Namaste from Pokhara in Nepal, I’m not sure I can articulate what my expectations of Nepal were prior to coming here, but there’s absolutely not a skerrick of doubt they were different from the reality. I think I had images of dry, steep, rocky, sparsely populated mountains; wrong on every count. …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Both Matt and I were new to the school. As we were scanning the programmes for Grade 10 in the week before school began we came across a reference to a field trip destination: Tioman Island. “Perhaps it’s an island in the Buriganga River, “opined Matt. “Yes, probably …Read More
Shuvo shokal from colourful Dhaka, Special Foodie Edition It’s been no surprise to either of us to discover the fact that Bangladeshis take their food seriously. Shortages of said substances usually do wonders in galvanising the thoughts on the subject, eh what? But, most people here are not starving. Not even the stray …Read More
शुभकामना from Delhi, We are just back from our much-anticipated trip to India for a spot of professional development (as well as some sightseeing). Comparisons with life in Bangladesh are inevitable. India has more of almost everything: more traffic, more squalor, more of a discernible middle class, more worldly confidence and, insanely, more …Read More
Shuvo shokal from the Tropic of Cancer, What happens when three blokes are cleaning the tiles on a wall and someone introduces a sandblaster? What happens when six blokes are tending a field in a rural zone and someone introduces a tractor? And, what happens when four blokes are pushing mowers across …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, It took a boat trip on the river to convince us that the waterways are the major thoroughfares in this country. The surface road there was a dirt track barely capable of taking the traffic. (Apparently it shows as an expressway on maps of the country! Some cartographer’s joke, …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Quote of the Week (from Taaseen in Grade 12 Business, when I asked him about the discrepancy between his oral contributions and his written responses on the topic of Methods of Production): “I’ve always been more interested in mergers and acquisitions.” Taaseen is a local Bangladeshi, from the …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Under normal circumstances, both Linda and I are disdainful of the shopping experience; anti-shoppers to be sure. But these are clearly not normal circumstances. The shopping experience here is such an enjoyable one, we are finding ourselves unaccountably and unexpectedly seeking out opportunities to buy things. …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Bangladesh is certainly proving to be a multi-dimensional experience for us. Whilst the work has us in a kind of cocoon, we are sufficiently intrepid to make some reliable observations, even if they are somewhat based on limited perspectives thus far. measures of development Bangladesh …Read More
Shuvo shokal from Dhaka, Bob Newhart knew how to hit the nail on the head. I love his skit in which he tells the story of the nightwatchman’s first night on the job. He says, as a general observation, no matter how thorough the training, the first problem one encounters on the …Read More