tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307054802024-03-19T17:04:57.894+06:00Life in present tenseIt doesn't matter so much where one is, but whether one lives with open eyes and a curious mind. These are some stories and reflections from my world.Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-40623338820018828652015-10-03T21:03:00.002+06:002015-10-03T21:03:47.416+06:00Fun times in Nepal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We just got back from an AWESOME trip to Nepal! Hiking, rafting, relaxing, and of course, lots of eating :) Highly recommend it as a destination and would love to go back.<br />
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Instead of rambling on and on about just how great it was, I posted a <a href="https://goo.gl/photos/mZdyVfGrqWkhtjUG6">photo album</a> chronicling all the sites and fun moments. Check it out!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQmNRiHPPUg/Vg-i9RL-x5I/AAAAAAAACKU/NftURglQBUI/s1600/WP_20150918_042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQmNRiHPPUg/Vg-i9RL-x5I/AAAAAAAACKU/NftURglQBUI/s640/WP_20150918_042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257771229649195816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-66708670935364919582015-04-18T17:49:00.002+06:002015-04-18T17:49:42.360+06:00What "work" looks like these days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o8gG6_ZttUJ3O5mXxBJs-CPKg4fbIlX6b5itAgzTZbJoe4pIi5vREFib8Mt6V5XIKytskt3bCyXoIJTmkME3gZHbbSVR5nLbEjLJTiLClb_iqmS0-bIskGcwni3vxfuDWtzl/s1600/Photo+Apr+09,+3+21+52+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o8gG6_ZttUJ3O5mXxBJs-CPKg4fbIlX6b5itAgzTZbJoe4pIi5vREFib8Mt6V5XIKytskt3bCyXoIJTmkME3gZHbbSVR5nLbEjLJTiLClb_iqmS0-bIskGcwni3vxfuDWtzl/s1600/Photo+Apr+09,+3+21+52+AM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Cruising along in Nampula, Mozambique in a nice, big pick-up truck.<br />
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That was last week. This week, I'm busy hobnobbing with community members in Comilla, Bangladesh. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim45NSJ3Qya2jtIzrHynomMOAlnNun0WDj8ar_iW6j538n822Q8RW-yr0OXkOSK2IJKyO6rvLPx02ZdpQBCqRQrrM5lQCDKrD1NCGGsq9hdds0HmbqqPvaohz6z04yfwuhIBSB/s1600/_MG_6947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim45NSJ3Qya2jtIzrHynomMOAlnNun0WDj8ar_iW6j538n822Q8RW-yr0OXkOSK2IJKyO6rvLPx02ZdpQBCqRQrrM5lQCDKrD1NCGGsq9hdds0HmbqqPvaohz6z04yfwuhIBSB/s1600/_MG_6947.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Yeah, I can touch my nose. Why do you ask?"</td></tr>
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I want to know about their savings behavior and access to financial services, but they have more pressing issues like, if I'm married, why isn't my nose pierced?<br />
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What next?</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257771229649195816noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-66124406931448192722015-01-19T09:13:00.000+06:002015-01-19T09:13:34.919+06:00My best books of 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">This was a good reading year. There are some great new authors with powerful voices and awesome story-telling ability.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">The top 5 were:</span></div>
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" 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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/In-Light-What-We-Know/dp/0374175624" style="font-family: inherit;">In light of what we know</a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">—Zia Haider Rahman</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">I’m not a fan of Salman Rushdie, but his sentiment of a book of “everythingness” captures this book. It’s less a coherent story and more an experience. It knows no boundaries, it jumps back and forth in time, travels around the world, and wanders into physics, math and other subjects, but without pretension or sense of effort. Enchanting to read. I also had the opportunity to meet the author towards the end of last year, and he was every bit as engaging as the book!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Rosie-Project-A-Novel/dp/1442370904">The Rosie Project</a>—by Gene Similian</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Bill Gates recommended this book as one of his best reads in 2014, so I figured I’d give it a read. It is hilarious. The author puts you in the head of a brilliant professor who has Asperser’s syndrome, and proceeds to take you through his innovative and at times painfully awkward attempts to find a wife. Through the story, you find yourself wondering if being “normal” is a good thing, and other assumptions we make all the time. The sequel (the Rosie Effect) just came out, so don’t worry, there’s more!</span></div>
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" 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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Lizard-Cage-Karen-Connelly/dp/0385525036">The Lizard Cage</a>—by Karen Connelly</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">This book is about as close to a Burmese prison as I would ever want to get. Set in Yangon, it centers on the life and thoughts of a political activist who is living out a life sentence in jail and his friendship with a young orphan who also lives at the prison. Most of the book takes place at the prison, and at times it's quite dark, hopeless, and brutal. But despite rarely taking the reader beyond the prison walls, the story is active and it's hard to put down. I also read </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burmese-Lessons-true-love-story/dp/0385528000">Burmese lessons: a true love story</a></i><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"> by the same author and was less impressed--too personal, too much "true story" that sounded exaggerated, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/David-Goliath-Underdogs-Misfits-Battling/dp/0316204366">David and Goliath</a>: underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants—by Malcom Gladwell</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">My sole non-fiction recommendation this year. Gladwell’s great at rounding up useful anecdotes, research, and theories, and making them digestible. This book is about "underdogs," and how the odds aren't always as stacked against them as we assume. Particularly recommend this for people trying to bring about change in big institutions, when you don't have hard power on your side.</span></div>
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" 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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Suitable-Boy-Novel-Modern-Classics/dp/0060786523" style="font-family: inherit;">A suitable boy</a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">: a novel</span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">—by Vikram Seth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Once I learned that this was one of the longest books in the English language (and that the longest, longest was a science fiction book that I could probably never get through), I had to give it a read. It also happens to be one of the favorites of several women I know and respect here in Bangladesh. Set in the context of newly independent India circa 1950, the book weaves together the stories of several different families from radically different backgrounds. Though the bureaucratic discussions can drone on (as they do), the characters are vibrant the details of life vivid, and it's easy to get pulled into the main dilemma: who is Lata going to marry? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">What was on your list??</span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-79404831791421689532014-12-10T16:39:00.001+06:002014-12-14T22:38:32.866+06:00You win some, You Laos some (second try!!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Sabaidee!! (That's hello in Lao)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: left;">Laos is AWESOME. I just arrived back in Bangladesh after a
week in Vientiane and Vang Vieng. Unfortunately I spent way too much of
the week locked up in a conference room since I was really there for a
training, but in the hours that I managed to sneak out and explore, I loved it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: left;">The streets are chill, the food amazing, and the countryside
lovely. If you can survive the roads!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Our first night in Vientiane (the capital city, population
~700,000) we went out to a traditional Laotian restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Vang Vieng is a beautiful town on the Mekong river that's a
popular place for backpackers. We stayed in a lovely resort right on the
river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Since our project focused on rural electrification and renewable
energy (i.e. hydro and solar power), we spent some time on a dam visit and a
visit to a rural village that had a mini-grid running on solar power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Typically it doesn't rain from November-March, but the day we went
it poured and last leg of the trip, which was a dirt road, was impassable in a
minivan, so we had to shuttle up there in a pick-up truck and SUV. Wonder
why they call it a "hard to reach" community?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A few mornings in Vang Vieng I woke up early enough to wander
around before breakfast. One day I even went for a run through town, past
a few temples, across the bridge and over to the other side of the Mekong.
