I had imagined my first writing in Bangladesh to be filled with these interesting and emotional facts, but I mostly find my self amused by a culture I thought i could see from a distance but soon realised I did not have the foggiest idea as I tried and failed to analyse with my western mentality and ideology pre arrival.
We have being here 8 days now and it feels like a month has gone by, each day has being actioned pack and filled with so much. Slum school, church, CUP, orientation, Meetings, school, Bangla lessons, teaching english, nerts (ask Hannah she is totally obsessed and drawing me in slowly) , socials, socials, rickshaws, food, food, poverty, begging, cricket, and the list goes on and on...................................
It really hit me that life was about to change, when boarding the plane from Dubai to Dhaka. People showed no regard for each other or for children. It seemed like a race of, the survival of the fittest. Marquel fell over as he pulled the hand luggage in the queue. I turn around to help him up, but had a brief few moments of fighting to get to him as the people behind him stepped over him, and over him, until I asserted myself to get to him, so I could pick him up, whilst I was picking him up, it soon became apparent this was an opportunity for as many people who were behind us in the queue to push forward and climb over us.
WOW! WOW! I tried to convince myself of this being a one off occurrence but my hopes were soon to be dashed when I boarded the plane, and on arrival in Dhaka. I have never seen such anarchy on a flight, especially on landing, cabin crew " waved,signalled and shouted for people to sit down, whilst the plane came into land, the fasten your seat belt sign was on, but people just ignored it and proceeded to open over head lockers and completely ignore the instructions of the cabin crew and later the captain. I was later to find out this anarchy was a regular occurrence on flights in to Dhaka. I could keep going about self centred attitudes towards each other within the airport but I shall swiftly move on.
After negotiating the traffic of airport road (please note NEGOTIATING is the key word here, it was a game of dodgems, just the way people drive here, the rule is keep going, and be the first infront of everybody else , come what may, but maybe give a little way to a vehicle bigger than yourself if you really must and you are sure they are about to run you off the road).
For the purpose of honouring my host country and visa regulations, I must refrain from placing names and being too specific about companies, etc. Hopefully, my writings will be transparent whilst abiding to the rules.
Dhaka- I have named it the city of Contrasts, with an unusual charm! :-)
I continually find things to chuckle about.For Example, after a week of observing I soon noticed a trend. Ear muffs are in! Serious fashion statement, especially the leopard print and plaid ones. I am yet to go outside and not continuously see people wearing them, BUT with T-shirts and sandals! WHY? I dont get it, if your ears are cold, surely your body is too right?
Then there are these spoilt cows, who have the vegetables cut up for them in huge bowls, the area they sleep swept to perfection, and get this, a fleece blanket over there bodies, along with a plastic coat over the fleece blanket to protect it from the rain, whilst its owner lives in a shack next to the smelly lake, with very little cover or any real clothing. I have concluded, in Dhaka, I would much rather be a poor cow, than a poor human! Here, Here!
What I am sure you all want to know really is how we are doing? Well, it is truly hard to sum this up in a concise statement. Everything is so different, the langalanguage food , the people, my clothes, church, mannerisms, etc etc. I am currently just taking it all in and trying not to mess up too much , I have already occasionally forgotten to take my shoes off at the door and twice passed something with my left hand and touched food with my left hand. These gestures are offencive. I find myself trying to constantly remember what I can and can't do.
Though the native people are not excluded from reminding themselves of what they can and cant do. Prime Example, On my first independant ride to my orientation meeting, my CNG (a motorbike taxi) travelled on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, to help us get out of traffic and hurry to my destination.I didn't get too anxious as I had noted driving here is chaotic and there isn't much discipline. That was until, I noticed he and few other dirvers did the same thing outside of the police training academy and out came the police with there sticks poking into the CNG's and threatening drivers. Thankfully my CNG was cramped inbetween others, so my driver didnot feel the brunt of the stick.
I am slowly adjusting to what seems like excessive noise levels. If it isnt the sound of constant traffic and beeping, its people talking loudly. And next door there are some construction works going on. Ear plugs are doing little to stem this constant noise.
Quel has started school and loves the princely treatment he recievereceivesA stark contrast to children we see as we go around Dhakaon a rickshaw. Families living at the side of the road, children begging, many dirty and without shoes. The streets are about to be cleaned up though, as there is a current goverment initiative starting in a few days to move all the beggars before the cricket world cup, that is to take place here. This will be another interuption in these peoples lives who live on the edge of society and are fighting for there everyday survival. They will be displaced in another area, away from the watchfull eye of the tourists, but not given any housing or support. A problem to be hidden and not addressed. I do understand this is a city of 12 million people and it is a 1/3 the size of london with mass infrastructure problems, but surely it would be better to address the problems rather than hid them away.
In this city I have also seen some of the Grandest houses, I have ever laid eyes on. Huge mansions, and top range vehicles to match. Oppulent restaurants and lots of beauty to be seen. This is truly the city of Contrasts!
Over the next week I will begin to become more independant, so far I have had some help to travel most places and to cross the road. And my orientation has tried to prepare me for some of this new life.
I will post some photos once I sort out my camera.
Blessings to you all!
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