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.