One of my favorite sights was the dozens of children that biked past me
in big groups as they headed off to school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Last night, to celebrate the end of the program, we all went out
for dinner at a nice restaurant with an outdoor patio and live music. The
singers had killer voices and did a number of great covers, including an
acoustic version of "What the Fox Say."</span></div>
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<o:p> What does the fox say?</o:p></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257771229649195816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-9846973377061466892014-12-02T18:33:00.000+06:002014-12-02T18:33:00.346+06:00What is the first food to cook for new in-laws?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I went with peanut butter balls and butternut squash casserole.....<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257771229649195816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-59194868702988438862014-11-30T18:05:00.002+06:002014-11-30T18:05:13.692+06:00A Turkey day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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No, literally. A day in Istanbul, Turkey. On my way back from Italy earlier this month, a quick connection turned into a 24-hour adventure. I was trying to recall some of the Turkish I knew, but other than merhaba (hello), the only thing I could come up with was "guzel lutfan," which translates to "beautiful please" (and doesn't really mean anything to anyone except me!). So I stuck to English....<br />
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My 3 takeaways:<br />
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1. I definitely want to go back to Turkey and spend more time there!! It's beautiful and chill. You can walk through markets and parks, pass by beautiful mosques and buildings that reflect a historical perspective on globalization. If you're tired, you can stop for a glass of fresh pomogranite juice or a cup of tea.<br />
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2. The food is amazing!! I couldn't stop stuffing my face. The kebabs were out of this world! Everything came so fresh; even the bread was straight from the oven.<br />
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3. Take an empty suitcase. There are a lot of things to buy!!<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08257771229649195816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-65048600415803042362014-11-15T12:43:00.002+06:002014-11-15T12:43:58.382+06:00A very creative (and tasty!) wedding gift<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8UjMjIgUaTavsCnYpJPdwj8Sh7uKSe52FUueR4nKXYu6Av5rc9uupgDZ5ELDyTsdfPICMvE6biq0YlGn_rWxlmIf-NKV-YsfmNQC2KeeqXiGGF2PuQ4Yrlhw1cL3JeEaAP519g/s1600/my+aam+gaach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8UjMjIgUaTavsCnYpJPdwj8Sh7uKSe52FUueR4nKXYu6Av5rc9uupgDZ5ELDyTsdfPICMvE6biq0YlGn_rWxlmIf-NKV-YsfmNQC2KeeqXiGGF2PuQ4Yrlhw1cL3JeEaAP519g/s1600/my+aam+gaach.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
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This baby mango tree belongs to Shazzad and me! We received it as a wedding gift last month. It was born in Rajshahi, an area in Western Bangladesh that's famous for mangoes. It traveled by train to Dhaka.<br />
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It didn't fit in the elevator, so we couldn't get it up to the rooftop. Right now it's living right outside our building. We may eventually take it to my father-in-law's village as a more permanent home.<br />
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It will need about three years before bearing fruits, but we hear that they will be quite sweet!</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-78681360703354583352014-09-30T07:32:00.000+06:002014-09-30T07:32:07.883+06:00I do!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Almost a year ago, Shazzad<a href="http://mariachina.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-art-of-proposing.html"> proposed to me</a> in front of the
Mona Lisa.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Saturday, we kicked off our worldwide wedding
tour in Raleigh, North Carolina.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the
presence of family, a few random hikers, and the occasional frog or earthworm
wandering by, we had our legal ceremony and officially became husband and
wife.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yippee!!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-COil3CX9vq4/VCncahH59SI/AAAAAAAAJNE/6G_lrx92Lj4/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-COil3CX9vq4/VCncahH59SI/AAAAAAAAJNE/6G_lrx92Lj4/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the sunny banks of Big Lake, Umstead Park.</td></tr>
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We chose a spot in the woods of Umstead Park, a beautiful
forest where I have run many times. It
was on the lake, which looked picture perfect on a sunny afternoon.<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>Surrounded by smiling faces and pine trees, Shazzad and I
stood looking at each other as my dad officiated the ceremony. After a few words of welcome, he remarked,</div>
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<o:p> </o:p><i><b>As you all know from getting here and from looking around,
this spot is a bit off the beaten trail. That is how Shazzad and Maria live– off the
beaten path– as they forge their own trail together.</b></i> </blockquote>
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<i><b>I think that Shazzad and Maria are well prepared for the
journey forward. Maria said recently, ‘I just have a compass. I don't know
where it's taking me, but I trust that it's the right path.’</b></i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Shazzad and Maria, use that compass to find your happiness
together in this big world.”</b></i></blockquote>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Historically I have a hard time getting through weddings
without a little bit of crying (what can I say, they make me sentimental!!). One solitary tear found its way down my cheek
during my dad’s remarks, but the fear of mascara streaks all over my face kept
the rest in check.<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>We had asked a few people to read poems during the ceremony—as
might have been expected, we wanted to have a global selection.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; padding-left: 1em; text-align: start; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="color: #505050; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>"i carry your heart with me(i carry it in</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; padding-left: 1em; text-align: start; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="color: #505050; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>my heart)i am never without it(anywhere</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; padding-left: 1em; text-align: start; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="color: #505050; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; padding-left: 1em; text-align: start; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="color: #505050; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>by only me is your doing,my darling)"</i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; padding-left: 1em; text-align: start; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="color: #505050; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I carry your heart with me, ee cummings</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #505050; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">(Read by my sister-in-law, Holly)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u7ik3Ovqlu0/VCnckuh2GuI/AAAAAAAAJOE/IDCGfYVclYc/s1600/DSCN2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u7ik3Ovqlu0/VCnckuh2GuI/AAAAAAAAJOE/IDCGfYVclYc/s1600/DSCN2631.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #3c3a35; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3c3a35; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…</span></span></i><span style="color: #3c3a35; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In life after life, in age after age, forever."</i><br />Unending love, Rabindranath Tagore<br />(Read by Shazzad's cousin, Russell)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYod_Lh_ak8/VCncoAOV2VI/AAAAAAAAJOk/2_AtP9MwOPU/s1600/DSCN2635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYod_Lh_ak8/VCncoAOV2VI/AAAAAAAAJOk/2_AtP9MwOPU/s1600/DSCN2635.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.005998611450195px; text-align: start;">"Take bread away from me, if you wish,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.005998611450195px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.005998611450195px; text-align: start;">take air away, but </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.005998611450195px; text-align: start;"><i>do not take from me your laughter."</i><br />Your laughter, Pablo Neruda<br />(Read by my cousin, Samantha)</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sV5Jki7dtTI/VCncgSBtlFI/AAAAAAAAJNs/SEfHIgbpi6Q/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sV5Jki7dtTI/VCncgSBtlFI/AAAAAAAAJNs/SEfHIgbpi6Q/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mohammed Shazzad Hoshen Khan, you are my one true love....."</td></tr>
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We thought about just stealing the vows that Travis and Holly had used for their wedding. But that’s not really our style, so we wrote our own. They were mainly in English, with a few lines of Bangla mixed in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0FCfFk0aPI/VCncsw-c5HI/AAAAAAAAJPM/0XHlW7rrVGI/s1600/DSCN2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0FCfFk0aPI/VCncsw-c5HI/AAAAAAAAJPM/0XHlW7rrVGI/s1600/DSCN2648.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's official! Married live begins!</td></tr>
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Now that we were officially husband and wife, it was time to
eat! We went to a great place in
downtown Raleigh. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01VhiDI0IOU/VCncy84eD9I/AAAAAAAAJP8/rhbJuRw5HdA/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01VhiDI0IOU/VCncy84eD9I/AAAAAAAAJP8/rhbJuRw5HdA/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great food and even better company at 18 Seaboard</td></tr>
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During dinner the cousins sneaked outside to decorate our car. We listened to the beautiful sound of cans dragging along on the street for the first half of the drive home, until we eventually lost a few of them on the highway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8llurKoHm4/VCnc3TBN9xI/AAAAAAAAJQk/S9QPAz5mdRI/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8llurKoHm4/VCnc3TBN9xI/AAAAAAAAJQk/S9QPAz5mdRI/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says newly wed like shaving cream and aluminum cans.</td></tr>
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It was a great start to our three-week marriage extravaganza. Next stop: Chiang Mai!<br />
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See the <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110659118901833910829/albums/6064620462856391969?authkey=CM7H-sHux7CMNg">full album</a>.</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-52547501786508083672014-09-12T14:11:00.000+06:002014-09-12T14:11:15.586+06:00Girls just wanna have fun.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDjkB37MJbY/VBKdmG6AfPI/AAAAAAAAJJE/4ArUJp5hMxQ/s1600/WP_20140818_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDjkB37MJbY/VBKdmG6AfPI/AAAAAAAAJJE/4ArUJp5hMxQ/s1600/WP_20140818_007.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a latte fun!!</td></tr>
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I had a great alternative bachelorette weekend with my girls Amanda and Srijita. We enjoyed the sights, the sounds, and especially the food!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgkiaJAeEXk/VBKdK6muf4I/AAAAAAAAJG8/a63tvy8NeQM/s1600/WP_20140816_042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgkiaJAeEXk/VBKdK6muf4I/AAAAAAAAJG8/a63tvy8NeQM/s1600/WP_20140816_042.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out at Bhaktapur</td></tr>
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We spent one day outside of Kathmandu, wandering through the hills of Nagarkot and the dusty streets of Bhaktapur. It's well know for its wonderful views of the Himalayas.....on a clear day. We went on a foggy day, so we were happy that we didn't get up at 4AM to try to catch the dawn.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfeJBVVNMt0/VBKdiARYGaI/AAAAAAAAJIs/k6cQQo1JxL0/s1600/WP_20140817_034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfeJBVVNMt0/VBKdiARYGaI/AAAAAAAAJIs/k6cQQo1JxL0/s1600/WP_20140817_034.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We weather an afternoon rain storm from a coffee<br />shop with an awesome view of the Boudhanath.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgqHKa5B5KY/VBKdk8--VcI/AAAAAAAAJI8/40SwwuHzEzA/s1600/WP_20140818_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgqHKa5B5KY/VBKdk8--VcI/AAAAAAAAJI8/40SwwuHzEzA/s1600/WP_20140818_002.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye! Over one last coffee!!</td></tr>
