I am Bujy

2nd Durga Pooja
Akter and his daughter – took us back to the small temple and the craziness unfolded. Dye and water and incense are everywhere. Dancing. Then they take the idols to the lake and take them around 7 times then sink them. But before that they dance like mad before the idols. Karina volunteered/got dragged into the circle to dance. She boogied down and when she had sweated off 5 pounds she was finished… APPARENTLY it became my turn… yeah right. I am sorry.. but 95% of white Canadians are bad bad bad dancers and I am one of them. ANYWHOOOO I get my groove on with these painted ladies with a couple hundred people gawking at my awkward attempt at dancing! It was a blast.. sweat, dye, dirt, incense and all. Then the two of us have to do a dual dance thingy.


Fighting the Indian embassy- Anyone who has been through developing countries visa processes will understand how you wait and wait and wait and very little gets done. Yeah well I learned that it is all about WHO you know and if you have to flirt it out with this old man to get what you want… you do it. Thank you British High Commission man for feeling sorry for a loser who needed a copy of her passport.

Cox’s Bazar
Alright so after the CNG ride of death – we end up at the Bus pick-up place… Yeah took an overnight bus from 9:30 pm to 6:15am to Cox’s Bazar. Now the thing that gets me is that the actually Km’s from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar is only like 500… but the road condition, traffic situation, rickshaw, CNG, and animal traffic that you may encounter on the way is, to be kind, F- RIDICULOUS. Anywhoooo to say the least I made it there with only the help of 2 Gravol. Which is pretty good for me. FYI --- anytime in Bangladesh you are given the choice for Business class on a bus… TAKE IT. TAKE IT.

The resort we stayed at is owned by my boss and this is where the advocacy seminar we were holding took place. (The actual reason for the seminar… was to impress the donor (Centre for International Private Enterprise) who had a Program representative come from Washington and check on progress).

Having most of the day free we hit up the beach first thing. Now anyone who has been to DR, Cuba, Mexico… Cox’s Bazar is the same thing. But WAAAAAAAY crazier waves and less skin showing as women don’t wear bathing suits… and for that matter.. neither do men. Pants and T-shirts are the norm… and for women.. they go in in their everyday clothes… I have a “SINKING” feeling that this aids in the number of drowning that take place here. ( alright that was a bad pun). Seriously next time try swimming in pants and a t-shirt and see how far you get with a current that is dead set on taking you out to the Bay of Bengal.

We hit up the town next to try the Burmese market – As Cox’s Bazar is so close to Burma/Myanmar (for you older folks) there are many refuges and immigrants here.

Later that day we had an general meeting with the Board members and then more beach time with all the women and then a BBQ.



The 2nd day was the Advocacy seminar and was quite entertaining. Around 150 people attended – many women entrepreneurs from the community and many local bankers as well. The point of the meeting was to open dialogue between women entrepreneurs who need financing for their businesses and the banks. Karina and I did registration… and the token foreigner flower delivery to the Chief Guest.



After we hit the beach. Swimming with the men from BWCCI was the HIGHLIGHT of the trip. These men were hilarious! I was afraid we had lost some of them to the ocean a time or two. Swimming I don’t think is a sport practiced much here at all… BUT WAVE jumping… now there is something the Bengali’s would win an Olympic gold if it ever becomes an Olympic sport. These grown men turned into 5 year old boys as soon as they entered the water. The giggles and shrieks that came from them were KILLER!!!

Sunset watching and moonlight gazing on the beach are also events that the Bengali’s would win if they were Olympic sports.

Watching the sunset was the main event for some ladies. Almost like the New Year’s ball dropping ceremony.

The bus ride back to Dhaka was the WORST trip I have ever had. The first hour on the bus was wretched. I don't think I have ever had motion sickness that bad before in my life... and then... For those of you who have ever experienced a squatter toilet... this is directed at you. (LYNETTE… AUNT CHRIS… I am THINKING OF YOU 2)
Let’s just say…Ashley needs more practice and more baby wipes to clean her left foot when she is finished.

