Fadzayi Maposah-Correspondent
I remember a time when I came into close contact with a fake US$50 note. I always used to see fake notes displayed in places that included banks and supermarkets for all clients to see so that they would not be duped too.
In this case, the fake dollar note was at work and it was discovered when it was time for banking. All the paperwork for the bank deposit were done and it was noted that the money on the slip was not the same amount that would be deposited.
It would mean that the amount would be reduced by US$50. When the issue was brought to team members who included myself, there was dismay. The money that the team thought it had was not it. Who would do such a thing, we asked ourselves?
How come the person who had accepted the money had not queried why one would use such a big note to pay for services that were less than US$10? Why had there be no suspicion? In the process of asking all these questions, we took turns to look at the fake note and search for the features that made it fake.
Once one discovered where it was fake, there were exclamations, hiii! It really did look real when one just looked at it but upon scrutiny, the fake part was revealed.
It was basically a female management team, there was only one male. While we took turns to look at the note, the male team member was not as engrossed in the activity as we were. We continued with our analysis and discussions. After some time the male colleague asked what was the key thing that we had learnt.
Our answers were varied. We had learnt that people took chances with their fake notes. We had learnt that there was need for proper scrutiny when accepting money. We had learnt that maybe we should not accept big notes when one was paying a low amount.
After some time of sharing our lessons learnt, the male colleague said calmly that it was important to actually study the real note more. Of course, we opened our eyes wide and just looked at him. Then he continued that features that made a real note original would always be the same, but those who developed fake notes, would vary the features that they added or removed.
Then it started all over again, taking an original US$50 note and then studying it again and then more hiiis! It was an intense moment and then action had to be taken.
All team members were informed of what had happened and of course, the other colleagues wanted a feel of the fake note. As people who had learnt from our male colleagues we encouraged other team members to focus more on a real note.
Then the hooos would come and colleagues would look for an original note. There were some colleagues who did not really take part in the activity. There were like spectators watching a game from the terraces and not even truly drawn into what was taking place. When we asked them why they were not really interested, they claimed that their roles did not involve direct contact with clients and with money.
What about their own money, we asked? Then there was a shift as they heard the word own.
As our male colleague told us to take time to know a real note, it is important to know what a normal breast should be like so that as soon as there are changes one knows. The word normal regarding breasts varies. No two breasts are identical.
Remember even identical twins have a difference or even differences. It is important to look at our breasts as sisters, not twins.
The breast variations include size, shape, texture and colour. As you make time to study your breasts remember that since your breasts are sisters, one may be bigger than the other, one may be higher than the other and even the shape may be different.
One should be aware of the breast texture, what it is like.
It is important to also know what constitutes breast tissue.
I see some people study food labels in shops and occasionally I ask myself if they give the same attention to detail regarding their bodies. At times we are so concerned about what we are putting into our bodies yet we do not know our bodies that well. A breast can feel firm, soft or smooth.
One should know their body. The other feature that one should know well is what kind of nipples they have. As one goes through the life cycle, the breasts also undergo changes. One issue that affects the breasts is the menstrual cycle when the changes in hormones result in breasts feel fuller/bigger, tender or even heavy.
When one is pregnant or when one is breast feeding, breast become bigger and the area around the nipple becomes darker than usual.
When one weans off the baby, the breasts become softer.
As one ages or reaches menopause, breasts naturally sag. Since women are at different points of the life cycle the already different breasts cannot be the same.
Look at your body and make time to know the various parts. Each one is important to you and you should understand what the normal or original state is so that as soon as there are changes, you may pick them out.
This October, Pinktober as we talk about breast cancer awareness, there are some people who seem to watch from the terraces. Some claim that they have no breasts that can be affected. These are mostly my male relatives.
Do you know that less than one percent of all breast cancer cases affects males? While it is a rare cancer, it exists! This cancer develops in the minimal breast tissue that man have behind their nipples.
That is a story for another day . . .