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Check out the<a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110659118901833910829/albums/6058076515601664961?authkey=CMe3ndGvov35kAE"> full photo album</a>.</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-19202079035611377662014-06-25T15:42:00.000+06:002014-06-25T15:42:00.490+06:00Can you ski behind that, and have your cake?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I spent the week before my birthday up in Northern Bangladesh. One day, my colleagues and I went out to one of the most remote areas of the country--river islands called <i>chars</i> that are highly vulnerable to river erosion and flooding. Many of the people who live there are very poor. At this time of year, many of the men from the area are off in Sylhet working to help harvest rice. Often they get paid in rice, instead of wages.</div>
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Getting out there is difficult. It's a long bumpy ride on a bad road, and then another hour on a boat.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRGmzB267y8/U6U_hFoF_wI/AAAAAAAAIyo/kkeAeBNEi5A/s1600/IMG_4073+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRGmzB267y8/U6U_hFoF_wI/AAAAAAAAIyo/kkeAeBNEi5A/s1600/IMG_4073+%25282%2529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I find myself thinking about "the river" in North Carolina. This river has similar ecology, and similarly makes me want to go water skiing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EMv81LtgA4/U6VBRpH5bVI/AAAAAAAAIzU/_gHjnhx8WEM/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EMv81LtgA4/U6VBRpH5bVI/AAAAAAAAIzU/_gHjnhx8WEM/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the boat with my colleague Paroma.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KehyPEarpdM/U6VBt7oZMrI/AAAAAAAAIzk/lq3TU-yyke0/s1600/IMG_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KehyPEarpdM/U6VBt7oZMrI/AAAAAAAAIzk/lq3TU-yyke0/s1600/IMG_0763.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda and Alvina</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYmP3Uei2VM/U6VB_iyGh-I/AAAAAAAAIzs/Xagw3tzHm-M/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYmP3Uei2VM/U6VB_iyGh-I/AAAAAAAAIzs/Xagw3tzHm-M/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could I ski behind this? Not sure it's built for speed.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">After a week of moving around in the field, it's nice to finally go home, take a nice, long shower to wash off the dust.</span></div>
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It doesn't hurt that there's a delicious chocolate birthday cake awaiting me! There are worse ways to celebrate the big "30."</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-61609644262766081072014-06-21T15:20:00.002+06:002014-06-21T15:20:57.193+06:00Scenes from the "zero point" road trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few weeks ago, Shazzad, Amanda, Jarrod and I went on a road trip to Syhlet. We wanted to go somewhere that none of us had even gone before. We chose Jaflong, an area on the Indian border in Sylhet that is supposed to be beautiful. It's also where most of Bangladesh's rock quarries are located.<br />
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Sylhet is about a 5 hour drive from Dhaka. We get up early and head out there. By the time we arrive, we are very hungry.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">With great concentration, Amanda and I manage to read </span><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">the Bangla notice on the table. It says that we can't</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">linger after finishing our food. Maybe we were better </span><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">off not knowing!!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a delicious meal, we headed out of the town to wander around the tea gardens that Sylhet is so famous for. The weather is perfect and we pretty much have the hills to ourselves today.<br />
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We head back to the BRAC learning center where we're staying. It has a nice campus where we can relax. As it gets darker, we are joined by hundreds of crickets and a lot of frogs.<br />
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We wake up early to get on the road to Jaflong. Like all things in Bangladesh, beating the crowds is half the battle. We stop on the way for a quick breakfast of piping hot bread with omelette (<i>mommelete</i> in Bangla) and lentils.<br />
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The landscape changes from the gently rolling hills to proper mountains that lie just over the border.<br />
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We cross over to the other side--to see what we can see. There are small towns of people who primarily live here to collect rocks and sell them.<br />
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On our way to "zero point"--the border between India and Bangladesh. Another example of why it's good to focus on the journey, not the destination.</div>
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On the way back, we stop by a lovely new resort in Lalakhal for lunch. <br />
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And then it's back to Dhaka. Weekend flew by!</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-17136878933819099872014-05-09T11:06:00.001+06:002014-05-09T11:06:44.037+06:00If at first you don't suceed, thai and thai again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eat up! Your next meal is just a few hours away!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
“Vacation” is synonymous with “Thailand” for Dhaka's social elite. Just two hours away,
Bangkok offers everything that’s forbidden in Dhaka: late night clubs, bars
galore, you name it. Not to mention the bargain shopping!<br />
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To be honest, I have never understood the hype. My previous "72 hours in Bangkok" (spent mainly in a
hotel conference room talking about health systems) left me underwhelmed. Bangkok seemed big, Thai was confusing (and
English hard to come by), and the night scene was too sketchy for me.</div>
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But it is just two hours from Dhaka, and relatively easy for
Americans (no visa required) and Bangladeshis (one week for processing), so
Shazzad and I decided to turn our May Day holiday into a one week
vacation. I called it a “practice
honeymoon;” there’s no harm in taking a trip (or two or three!) just to test
things out, figure out what we like, and get the “real” honeymoon as perfect as
possible.</div>
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We loved Bangkok this time.
We stayed at a hotel that was unexceptional in every way except that it
was in exact type of neighborhood we would have chosen, had we done that kind
of research (thanks agoda.com and the many helpful reviewers!!). Just a stone’s throw from the metro, it was
more of a local residential area than a tourist haven, full of cheap, no-frills
food stands and simple restaurants. We
spent many hours just wandering along, peering at interesting-looking foods and
eventually decided to buy one so that we could try it. The selection was astonishing—noodle soup,
seafood crepes, snow cones, mango and sticky rice, kebabs, pad thai, omelets…..and
that was just what we ate the first day (ok, I’m exaggerating ever so
slightly). I found that I could get my
daily caffeine fix from the iced coffee stands on the streets, who served up a
deliciously cold and sweet combination of Nescafe, ice, and condensed milk.</div>
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Bangkok has a number of interesting sights. We wandered through a few temples, including
Wat Pho with its massive, golden reclining Buddha. But the streets called to us—there was so
much to observe and occasionally buy. I’ve
always heard Bangkok described as chaotic and noisy, but everything is
relative. Shazzad and I kept commenting
how quiet it was—the metro was downright silent as everyone busily attended to
their smart phones—and it was easy to walk down the street, side by side, and
have a conversation uninterrupted by honking, random strangers approaching us,
and other typical Dhaka distractions.
Bangkok was peaceful, by our standards.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gxXkE9mWBNI/U2t6IH8nB1I/AAAAAAAAIb8/AAGbnvPW0x4/s1600/IMG_3495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gxXkE9mWBNI/U2t6IH8nB1I/AAAAAAAAIb8/AAGbnvPW0x4/s1600/IMG_3495.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says romantic like a Titanic-themed license plate!<br />Bangkok's Chinatown knows how to do tacky.</td></tr>
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So after three days of bliss, it was time for an “adventure”
(a coverall term that I apply to situations where we’ve failed to the level of
research/planning that’s probably recommended, so we’re just going to wing it
with our intelligence and pre-existing globa knowledge of “how things work”. Heck, it can’t be harder than Bangladesh,
right?). The beach was the next
stop. Until we checked out of our hotel,
we planned to go to the Eastern bus terminal and hop a bus to Rayong. I’d read that it could be a bit tricky to
find the Eastern bus terminal. As we
handed in our keys, I casually asked the receptionist whether Eastern bus
terminal was the best way to get to Rayong.
“Where?” she stared at me blankly.
“Rayong,” I repeated. She looked
puzzled, then said, “Ra-YONG?” (her voice jumped up an octave on the second
syllable). “Yes, RaYONG.” I tried to mimic back, a bit nervous now that
perhaps it wouldn’t be quite so simple to communicate which bus we wanted. “Eastern bus terminal is really far
away. You should take a minivan from
Victory Monument instead.” “Have you
been there?” I asked her. “No.” </div>
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Moment of truth.
Trust the receptionist or the internet?
Stick to “the plan” or go with the flow?
We went to Victory Monument (Two stops by metro) and were able to hop in
a comfortable minivan going directly to RaYONG.
Victory, indeed. There we
wandered into the Star Hotel, dropped our bags, and headed off to find food and
the beach. Food was easy and delicious—well,
except the part where we had to order (thankfully every place has “pad thai”). But the beach……we wandered for hours and
couldn’t find the coast. Finally, after
a random British guy on a motorcycle came over to ask us if we needed help and
confirmed that we were still really far away, we flagged a motorcycle taxi to
take us to the cool kids beach (“PMY beach”, fyi), just in time for a quick
walk and a sunset.</div>
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TO BE CONTINUED…..For a sneak peak, check out the <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110659118901833910829/albums/6011031790169004353?authkey=CMfW9ev3vcfTSA">photo album</a>.</div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-3606293945570334072014-04-19T10:28:00.003+06:002014-04-19T10:28:30.262+06:00Joining the mob<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a crazy month. I've got to catch up on posting.<br />
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First things first, my innovative team convinced me that the best way to create buzz about our new innovation fund was to.......do a flash mob at our BRAC day fair. Why not? I'm pretty sure it's the first flash mob that's ever been attempted at BRAC!</div>
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It hasn't quite gone viral yet, but we're pretty satisfied with it.<br />
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A few days later, I went up to Northern Bangladesh with a group of visitors from a learning network that we're leading. After months of skyping (usually interrupted by power cuts on at least one side), it was really nice to have some face to face time with everyone.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I think Northern Bangladesh has some of the country's most beautiful landscapes. I've never been at this time of year before, and I was surprised to find tobacco set out to dry in almost every village we visited! </span></div>
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Smelled a bit like North Carolina.<br />