After arriving back in Dhaka we spent the day with CIPE donor. Took her shopping, and for icecream and lunch and then she treated us to the Westin-.. UM HELLO. Ashley is moving to the Westin permanently. This place was amazing. Although there was some SERIOUS OVERFLOW of American Marines in the pool… Seriously these guys are everywhere. I don’t think I have seen that many tattoos since … yeah don’t know when.

Holidays

Well my holidays are over... Back to work. Oh but wait we are going to the beach for work. Yipeeee. I'll let you know how that goes later this week.

Anyway yeah so Eid was fun. Everyone gets all dressed up and hits the streets to strut their stuff. Okay maybe no struts their stuff but they definitely go out to celebrate and eat and eat and eat. From what I understand people go from house to house and eat special Eid foods. Well we only went to two houses.. and I couldn't eat another thing. We went to Shamim's (my supervisor) and to Akhter's (a trainer from BWCCI). The next day we went to Ruba's house (a member and a board member). Too much food. Too much. The city was totally different from regular Dhaka. So much more quieter and no tension. It was nice.



There was also a Hindu holiday this week. Durga Pooja. Akhter and his girls took us to two temples, one at a small University and one at Dhaka University. The smaller of the two felt like a rural village in the middle of chaotic Dhaka. We also popped into a University Professor's house for some sweets. (photo)



I have been dying for a serious touristy day. The kind where someone takes you around and you don't have to struggle for rickshaws or CNGs and you can take all the cheesy touristy shots that you want. This was a pretty good tourist day. The two temples and New Market. New Market is this huge shopping market in Old Dhaka... and we were soooooo lucky that it was still Eid holidays and it wasn't crazy crazy busy as it is normally. Apparently you get shoved and it is so packed the only way to move is to be pushed.

The second temple on Dhaka University grounds was packed. Almost as busy as the Skydome when the Yanks come to town.

OOoooh... and I took local transit for the first time- A bus… yeah.. In the words of Larry Dawson- I took it TWICE... My 1st and my last. Actually it wasn’t that bad.. besides the man who got on after me stroked my shoulder 3 times on his 2 minute ride!!

WARNING-- For all you squeamish girls.... LOOK AWAY. LOOK FAR FAR AWAY!


I happened to come across this fellow in my bathroom at 3:30 in the AM.. Half a can of spray and 8 hours later.. he surrendered. Or maybe it was a She and her babies will learn a lesson and not come in my room. Largest thing I have seen! Shuddering now thinking about it.

No funny rickshaw stories to update you on... but something that has amused me lately. People here are extremely curious as to why you are in Bangladesh and where you come from. Typical question- “You’re country ma’am?” I have this thing of making them guess... here are the responses in order of the number of times they come up- JAPAN, UK, Australia, France, Sweden,Germany, Iran, and Saudi Arabia --- They usually get frustrated and I have to tell them. Canada just never gets enough credit. Oh and apparently I am also in the Peace Corps.



I wish I was the man in the boat. So chill.

Eid Mubarak

I GUESSSSSSS... I'll do another entry. I just haven't found any motivation to write one. You have to be in a writing mood.. and I am a sucky writer.. so that mood never happens.

Things are going well. Work started to pick up and THEN we went on HOLIDAYS! Ha. Figures. We get a week off for Eid vacation. Humber is planning to send 2 faculty members here in November so that is what I am working on.. getting everything in order so that we can do some training and hopefully the Business Support Centre stuff.

Other than that I have been working on getting my Visa extended. Not sure if it would be easier to go to India and get it done.. or risk Bengali bureaucracy. Either way.. I hope it works.. or I will deported at the end of November. The other day at the passport office we were trying to decide when, who, and how much we should bribe them. I am sure Rupen would be proud.

