The harsh experiences that groups and individuals go through affect the subconscious in ways that may extend across generations.
A Dutch woman told me that her elderly mother still stores large quantities of food because she experienced famine during World War Two in the winter of 1944.
My body left Gaza nine months ago, which is theoretically enough time for new feelings to be born. Yet sometimes I observe my feelings and notice that the effect of living through genocide in Gaza for two years - and before that, many long years of siege and occupation - is still active within me.
From my very first days in safe exile, I felt a subtle unease at the fact that electricity is available 24 hours a day, and that at any moment I could plug in a charger. If I were on a train or travelling, it would also be no problem: I could charge my phone whenever I wanted, anywhere.
In my new residence, I now own three chargers. In Gaza, several people would share a single charger, since Israel prevented the entry of most goods, including phones and accessories. One of us would keep their charger as a precious commodity, to be carefully protected.