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At the end of our trip, we stopped by the village of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoquia_Sakhawat_Hussain&ei=X_pRU9LIBImSrgfsx4CYCw&usg=AFQjCNF1lxCY0fa-zSiQqfgxiCzdPdwVXA&sig2=RAwK7AThUCXTT8ATuJ1v6A&bvm=bv.65058239,d.bmk">Begum Rokeya</a>, one of the first prominent South Asian feminists and writers. There is a library and university named in her honor.<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-29873359478525605222014-03-20T18:14:00.001+06:002014-03-20T18:14:30.038+06:00No interest in fun?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On March 7th we had the annual BRAC Microfinance Programme picnic. This was the first time that I was invited, and I was not prepared for how serious the organizers were about participation. For example, buying raffle tickets was "optional" but if I didn't buy at least 8, two of my colleagues were happy to wage a sit-in in my office.<br />
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We left at 8AM on Friday morning to get out to Rajendrapur, where BRAC has a beautiful conference facility.<br />
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The 9th floor challenged the 13th floor to a "friendly" game of cricket. There was some energetic celebration after the 13th floor's victory!! (and this carried on later in the night with the DJ!!).<br />
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We realize that there is boroi (a tasty fruit) in the tree, and promptly harvest it up for a snack before lunch.<br />
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I find a friend to kick the ball around with.<br />
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The theme of the event was, "non-interest bearing fun." I didn't have anything to do with the selection of the title, but heartily approve. My colleague Paul and I performed "Sunshine (on my shoulders)" by John Denver, complete with a few verses in Bangla.<br />
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March 8th was international Women's day, so we closed poetry and songs related to women's empowerment. The song "We shall overcome" has been translated into Bangla and Hindi, and now has as strong a local history in this part of the world as it does in the United States, or South Africa. All the picnic attendees sang it together. It was really great to sing such a powerful song in the context of BRAC, in multiple languages.<br />
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That was the end for me. I ate a lot of delicious food for dinner and retreated to my room. The DJ played until 1AM. I missed the midnight raffle where I got FIFTH place, and my colleagues were kind enough to give me my gift anyway, a beautiful clay vase.</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-56189813187547543002014-03-09T21:22:00.002+06:002014-03-10T09:00:56.175+06:00Traveling to Dhaka: all your questions answered (well, at least 10 of them)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week I got an email from a former colleague coming to Dhaka. She had a list of questions that was similar to emails I've received before. In the interest of efficiency, I've decided to write this list up and post it, for future reference and for the benefit of anyone else looking for it. Feel free to add questions/comments at the bottom.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Any advice on which hotel we should stay in? Or general location in the city.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Traffic is usually really bad, so you should stay very close (within a mile or two) to the locations that you plan to frequent. There is not really a coherent city center, so there is no "downtown" to speak of. Most foreigners stay in neighborhoods called Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara.</span></div>
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2. Any advice on attire? (Both business and casual)</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Buying clothes here is really easy and fairly inexpensive (Aarong and desi dosh are two easy places to start). Men can wear whatever they want, although shorts are uncommon. Women can wear long pants and long/loose tops. Short sleeves are ok. You'll feel more comfortable if you have a scarf too. And sun glasses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Heels are a bad idea; sidewalks are not in good shape.</span></div>
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3. Currency -- what's it like making purchases with a credit card? Can we easily get money out an ATM? </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">High-end coffee shops/stores/restaurants/<wbr></wbr>hotels accept cards. Otherwise it's cash. Easy to get cash from ATMs. Visa is more popular than mastercard, but increasingly there are cash spots available for either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've never changed money but theoretically it's not that hard either, you just need to go to a bank during normal business hours. No idea about traveler's checks (does anyone still use these?).</span></div>
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4. Sim cards: do they activate immediately, or take a few days?</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Immediately. You can get one at the airport right after going through immigration. Just have two passport photos with you. The simplest thing to do is to bring a phone set with a removeable sim, and to get a pre-paid card. You can get more credit at the ubiquitous stands on the street that have the logo of your telecom carrier. Start with tk100 if you're here for a short period. You can now get internet packages like this as well, if you have a smart phone or an ipad.</span></div>
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5. Any must-sees while in Dhaka? </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Old Dhaka is an experience and a window into what Dhaka once was, before becoming a megacity splitting at the seams. The parliament building is beautiful and there is a nice park surrounding it. Dhanmondi has several nice galleries--Drik Photography, Bengal Art, Dhaka Art Center, etc. There is also nice stuff at the Bengal Art Lounge (Gulshan 1) and in the galleries on the 1st floor (one up from the ground) in the Gulshan II DIT market, across from the Westin. Dhaka University is beautiful and full of history, but tough if you don't have a local to guide you. National Museum has some great collections, but also a lot of stuff that doesn't really belong there, so be choosy about where you spend your time so you don't run out of steam before the end. The Liberation War Museum is also quite powerful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. What about food?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eating is one of the favorite past-times of Dhakaiyas. Prepare for a lot of rice! Both kichuri and biriyani are local specialities--I like mutton best but beef and chicken are also good. Vegetarians and veg lovers can also opt for a plate of white rice and "bhortas", varieties of "smashed" potato (aloo), tomato, green banana (kacha kola), egg (dim), and many more, and a nice lentil soup (daal) to accompany it. Bengalis are famous for their sweets--personally I love the sweet yogurt (doi).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are a lot of great street snacks in Dhaka (you can also get them in restaurants but somehow they never taste quite as good). Fushka (crispy stuff, chickpeas, onions, spices) are a favorite; I like the kind with yogurt sauce (doi fushka). Jhaal muri is a good choice for people who like spicy food; if you prefer sweets, jelapi is my favorite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tea (cha) is everywhere. If you want it without the normal milk and sugar (which is the most delicious way) ask for lal cha (tea without milk) and/or chini chara (without sugar).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Decent thai, chinese, and korean food can be found in Banani and Gulshan. I'm less convinced of the Italian food, but Spaghetti Jazz and Bella Italia are popular. El Toro in Gulshan 1 has surprisingly good Mexican food. But honestly, if you're just in Dhaka for a week or so, stick to what we do well: Asian cuisine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. What's the easiest way to get around?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The short answer is that if you are a foreigner and don't know Bangla, there is NO easy way to get around. Prepared to be lost constantly. If you are going short distances, cycle rickshaws are your best bet. Make sure you fix the price before you get in. 90% of my rickshaw rides cost between 20-30tk. If someone's asking for more than 50tk, he's probably trying to rip you off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next option is an auto-rickshaw (green three wheelers). These have meters but no one uses them. I rarely pay more than 300tk to get anywhere in Dhaka (maybe a little more from the aiport).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I highly suggest having a local phone and always having a phone number for your destination (business card is great, especially if it's in bangla). If all else fails, you can call up the store/restaurant, etc. and ask them to give directions. The driver will not speak any English, except the amount he wants you to pay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Is Dhaka safe?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I always want to ask, compared to where? Compared to many other large cities in developing countries, yes. You can generally get around safely during daylight hours, and should feel fine being out and about. Obviously keep your wallet and other valuables close to you, and if you carry a purse, make sure you've got a firm grasp on it. If you are obviously foreign (especially if you're white), you might find yourself being harassed by beggars. They can get touchy and aggressive sometimes, so I suggest firmly telling them to go away. You can also give them 5tk or so, but be prepared then that more will come your way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">White women should be prepared to get a lot of attention. Usually it does not go beyond staring and the occasional comment ("hello beautiful" and the like). But the risk for unwanted touching (the accidental brush against your shoulder or thigh) is not unheard of, especially in crowds. Look confident and glare at anyone who seems to be testing the boundaries. All of this behavior is rude. If someone talks to you, ignore them or say "ki shomosa?" (what's your problem?). If someone makes you feel really uncomfortable, start yelling at him or walk into a store to get away from him. If he touches you, feel free to hit him back (an effective way to get the message across if you can't speak Bangla). Usually bystanders will help you if they see that you are being harassed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At night, muggings are not uncommon especially if you are foreign and alone. If you will be out, you should consider making arrangements for a car (from a trusted source, like a hotel or a friend). Auto rickshaws are the next best thing, but there are also reports of auto drivers being involved in muggings, and driving people into small alleys where muggers await them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most locals would not call the police if something bad happened. We don't expect that it will resolve the issue. It's good to keep the embassy's emergency number on hand in case something serious happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. What's easy to get in Dhaka? What's hard?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easy: cheap medications, Bengali foods, movies and tv episodes on dvds, kitchenware, beautiful fabrics, clothing, printouts of pictures, passport pictures, converters/adapters, manicures and other beauty treatments, nutella, peanut butter, and oddly, some new york times best sellers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hard: alcohol, tampons, contact solution, support for authentic windows or any type of mac support, english language books (other than the top 10 and a few old favorites like Banker for the poor), and gourmet foods (good cheese, olives, whole wheat bread, powerbars), and shoes for big feet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">10. What should I read before coming to Dhaka?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's not one book that really sums up the city. It'd be good to skim the headlines from Dhaka Tribune or Daily Star a few times a week; will give you a few topics to offer up for discussion while here (cricket and politics are good starting points).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Golden Age and A Good Muslim by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahmima_Anam">Tahmima Anam</a> are internationally recommended choices. I found Banker for the Poor and Freedom from Want comprehensive introductions to Bangladesh and its development scene (both have a rural focus). The Black Coat is a more recent book that focuses on post-Independence Dhaka. There is a growing English language scene in Dhaka--including new authors like Kazi Anis (Goodnight, Mr. Kissinger), but so far it doesn't come close to comparing with the Bangla authors. