Victory Dhaka City

... has over half the population of the U.S., but only has an area the size of Iowa.  This combination makes it effectively the most densely populous country in the world.  The poverty here is truly staggering. 

Somehow, we've come to the heart of the third world to take a break from the third world.  How is this possible?  Well, we are doing work associated with the U.S. Embassy here, and they have us staying at the Westin Hotel in Bangladesh's ...

mood: excited :) As I left Traverse City cherry capital airport on a beautiful crisp, fall day, it really hadn't hit me that I was really leaving home... for the longest amount of time in my life- 16 months. I feel like I am just going on another short excursion, and I still don't know how to prepare myself for this challenge of what it means to be a Fulbrighter, also known as a Cultural Ambassador. Close to 20 hours later I was finally on the last leg of my trip, sitting next ...

... sing to the kids. I close this blog with the video of my singing to these kids Let There Be Peace on Earth & Let It Begin With Me I think it captures what I was experiencing at the end of this adventure - and I share it with you now in concluding my blog. Thanks for joining me on my journey.

... following three phases: Phase 1 -Seven of the 15 floors of the hospital to be completed by August 2009 and essential professional staff will be hired. AMCGH will commence its basic outpatient medical care services by the October - December quarter of 2009. Phase 2 - By January 2010 the hospital will open for business. It will have completed the hiring and training of the initial staff of 200 employees (40 doctors, 100 nurses and 60 ...

... reply. In English, he said that he didn't like me. Fine, I didn't like him either. I liked him even less when I saw him eating my tangerines which I had carried from Orinda, California. Comedy of a shared meal First, shared meal is an innapropriate term. None of our meals were actually shared with our Bangladeshi hosts. The local elite, the tin man, or the wood man to prove their prestigious positions in the community would invite the Hands On cast for a meal. Although ...

Bangladesh is a bit off the regular tourist trail and we had read that foreigners were quite an attraction. We had also read that Bangladeshis are some of the most hospitable people in the world, but that rickshaw wallahs, taxi drivers and even restaurants would all try and rip us off. We were expecting lots of stares (ala India), lots of conversations, lots of people (120 million of them) and lots of fresh seafood. It's certainly hard to not have pre ...

... working) and spent some time teaching our little 12 year old servant to ride a bike. (yes, this shocks me also but I'm starting to try and accept it although it's strange to tell her to do things) The servants all laugh at us because we always bring our plates back to the kitchen and want to cook and peel vegetables. Back in Dhaka now, we will go and visit a garment's factory soon, a hospital and a school and visit some places hopefully with my aunts, go on a ...

saturday april 14, dhaka bangladesh it's new year's day in bangladesh. most of the streets in downtown dhaka around the sheraton hotel and also those in the vicinity of dhaka university are shut down to vehicular traffic. there are throngs of pedestrians on the streets and in the vast park called ramna park. there are thousands perhaps millions of pretty girls in brightly colored dresses. men mostly wear long white muslin robes ...

... the journey we got a puncture, didn't take long to get the spare on but by then I was bursting to go to the loo. We pulled up at the next service station where I got my first insight of Bangladesh by visiting the loo. It wasn't dirty but very smelly and they had the low toilets, I closed my nose and did my business. Everyone else was having tea and light snacks I spent the time fighting flies away from my 4 year old niece ...

... all for now.  Must prepare for our latest dinner date.  We are anticicpating more biryanis than Soft Mick over the coming month.  Bob the Builder & His Truck  ADDENDUM  This was written yesterday, but due to logistical problems, it is going today.  Day 1 cricket - rain and not much play.  Let's hope for better tomorrow. ******************************* They were lost Now they're found... ...Mrs R has taken the map from Mr R *******************************