kolkata news

So, I have been enjoying the Kolkata (Calcutta) area for about a day and a half now. I have bought several 3-pieces (heavy modern) for myself and gifts for the upcoming Eid holiday. The newspapers have a ton of ads for Durga Puga sales starting this weekend, so I lucked out! The only annoying thing is that the locals of the area think I'm a Joe Schmoe tourist and don't know crap. I whip out the Bangla and they still bother me. Then I tell them I mind very much and finally they don't disturb me. Ugh. I need to go to a place that just kinda pleasantly ignores tourists. If I want/need something, I'll ask. Good Grief!

As for the trip over, Biman Air was completely Bangladeshi to the nth degree!!!! They didn't announce anything, they were 2 hours late and people didn't understand the meaning of a que. The airplane, I firmly believe, was older than me and decorated in that garish orange floral pattern from the 60s/70s. You know the one. I think that I prayed every second that I was in that plane. I will probably be doing the same when I get back on it to return to Dhaka. The fun and joy of 3rd world airplanes. The best part was the fact that the stewardess' opened the pilot's door whenever they wanted to during the flight. While we were landing, the door to the cockpit flew open. I guess they aren't too worried about terrorists here. As always, I had my purse ready to whap the crap out of anyone who tries to mess with me. grrr.....

I haven't done too much siteseeing, since that isn't too much fun alone. The next time I come, I plan on bringing someone with me. I don't know how Friend Ebony can just travel around by herself and have the best of times. I think that I need that other person to get me out of my shell.

Oh, well... back to shopping. I'm going to pick up some beautiful teeps (the stickers that go between your eyebrows) and see what kind of saris are out there.

kolkutta here I come

It's official - I have my ticket to Kolkutta (Calcutta) for Friday and I'll be getting back on Monday, which is the Islamic holiday of Shob-R-Barat. I'm really looking forward to the good shopping, food and times ahead of me. I've already gotten a sari request from PCV Helyn (Eid is coming up) and I'm excited about all the heavy modern stuff that is there. I'll keep a budget for myself, but it'll be hard to deny too many shopping urges. The even better than I could imagine part of this adventure is that Durga Puga preparations are starting up there, so all the good/new/heavy modern designs will be out in the stores. Yippee! I am going to have so much fun!!! I just wish that I could sneak Rana along with me in my suitcase, but he has school and I really need to leave for my visa restrictions.

Other than that, everything is going along the same. Roommie Aliza will be leaving next week, so it'll be back to me and Carrie again. However, starting 1 October, Miranda Bhabhi and Tron Bhai (known to Americans as Miranda and Troy) will move in next door and become our neighbors. That'll be nice to have neighbors that are normal. Though, I have to say that the Afgani diplomat's family upstairs are really nice. The only weird neighbor I know is across the entryway from us and it's just the one auntie. We're thinking that she has a couple of mental issues, since she just kinda wanders in and looks through stuff and asks crazy questions and likes to touch our hair. Then her sister comes in and says, "It's time to go home now," and off they go, hand in hand. How funny!

If there are any requests for Indian stuff, just let me know! Take care and I'll let you know how the trip went later.

i'll give you a conk...

So, I survived the weekend and got a little adventure out of it to boot. Roomie Carrie, PCV Helyn, newbie Bideshis Eric and Danielle and my own lonesome took a taxi to an old part of Dhaka, hopped onto rickshaws to go to an older part of Dhaka to a particular Hindu conk shell seller (dokaner) and proceeded to drop quite a bit a Taka on conk shell bracelets that Hindu wives wear to show they are married (the Christian equivilant is the wedding ring). They are so beautiful and artisic, its unbelievable that they can make such things. The shopowner gave us lovely conk shells (whole) that are carved. Hindus blow on the conks every evening at sunset and light incense to pray to the various Gods and Goddesses. Its so nice to have Hindu neighbors and to be able to listen and smell their traditions every evening. It was also nice to go into this minority neighborhood and enjoy the differentness that Hindus have from Muslims. It can show a person the differences that religion influnces or changes a culture. I think that I will make my way back there again with a bit more Taka in my pocket.

to the sticks and back

Well, I survived my trip to the field and can tell the tale about it. Nasirnagar is a small village in the middle of floodplain, which stays flooded longer than any part of Bangladesh. From my home to the resthouse (where we stayed, since there are no hotels nearby) it took 6 hours of travel, with half of it being by boat. We drove the office car until the road literally ended in the middle of a big lake, which won't be a lake by January, and then got onto a speed boat. The speed boat didn't quite meet up with my expectations, but it was faster than paddling and it had a motor. Gift Horse. We took the boat and meandered through channels between another road they are building and paddy fields. Then we came into another big lake (which will be dry land by January), crossed it and pulled up to what looked like ghats/stairs just going into the water. We hopped off and grabbed a couple of rickshaws and 5 taka later were at the resthouse. It was so quiet and peaceful, especially after the hustle and bustle of Dhaka. The staff members/caretakers were very nice and the in-house cook had a good hand with the spices. Very tasty eating was done the entire time I was there.