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore"> Rabindranath Tagore</a> is the adored poet who wrote the national anthem lyrics for Bangladesh and India. If you can get your hands on any translated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun_Ahmed">Humayun Ahmed</a>, read it and then bring it to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Clay Bird" is an old movie about Bangladesh that can be found with English subtitles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Those are all my thoughts for now. I'll add more questions and answers to this post as they come up.</span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-58704087512805365322014-02-26T20:53:00.000+06:002014-02-26T20:53:08.906+06:00Snapping it up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The last few weeks have been packed with fun!! And as it happens, I've had my camera with me for many of them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem4dEfoiOfaUw8cNaxwPKvYG7d8D5iHrj_r4GtOqgAynziExqrAuNsm4u1J21MT17H3hDOA6SVdyX0xkZSoPy2EZngg8XzG5XnQs5EpobEuhbsQ4ut5yKAJcHtuCzVm5w1NuW5A/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem4dEfoiOfaUw8cNaxwPKvYG7d8D5iHrj_r4GtOqgAynziExqrAuNsm4u1J21MT17H3hDOA6SVdyX0xkZSoPy2EZngg8XzG5XnQs5EpobEuhbsQ4ut5yKAJcHtuCzVm5w1NuW5A/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went to a wedding. In a white dress!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PD55oPtoLuA/Uw35muut9QI/AAAAAAAAIE8/fsE1-1S0J1o/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PD55oPtoLuA/Uw35muut9QI/AAAAAAAAIE8/fsE1-1S0J1o/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Feni, after visiting the amusement park, we stop for snacks<br />and a stroll at a local pond. It is way calm.<a name='more'></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VKJw-YVui8/Uw35s28V_RI/AAAAAAAAIFM/9JZHym3fJQI/s1600/_MG_8446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VKJw-YVui8/Uw35s28V_RI/AAAAAAAAIFM/9JZHym3fJQI/s1600/_MG_8446.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We head back to Comilla where we spend the night<br />at a BRAC training center. The place is empty and<br />there's no one to stare as we play volleyball on the<br />badminton court.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Eks3zk0xAQ/Uw35y0EKcJI/AAAAAAAAIFc/na8eSdsYtak/s1600/_MG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Eks3zk0xAQ/Uw35y0EKcJI/AAAAAAAAIFc/na8eSdsYtak/s1600/_MG_8486.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We wake up kind of early, then eat breakfast slowly and get<br />lost on beautiful country roads, but eventually make it to Moynamati,<br />a Buddhist monastery from the 8th century.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D74QAocJ2iM/Uw36BcMKrBI/AAAAAAAAIF8/t5VGaRsmLkI/s1600/_MG_8524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D74QAocJ2iM/Uw36BcMKrBI/AAAAAAAAIF8/t5VGaRsmLkI/s1600/_MG_8524.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole crew having fun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14WjAjf7864/Uw35-OzJbUI/AAAAAAAAIF0/maHDqHWTYIY/s1600/_MG_8513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14WjAjf7864/Uw35-OzJbUI/AAAAAAAAIF0/maHDqHWTYIY/s1600/_MG_8513.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double trouble.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxX1dPc-pz0/Uw353SFzJ8I/AAAAAAAAIFk/oFoIyXKWex0/s1600/_MG_8490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxX1dPc-pz0/Uw353SFzJ8I/AAAAAAAAIFk/oFoIyXKWex0/s1600/_MG_8490.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shazzad finds peace and enlightenment in a former dorm room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hzr-KPG7iCQ/Uw357t0l18I/AAAAAAAAIFs/Iah1LX1LlMg/s1600/_MG_8491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hzr-KPG7iCQ/Uw357t0l18I/AAAAAAAAIFs/Iah1LX1LlMg/s1600/_MG_8491.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While I fly like an eagle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUX1mKc_jXs/Uw35wAUxeDI/AAAAAAAAIFU/QaZ7xm18Xy0/s1600/_MG_8464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUX1mKc_jXs/Uw35wAUxeDI/AAAAAAAAIFU/QaZ7xm18Xy0/s1600/_MG_8464.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I said I'd be getting my own column this year,<br />this isn't exactly what I had in mind.......</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n-dPmY7oH8I/Uw36JQnWQyI/AAAAAAAAIGM/pyD1haUlWaU/s1600/_MG_8562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n-dPmY7oH8I/Uw36JQnWQyI/AAAAAAAAIGM/pyD1haUlWaU/s1600/_MG_8562.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just when we thought we'd had enough surprises for one weekend,<br />we stumble across a WWII cemetery that's been immaculately maintained.<br />Soldiers from India, Australia, England, and all over Africa buried here.<br />A different side of globalization.</td></tr>
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The nice thing about living a country that's about the size of Wisconsin is that you can get pretty much anywhere on an overnight bus from Dhaka. It's that small.<br />
What's not pictured here is the crazy traffic awaiting us as we came back Saturday evening, and the guy we saw cleaning the inside of ears on the street, with some dirty, pointy metal tools. He could start his own wax museum.<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-18522236312113873242014-02-22T20:55:00.004+06:002014-02-22T20:55:51.527+06:00Feni, Feedi, Fici<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Translation from "Latin": <i>We came, we ate, we had fun.</i><br />
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Over the last few months, Shazzad designed a series of murals for a new amusement park opening in place called Feni. Now that the hard work is over and the park is open, we organized a road trip to go check it out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua_CEbs_Hbw/UwixWTFlAAI/AAAAAAAAIAU/u_Preu7HoOo/s1600/IMG_8294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua_CEbs_Hbw/UwixWTFlAAI/AAAAAAAAIAU/u_Preu7HoOo/s1600/IMG_8294.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PodmoqLVjxs/Uwix7wsPtsI/AAAAAAAAIAc/--rq0omk010/s1600/IMG_8302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PodmoqLVjxs/Uwix7wsPtsI/AAAAAAAAIAc/--rq0omk010/s1600/IMG_8302.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We get an extra long ride because we are special guests!!<br />You need the music for the full effect.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYyfN5tKWtM/UwiyKoDGzgI/AAAAAAAAIAk/uqvAVMVIlw8/s1600/_MG_8307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYyfN5tKWtM/UwiyKoDGzgI/AAAAAAAAIAk/uqvAVMVIlw8/s1600/_MG_8307.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first train ride in Bangladesh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_TkJWhp90Y/UwiyuILRO_I/AAAAAAAAIA0/kNYWx_5EUJE/s1600/_MG_8334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_TkJWhp90Y/UwiyuILRO_I/AAAAAAAAIA0/kNYWx_5EUJE/s1600/_MG_8334.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a bird. It's a plane. It's.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wACcVeLA8YE/UwizCK6D47I/AAAAAAAAIA8/CrYPs5IdbNE/s1600/_MG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wACcVeLA8YE/UwizCK6D47I/AAAAAAAAIA8/CrYPs5IdbNE/s1600/_MG_8335.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or am I more of a spider(wo)man?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uG_gbJAh0Ps/UwizOrzLUfI/AAAAAAAAIBE/TQp5Zon0zdA/s1600/_MG_8351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uG_gbJAh0Ps/UwizOrzLUfI/AAAAAAAAIBE/TQp5Zon0zdA/s1600/_MG_8351.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouthing off.</td></tr>
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While Shazzad has a long, serious conversation with the park owner, Naveed, Amanda and I run around being silly. Luckily the area is fairly empty, so few people notice our antics and goofy photos (trust me, there's a lot more than the ones posted here).<br />
The owner invites us to come back any time. It's always nice to have an amusement park where I can duck in if I'm desperately craving a ride on a swing, a train, or a Ferris wheel (unfortunately it wasn't working when we were there).</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-79380836224392210372014-02-15T23:46:00.001+06:002014-02-15T23:46:08.482+06:00wherefore Art thou, Dhaka?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The second Dhaka Art Summit took place this past weekend. The bright pink advertisements all over the streets claimed that it is "the largest art event in South Asia." I'm always skeptical of these types of statements (recently a mall opened here calling itself the "largest mall in Asia," but right now it's mainly a food court and a lot of empty space).<div>
In any case, we went to the 2012 art summit, so it seemed natural to go to this one. One major difference was that the objective this year seemed to be exposing Dhaka to the rising artists of South Asia (Pakistan, India, Nepal, etc) rather than showcasing local artists.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#tweeting from the Art Summit</td></tr>
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I'm still not much of an art person, but I'm trying. The installations usually prove to be too much for me--there was a mainly naked man painting himself and the wall with shoe polish, and it just looked like insanity to me. But here they call it art.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7yQWHpvjSM/Uv9vcsP6jBI/AAAAAAAAH_A/ejxv6ouSBm4/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7yQWHpvjSM/Uv9vcsP6jBI/AAAAAAAAH_A/ejxv6ouSBm4/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All we're missing is a ball. Get it? Basket. Ball.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbJkbt9QYfI/Uv9vC-vECBI/AAAAAAAAH-4/zb6yRKmUISk/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbJkbt9QYfI/Uv9vC-vECBI/AAAAAAAAH-4/zb6yRKmUISk/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I probably watched Shazzad looking at art,<br />more than actually looking at the art itself!</td></tr>
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Glad I went, but I'm content with the gallery I have at home!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The latest addition to the home collection.</td></tr>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-63632409112216216852014-02-01T13:30:00.001+06:002014-02-01T13:30:40.670+06:00Popcorn makes everything better<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaos as usual on the Dhaka highway. Almost makes<br />you crave for the empty roads of hartal days.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the past few weeks, Bangladesh has slid back into its normal routine. The political chaos died down surprisingly fast after the election, and people leaped at the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with peace. Violence was just one problem; the threat of violence affected a much higher number. Indirect consequences included:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Banks stopped refilling ATMs, and outside of Dhaka, some banks refused to let people cash checks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gas stations lacked fuel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farmers couldn’t get their produce to the markets, so food prices went up quickly</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fertilizer, crucial during planting season, couldn’t be delivered everywhere</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People stopped going out for fun and only shopped for necessities; restaurants and shops were hit hard. Many struggled to make their rent and pay workers.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Experts estimate that the political violence and strikes cost the economy <a href="http://t.co/SPPDW2UVn9">$6 billion last year</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I live within the diplomatic zone and work just beyond its border, so my life was less affected than most. The main change was that my life reduced to a tiny radius, encompassing just the office and the diplomatic area (thankfully North End Coffee shop was within there). So for two months, I barely saw Dhaka, much less traveled beyond. My only foray out of my designated “safe zone” was to go see Catching Fire at the movie theatre one morning right before Christmas.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The major highway to leave Dhaka to the north, reduced to<br />a multi-level pedestrian walkway!