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Published: September 23rd 2006
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Following an unfortunate incident involving suspect chicken, I spent the night filling snap lock bags with vomit and placing them nicely in the bathroom. After being up the whole night, the chairman and my maid came to greet me and I was able to find in my phrase book 'I am sick' 'I have been vomiting'. Much concern was shown, yet my 4 course breakfast was still presented, despite the 'take it away or I will throw up on you all!' protests. Lunch same again (these people never stop eating) and after dinner which is served at 9pm (which is especially early in Bangladesh) and having rice pushed in my face I finally cracked and threw up some more, but I HAVE NO BUCKET! And I'd used up all my snap lock bags (Ah the things you appreciate). But you will be pleased to know I have bought a bucket! A great investment indeed!
In Bangladesh there is no place for rubbish, so it piles up every where and my bin is my window. I can't quite bring myself to throw things out the window into the street where I will walk the next day (those anti-littering campaigns have conditioned me)
Child in street
Street children sell lollies and popcorn to make money. Is yum. 10 Taka but then children and very poor people pick through the rubbish and salvage what they can. So some small child has found my snap locks, filled with 'goodness' and thought they'd found gold (plastic is banned in this country, so money can be made).
Since then I've been well. I've taken to hiding my food. (Seriously there is only so much chicken and rice one person can eat, I'm averaging 5-6 cups of rice a day) There's kids downstairs I could give food to, but they'd blow my cover!
My maid has disappeared. And no one can tell me where! The women who can't speak English try to tell me and can't and the men who can speak English won't... I will continue the investigations.
On the work front, my project is in action.. well things don't happen that quickly, but I am doing something! A needs assessment on women garment and factory workers knowledge on HIV/AIDS. I've written a questionairre and we go to the slums in their lunch break (1-2pm) and even though they work a 72hr fortnight and have very little spare time they all very willingly line up and are happy to spend the
Orphanage
Children are abandoned or lost (such a big city it happens!) the home provides education, health care, fun, sport, they even have a junior national gymnastic champion! whole hour waiting to talk to me. I on the other hand am trying not to yell at the 'interpreter' (loosest possible sense of the word) who will give the answers to the women or laugh at them and their answers or will say what I know they have not said. When I explain he says 'Yes yes I understand' when he clearly does not. The organisation is also making a documentary of the project. A little inappropriate to film women (especially Bangla women who talk to no one about sexual/reproductive health) talking about what contraception they use. So far it consists of me looking really pissed off and fighting with the interpreter.
Speaking of fame, Cam stared in a telemovie for Ead (religious festival after Ramadam)! It's a big variety show with dancers and acts and a Bangladesh version of Darrel Sommers! It was a huge event and we are going to be on tv. I say we because 5 bedshis (foreigners) sitting in the audience was almost as big an attraction! They took close ups of us and everything. Unfortunately at the time I was eating with my left hand and so possibly will disgust the whole
Suchi arriving
The kids were VERY excited. nation.
Tomorrow Ramadam starts. A whole month of fasting during day light and self-confessed feasting in the evenings. People are not meant to swallow their spit or drink water during daylight either. Bangla men love to spit and I wake up in the mornings to some old man hocking his guts up (makes you retch at the sound) so looking forward to more spitting! But I do not have to get up at 3am for breakkie and I can still eat during the day. Phewph. And good news!! I found a shop that sells chocolate!!!! AUSTRALIAN CHOCOLATE! Everything will be okay!
For you 6B girls,
I was invited to an orphanage yesterday to meet an ex 26wk 700g baby left on the doorsteps of a local hospital who was being discharged to the orphanage that day 4 months old (not corrected) and 3kg! They named her Suchi meaning 'sacred'. She was never ventilated and only ever had head box O2 and was in an incubator. Tough little kid!
The other children were so excited to have her arrive, it was really lovely.
Other Bangla highlights
The zoo has guinea pigs, in cages! Watch out!
Bangla
Cameron backstage
Introduced as a famous Australian actor, even Nic, his wife, couldn't convince the Bangla guy next to us he's actually an engineer. words I think you'll remember:
Tunki Tunki: Making out under a tree.
Near Death Orna Experience Count:
1x flaming orna. Leaning over candle during yet another blackout...
I hope you are all well! Anyone had babies yet?
Heard the Eagles won (thanks Leithl!) YAY!!!
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Colin
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A night to remember!
Oh, Carol... what a night you had! So many plastic bags of memories! Hope your haven't had too many of those type experiences! Beautiful photos so keep them coming! We miss you at small group - they all send their love!