Earthquakes, Food Poisoning & Mehendi (A typical week in Dhaka)

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Did any of these words manage to pique your interest? Well we certainly have had an interesting week here in Dhaka (is there such a thing as a normal week here?)! And before we fly off to Thailand for a week we thought we might leave you folks with something to chew on for a bit back at home.

We are finally starting to enjoy the feeling of settling into a routine here. The apartment is painted, our shipment is here, our couch has been ordered and things at work are running smoothly. We have even recently gained membership at the oasis that is the American Club here, and life is pretty good! Things (and our stomachs!)were just starting to calm down a bit when one mango-daiquiri night (courtesy of the American Club) later I came down with…food poisoning. Yep, I won the prize for being the first to successfully, and quite forcefully, wretch her little heart (or should I say, stomach?) out into the waste basket all day long. Luckily it didn’t last too long, and I was back to my old self in no time! (I had someone taking very good care of me!)

And, as if this weren’t enough commotion, the very same day Dhaka experienced a small earthquake (about a 4.4). It was very easy to miss because it only lasted a few seconds. However my sensitive little stomach felt it, quite distinctively, as the couch I was sitting on began to move. I said something to Jake along the lines of “I think the couch is shaking…Our whole apartment is moving…” And of course he found it very hard to believe me, in my dillusional/sickly state of mind! The only proof we had were the trembling lampshades, still moving after the quake had finished.

Anyway now things are back to (semi)normal again, and we are cruising back on our steady (and healthy) path once again. We are both very excited for Chiang Mai & Bangkok and to have a new change of scenery for a bit! ISD celebrated the last week of school with an Eid Carnival of booths selling Bangladeshi foods, handicrafts, bangles, saris & Eid cards, and even had a mehendi (henna) stand as well(I guess in the states this would have been the “face painting” stand?). Eid is the biggest holiday here, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and falls this year on October 2. We won’t be here to experience it, though, since we will be exploring the jungles, temples, and hot springs of Chaing Mai until October 3rd (which is probably a good thing seeing as it gets even crazier and busier here than normal). But back to the mehendi- what a beautiful tradition!!! I couldn’t resist taking a peek and was soon sitting in the chair having my left hand and forefinger painted, free-style (by one of the Moms in my class, actually) in gorgeous and elaborate designs. It only took her about 3 minutes to complete, then 40 minutes to dry, and then 2 hours to set, after which I could then wash off the dried coat to reveal the painted mehendi ink underneath. I absolutely love it! I think every woman should give it a try, you just feel so fancy with it on! It was a great experience! A very nice, pretty ending to an otherwise messy & shaky week!

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Comments

[Auntie Peg]

Gorgeous
Nice painting..you could do a hand commercial. Have fun on your trip...watch out for tigers! (and lion and bears, oh no!) Be safe!