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So before things can heat back up, I’m trying to spend some time outside of Dhaka. Last weekend, Shazzad and I went to a wedding in Tongi, a town just north of Dhaka. It’s only 20 miles, so without traffic, the drive from my house takes less than an hour. We somehow managed to time our drive so that we were stuck during the Friday Muslim prayer (<i>Juma</i>) just near the site of <i>Ijthema</i>, the second largest religious gathering in the world (first is <i>Khub Mela</i> in Uttar Pradesh). Approximately five million Muslims (mostly men and mostly South Asian) come for <i>Ijtema</i> each year. Many come from far-flung villages using all sorts of local transport (<i>benge benge</i>). When necessary, they walk and climb into the back of pick-up trucks and the tops of buses. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PapmZL-q-ik/UuPkgsKMzvI/AAAAAAAAH4k/wi2oGkauEn8/s1600/IMG_3053.JPG" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bus doesn't even stop to let people<br />get situated up top.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During <i>juma</i>, many roads in Dhaka close to make space for makeshift prayer areas for men (women pray at home). So this was like the perfect storm—we had driven essentially to the biggest Islamic gathering at the most important prayer time—and the result was a terrible traffic jam. We turned off the engine and just sat still for over an hour. One of the things that amuses me about Dhaka is that, anytime and anywhere, you can usually get popcorn. A guy came by selling popcorn, so we bought some. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Popcorn: a comfort food for traffic jams.<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had skipped breakfast to make room for delicious wedding food, but my blood sugar was dropping and Hangry (hunger-induced anger) Maria was not going to improve the ride. A few minutes later, another vendor came by with homemade potato chips, so we bought some of those too. Our friends who had taken a motorcycle called us—they left the coffee shop an hour after we did, drove on the wrong side of the street to avoid the jam where we were stuck—and were waiting for us in the village. Finally, traffic began to crawl and we inched through Uttara, over the Tongi Bridge, past Ijthema, and turned off onto a side road that would take us to the village.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We turn off the main road onto this side street. Suddenly<br />the world seems much calmer.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate traffic, but it’s been so long since I’ve seen a jam like this, it was easier to take this one a bit more lightly. Also I was sightseeing! It’s unlikely that I would ever find myself purposefully attending massive religious gathering, so driving through it to get to a wedding was an unexpected sociological opportunity. I found the number of people on the road fantastic—it was as if they had held the Boston Marathon and the NC state fair on a major highway on Memorial Day weekend. Total insanity, even by Dhaka standards. The image that will stay with me was: on the top of many buses, the relatively dangerous seats reserved for those that want to pay a cheaper fare, guys were riding along, recording a video of the experience on their smart phones. It’s a sight that reminds me that the world is changing.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An amazing wedding feast that's totally worth the drive!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wedding hosts had prepared food for 1,000 people, just to be on the safe side. When we arrived at 4:00, the afternoon sun was already starting to fade, but there was still plenty of food waiting for us. The groom’s family had slaughtered a cow and chickens that morning. It was fresh and expertly cooked with the perfect combination of spices. It was delicious, and I ate two full plates worth.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the beautiful and happy<br /> new bride and groom.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The groom's family and the North End family (which I<br />claim to belong to!)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After lunch we took pictures with the new bride and groom, met their families, and then began our house calls. It turns out that a lot of the North End staff are from this village, and since North End’s owner had also come for the wedding, many families wanted to meet him and invite him into their homes. We were along for the ride, but that didn’t stop us from visiting with everyone, especially once they pulled out plates of delicious fruits and sweets.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YgukIiKOTmI/UuyTf-f7ENI/AAAAAAAAH7U/Tfrf-Xezmtc/s1600/IMG_3075.JPG" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heading up the walkway to our first home visit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoying the winter weather and the calm of the village.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At one home, we met a woman who has been a teacher at a BRAC primary school since 1994. She was talking about how many external guests—from local ministers to foreign donors—have come to her school, and it was fun to hear her version since I’m usually on the visiting side. It’s always nice to randomly meet someone who is proud to be part of the BRAC family.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another home down the road that we also visited.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we knew it, night was falling and the blood thirsty mosquitoes demanded their own feast. It was time to cross back through the Ijthema traffic. This time we got lucky and the drive took under three hours.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm stuffed, but I find room to try this new type of sweet.<br />Crunchy and delicious!</span></td></tr>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-43558257413412582182014-01-19T20:50:00.000+06:002014-01-19T20:50:00.542+06:00Playing tourist in Old Town<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So as you may have seen in the news, in November and December, Bangladesh suffered some serious political violence. In the last week, it's calmed down immensely and at least for the time being, people can settle back into a normal routine.<br />
One of the things I missed the most during the hartals was the ability to move around. So I was excited to learn that some friends were planning a sightseeing trip down to Old Dhaka this morning. I love that part of the city for its feeling of permanence. There are few structures in my neighborhood that are more than 10 years old (and new ones popping up on every corner!), whereas Old Dhaka emanates history and longevity. It also bustles in a way that Gulshan and Banani don't; the density of business, people, movement is on another level.<br />
If you don't know it well, Old Dhaka is a labyrinth. There are few signs and landmarks. So you can make an intinerary, but be prepared to let Old Dhaka have the last say. Today we wandered through the spice market, had a cup of tea in Sankaria Bazaar (Hindu Street), bought some souvenirs on Bangsal Road (where one can buy rickshaw art), and finished up with huge lunch at Star Hotel, and dessert at Green Sweets. A good day.<br />
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<br />
See more <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110659118901833910829/albums/5970235943866838337?authkey=CODOrPyfpbrjGQ">photos</a> in this album.<br />
<br /></div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-73593094978309910692014-01-03T14:40:00.000+06:002014-01-03T14:40:03.029+06:00Best books I read in 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As requested by Robert….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Non-fiction</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Problem-Hell-America-Genocide-Republic-ebook/dp/B00D7MSXQQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388632034&sr=8-1&keywords=a+problem+from+hell">A
problem from hell</a> by Samantha Power. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prepare to be immensely depressed and infuriated. Power systematically dissects genocide after
genocide, exposing the intense unwillingness of world powers to see it and act.
But also many stories of courageous individuals who made the difference by
dogged and often dangerous efforts to force leaders out of denial.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-We-Do-Harm-America-ebook/dp/B005LVL12O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388632073&sr=8-1&keywords=how+we+do+harm">How
we do harm: a doctor breaks rank about being sick in America</a> by Otis Webb
Brawley and Paul Goldberg. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Extremely readable narratives on what’s wrong with the
health care system. Reads a bit like
Atul Gawande, but with a different personality and set of experiences.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-ideas-others-unstuck-ebook/dp/B000N2HCKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388632105&sr=8-1&keywords=made+to+stick">Made
to stick: why some ideas survive and others die</a> by Chip and Dan Heath.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the best book on communication I’ve ever read. Highly recommend it to anyone who ever writes
or speaks……yeah, that good. By the same
authors as </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Switch-change-things-when-hard-ebook/dp/B0030DHPGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388632138&sr=8-1&keywords=switch" style="font-family: inherit;">Switch</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">,
which I also read, but did not like near as much.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-power-introverts-world-talking-ebook/dp/B004J4WNL2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388632163&sr=8-1&keywords=quiet+the+power+of+introverts+in+a+world+that+can%27t+stop+talking">Quiet:
the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking</a> by Susan Cain. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s a </span><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html" style="font-family: inherit;">TED
talk</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> that gives a decent overview, if you’re not into reading. For me this book was inadvertently an exploration
of self and as a manager.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-Data-Revolution-Transform-Think-ebook/dp/B009N08NKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388632256&sr=8-1&keywords=big+data+a+revolution+that+will+transform+how+we+live+work+and+think">Big
data: a revolution that will transform how we live, work and think</a> by Kenneth
Cukier and Viktor Mayer-Schonberger. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even if you’re not a quant nerd, this book will get you
excited (great, free </span><a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2013/03/big_data_excerpt_how_mike_flowers_revolutionized_new_york_s_building_inspections.2.html" style="font-family: inherit;">excerpt</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">
on NYC city government’s use of data). In contrast to all the debates about
privacy, data being used for all sorts of nefarious purposes by governments and
advertisers, this book points how the many ways in which societies and
individuals can and do benefit from the ridiculous amount of data out there in
the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Sex-Other-Desperate-Measures/dp/1401352014/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388736643&sr=8-1&keywords=emergency+sex">Emergency
Sex and other desperate measures: a true story from hell on Earth</a> by
Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait and Andrew Thompson. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not as exciting as the title led me to believe, but a pretty
unique look into the humanitarian crisis machines like the United Nations. Refreshingly candid, though that’s not to
stay that you make walk away with a few concerns about the whole aid system,
who ends up on the ground, and what they do.
This is NOT the book that will inspire you to drop everything and move
to Africa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Fiction</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bill Gates, in his annual list of <a href="http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Personal/Best-Books-2013">reading
recommendations</a>, wrote that he reads</span>“mostly nonfiction because I always want to learn more about how the world works.”<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I would argue that some of the most
illuminating books, the ones that shape how we think, what we believe, and how
we act, are fiction. I ignored fiction
for a long time, but in the last few years have begun to crave good stories and
new worlds as a way to inspire new ideas of my own. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking at these four books, one common theme is that all of
the books are largely tied to places and the experience of being there. And the experiences of being somewhere else
when a particular place has become part of you.
It’s a great book that makes you understand why one would love a place—whether
it’s New York City, Lagos, or District 12.
