Hello, I finally found a computer. My daughter posted one of my emails in the comments, so hopefully, you have been able to read that. We have been at a retreat for the past 3 nights in a place called Manikonj. The facility is owned by a huge non-profit group known here as an NGO...non government organization. Relief International is also an NGO. Teachers, peace corps volunteers, and Internet Learning Center staff gathered to discuss the goals for the Relief International project. Our exchange with a school in Bangladesh is just a tiny part of the big picture. It was nice to be in a rural area, well landscaped, nice buildings....after 2 nights, we were told where to find the switch for the hot water in the shower...so this morning it was nice to take a hot shower! At the NCO we saw a silk weaving factory...acutally, the cocoons are dropped into boiling water, then unwound, and evenually woven into fabric. It was an awesome and back-breaking operation. We also toured a tissue culture lab which is the largest of its type in all of Asia. They clone orchids in an effort to create a stronger plant with a larger yield. They also had a room full of Gerbera daisies growing in culture jars. Very interesting.
We returned to Dhaka today (Thursday here) and have had some time to shop for the first time. Changing money at a bank required 30 minutes, 3 tellers and the bank manager, but we got what we wanted...Taka for dollars!
Transportation is the most fascinating thing about Bangladesh. The colorful rickshaws are the main form of transportation. Horns are always honking. Although they drive on the left side of the road, it is sometimes hard to remember because in reality, they drive all over the road! I wish the rickshaws had shock absorbers on them as the ride would be a bit smoother. It requires some calm nerves to be in a rickshaw while cars and trucks whiz by. Wahida took me on a ride through her village and we were "touring" for about an hour. Sometimes the rickshaw wallah (driver) had to get off the bike and "walk us" up a slight hill...being a passenger requires the same body English as riding a motorcycle.
Wahida's home was one of the nicest we have seen. She has 5 rooms in her apartment and two bathrooms. I think I mentioned that most bathrooms have "squatty potties"...something that would be a real shock to most of us. Showers consist of a big bucket in the bathroom. The floor is cement with a drain, so one can pour water all over, soap up, rinse off...and that's it. It's ok to splash and pour water everywhere since it all drains out. I still appreciate a hot shower!
The food is mainly rice and chicken. There is dal which seems a little like a thin lentil soup, but I'm not certain as to what its made of. Eggs...kinda fried...are served at breakfast. We discovered a "bread" that is very much like a flour tortilla. That is served at breakfast and is very tasty. I make an egg burrito with it. Each meal contains cucumber and tomato. There is a vegetable dish that looks a little like sliced potatoes, but it's actually pumpkin. However, it's white rather than pumpkin colored. Some food is spicy, but I believe that Thai food is much spicier. We have found some Thai soup in restaurants and it's very tasty...and spicy. They also serve a lot of fish. Hilsha is the national fish and it's tasty, but most of the fish contains tiny bones. Since Bangladeshis eat with their hands, they can easily pick out the bones. I have tried eating with my fingers, but if someone gives me a fork or a spoon, I gladly use it.
Tomorrow we are going back to Gazipur to visit with Wahida and another teacher, Shamima, who also came to the U.S. on the teacher exchange in September. Classrooms are very different than in California. There are at least 60 students in each class. They sit on benches, with tables for writing. 3-4 students sit on each bench. The students stay in the classroom and the teachers rotate various classes. Students stand up when the teacher enters the classroom. I expect to see the same behavior when I return!!! It's also permissible for teachers to smack students who displease the teacher. I promise not to pick up that habit. Classrooms are bare; no student work on display. The teachers lecture most of the time which makes it hard for people who aren't auditory learners. Most classrooms have blackboards and chalk. As I visited classrooms, I drew a very bad picture of the U.S. on the board in order that we could talk about where we live. I kept thinking of my students who are very good map makers. I think my map of the U.S. looked more like the ones the 10th graders did based on the year 1510! Very rustic and crude. However, we got the point across, so I guess it worked.
Bangladeshis are very honest. If they think someone is fat, they say so. "You're a fatty" is not uncommon. (not to me, but to one of my companions) They don't view it as an insult; it's just a fact. We've had a lot of laughs about it.
I have enjoyed all of the comments from all of you. Thank you so much. I'll be home in a week...actually, I hope to be eating turkey in one week.
Linda
We returned to Dhaka today (Thursday here) and have had some time to shop for the first time. Changing money at a bank required 30 minutes, 3 tellers and the bank manager, but we got what we wanted...Taka for dollars!
Transportation is the most fascinating thing about Bangladesh. The colorful rickshaws are the main form of transportation. Horns are always honking. Although they drive on the left side of the road, it is sometimes hard to remember because in reality, they drive all over the road! I wish the rickshaws had shock absorbers on them as the ride would be a bit smoother. It requires some calm nerves to be in a rickshaw while cars and trucks whiz by. Wahida took me on a ride through her village and we were "touring" for about an hour. Sometimes the rickshaw wallah (driver) had to get off the bike and "walk us" up a slight hill...being a passenger requires the same body English as riding a motorcycle.
Wahida's home was one of the nicest we have seen. She has 5 rooms in her apartment and two bathrooms. I think I mentioned that most bathrooms have "squatty potties"...something that would be a real shock to most of us. Showers consist of a big bucket in the bathroom. The floor is cement with a drain, so one can pour water all over, soap up, rinse off...and that's it. It's ok to splash and pour water everywhere since it all drains out. I still appreciate a hot shower!
The food is mainly rice and chicken. There is dal which seems a little like a thin lentil soup, but I'm not certain as to what its made of. Eggs...kinda fried...are served at breakfast. We discovered a "bread" that is very much like a flour tortilla. That is served at breakfast and is very tasty. I make an egg burrito with it. Each meal contains cucumber and tomato. There is a vegetable dish that looks a little like sliced potatoes, but it's actually pumpkin. However, it's white rather than pumpkin colored. Some food is spicy, but I believe that Thai food is much spicier. We have found some Thai soup in restaurants and it's very tasty...and spicy. They also serve a lot of fish. Hilsha is the national fish and it's tasty, but most of the fish contains tiny bones. Since Bangladeshis eat with their hands, they can easily pick out the bones. I have tried eating with my fingers, but if someone gives me a fork or a spoon, I gladly use it.
Tomorrow we are going back to Gazipur to visit with Wahida and another teacher, Shamima, who also came to the U.S. on the teacher exchange in September. Classrooms are very different than in California. There are at least 60 students in each class. They sit on benches, with tables for writing. 3-4 students sit on each bench. The students stay in the classroom and the teachers rotate various classes. Students stand up when the teacher enters the classroom. I expect to see the same behavior when I return!!! It's also permissible for teachers to smack students who displease the teacher. I promise not to pick up that habit. Classrooms are bare; no student work on display. The teachers lecture most of the time which makes it hard for people who aren't auditory learners. Most classrooms have blackboards and chalk. As I visited classrooms, I drew a very bad picture of the U.S. on the board in order that we could talk about where we live. I kept thinking of my students who are very good map makers. I think my map of the U.S. looked more like the ones the 10th graders did based on the year 1510! Very rustic and crude. However, we got the point across, so I guess it worked.
Bangladeshis are very honest. If they think someone is fat, they say so. "You're a fatty" is not uncommon. (not to me, but to one of my companions) They don't view it as an insult; it's just a fact. We've had a lot of laughs about it.
I have enjoyed all of the comments from all of you. Thank you so much. I'll be home in a week...actually, I hope to be eating turkey in one week.
Linda
posted by Linda at 4:12 PM
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