aj brishti hoyechi :: today rain happened. I tried to tiptoe my way back down the streets after I had finished lunch, I suppose hoping I might arrive with dry pants. As I was soon in the middle of the street dodging the puddles of water that had collected on my side of the road and cars were honking at me and the bike rickshaw was ringing his bell as he rode up behind me I realized the best scenario was just to give in. So I laughed with myself and stepped intentionally into the murky water as I felt the eyes of others question my smile and action. The rains made for a nice walk around the city; everyone seemed preoccupied with the water so I could walk in peace for the first time and even took some photos.
I realized today I really like my language teacher; she is teaching us a lot about Bangla and being so patient and encouraging. She learned that it helps me to have words of assurance and confirmation as I try to speak a new language. Today we even spoke in Bangla on our break, I was asking her about the food she eats in the evenings with her family; so she can probably tell I am getting a little more comfortable with speaking. I am still far from being fluent but it is encouraging to have some ability to speak and understand bsaic conversation. I am reminding myself that this is something that takes time, it will continue to be a main focus of mine as I live here in Asia.
It is still quite surreal, southern asia. Sometimes I enjoy life here, love the idea of this being my life. Other days, I feel totally out of place and clueless as to what I'm doing. Why did I venture halfway across the world? I find these cities i've been in hard places to live as daily im asked to give part of myself to another. and its frustrating because you feel like someone should be able to find some kind of job, they should choose to approach someone else and not just me because I have a lighter color of skin and clearly am from out of town, i can feel taken advantage of, used. but then i think of Christ. I think of Paul's words to consider others better than myself. and i ask myself why i have to be so selfish. and i hate realizeing this about myself because it forces me to look at how far I really am from imitating Jesus. Jesus called me to a life that isnt supposed to be about me...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
oh the sweet music you find in bangladeshi internet cafes...
i dont like writing here because i watch the clock, paying to use the computer even though its cheap... i prefer free with no self time restraints. and its always... what do i write?? so i will try to give some key experiences of since i wrote last
first day in bangladesh, the 3 of us ate in a small restaurant on the main road. i was a little apprehensive, but didnt want to be the one to say anything...SO i said nothing except for yeah this is fine. so we ate a tasty meal. a few days later we found ourselves really sick; being the intern, i got to go to the bangladeshi doctor to be diagnosed with a stomach infection. but we now know that same doctor has an antidote for snake venom (there was a sign), just in case. i really hope we dont encounter any more of these infections, i think one is enough. we are still recovering from this, im feling pretty good right now; a little tired but not sick!
we decided we wanted to go out saturday even though none of us were feeling so hot, we needed out of the building. inbetween destinations, the rains came. i was the only one of us with an umbrella, but you cant run with 3 people under an umbrella, i couldnt even run under the umbrella because i had to hold up my pants as i ran- now that im thinking about it im not sure why i wanted to sacrifice my whole self to get wet for the bottom of my pants but... so we ran to another road to get a taxi- an auto, a small motorized vehicle that normally can fit 3 people no problem, but this one was small; and we barely fit but we fit. im sure it was a site seeing 3 bideshis caught in the monsoon, trying to huddle under an umbrlla at one point and then piling into an auto. the water only came up a few inches but it was pouring, theres the first experience with monsoon bangladesh. more to come
language class is going, its not overly thrilling but i am learning. its kind of frustrating though because i have to try and conjugate and order words in my head now instead of just speaking and hoping i make sense, it takes so much longer to say something to someone. hopefully things will piece together, it would be good if i found some people to speak with so i could practice and not just flip my flashcards. im trying to remember how helpful this studying will be once i am back in kolkata, oh to speak!