I hope to one day be able to write about a place as intimately and
lovingly as these authors do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Coat-Neamat-Imam-ebook/dp/B00CJBKV48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388736846&sr=8-1&keywords=the+black+coat">The
black coat</a> by Neamat Imam. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best book I’ve read about Dhaka in the early
1970s. Fascinating story that also gives
the reader a good historical glimpse at urbanization and the early days of a
nation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Americanah-Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie/dp/0307271080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388736905&sr=8-1&keywords=americanah">Americanah</a>
by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps my favorite book from her yet. I suggest you read this great </span><a href="http://t.co/WCd6WIFYOG" style="font-family: inherit;">interview</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> beforehand, which includes gems
like “why can’t a romance be deep and philosophical?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Echoed-Khaled-Hosseini-ebook/dp/B009XIXVU6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388736951&sr=8-1&keywords=and+the+mountains+echoed">And
the mountains echoed</a> by Khaled Hosseini. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hosseini’s past books were too bleak for me. This one is no Pollyanna, but it’s beautiful albeit
a bit haunting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t judge me:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Suzanne-Collins-ebook/dp/B004XJRQUQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1388737307&sr=8-5&keywords=hunger+games">The
Hunger Games Trilogy</a> by Suzanne Collins. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The plot get a bit laughable at times, but the undercurrents
of political commentary and the ongoing attention to the psychological trauma
that the Victors face both make it a great read. Both topics that have very real and urgent
needs, but are perhaps easier for some to first consider in the abstract.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Suggestions welcome!! Also, if anyone has a copy of any
Humayun Ahmed books in English, I would love to borrow it!</span></div>
</div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-57034261178691791742013-12-27T12:43:00.000+06:002013-12-27T12:43:13.442+06:00Let's have a party!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I threw a Christmas Eve party this year! Listening to Christmas Carols, baking cookies, stringing lights, really made the season bright. All we were missing was a little snow outside and some mistletoe.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hchU8z5bJocnSrmHqh8MJBNYbEO99MhMEBC-uqAr6IWeBMf81i5zFhgej2yBaodiaGBxCB01ctTyZjMm9yUjthFLuKf_cxegDYHtnqiwlddxMlXRy1hKAdek17zqGpSE1oVbfw/s1600/adoorable+w+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hchU8z5bJocnSrmHqh8MJBNYbEO99MhMEBC-uqAr6IWeBMf81i5zFhgej2yBaodiaGBxCB01ctTyZjMm9yUjthFLuKf_cxegDYHtnqiwlddxMlXRy1hKAdek17zqGpSE1oVbfw/s320/adoorable+w+shoes.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adoorable decorations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMAa_42OzoIJhSGyFeFTlndtcMT2zuCC6ZBwmAKLQb21ATBHSS-AUBncOucIezZt8riSK_OtpHzsbmX6w0BFtst7FWJyGkDT-qr3BIYCF4PdkFZq25kD9vKiqrxG3ZjsLsG5uFg/s1600/decorations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMAa_42OzoIJhSGyFeFTlndtcMT2zuCC6ZBwmAKLQb21ATBHSS-AUBncOucIezZt8riSK_OtpHzsbmX6w0BFtst7FWJyGkDT-qr3BIYCF4PdkFZq25kD9vKiqrxG3ZjsLsG5uFg/s320/decorations.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to be a bit creative on where to put the lights,<br />
since our christmas tree (made of paper) was only 2 feet tall!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjYfUUQQNt2CLE7pSRfg-2oHBCUcPoOAfgmTJjs0emrnvQmyUydgxkQ1BM6Ai5_ozJtLrDyHDyru2QRgfqX2-nc8o_elPoXerQcZIxATHqNdBT4IqtwffrteV2bwii8AMYlhFaw/s1600/Minhaz_20131226_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjYfUUQQNt2CLE7pSRfg-2oHBCUcPoOAfgmTJjs0emrnvQmyUydgxkQ1BM6Ai5_ozJtLrDyHDyru2QRgfqX2-nc8o_elPoXerQcZIxATHqNdBT4IqtwffrteV2bwii8AMYlhFaw/s320/Minhaz_20131226_0050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Farhan, Naveed, and Arafat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r_az0D768SHlWcvghHtaBl7pysx8GU9eA-Ox38VKaOe2tjZWd2Nw3oz37Pd4ml6tWI1Jx4auoWaRuG6_mv8Xh9s4fuAS6Ti0crz-9MvaOEllVJOFgKnZM5YLN4BPJ-k1ddnVrA/s1600/ring+in+a+new+year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r_az0D768SHlWcvghHtaBl7pysx8GU9eA-Ox38VKaOe2tjZWd2Nw3oz37Pd4ml6tWI1Jx4auoWaRuG6_mv8Xh9s4fuAS6Ti0crz-9MvaOEllVJOFgKnZM5YLN4BPJ-k1ddnVrA/s320/ring+in+a+new+year.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Shazzad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycOZ0N8WSI_lb0ZJNqPUFECZFZaIoeDrNzt5ptoBOhVghN_LY9jJ7SZ3M1NeGDZ3ZBcDGIFke_es3tXZeFMHczMlJ5dm823HzprWGad1rLGSRGwzJD_Fm-OkLsoFS6cv2bznzbg/s1600/spread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycOZ0N8WSI_lb0ZJNqPUFECZFZaIoeDrNzt5ptoBOhVghN_LY9jJ7SZ3M1NeGDZ3ZBcDGIFke_es3tXZeFMHczMlJ5dm823HzprWGad1rLGSRGwzJD_Fm-OkLsoFS6cv2bznzbg/s320/spread.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An East-West fusion of snacks: homemade cookies,<br />cheese from France, and doi bora.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSgGoYNbh04dqlyb2asjiRy56oGn8URGtAN9yOrNUo2kpswHpuAllqPmPtUUfNJfPJxzIJn8QlTbMsuqmHUBY90h7Uu5Rc7-zjrKF-R07AFwKb6K-pxj-vnHNiC12eq-cchRrnQ/s1600/cake+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSgGoYNbh04dqlyb2asjiRy56oGn8URGtAN9yOrNUo2kpswHpuAllqPmPtUUfNJfPJxzIJn8QlTbMsuqmHUBY90h7Uu5Rc7-zjrKF-R07AFwKb6K-pxj-vnHNiC12eq-cchRrnQ/s320/cake+2+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are the first customers of Trina's new cake business.<br />She warns us that frosty will melt if not kept in cool temperatures.<br />We leave him in an air conditioned room until we're ready<br />cut the cake!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a goodnight!</div>
<br /></div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-56302379879979609762013-12-01T00:30:00.000+06:002013-12-01T00:30:00.223+06:00The art of proposing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
On November 10<sup>th</sup>, it was hard to get out of
bed. The weather forecast for Paris was
overcast and grim. It was mainly the
call of the pain au chocolat that finally got me up. And the prospect of another fun day in Paris
with Shazzad and Dorothee, of course.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AP5KlEiTZA/UphtPEDon6I/AAAAAAAAHiA/6yKrOgOQfI0/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AP5KlEiTZA/UphtPEDon6I/AAAAAAAAHiA/6yKrOgOQfI0/s320/IMG_2406.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew that museums could be so fun?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had about 13 hours until Shazzad had to catch his bus
back to Amsterdam. We were thinking
about going to Versailles, but the weather was intimidating. Finally Shazzad spoke up and said he’d <i>really</i> like to go to the Louvre. “At least to see the Mona Lisa,” he
said. “If you want I can just drop you
off.” I say. I think most museums can be covered in under
an hour, but Shazzad spent 6 hours in the Metropolitan Museum of Art last fall,
only to emerge bemoaning the fact that he didn’t have enough time. In Paris, as in New York, I can find ways to
enjoy the time on my own. But his face
falls. “Do you want me to go with you?”
I ask. He brightens. I am slightly surprised but also
flattered. That settles it. A few
coffees and croissants later, off we went.
I was wearing three layers of shirts under my fleece jacket, plus a big
woolly scarf. This girl’s blood has
thinned.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we get to the Louvre, we decide to start in the Grand
Hall where the Mona Lisa and Di Vinci’s other works are on display. I’m content to be led around because this really
isn’t my show. I overhead Shazzad
telling Dorothee that we’re going to wander by ourselves for 30 minutes and
that we’ll meet her back in this spot.
Somewhere in the back of my head, a tiny light went off. Like a light on the Christmas tree, nothing
more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We get to the Mona Lisa, and while there’s a crowd, it’s
smaller than usual. November 11<sup>th</sup>
is a holiday, so many people are out of town.
We are standing in the back. I’m
trying to find a good vantage point. In
the midst of it all, Shazzad asks me: <i>Amake
bhalo basho? </i>(Do you love me?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <i>Obhoshoi</i> (of
course)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shazzad: <i>Shob somoy
thakbe? (</i>Will you stay with me forever?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <i>Ha</i> (Yes)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shazzad: <i>Biye korte chao, amake?</i> (Do you
want to marry me?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHa8e43UVemRm6BIzgKZFrNWp37qhkM9-494Kh_do6X6syizwolg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I imagine that I looked something like this<br />
after Shazzad popped the question.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Up until this point, I had been looking at him out of the
corner of my eye, mainly focusing on the Mona Lisa. We'd had variations of this conversation many times, but something about his tone clicked in my brain and illuminated the
rest of the lights on that Christmas tree string. I whirled to face him dead-on and there, in
his hand, I see a ring! He looked at me seriously,
lovingly. <i>Chollo, amra biye kori </i>(Come on, let’s get married). For once, I am lost for words; all I can do
is beam at him, and look back and forth from the ring to his face, and back
again. As I extend my hand and start to
make a few squeaky sounds, he looks at me a bit anxiously. “You haven’t said yes!” He says. “Yes!
Yes! Yes! Yes!” I say, before launching myself at him. Suddenly we were alone. Occasionally someone jostled us from behind
as they moved up to see the Mona Lisa, momentarily reminding us that time and
space existed and we had to come back to Earth eventually.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NU1nUjjDnw/UphtDULl96I/AAAAAAAAHho/VMJbuLhEWC4/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NU1nUjjDnw/UphtDULl96I/AAAAAAAAHho/VMJbuLhEWC4/s320/IMG_2375.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, my camera tells me that I looked more<br />
like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, finally, we muster up enough wherewithal to realize
that we have to go and find Dorothee. We
find her and she gives me a very strange look.
