TravelStream™ news feed for member asiashanks on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/asiashanks en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:05:31 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1181473740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1181473740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1181473740/tpod.html Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:05:31 -0400 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Cambodia and, Bangladesh

Some may think Asia is poorWe say it has wealthIn a span of 30 days, here are some ways we have experienced the wealth of Asia.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1171683600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1171683600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1171683600/tpod.html Sun, 18 Feb 2007 06:30:07 -0500 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

Vacations and special travels are the kind events we normally pack the camera to. This entry gives more information about what we do as part of our work with MCC.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1158399900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1158399900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1158399900/tpod.html Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:17:24 -0500 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

For two weeks in early September Jerry and Ethel went separate ways, moving around the Country with different people and different agendas. Here are a few higlights of these two weeks.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1162464360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1162464360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1162464360/tpod.html Thu, 02 Nov 2006 07:28:58 -0500 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

On two back-to-back occasions, we became better acquainted with the mighty Bay of Bengal. Here is an account of our 4-day boat trip into the Sundarbands region of Bangladesh and our visit to Puri,India, an overnight train ride south of Kolkata.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1147308300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1147308300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1147308300/tpod.html Sat, 02 Sep 2006 00:04:40 -0400 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Darjeeling, India

We traveled overland from Bangladesh to Darjeeling, India to attend an MCC retreat there. On our way to Cyprus, we spent a night in Moscow.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1151727420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1151727420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1151727420/tpod.html Sat, 01 Jul 2006 01:47:36 -0400 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Our Sri Lanka visit served two purposes. We visited the only MCC couple working in Sri Lanka and saw their tsunami rebuilding projects. We also enjoyed several days of rest and relaxationb around Kandy, located in the central part of the island.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1146186720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1146186720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1146186720/tpod.html Fri, 28 Apr 2006 00:01:56 -0400 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Larnaca, Cyprus

For 10 days, family from Pittsburgh, Bosnia, and Bangladesh gathered in Cyprus for a reunion after 8 months of separation. We had no big agendas other than to be with each other and to get reacquainted. These photos give some of the highlights of our Cyprus gathering.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1139535480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1139535480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1139535480/tpod.html Sat, 11 Feb 2006 01:06:02 -0500 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

Here are several randam photos of life in Bangladesh. The uniquenesses of life here is what catches our attention. The photos tell some of this story. Enjoy.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1136609160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1136609160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1136609160/tpod.html Thu, 12 Jan 2006 05:06:33 -0500 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

Its about time something shows up about the actual work I am doing here in Bangladesh. Take a look at the articles and photos.JerryMCC BANGLADESH AND THE MAN WHO (does not) DIE RICH"The man who dies rich, dies disgraced". Andrew Carnegie ,.....quoted in a TIME magazine article about Bill and Melinda Gates' recent visit to Bangladesh. Contrary to the big splash the world's richest couple made in visiting the poorest country in this part of the world, MCC has been slowly going about doing good here since 1970. Ethel and my two years in Bangladesh will be but a short stint in this long impressive history.Our long term Bangladeshe employees are quick to proudly tell anyone who asks, just how long they have worked with MCC, which Country Representative hired them, and in what positions they've worked. They also will tell you when seeing cauliflower or carrots in the market that MCC was one of the first to introduce these winter veggies to the village farmers here. Now these veggies are everywhere. Currently the MCC agriculture program promotes (through partner organizations) growing chickens or pigs over ponds, which in turn provides food for the fish below. (one project example)The other day while walking through a village, I saw a woman working what is known as a rower pump. I asked our Associate Director who has been with MCC 25 years about the pump. He gave me a history lesson of how MCC introduced this need-no-electricity pump here many years ago and that now anyone can buy one in the market. MCC used to help promote latrine construction for health reasons. Now one can see latrines tops being build in practically every corner of Bangladesh. MCC now focuses its health energies on providing arsenic-free drinking water to families living in areas where arsenic occurs naturally in the ground water.Nothing is more impressive about MCC Bangladesh than the ten self-sufficient handicraft organizations that were begun by MCC. These organizations provide employment for hundreds of women, and markets their handicrafts internationally through Ten Thousand Villages and other marketing organizations. The annual sales of these ten organizations have grown well beyond the budget size of MCC Bangladesh. During our two years here we will have the privilege of helping form a legal structure that will be the final step to complete organizational independence from MCC of these ten organizations. Currently our job creation program is nurturing the development of another five womens' handicraft groups. Some of these groups are expanding their vision beyond handicrafts to products like soap making.Bangladesh is natural disaster prone. When a flood (the most common disaster) happens, all staff are called on to help distribute goods to the needy (mostly food) through our partner organizations. In addition 14,000 school kits and other material aids are distributed annually to schools and orphanages run by religious groups. (see the description of Ethel's work)Recently MCC has discovered a new area of need - teaching creative ways to work at conflict resolution and promoting discussions among people from different religions. This is an area that will likely get a lot of attention the second half of the 21 century.If it is a disgrace to die rich, it is also a disgrace to die poor. These two ideas are, of course, connected and thankfully understood at least in part by the likes of Bill and Melinda Gates. Ethel and I are excited to be part of the MCC effort here. We depend on the thousands of the smaller Bill and Melinda Gates in North America who believe in what we are doing. Thank you!Jerry &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&FIRST DAY IN THE OFFICE:November 8, 2005, our official first day in the MCC Bangladesh office. We survived! There are 18 office staff counting two full time drivers and two full time guards. Ethel and I are the only non Bangladeshi persons assigned to this office. Currently there are a total of 7 North Americans working with MCC in all of Bangladesh. We function as co-country representatives (we have equal administrative authority, and will divide up the work load according to our interests and skills. There is a Bangladeshi Associate Director and an accountant. We walk into a fairly well functioning operation. Our annual operation budget is around $US 750,000. Our day's activities consisted of meetings (so what is new!). In one of these we reviewed a draft of a 5-year plan which is due to the Bangladeshi government by the end of the week. Of course, we found out how to turn on our computers, tested our email system, and had mid morning tea along with everyone else.Things we found that sort of got our attention? 1) Our not speaking Bangla very well. Although even when we are not there, most meetings are conducted in English. Walk out the door and see a guard or driver and our lack of operational Bangla is quickly felt.2) Being driven when we go by car anywhere. Each of the two cars has a full time driver assigned. This driver's job is to look after the car, keep it clean, serviced, and ready to go at anytime day or night. (some of those air flights come in quite early in the morning) Most of our local travel is by rickshaw, or small motorized three-wheeled vehicles. We live within a 5-minute walk from the office. We may never drive during the entire two years we are here.3) Gracious deference given to the two of us. They know what they are doing, we know less. Yet, the Bangladeshi culture easily defers to the foreigner. Our challenge is to not abuse this graciousness. Actually there are tasks that are best done by a Bangladeshi and others that are best done by a foreigner. 4) Competent staff who know what they are doing, have an admirable commitment to the values of MCC and who love to work with MCC. Seeing this dedication and commitment helps us through days like today.Jerry
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1134824580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1134824580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/asiashanks/bangladesh/1134824580/tpod.html Sun, 25 Dec 2005 06:44:21 -0500 Welcome to our sojourn to Bangladesh 2005-2007 to work with Mennonite Central Committee. Included here are some reflective materials as well as photos. Enjoy.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