similar scenes are found in dhaka as kolkata... beggars, kids coming and asking for food. on our way down the street here we were gathered around by a group of sweet children, beatufiul kids asking us for food. weve been talking about how we should respond in these situations, it seems isnt always the best solution as more people just come to you asking for food or money. some people too have a living built off of begging. its hard to know what to do, but as the kids came up to us today we just tried to say hello and express love for that moment we were with them. i asked what their names were , i couldnt say much more and im not sure what i would have said even if i spoke the language. we told them we werent buying them food, but they still asked. but she did seem to really like telling me her name and her friends names.one little girl was kissing my hand, i just squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
please pray that i would be encouraged in my time here in bangladesh, it is sometimes hard to be away from my family, from home. please keep praying for the language, that i would study diligently and gain from the materials/classes. and please start praying for the role that awaits me once i return to kolkata, details are still settling but i need courage for the leadership/planning that awaits me.
i dont like writing here because i watch the clock, paying to use the computer even though its cheap... i prefer free with no self time restraints. and its always... what do i write?? so i will try to give some key experiences of since i wrote last
first day in bangladesh, the 3 of us ate in a small restaurant on the main road. i was a little apprehensive, but didnt want to be the one to say anything...SO i said nothing except for yeah this is fine. so we ate a tasty meal. a few days later we found ourselves really sick; being the intern, i got to go to the bangladeshi doctor to be diagnosed with a stomach infection. but we now know that same doctor has an antidote for snake venom (there was a sign), just in case. i really hope we dont encounter any more of these infections, i think one is enough. we are still recovering from this, im feling pretty good right now; a little tired but not sick!
we decided we wanted to go out saturday even though none of us were feeling so hot, we needed out of the building. inbetween destinations, the rains came. i was the only one of us with an umbrella, but you cant run with 3 people under an umbrella, i couldnt even run under the umbrella because i had to hold up my pants as i ran- now that im thinking about it im not sure why i wanted to sacrifice my whole self to get wet for the bottom of my pants but... so we ran to another road to get a taxi- an auto, a small motorized vehicle that normally can fit 3 people no problem, but this one was small; and we barely fit but we fit. im sure it was a site seeing 3 bideshis caught in the monsoon, trying to huddle under an umbrlla at one point and then piling into an auto. the water only came up a few inches but it was pouring, theres the first experience with monsoon bangladesh. more to come
language class is going, its not overly thrilling but i am learning. its kind of frustrating though because i have to try and conjugate and order words in my head now instead of just speaking and hoping i make sense, it takes so much longer to say something to someone. hopefully things will piece together, it would be good if i found some people to speak with so i could practice and not just flip my flashcards. im trying to remember how helpful this studying will be once i am back in kolkata, oh to speak!
similar scenes are found in dhaka as kolkata... beggars, kids coming and asking for food. on our way down the street here we were gathered around by a group of sweet children, beatufiul kids asking us for food. weve been talking about how we should respond in these situations, it seems isnt always the best solution as more people just come to you asking for food or money. some people too have a living built off of begging. its hard to know what to do, but as the kids came up to us today we just tried to say hello and express love for that moment we were with them. i asked what their names were , i couldnt say much more and im not sure what i would have said even if i spoke the language. we told them we werent buying them food, but they still asked. but she did seem to really like telling me her name and her friends names.one little girl was kissing my hand, i just squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
please pray that i would be encouraged in my time here in bangladesh, it is sometimes hard to be away from my family, from home. please keep praying for the language, that i would study diligently and gain from the materials/classes. and please start praying for the role that awaits me once i return to kolkata, details are still settling but i need courage for the leadership/planning that awaits me.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Lots of rice, lots and lots of rice. And some tea. At least twice a day. But I learned today, that if you add a little instant coffe mix the tea drinking experience rises to a whole new level. It is a luxury that I have come to experience here in B-desh at the language classes I am attending. Today was the first class, a little discouraging in the middle as I felt like I knew nothing (because I dont) but I tried to remind myself that it was my first official day. I have yet to study the things we learned in class but need to do so before tomorrow. Class is every day of the week for 4 hours so that will be my focus for the next month. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and i really hope that it enables me to conversation once I am back in ktown. i really hope for deep conversations, but i will stay practical at least on here and aim for standard communication/conversation.
