Weird Work

So I've realised that I haven't written very much about work. I've been approaching it as so similar to work at home, that I haven't been noting those strange occurrences that I've noticed since being here. My time at the Asia Foundation is over half over and a meeting today really made me think about it. It was a meeting with the US Ambassador to Bangladesh and two men from USAID. The meeting was concerning the Leaders of Influence program, so there were 8 Imams there in their little hats (kufi's). I was the only woman in the room and just had a moment sitting across from these 8 men. It was just kind of surreal, when at home would that happen? What was fantastic was the energy that these Imams have for influencing their communities in a positive way - to facilitate dialogue with NGOs, to dispel misconceptions, to emphasize the importance of governance, rights and women's empowerment. It was one of those moment that you can see hope. Bangladesh is in this fantastic position of being majority muslim, but living in harmony with other religious groups and allowing their values to grow and progress. (I am being all young and idealistic)

Ok, my other little blurb that I got from a meeting with the Election Working Group yesterday (it was a very frustrating meeting) - this is not a culture of getting things done, it is a culture of let's have a cup of cha. This is totally true as every meeting seems to go in circles and is so freaking repetitive. I also have to laugh at people's manners over here (answering mobiles whenever, taking pictures with you mobile during a meeting, interrupting, burping). 

Anyways, really the thing is there is so much possibility in this country in so many things, someone just needs to facilitate the communication to get the ball rolling (although, that probably won't be me).

Get me out of Dhaka - thanks.

(That is Elham, our resident Bangadeshi child who teaches me the name of animals in Bangla) So I had a frustrating week at work, culminating in not getting to go on a trip to the Southern Region of Chittagong for a Buddhist Monk training session with the Leaders of Influence Program. I've been pretty bitter and probably not all that pleasant to deal with. John took off on the trip this morning. I ended up going with Russell (one of our colleagues), his wife and their friends on a boat trip north of Dhaka. It was amazing how in a very short distance, life is so different, and somewhat more pleasant. We got on the boat which is owned by a number of ex-pats. There were cushions and such on the floor and it was just a lovely relaxing trip up the river. Anne (Russell's wife) brought some great food including quiche, lovely cheese, French bread and some fantastic brownies. Wine and beer for all. It was pretty fantastic and may have eased my bitterness a bit. (Although the weather was getting a little threatening, but turned out fine)It also helped when John sent a text to say that the whole bloody country looks exactly the same (7 hours from Dhaka). But the best part of today may have been wearing shorts and a tank top in public for numerous hours. Nice. Anyways, I am chilling tonight, watching some of the movies I have picked up for 120 taka (2 dollars) - oh piracy. They are perfect quality, but it gives me something to do. Anyways, I will speak to you all soon. 

Oh, Jaylyn, Karbati maybe the stupidest national sport ever. It is a mix of red rover and tag while yelling karbati, karbati, karbati. Unfortunately I haven't seen anyone playing it, but if I did I would ask to join in just to say I had played. 

The British have the best parties

So, another week at work and such. The City Corporation elections have been set for August 4. I was hoping for a little earlier making a trip to Nepal easier, but who knows. Anyways, Thursday night we had a work dinner. We headed to the Baton Rouge for a buffet (a little dicey to have a buffet in Bangladesh in my opinion). Anyways, it was a retirement dinner for a former employee who had been with TAF for 21 years. I hadn't met him until that night, but whatever. So it was a decent dinner and fun to get to chat with everyone. Remembered to bring my camera, so I got pictures of a few people, but here is one of Sukla and I. She was the first person I met at the office and is pretty wonderful in helping John and I out, especially when it comes to rickshaw prices and Bangla words. (John cut off a bit of my head) Yesterday was a pretty lazy day. I hung out at the pool for awhile and just about finished another book. Last evening, John and I headed over to Andy's flat. He is the head of British Security in Bangladesh. He's a ton of fun and always has a full beer fridge. After a drink there, we headed over to the second British club (the Bagha Club) for their Summer Solstice party. We met Derrick there (who I had met at the Casino night - he taught me to play Black Jack). It was a great night of drinks and dancing. I have to say, watching a collection of people from all over the world dance is one of the most entertaining things ever. There was one guy who danced like a penguin, another woman who was out of control (almost like the mom jeans lady). They were just pretty funny. Then there was the Bangladeshi movie star. He was on the hunt for a western girl, it was between Sarah from the UK and I, neither of whom had much interest in the guy, but he tried, oh did he try. He asked me where I was from - Canada - where in Canada - Alberta - Oh, I've been to New York - Umm, ok (awkward moment as I tried to decide whether a) he thought NY was part of Canada b) he thought Canada was part of the States or c) he was just stupid). Anyways, Derrick and Andy did there jobs and protected Sarah and I. Our rickshaw ride home was amusing as Andy, John and I shared one back. Now, John and I always complain that we barely fit in one, so I'm not sure how great of an idea it was to have 3 of us. It was late though, so we didn't really need to worry about traffic. 

