funny, and even if it was unsalvageable, Sean and I wouldn’t really be any worse for it. Sunday would still come and we’d be fine. But it made me aware what it must be like to watch your family, your children be hungry and not grow up in a healthy way. I read a statistic about wasting and stunting amongst Syrian refugees. In Jordan camps the wasting rate is at 4.5% and stunting at 7.7% (by comparison, in Syria rates are 11.5% and 27.5% respectively). Even though the refugees in Jordan were clearly doing better, these rates are still shocking to me. The data I looked at is a few years old, but I’d be surprised if much has changed.

So far we’ve raised $1276 over the last five days that will go to Syrian refugees living in Jordan. This will feed one refugee for over 5 years. Or, put another way, It will feed nearly 20 people for three months. Clearly, a little can go a long way and any support is so welcome. (Act for Peace Ration Challenge)

Despite being regularly hangry, we’re hanging in there and have been surprisingly patient with each other over the last few days (I think this is good marriage prep!). Focus and sustained efforts feel highly energy consuming and the need for sleep is really the hungry rationista’s friend. Truly, I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like to deal with people, raise children and go to work on this level of nutrition. We’re so lucky to be able to do this by choice.