It was a little hard to leave k-town as it was just becoming familiar to me; but now that im out i realize it is good. i will be ready to return once the time comes. i am a little nervous about my new friends at the daycare that they will forget their auntie, but I suppose I should just wait and hope not. they are sweet sweet little kids and i have grown a love for several of them. i wont have a ton of time when i get back to spend with them but i hope to go visit them during some free times.
Today I am wearing my red,green, and yellow tye-dyed salwar suit for the first time and though it sounds bit exotic, i blend it quite well here. as far as clothes go anyway. it's fairly comfortable as well. balloony drawstring pants, a long top and a dupatta (scarf) draped around my neck which comes in handy for wiping my face in response to humidity. it's not quite as warm here as it has been in ktown but this is our first day here so i will have a better idea later. we are in prime time for monsoon action and dhaka doesnt have great drainage systems so i may have some excitment awaiting me in the next month. im glad ive had time to think about this reality though, it has definately helped me get more comfortable with the idea.
So tonight i will study bangla, as well as many more nights to come in the next months. I think this time in bangladesh could serve as good reflection/thinking time as well. I struggled getting hold of that in kolkata; i really didnt let myself actually. The city is so busy it is easy to get caught up in it. you have to create space for reflection, for prayer. And so much of what I have seen I have trouble thinking about because I dont know waht to do with it. What do you do when a lady comes alongside you places her hand on your shoulder with a baby on her hip and asks you for some money? waht do you do knowing the reality of girls your own age and younger are being worked as prostitutes just a few blocks from where youre sitting so that they can eat? even women who are older. its hard thinking. yet we have seen the redemption of some of these women's lives through businesses like SB working in the Red Light District. and it really is a beautiful thing, these ladies I have met are beautiful. you would never know the lives they have had to live to get to where they are now. Some of them have even come to know the freedom of Christ, I hope many more will.
It was a little hard to leave k-town as it was just becoming familiar to me; but now that im out i realize it is good. i will be ready to return once the time comes. i am a little nervous about my new friends at the daycare that they will forget their auntie, but I suppose I should just wait and hope not. they are sweet sweet little kids and i have grown a love for several of them. i wont have a ton of time when i get back to spend with them but i hope to go visit them during some free times.
Today I am wearing my red,green, and yellow tye-dyed salwar suit for the first time and though it sounds bit exotic, i blend it quite well here. as far as clothes go anyway. it's fairly comfortable as well. balloony drawstring pants, a long top and a dupatta (scarf) draped around my neck which comes in handy for wiping my face in response to humidity. it's not quite as warm here as it has been in ktown but this is our first day here so i will have a better idea later. we are in prime time for monsoon action and dhaka doesnt have great drainage systems so i may have some excitment awaiting me in the next month. im glad ive had time to think about this reality though, it has definately helped me get more comfortable with the idea.
So tonight i will study bangla, as well as many more nights to come in the next months. I think this time in bangladesh could serve as good reflection/thinking time as well. I struggled getting hold of that in kolkata; i really didnt let myself actually. The city is so busy it is easy to get caught up in it. you have to create space for reflection, for prayer. And so much of what I have seen I have trouble thinking about because I dont know waht to do with it. What do you do when a lady comes alongside you places her hand on your shoulder with a baby on her hip and asks you for some money? waht do you do knowing the reality of girls your own age and younger are being worked as prostitutes just a few blocks from where youre sitting so that they can eat? even women who are older. its hard thinking. yet we have seen the redemption of some of these women's lives through businesses like SB working in the Red Light District. and it really is a beautiful thing, these ladies I have met are beautiful. you would never know the lives they have had to live to get to where they are now. Some of them have even come to know the freedom of Christ, I hope many more will.
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