The next day, we met with all of the field people working with the community. They were very nice and there was even a guy from Rajshahi! He grew up next to the Collegiate School where I was posted while a PCV. Small world. I got some paperwork done and just enjoyed the scenery. Same thing happened the next day, but with dinner being had at a colleague's house. His wife went nuts that day and cooked beyond belief! She made 2 chicken, 1 veggie, 1 goat, 1 egg, 1 chop (kinda like a fried meat pattie) and 1 fish dish with pullou rice(really expensive rice with spices and raisins in it). Then she made a pudding for dessert. She won't have to cook for the next two days with all of the leftovers!!!

The next day we left at about 4:30 and I made it home by 11:00. I stayed up and chatted with Carrie and finally had to call it a night at midnight. It's so sad when a grown woman has to have a bedtime and can't stay up late without consequences. Oh, well, what can I do?

I will try to finish my roll of film and get the pictures posted. Cross your fingers on that one. Maybe a digital camera wouldn't be a bad thing.... Food for thought.

when it rains, it pours....

I'm reading about the great floodings happening in New Orleans and the Gulf States. I think I've lived here too long when news of flooding hardly gets a blink from me. I remember that there were Bangladeshi families living on the rooves last year and cooking on their little tin shacks that they used to call home. It might not have done millions or billions dollars worth of damage, but it took the livihood from entire communities and left families destitute, just like in the States. Hopefully, things will come around people are able to piece their lives together again, but it's going to take alot.

Things have been piling up around the office. I've got marching orders to visit a project out in the field and I'll be leaving Saturday around noon and I'll be getting back Monday evening. This project site is in the 'haor' which is a swamp/marsh area of the country. We'll take a car for a couple of hours and then take a boat to get to the town. The lady in charge asked me if I could swim.... so I'll be packing everything in Ziploc baggies before I put them in my backpack. Then, I'll be writing various reports on subjects I have very little knowledge about, so let the fun begin!

The only other minor buggaboo is the lack of a good tailor. I have some lovely clothe that I'm scared to give to a tailor, since I'm thinking he'll butcher it. It won't fit, is my main concern. Or they'll murder it somehow. Ugh. Tailors aren't known for their good work here and I left a perfectly wonderful tailor in Rajshahi. He was my second best male relationship in Bangladesh (my Honey Rana rated #1). I miss him so much. I'm thinking of mailing my clothe to him, but I just need to bite the bullet and go to a tailor here in Dhaka. Its so frustrating! Its almost as bad as buying ready-made clothes in the States, with the dressing-room blues and the horrible florescent lighting.

Well, I'll fill you in on the field trip later! Take care.

blahs

This is just a blah sort of day in the 'Desh. My honey Rana came down for the weekend and we talked alot about the future, marriage and the whole kit and caboodle. He is going to talk again to his parents about our marriage. I've found out that they are ok with me, just they don't like my religion. They'd be happy as a lark if I converted to Islam, but since that's not going to happen, I vote they deal with it. Too bad there is no voting on this. Unfortunately, this is really upsetting my honey and he pretty much has to deal with it alone. I hate that he has this burden, but since my family is really accepting of his religion, background and etc., I don't have to deal with half of the crap that he's going through. Hopefully, everyone will come around on this. We'll see.

Work is going on ok. I have a 128-page report to edit for gross errors, but I'm actually enjoying the task. The funding request, that made last week such a beast, has been couriered off to Global Fund and peace again reigns on my floor. Yeah for that.

OH!!! I met little Nosim Sama (Rana's middle sister Lata's baby girl) and she has the sweetest face! She has really deformed hands and feet and legs curl up way more than a baby's should (from the spina bifida), but she's still a cutie. I took some pictures, so when I actually finish the roll, I'll try to get it on here. Cross your fingers!

