I am probably the worst person to blog as I ramble and it will probably be really choppy with no direction or flow and be poorly written with lots of .....'s ...But whatever.
As most of you know (and if you don't... well SURPRISE!) I am in Dhaka, Bangladesh for six months doing a Humber sponsored Canadian International Development Agency internship.. so I can graduate from Humber!
The official information on my internship:
Overview
The partnership between Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BWCCI) and the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a five-year program to assist in the goal of reducing poverty and decreasing the vulnerability of women by enabling them to establish their own businesses and to effectively manage and grow their enterprises. More specifically, the project will build the capacity of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) to develop curriculum, training resources and trainers to provide training to women wanting to establish micro enterprises and small businesses and then helping them to manage them effectively.
MY JOB
The Project Support Officer will assist the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) in the marketing of entrepreneurship training workshops and community outreach. The intern will also assist in the strategic planning of a Business Support Centre for entrepreneurs.
So I arrived in Dhaka on Sunday the 26th during curfew. The current government in Bangladesh is a "care-taker government". It is a military backed government that took power in January 2007 basically with a coup. Anyway, recently there was some rioting at Dhaka University and so the government imposed a curfew from 11pm to 6am (which has since been lifted). So I get to the airport and no one is there to meet me except a man with my name on a piece of paper. We hit 5 military checkpoints on the way to the hotel. I only get yelled at once by a man with the big gun and only have to show my passport twice. The other times I get waved through because I am a bideshi (foreigner). So I arrived safely with all my luggage. BONUS!
I am staying at a hotel/guest house for now. Soon I will start looking for an apartment or a nice Bengali family to adopt me!
I have been to the office everyday but I can't say I've done much work. I am still getting familiar with the place and how it works. I've been mostly reading up on the past/current projects and what has been done before me. The office has been busy as they just launched a new project, Promoting Women Entrepreneurship through Advocacy, and held a conference to present it to the media. Apparently I made quite a few of the nightly tv news stations! Being the token foreigner! (A news article regarding the project)
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2007/09/03/news0957.htm
Other than that I haven't been up to much. The streets of Dhaka make me very nervous. Besides the fact that I think I am going to get run over on the road every time I cross it... or that the "rules of the road" apparently don't apply in Dhaka..... I obviously stand out like a giraffe in a zebra pen, and the staring and yelling at me is a little unnerving. I haven't ventured out much alone much because I am still afraid of getting lost... although I did go for a walk and locate the Pizza Hut and A&W... just in case... you know for those those days when I can't handle the spicy food... which I still can't eat now anyway!
My upcoming plans include a big wedding to attend on Thursday. The president of BWCCI's son is getting married so I am off to Chittagong for two days to be one of the 1000 people in attendance! Yeah and it will be my first Sari experience... knowing my luck it'll fall off and I'll be left there standing half naked.
Yeah so like I said... no direction and scattered thoughts but oh well. It's my first attempt.. give me a break.
5 comments:
Hey Ashley, How you doin?? I got your email letting me know about your blog. Thanks for sending it...Pretty bizarre that you are in Bangladesh, but really cool at the same time. I'm not sure I could handle being in a foreign country by myself. You're brave, lol. Well I hope everything goes well for you over there, and you get settled in soon, feeling comfortable and all will help. Take care of yourself, and stay cautious as you have been, I wouldnt want anything bad to happen to ya :) Good luck, have a blast at the wedding, and keep your blog updated if you can. Take care. Bill
Hey Ash! I just received your email with your attached blog. It was really neat reading it. Thanks for including us in your addresses so we can be updated on your life in Dhaka. We know you have a really head on your shoulders so you won't do anything rash or stupid so we know you will be safe. Enjoy your experience there and work hard like we know you can. Keep your blog updated so we can see how you are doing. Take care, love aunt cathy
Hi Ashley! Grandma says she has been reading all your info you have been sending us and she is sitting here beside me wishing you all the best and wants you to keep updating your info so we can all keep track of what you're doing. Have a good time at the wedding and she is sure you will look beautiful in your sari! love, grandma and grandpa
cant wait to see pics of the sari. where is ms. karina in all this?
Lol, keep writing, and have fun!!!
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