The beginning of my work week has commenced pretty well. MCC follows a Muslim calendar so Friday and Saturday are the weekend and Sunday the first day of the work week. It's a bit different for me because I work at the convent and their holiday is 1/2 day friday and all day Sunday. (not very conducive to traveling on the weekend, but they are flexible with me). I came to Dhaka on Thursday, it was all very uneventful, even though it was my first time traveling alone from Mymensingh to Dhaka. I still crack up when my rickshaw pulls up to the bus stand and all these different men who work for the different busses come and STORM up to me, "Sister Sister, this way---here here!!!!!" they are SURE I want to take their bus, to their city! HA. HA.
It's been a bit of a whirlwind, as Dhaka can be. A city of 15 million; endless markets, food stalls, people, rickshaws, animals everywhere. We ate out at some great restaurants--a Korean place, Thai, as well as a newly opened Mexican Restaurant (actually it was Mex Ind--which I am assuming is mexican indian)..it was sssuuuuper fancy and terribly decorated, the food was pretty good though. The atmosphere sort of weirded me out though, very formal, the waiters even put our napkins on our laps for us. We were envisioning a Mexican restaurant where it is sort of dark and grungy, mexican music plays loudly, you get tons of free chips and salsa and drink giant Margaritas. Instead we had waiters with terrible haircuts, hovering over us, while listening to terrible American love songs from the early 90s.
We hit up a couple of cafe's where I drank good coffee and ate good healthy food. mmmm. I am excited for the days when I can eat yogurt on a daily basis again. (it's gonna be a few months yet though I guess) It's been fun to meet up with friends, do a bit of shopping--I found a beautiful new shari (yes "sh" not just "s") and shawl. We also attended the expat choir concert which provided the Christmas music that could accompany my thoughts about Christmas lately. There are no Christmas decorations, no malls jammed with shoppers, no red and green, no giant evergreen trees. In some ways this feels good, to get away from all that materialism, but I do crave some sort of signal that Christmas is coming.
After the we went to Jerry and Ethel's for a good dinner of sloppy joes and baked beans! (those of you who know my obsession with beans will be thrilled to know that I could eat as many as I wanted. That should last for a while until I come to Dhaka again...beans are not really eaten much here) Oh, and Chocoalte--good dark chocolate. We then whipped out the Hymnals and sang carols together, which of course I loved.
I am scheduled to go to Thanchi (southeast B'desh, near the Myanmar border) on Tuesday morning, but it is uncertain if I will go or not because of the political situation. Today there is and Aboroad or "blockade." So if the aboroad is not lifted by Tuesday I will not be going, but will be stuck here in Dhaka. It is inconvenient for everyeone--nobody can plan even 6 hours in advance b/c we never know what the opposing parties will do next. For you North Americans I bet it is hard to think about not planning or scheduling....I am getting accustomed to it; but it is really inconvenient for people working...or running a country. This place is sure full of crazy extremes.
It's been a bit of a whirlwind, as Dhaka can be. A city of 15 million; endless markets, food stalls, people, rickshaws, animals everywhere. We ate out at some great restaurants--a Korean place, Thai, as well as a newly opened Mexican Restaurant (actually it was Mex Ind--which I am assuming is mexican indian)..it was sssuuuuper fancy and terribly decorated, the food was pretty good though. The atmosphere sort of weirded me out though, very formal, the waiters even put our napkins on our laps for us. We were envisioning a Mexican restaurant where it is sort of dark and grungy, mexican music plays loudly, you get tons of free chips and salsa and drink giant Margaritas. Instead we had waiters with terrible haircuts, hovering over us, while listening to terrible American love songs from the early 90s.
We hit up a couple of cafe's where I drank good coffee and ate good healthy food. mmmm. I am excited for the days when I can eat yogurt on a daily basis again. (it's gonna be a few months yet though I guess) It's been fun to meet up with friends, do a bit of shopping--I found a beautiful new shari (yes "sh" not just "s") and shawl. We also attended the expat choir concert which provided the Christmas music that could accompany my thoughts about Christmas lately. There are no Christmas decorations, no malls jammed with shoppers, no red and green, no giant evergreen trees. In some ways this feels good, to get away from all that materialism, but I do crave some sort of signal that Christmas is coming.
After the we went to Jerry and Ethel's for a good dinner of sloppy joes and baked beans! (those of you who know my obsession with beans will be thrilled to know that I could eat as many as I wanted. That should last for a while until I come to Dhaka again...beans are not really eaten much here) Oh, and Chocoalte--good dark chocolate. We then whipped out the Hymnals and sang carols together, which of course I loved.
I am scheduled to go to Thanchi (southeast B'desh, near the Myanmar border) on Tuesday morning, but it is uncertain if I will go or not because of the political situation. Today there is and Aboroad or "blockade." So if the aboroad is not lifted by Tuesday I will not be going, but will be stuck here in Dhaka. It is inconvenient for everyeone--nobody can plan even 6 hours in advance b/c we never know what the opposing parties will do next. For you North Americans I bet it is hard to think about not planning or scheduling....I am getting accustomed to it; but it is really inconvenient for people working...or running a country. This place is sure full of crazy extremes.
1 comment:
C,
Yes! More photos! Thanks! Some of your students were wearing shawls; it must be a bit cooler now. It's a lot "cooler" in Michigan: like 21f. with a chill factor of 10f. and light snow. A lot of flu is going around here in the Midwest; we hope it's better over there. The rickshaw guys seem a lot like Mexican cab drivers. Viva Mexico! Viva Bangladesh! And, Mexican food in Dhaka? Ok. How were the tortillas? Did you order wheat or corn tortillas? Did they offer Pico de Gallo? Take care, Cicely. Love, Dad and Margie
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