# 1 Where is home? - A Description of our Flat in DhakaHome is where you hang your hat. For now we hang our hats in a flat on Iqbal Road in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. You pass through a locked gate at the entrance, then up two flights of stairs to our third floor flat. Our landlord lives on the first floor. They have a few chickens that live near the front gate. Sometimes at night they pen the chickens in a big box which sits at the bottom of our stairwell. We sometimes hear the crowing of the rooster in the mornings.Welcome to our apartment, first you need to walk through the patio. Please notice the beautiful flowers. There are about 15 pots with blooming plants. Lockman, our cook, takes great pride in keeping the plants well cared for. Our flat includes a combined dining/living room, small kitchen with electric frig and gas stove, two bedrooms and baths, and a small work room where the ironing gets done. Just off the patio is a small bathroom for the cook and laundry staff use. That is also where our laundry gets done - in basins on the floor. There are lines for drying the clothes on the roof. The apartment is quite comfortable. I am grateful to have a hot water heater for the shower. We are also blessed to have someone to wash the dishes, shop at the open market, and cook our meals and someone to clean our house, wash and iron our clothes. Things I miss, there are a few, nothing critical: a microwave, an oven with a thermometer, cold cereals, and Jerry would probably add that he misses work that needs done around the house and his work shop.Sounds around our homeOn both sides of our house there are apartment buildings. They are just a few feet from our house so that in our dining/living room we can often hear the sizzling frying pan and enjoy the aroma from their Bengali kitchen. On the other side, by our kitchen, a large apartment building is being reconstructed. So we often hear hammering, banging, building type noises. At the rate at which building takes place here, the hammering will likely go on for months to come.As you step out from our front gate you are immediately on Ibqal Road. Look both ways to avoid stepping into the path of a rickshaw. It is a busy street with many rickshaws and taxis passing by each day. Across the street there is an open field/playground. It is often used for soccer and cricket games. It can get quite noisy at times. Add to the noise the calls to prayer 5 times a day from the multiple mosques in the city. There are 3 mosques within a few blocks of our house. Their noisy calls can be rather annoying at 4:30 in the morning. Perhaps with time we will get used to the calls and will not even notice them. Ethel December/03/05&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&# 2: Consolations/Desolations in Bangladesh:CONSOLATIONS:Staying healthyEarly morning walks A place to call "home" that is comfortable - our 3rd floor flat with a patio - space for plants Patience of our co-workers as we continue on a big learning curve.Getting home safely (going out is always a challenge)A good MCC team to work with.More time for reading than I ever had in the StatesRecycling: we see so much that is reused here that would just be thrown away in the US.Oodles of Rickshaws, they can take you almost anywhere for a few takas. A phone system that works (sometimes) so we can connect with our children. DESOLATIONS:Seeing people dig through garbage pilesSeeing homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks as we walk in the mornings.Working hard at learning Bangla and then not being able to recall the right simple word when needed. E-mail systems that are so painfully slow that they can not open pictures of our granddaughtersMissing special family times like the funeral service of my brother, and birthday celebrations of our granddaughters. The traffic!! rickshaws, CNGs, buses, taxis,The noisy calls to prayer from the mosque early (4:30) in the mornings. Missing old friends to share this unique (Bangladesh) experience with 10/2005 by Ethel
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