Hi to everyone ( Read more... )

Some random bits of info that you may/may not know about Bangladesh ( Read more... )

This past week has been pretty eventful. I went on a trip with some volunteers in the South and one of their Bangladeshi friends to the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundorbons. It literally means “beautiful forest” but it refers to the tree whose name is beautiful tree ( Read more... )

Along with the nebulous head tilt and head waggle (former is affirmative, latter is negative), often times people will not come out and say what they think to me because they think my image of Rajbari or of the country will somehow be tarnished. Also, they are just generally a lot more indirect than Americans. Often times now I have gotten a ( Read more... )

Chantal asked if I ever teach. Well, coincidentally, it looks like my classes are getting going! I have been teaching a spoken English course at the nearby college (meaning 11th and 12th grade) for the past 3 weeks, thanks to my host mom/big sister Munmun who works there as a teacher. The principal is very excited to have a volunteer there and ( Read more... )

Has anyone ever seen an Indian or Bangladeshi song/dance movie? Bollywood movie maybe? If you have, you would know then that they are 3 hours or more. In the States, I think for something to last more than 3 hours, it better include alcohol, comic relief, and something that will involve audience members volunteering to come on stage. Here ( Read more... )

(I posted a response to Merrill about Bangla below the entry on Marriage and feminism ( Read more... )

Correction: The pics are here

http://mariewebb2.myphotoalbum.com

Interesting experience: going to the bank. Banks are guarded by some dude slouched on a folding chair by the metal grill doorway. He wears a beret and holds a shotgun, and my bank has a guy holding an antique double barrel shotgun. When you get there, you notice a packed room of people waiting with no apparent line. You find your way to the ( Read more... )

A female family member came to the house for a few days to see her grandmother (who lives here) and also go to an “appointment.” Being a little out of the loop, I asked if it was a job interview. It was actually a marriage interview, which means she, her family, a boy, and his family all got together and discussed the details of a marriage for ( Read more... )