I tell her the news, and now she’s launching herself at us! I had managed to stay dry eyed til that
point, but as she got a little teary eyed, mine started too. Luckily we get it together and decide to do
just a very abbreviated museum circuit before heading upstairs to celebrate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sun has emerged and the whole world is bright. As we stroll past the pyramid, Shazzad runs
into a few of his classmates from the course in Amsterdam. We had seen them the day before at Notre
Dame. Who knew Paris could be so small.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8I9gOD018k/Uphturu-wAI/AAAAAAAAHio/o7IPenrqS8M/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8I9gOD018k/Uphturu-wAI/AAAAAAAAHio/o7IPenrqS8M/s320/IMG_2432.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers!</td></tr>
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A glass of champagne later, the day became a blur. In fact for the next few days, the dreamy
side of my brain seemed to be the boss; when I got emails from my colleagues
asking work-related questions, it took all I had not to write back, “Don’t you
know I just got engaged and can’t concentrate on these things?!” But I was hell bent on keeping it a surprise
that I would announce when I got back to Dhaka and could enjoy it in person.</div>
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Now I’m back! And
Shazzad’s finally back! So the news is
out and it feels great. The tradition in
Bangladesh is that when you have good news, you treat friends and colleagues to
“treats,” usually desserts. So that’s
the current task. Life is sweet!</div>
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More pictures from Paris <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110659118901833910829/albums/5951625866930623585?authkey=CPP5t7OkgN_6ogE">here</a>.</div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-40498744823350706122013-11-29T17:56:00.003+06:002013-11-29T17:56:55.785+06:00Thanksgiving in Dhaka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have always loved Thanksgiving. What's not to love? Food takes the center stage. The last few years, I've had a great time at the Thanksgiving party hosted by an American family with long ties to Bangladesh. But this last summer, they moved back to the states.<br />
Luckily, Amanda's friend who works for USAID had offered to host a dinner, and generously extended the invitation to Shazzad and me. US Government staff had the day off, so they were started at 4PM, but we said we'd be along a little later, once our workday was over. By 5:30, we were en route. We swung by the VERY upscale Uni-mart, which is definitely aspiring to be something like a fancy Sam's club or Target. It even has North End coffee shop in it! So we order a coffee while picking up starters to take with us. Clearly there are still some kinks in their inventory--we can find salsa but no tortilla chips.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFubkKCiF-aif0J8parWdk9PRZU-h-aaIghyFtCSl7VdaCAcdTWT8rG2Kn82kFg0VXBYwxQs2i5a4cBjVyrcgldnMO3faLI0spaWVUtqAsA6qHqOaBeSVWBnDTFzc6pn0uIm3QqA/s1600/WP_20131112_001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFubkKCiF-aif0J8parWdk9PRZU-h-aaIghyFtCSl7VdaCAcdTWT8rG2Kn82kFg0VXBYwxQs2i5a4cBjVyrcgldnMO3faLI0spaWVUtqAsA6qHqOaBeSVWBnDTFzc6pn0uIm3QqA/s320/WP_20131112_001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda at the North End, in Uni-mart.<br />
Dhaka's moving up!</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>Amanda's friend lives in a neighborhood called "Baridara DOHS". DOHS stands for something like Dept of Officer Housing Services, and many army and ex-army families live in the neighborhood. The three of us, plus two backpacks and handbag, plus the bag of snacks, plus my cup of coffee, pile into a rickshaw, and slowly make our way up there. When we get there, we find the street, but find the only house addresses are three digits, and hers is just one. I take a look at the email on Amanda's phone, and realize that we're suppose to go to Baridara, full stop. That's where most of the embassy staff live; it's very close to where most of the embassies are and considered one of the most secure neighborhoods in Dhaka. It's not that far away, but the fastest way involves hopping out of the rickshaw when we hit serious traffic, and then hopping through a pedestrain gate. Then walking for a bit until we find another rickshaw. We give him the WRONG street number, and promptly show up at a hotel. A bit confused, we double check and realize that we have made yet another mistake. A tip: never get out of your rickshaw until you confirm that you are where you want to be. A rickshaw in hand is better than a jackfruit, ya know?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPu17DwWU2I1yKCDpPbYQWFCcuO-Er1BPPP_Z5TyN77srp-DZAZ6ZpOYqQWMTwe7E5RqSIdXDdHxChGS3bDR-3T92MpETeVo0OjTTI-ePhnxPa-p_bcOGb_-EW5yRDLBE_zeJP7g/s1600/WP_20131112_002.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPu17DwWU2I1yKCDpPbYQWFCcuO-Er1BPPP_Z5TyN77srp-DZAZ6ZpOYqQWMTwe7E5RqSIdXDdHxChGS3bDR-3T92MpETeVo0OjTTI-ePhnxPa-p_bcOGb_-EW5yRDLBE_zeJP7g/s320/WP_20131112_002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are famished from the journey and dig in immediately!</td></tr>
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Finally, we arrive! Most folks have already finished and some are moaning in pain from overeating. Luckily there is still food left. A lot left. Mainy it's traditional options--turkey, cranberries, stuffing, even brussel sprouts (which I've never seen in Dhaka before)--with a few additions like some rocking guacamole--someone had hand carried avocadoes from the US. The pie selection is where I really get excited! Apple, pumpkin, and.....wait for it.....chocolate pecan!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NdFNC5R1XYA5rqFkhPenXyRUeoWA53jB1FWoqmGXdiQRkMKpMWsYR6M6q2bPj4MX8OmAWYInX-HtvtLvFClM8k7ZGCMUHp4bJ-QABNYXZIIhsGi7E10HdMY93rAqkDDvlXdnlQ/s1600/WP_20131112_004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NdFNC5R1XYA5rqFkhPenXyRUeoWA53jB1FWoqmGXdiQRkMKpMWsYR6M6q2bPj4MX8OmAWYInX-HtvtLvFClM8k7ZGCMUHp4bJ-QABNYXZIIhsGi7E10HdMY93rAqkDDvlXdnlQ/s320/WP_20131112_004.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My plate looked something like this.......</td></tr>
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Before long, I too was moaning in pain. At least I have 364 days to recover and prepare for the next go-around.<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30705480.post-79091362215900419642013-11-28T00:30:00.000+06:002013-11-28T00:30:01.605+06:00All that mumbo jumbo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mambo! Jambo! Or “Hello!” “Hi!” in Swahili. Seriously, it’s so simple that it’s
astonishing that "mumbo-jumbo" could somehow morph into a term for confusing jargon! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going (coco)nuts about Zanzibar.</td></tr>
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Dar es Salaam is an impressive place. It buzzes with activity. Yet there is a running joke about “no haraka” (hurry) in the city; when ordering lunch, expect it to take at least an hour to arrive. The beaches are spectacular. I steal some time to enjoy them—mainly at night when the crowd disperses and the breeze comes in. But I see the ghost crabs scurrying around, so I am a little wary of wandering too far.<br />
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There are so many references in development to the success
of Coca Cola in setting up universal supply chains. “If we can get coke to remote villages in
Africa, why can’t we get (fill in the blank—malaria meds, clean water,
etc.)??” I find it irritating and in
most cases, a false comparison point.
Plus, there are so many places in Bangladesh where you can’t find coke! Though perhaps you can find one of the more
dubious local beverages, like mojo or thums up (yes, I spelled that
correctly). But in Tanzania, coke was
everyone. I loved the billboards near
the Coke factory that said, “One billion reasons to believe in Africa’s
future.” (there are roughly a billion people in Africa). I thawed a bit on my annoyance with the Coca
cola references in development. And will postpone the launch of my #nocokehere campaign. For now.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best part of my job -- visiting our programs in<br />the field. At a preschool in Dar es Salaam.</td></tr>
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<o:p> </o:p>Most of my time in Tanzania I was hard at work, learning
about BRAC’s local programs and the “mobile money ecosystem” that East Africa
is so famous for. It’s a simple
idea—given that there are so many mobile phones in developing countries, while
the bank infrastructure lags behind (or is less than interested in serving
informal workers and small farmers), companies have been set up to allow people
to send money from phone to phone, and to save money on their phone (which is
usually safer than under the mattress).
A lot of countries have something similar to this, but in Tanzania and
Kenya, it’s taken off. Half of all
adults in Tanzania use mobile money—with numbers that high, all sorts of additional
services can leverage the new financial platform. While killing time at the airport, a friend
and I bought some electricity for the owner of a store. We learned we could also pay exam fees, buy
airtime for a pre-paid phone, donate money to a few charities, and potential
even pay off our microfinance loans.
Pretty amazing, if you think about the fact that these are people
without a bank account, without computers, and likely without access to the
internet and e-banking services that we’re so familiar with. But smart phones are coming! There’s a big advertisement for 4G as you
walk out of the Dar airport, next to another sign in Mandarin about
investments. Ah, the global world we
live in.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9rfcFlbwAY/UpMzXP-F-PI/AAAAAAAAHWc/UCqxuMq7580/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9rfcFlbwAY/UpMzXP-F-PI/AAAAAAAAHWc/UCqxuMq7580/s320/IMG_2186.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Zanzibar.</td></tr>
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I did sneak away one day to ferry over to Zanzibar. It gets enough hype as an island paradise and
it’s just a two hour journey. On the way
over there, I decide that I want to join us with some other folks to take
advantage of group pricing and herd safety.
I spend the ride eavesdropping on conversations to figure out who is the
most interesting/least annoying. I find
a pretty interesting group that just attended a conference on sustainable
cities and seems cool. A mixture of Europeans and Africans twenty somethings.
All in development, yet none of them had heard about BRAC! Luckily while heading out of the city into
the interior where we went to take a spice tour, we pass a BRAC office with the
typically big sign out front, so they have no choice to believe my claim that
we are “huge” and that “brac will blow their mind once they learn more about
it.” </div>
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From my two week stint, I have to say, I like the “no
haraka” lifestyle. People are friendly
and relatively polite. Mango is in
season, and I probably consume at least two a day (they have them on the
dessert buffet at lunch and dinner). We
drink instant coffee mixed directly into hot, whole milk. I forgot how good that tasted. It annoys me that I can’t speak Swahili; it’s
been a while since I needed a translator.
I’m impressed at the visibility of women, particularly Muslim women, in
comparison to Bangladesh. Our taxi in
Zanzibar pulled into a gas station and a woman in a hijab casually handles the
pump. Many of the teenage girls in our
groups are managing full fledge enterprises.
It’s inspiring to hear and see them in action.</div>
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There are many more <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110659118901833910829/albums/5950154187365454401?authkey=COKfpPnBlYaoOA">pictures</a>! Take a look! haraka, haraka!!</div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627245034717947977noreply@blogger.com1