Well, I have to plan for a mini-vacation for the middle of September, to keep my visa valid. I'm thinking a quick plane trip to Calcutta for a long weekend of good eating and shopping. I can buy my Eid gifts there and maybe a little something for myself. :) There are so many cute clothes in India - it's rather disgusting! Let me know if anyone has a suggestion about the vacation. I'm up for a little spoiling. Or just something beautiful to see and experience.

back to everyday life

Well, things are back to normal around here. The hartal finished off with a whimper (for now) and everyone has settled into their everyday routines. I was requested to work all weekend, so cancelled meeting with Rana this weekend. I came into the office and they didn't have anything for me to do, so wasted time was abundant. I don't know when I'll go home today, since everything that 6 colleagues write has to go through me first. That is not going to be fun! I hope that they don't expect me to pull an all-nighter, since I couldn't even do that in university! However, Rana will be coming next Thursday for the weekend and that makes me very, very happy. I haven't seen him in a month. It's so hard to be without him as daily influence. He adds a good balance in my life.

As for the family, everything on that front seems to be forming a new normal. Mom's Cousin Lee Ann just got back from a lovely trip to Alaska and has only lovely things to say about it. I think I'll be smart like her, and only visit in the summer! I really hate the cold, so its someplace I will never in my right mind move to. Visit, yes; live, no.

More family news: Grandma F. is on the recovery list and seems to be in good spirits. Aunt Lisa seems to be coming 'round. Cousin Jamie is moving soon to the farm and kudos for her... moving 2 kids, herself, a small menagery of animals (I couldn't keep track if I tried), her man, keeping sane and being pregnant to boot. She amazes me on a regular basis. Mom and Dad are being good Aunt and Uncle and helping out. And everyone else seems to be working at something or another. Yeah for the family!!!

And on the friend front: Princess Megan is getting back to her new normal also. She doing great in her treatments, but if you don't believe me, just click on her page under Links. Sweetie is going through a rough patch. Boy trouble is never a good thing. I wish I was home to order in pizza and Ben & Jerry's with him and just veg. Lay like broccoli. Also, a belated BD shout out to Friend Alison. She is once again 25. You go for the gold, honey!

Take care folks!

don't panic

There was multiple bombings here in Bangladesh. Two people have been reported killed and 150+ injured. I was working in my cube and the power went out for about 10-15 minutes. I didn't hear anything or feel anything shake, so it wasn't a very powerful bomb. The only thing that is really disturbing my everyday existence is the lack of public transport this morning. The roads were really empty and I had to pay extra for my ride into work (but I have to take into account that it was raining, which always means you have to pay more). I don't know if there will be hartals (general strikes), since a radical Islamic group might be behind it and not the political opposition. We'll see. But that won't stop me from coming to work all weekend! No fun for me this weekend and 10 hour work days. Let it begin!

Take care!

good news finally!!!

OK, campers, we have some good news! Grandma F. made it through surgery ok and has a new hip to prove it. Yeah for her! Also, my Honey Rana is coming this Thursday for a much-needed visit. His sister Lata is coming with an entourage on Wednesday (with siblings Diba and Raja and Baby Sama), so I'll finally get to meet Baby Sama. It'll be nice to visit with normal folks here in Dhaka. I plan on going over for tea on a regular basis, so it'll just be like living in Rajshahi again.

Other good news is that Friend Allison got a new job and moved to new digs! Good for her!!! Check out her good news by clicking on her link on the left side of the screen.

Well, today is a half-day hartal (strike), but Roomie Aliza and I both came into work. I forget what the hartal is about, but that's normal for me. It might be over the mobile court that is going around and looking into all the food factories and resturants and closing them down if they are unhygenic or putting crap in the food to make cheaper to produce or something to that affect. The factory owners and restauranteers are protesting it, even though the mobile court has found really disgusting stuff, like fertilizer in cookies and spoiled food being mixed with good food to disguise the fact that it's gone off. This means I'm only buying foreign cookies from now on!

Take care and enjoy sanitary restaurants!

the cookie is a crumblin'

Well, more bad news fly my way this morning. Grandma F. fell at the office and broke her right hip. She's in St. Rita's in Lima, OH and the surgery should be Thursday. I'm not sure what the doctor is going to do, but I'm hoping for the best. I don't know where she is going to convalesce, but I don't think it'll be at home. Keep her in your prayers, everyone. This is the same grandma that just lost her son last week, so she's not doing the best this month.

I think that my cookie consumption is never going to level out at this rate, let alone go back down. Ugh.

On a happier note, so that you might actually want to visit here again, 58 fresh-faced Peace Corps Trainees flew into Dhaka yesterday. There was a meet and greet at the office last evening and I caught up with older Volunteers and met the newbies. They are so young! And not jaded in the least. Give them time and experience and they will be!

Take care folks and send some good news if you got some to spare!!!