Got another rickshaw story. The other day Karina and I hop on to head home. The guy peddles two feet the jumps of and disappears behind us. Confused to say the least.. I turn around searching for him.. and find him peeing against the wall. Although this is normal to see...it is EXTREMELY FUNNY.. when it is your rickshaw driver. Karina was not impressed and wanted to peddle away with his rickshaw to see what he would do.. I just sat there and laughed for 5 minutes!

Hmmm... what else? Had a "Thanksgiving" dinner at my boss' house. Although my bet is it was a chicken and not a turkey, it was still a nice gesture. We also went for Iftar at someone's house and because of the torrential rain got stuck on the other side of the city with no options of going home that night.Roads flooded no taxis, no CNG's, barely even rickshaws. Thankfully we were able to stay at a BWCCI member's house. Nothing like wearing someone else's (although it was new) nightgown and bunking up with Karina for the night!!!


Well I guess that is it. I have no idea what else to write. I think I need to write things down as they happen.. because I am forgetting a TON of extremely funny events.







Oh I've been in the postcard writing mood so if you want one.. or would like me to attempt to send you one... I haven't experimented with the mail yet... Send me your address.

Rickshaw Drivers Revenge

Soooooo.. I've been a little bit slow on the Blogs. Blame that on Bangladesh Bacteria Round #2. Cipro.. you are my hero.

Alright. Funny story #1 - actually I don't know if it will be followed by another one.. but either way.
A couple of mornings ago while going to work in the bumper to bumper rickshaw traffic, which happens alot, our rickshaw dude bumped the back of one ahead of us. NORMALLY this doesn't do anything but startle the pooooor unaware passenger ie. ME! Anyway.. Rickshaw guy #2 either broke his flip-flop or hurt his toe.. not sure which. He hops off his rickshaw and starts yelling at our dude. Karina hops off like the 'shaw is on fire.. I sit there like an idiot hoping it'll blow over. Next thing I know Guy# 2 picks up his flip-flip and starts beating our dude with it!!! Yeah...totally hilarious and scary at the same time. Only when ten other rickshaw guys stop and surround us trying to calm the little spat down.. THEN I realize maybe it is time to run. Karina drops our 10taka and we run like we didn't pay.

Ramadan is still going on and this changes the whole city. Women are popping up everywhere. Normally on the street during the day you see very few women. Around 6'oclock at night the city shuts down for Iftar (breaking of the fast). And all stores close up and everyone sits down and eats. Then around 7 it is PACKED again as everyone is out shopping for Eid- The week after Ramadan where people eat and eat and celebrate and eat. I got a snazzzzzzy new Sari! Bling Bling Ashley! Pics to eventually follow!

So work.. yeah work.. Ramadan seems to be the excuse why things aren't happening. I semi-understand seeing as you aren't eating and it is a holy time and all but at the same time you still have deadlines and projects to do. Still slowly working on the website stuff.. but the lady went to Russia for 2 weeks. Suppose to be doing the annual report... Suppose to.. hmmm.. Training in the rural village got canceled because of Ramadan. So I still haven't really gotten to see what BWCCI does and how they do their training. Just attened a Media CIRCUS or two.. and handed flowers over to important people.




I guess all this procrastinating at the office is rubbing off on me.. Karina and I seem to be spending too much time shopping. And my CIDA budgeted butt can't afford it. Although on the plus side.. the ridiculous good Canadian Dollar is totally helping.

Hmmmmm.. what else? OH RIGHT.... Ha.. went to the Dutch Club for a "WHITE PARTY" the other night. You know the ones that involve getting dressed up all in white and acting civilized for 10 minutes before you hit the bar and booze up like you are 16. Then you have one tequila shot and in the 130 degree temperature that is enough to send you to the dance floor thinking you can get jiggy with it when really you are just the fool trying to break out the "shopping cart and the sprinkler". Yeah one of those parties! I think 99% of the people there were severely dehydrated because we were surrounded by wet t-shirt contest contestants that didn't have water.. just their own sweat! Pretty good party.


Here is a video of the view from our rooftop. We live in a pretty residential
neighbourhood.

Okay.. I've rambled enough. Adios.