10 (obvious and not so obvious) things I have observed since coming to Bangladesh

1- Motorcycles will drive on the sidewalks whenever they please

2- Eating with your hands is a great way to live in the moment

3- Poverty and environmental degradation are global problems

4- I wish I had my banjo

5- Bangladesh = resilience

6- Crossing the street is always an adventure

7 -It's important to laugh at yourself

8- The word green was invented here

9- Totally benign looking food can burn your mouth

10- Hang on tight or not at all; it doesn't matter

It should be noted that I am not a fan of these types of lists. This is because they tend to distill amazing moments down to trite paraphrases. I make an exception here because like all rules this one can be broken too.

I like to think of each item on the list above as an individual polariod image - something one can read and then instantly imagine what it might be like in their own eyes.

Diggin' In

My fingers are still stained yellow from lunch yesterday. I have forgotten how much of a challenge it is to eat with just my right hand. Currently my ability to eat rice and dhal is that of a refined mess. As my colleagues and I sat around a large table eating lunch my section was the only one with rice all over the place. Awesome.

I am excited to finally be working with the NGO Uttaran (Uplift). My role, to be further defined by Uttaran and myself, will be that of working on good governance advocacy strategies. This work is focused on the larger context of bringing attention and elevation to two of the countries southwestern districts social in-equality, poverty, and environmental troubles.

To be a part of this type of work is exciting. There will most certainly be infinite opportunities to learn. There will also be even more chances to be challenged, share what I know, and simply take in all that is Bangladesh. For now my fingers are still stained yellow from the curry. Perhaps I need a lesson in how to properly use soap. Or, perhaps it is a sign that Bangladesh is finally getting under my skin.

Last summer I helped out a few times weeding for a local urban farm. I used to love coming home with my hands covered in dirt. Trading dirt for dhal this is one volunteer grateful for the chance to dig in and figure out the rest as I go.

Alphabet Soup

I have been in Bangladesh for a month now! And while I have learned a lot - what types of programs VSO Bangladesh is running, the location of key places (grocery stores, etc), how to negotiate for a taxi, and an introduction to the language, there remains a certain level of uncertainty. This is of course natural. Only here there a few added opportunities for learning.

I like to think of what I am taking on in terms of alphabet soup. Partly because it is 5:30 pm and I am getting hungry. And partly because I also find it a good analogy for what I am experiencing. I am in fact in Dhaka (the soup so to speak). I know that I will be starting my assignment soon and that it will be rewarding. Yet, still unknown (in the form of floating alphabet letters) is what is going to actually happen next. I am glad that I don't know. That sounds funny to say but it is true. For now it is good enough that I am swimming in the soup.

Here, no matter how I feel, Dhaka moves forward...constantly forward. I have begun to see that it is best to simply live each day comfortably in the not-knowing. Comfortable in the soup.

I am hungry. It's time for dinner. Be well.

More Patuakhali Pictures

Patuakhali Field Visit

Our group of new volunteers spilt up this past weekend to go to two different field sites. Each group was hosted by current field volunteer. Four of us headed down south to the Khulna district town of Patuakhali. I would like to be able to describe every last detail- but am unable to for to capture the essence of the journey would take volumes. Some highlights though included tea with the captain of our ferry ride (the longest of three ferry rides to get to our site); a late night ride in tom-tom (hard to truly explain); and hordes of people everywhere we went. As some more time passes I will be able write in greater detail all the thoughts that are swimming around my head. For now enjoy a few pictures from the journey. Double click on any image to see a larger size.