Today was also good. The four of us met up at the other British Club for brunch. I hung out with Derrick at the pool while John and Andy went to the German butcher for good food choices. It was a beautiful day finally with nice sunshine and I have to say the British Club is way better than the Canadian Club - there are actually people there. Anyways, I am now taking it easy as we have a busy week of meetings now that we actually know when the elections are going to be held. Hope you all have a great weekend. 

Feeling Re-energized!

Ok, so today I have totally been re-energized and am ready to do this election thing again. Somehow, I had become very skeptical in the last month. And because of that, kinda losing interest in why I'm here. But today, we had a meeting with a representative from Britain (Michael Meadowcroft). He totally made me excited about it all again. He was an MP in the UK for a number of years and now runs the Electoral Reform Society. Anyways, just what he was talking about and the questions he had about our program were really interesting and got me thinking again. The thing I think that was most important in what he said is that elections are the result of democracy, not the cause. Something all of us back home should maybe think a little more about, how it's the activities that go on between elections and our civic engagement that allow elections to be of the importance that they are. Anyways, I thought I would let you all know that I am being positive again and excited again about my work. Oh, and tomorrow the Bangladesh Electoral Committee is supposed to be announcing when City Corporation Elections are to be held. Really hoping that it happens the last week of July, then I will be here for them, and still be able to head to Nepal for the first week of August before going to Beijing. 

Oh, other happiness - Russell, one of the guys we work with, had us over for dinner two nights ago. We had real North American cheese burgers and apple pie and ice cream for dessert - I was happy. Speak to you soon!

A little more Dhaka...

So yesterday at work we convinced Bulbul, who works in accounting, to take us on another tour of Dhaka today. We told him where we had been, and he planned a route for us and would be our tour guide. So after picking Bulbul up at his house, we headed off to the National Assembly. Unfortunately we couldn't get very close. Apparently the building is pretty much shut down because there are no elected officials (thanks to the lack of elections). So we could only get in front of the grounds and into the park dedicated to Zia, the second president of Bangladesh. 

We then headed over to Dhaka University to take a look at a bunch of monuments (to the language movement, the student movement and the national martyrs). 

We also stopped at the science faculty which has a beautiful building that was named for the British Viscount who had been in charge of all of the sub-continent (can't remember his name though). 

Lunch at a really strange Thai restaurant names Voot, which means ghost, but it was good. 

We then headed back to Old Dhaka to see a few things that we had missed the first time through. Went to the main Hindu temple (weird shrine) and then to Lalbagh Fort (another important pink building). The fort was pretty cool as it is pretty much a park for locals, beautiful grounds to escape the rickshaws, and kids are playing, people are picnicing, and generally a nice place. 

So yeah, that was about it. Had dinner at our favourite pizza place around the corner and watching some of the Euro Cup now. 

Things I learned today 1) having a yellow license plate in Bangladesh signals foreigner and means you get to do whatever you want and people won't question it. 2) Being a foreigner means you are subject to price discrimination, both when it comes to bargaining as well as more blatantly (foreigners pay 100 taka to get into Fort Lalbagh, locals pay 10 taka). 3) Bangladesh politics is really messed up (this has been coming all along but was even more obvious today). The first president was assassinated by the army, along with most of his family. One daughter survived, went on to become PM and is now in jail on corruption charges (actually, she was just granted leave to Canada to seek medical treatment - we don't want her). The second president was also assassinated by the army, his wife went on to become PM and is now in jail on corruption charges (she has been offered leave to the US to seek medical treatment). See a pattern here? Apparently the first two guys were wonderful and not corrupt and believed in Bangladesh, their families not so much. 

Anyways, those are my lessons for today.