still B
After almost 2 years of wondering and wandering, I ended up in a land of unfamiliarity - Bangladesh.
It has been month since I landed on this crowded-with-everything-you-can-imagine land. I was in the capital, Dhaka, for the first 3 weeks and everyday every scene I saw in the city traumatized me. The fact that it is my very first time to step on to the developing world would have been one reason, but seeing the rich society and the poor society right next to each other was just shocking. There are people living with AC, Japanese cars with drivers, kajer lok (maid), and receiving collage education and sending their children to overseas. On the other hand, their are people living under construction site with their family, walking around the street and begging for money (and I heard even this act is institutionalized that they don't receive everything they earned), people with disabilities sitting and sleeping on the street that filled with all kinds of trash and manure, and most of the rikishawala (richshaw driver) who support the main transportation in Bangladesh earn less than $5 a day.
The first things I saw were shocking enough to make me think "where the hell am I?" and I almost regretted that I came here without any mental preparation.
However, the more I spent time with people of Bangladesh, the more I understood its people, society and history. Of course, all the negative I have been seeing hasn't changed, but I started to see some positives and possibilities in this country.
The strength Bangladesh has is its people. They have so much energy and warm heart. This peace and fun loving people have so much to offer - but there are few ways to change the environment and show their strength to the world. I only know countable number of people in this country, yet I am loving these amazingly welcoming and skillful people.
Now I am in Rajshahi district where I will be spending most of the next 2 years. This is the third biggest city in Bangladesh but it is 6hours drive away from Dhaka and I don't think many people from developed society wouldn't think as a "city". It is completely different from Dhaka although the population is still extremely high. The rural atmosphere this city has have finally made me comfortable (except the toilet environment). Having been staying at Bangladesh family's house for the last 3 days, I am liking this place more and more.
My adventure has just started.
It has been month since I landed on this crowded-with-everything-you-can-imagine land. I was in the capital, Dhaka, for the first 3 weeks and everyday every scene I saw in the city traumatized me. The fact that it is my very first time to step on to the developing world would have been one reason, but seeing the rich society and the poor society right next to each other was just shocking. There are people living with AC, Japanese cars with drivers, kajer lok (maid), and receiving collage education and sending their children to overseas. On the other hand, their are people living under construction site with their family, walking around the street and begging for money (and I heard even this act is institutionalized that they don't receive everything they earned), people with disabilities sitting and sleeping on the street that filled with all kinds of trash and manure, and most of the rikishawala (richshaw driver) who support the main transportation in Bangladesh earn less than $5 a day.
The first things I saw were shocking enough to make me think "where the hell am I?" and I almost regretted that I came here without any mental preparation.
However, the more I spent time with people of Bangladesh, the more I understood its people, society and history. Of course, all the negative I have been seeing hasn't changed, but I started to see some positives and possibilities in this country.
The strength Bangladesh has is its people. They have so much energy and warm heart. This peace and fun loving people have so much to offer - but there are few ways to change the environment and show their strength to the world. I only know countable number of people in this country, yet I am loving these amazingly welcoming and skillful people.
Now I am in Rajshahi district where I will be spending most of the next 2 years. This is the third biggest city in Bangladesh but it is 6hours drive away from Dhaka and I don't think many people from developed society wouldn't think as a "city". It is completely different from Dhaka although the population is still extremely high. The rural atmosphere this city has have finally made me comfortable (except the toilet environment). Having been staying at Bangladesh family's house for the last 3 days, I am liking this place more and more.
My adventure has just started.
posted by sheeep at 10:11 PM
0 comments
