Nepal Trek!!!!!!

Photobucket Album

Cambodia Pics II

Cambodia Pics I

Cambodia!!!!

I returned last Friday from nine days of adventure in Cambodia.  It only took us 24 hours to get to Cambodia from Chittagong.  We were able to spend a wonderful 18 hours in the Bangkok airport, which I can safely say, is the coldest effing airport in the world.  I'm glad I "borrowed" a blanket from the airplane, though, I am not sure how much warmer it really made me.  The worst part is you are sitting in this freezing airport and you know that on the other side of the glass its a pleasant 80 degrees.  Oh well, it was worth the sleepless night on a metal bench to get to Phnom Penh.  Katherine, Amy, and I immediately hopped on a bus to Siem Reap.  The view from the bus was amazing.  The countryside of Cambodia is lush and green.  I wanted to stop the bus all the time so that I could take pictures.  Instead I just continued to watch the cheesy karaoke video that was playing on the bus; Cambodians sure seem to love their karaoke.

 

Siem Reap is a nice town.  We spent the first day walking around, eating and, of course, doing a little light shopping, nothing too strenuous.  I liked shopping in the market there, because the shopkeepers were women and they were really friendly.  Our second day in Siem Reap we went to visit some of the Angkor temples.   If you ever have the opportunity to visit them.....DO IT.  They were so beautiful and, because it is low season, the number of tourists was minimal.  We spent the majority of the day at three temples, it was a little rough cause I didn't get much sleep the night before, but totally worth it.

The next stop on our adventure was Sihanoukville (spelling?), which is a beach town.  Not much happened there, mostly just eating and laying out at the beach.  It was beautiful, white sand, blue water, and yummy shakes.  I could have stayed forever, but due to a shortage of time I left Sihanoukville after two nights.

The last stop was Phnom Penh.  I spent my time in Phnom Penh being tourists.  I visited the national museum, the royal palace (sorta, i walked around the outside, but didn't want to pay to go in ) the killing fields and tuol sleng.  

I know this is a pretty short explanation of my trip....sorry.  I really could sum up my trip in one sentence:

Cambodia was a well-earned absolutely perfectly fantastical mix of culture, tourism, drinking and other shenanigans.  ; )

 

I'm off to bed I hope you enjoy my pics.

Costume Party and Tea Plantation Pics

Miss Me?

Phew, ok, apparently I am really bad at keeping up a blog.  Being a teacher is WAY more work than I originally thought.  Thats alright because I just finished my first term, well sorta.  I just have to give some finals and grades some stuff and then I am finished.  Thats right, I said I finished with my first term.  It is crazy to think that I have been in Bangladesh for almost four months.  INSANE.  In between lesson planning and teaching I was able to make it to a tea plantation a couple weeks ago.  The tea plantation we visited was so beautiful.  We also got to tour the factory where they process the tea.  I had no idea that there was so much involved in making tea.  I thought you just dried some leaves, stuck them in a bag and poof you had tea.  Oh no, it is much more complicated then that in case you were wondering, which I am sure you all were.  

Last weekend one of the clubs at school put on a talent show and a group of Sri Lankan students taught six teachers, myself included, a dance.  Honestly I am surprised the students didn't kick the teachers out of the group before the performance cause we were such goof offs at practice.  The roles were totally reversed and the teachers were making jokes and being distracting and the students had to keep us in line. The dance went well, I am trying to get my hands on a video of the dance so I can share my new talent with you.  I haven't been on stage in awhile, I was so nervous.  Surprising, since my job is to stand in front of people and talk.  I think the best part was the outfits the students picked out.  Temperature wise, I would compare it to being wrapped in saran wrap.  Talk about non-breathable fabric...holy crap and of course we had to switch the fans off during our dance because I am too tall and would have probably broken a hand.  

Yesterday, I went to a rock show in Chittagong.  For the most part it was high schoolers doing covers of Creed and Metallica.  I found the the covers of Creed extremely amusing since Creed is a Christian band and the concert was at Muslim hall, but I am just a dork like that.  Anywho, we went to see a friend's friend's band.  They were actually pretty good and played music that they had written.  I was really excited cause I could understand some of the words, well, I understood two Bangla words, but I am learning.  I am bound and determined to learn Bangla before I finish here.  I would feel like such a loser if I didn't learn Bangla after being here for a year and a half.

This is getting long and I am sure quite boring.  Mostly I am just looking forward to my trip to Cambodia in 5 days.  WOOHOO!!!  I am sooo very excited.  I don't really have a plan once I get there, but it doesn't matter.

Hopefully I will get some pictures of the last month posted soon, just as soon as I remember what my password is for photobucket (oops), so keep checking.  BYE.

May Day Vacay

From awhile ago

So I actually wrote this three weeks ago and I am finally posting it:  Surprise!  I am still alive.  I'm sure everyone was beginning to wonder, I know I was.  I have finally been able to dig my way out of the avalanche of books and homework that has kept me holed up in the building the past couple weeks.  Phew... feels good to breath.  I even managed to take a day trip and two day vacay out of the city.

Last week the group had an opportunity to take a day trip to Rangamati.  Rangamati is one of the three areas that makes up the Hill Tracts.  Originally, the hill tracts were populated by a number of different tribes, but today it is a mix of Bangladeshis and tribal people.  The mixing of the tribal cultures and the Bangladeshi culture has led to some trouble and as a result we had three police escorts, carrying big guns, on our boat trip around Kapatai Lake.  The tribal people of the hill tracts look much different from your typical b-deshi.  Their facial features and skin tone are similar to people in southeast Asia; some even look filipino.  A friend informed us that some of the tribes are matriarchal and sometimes at night the men in the villages will dress up with flowers in their hair and dance for the women.  Now, I don't know if it's true, but I love it none the less.

We took a boat ride around Kapatai Lake which was beautiful and stopped on an island made up of a restaurant and some guest houses.  We ordered lunch at the restaurant and then had to hang out while the food was being cooked.  Some people went swimming in the lake, but I, along with Nancy, Amy and Mahmuda, found some tables in an open air hut and took naps.  After an hour so I was woken from my glorious nap and told that lunch was ready.  The restaurant is named Peda Ting Ting which means stomach full full, and it's not false advertising.  The food was some of the best I have had since arriving in Bangladesh.  We had this chicken for lunch that is cooked inside of bamboo shoots.  Holy Poop, it was delicious.  I even liked the fish and I don't like fish.  Sooooo good.  Of course the highlight of my day would be the food.  After that we cruised around the lake did a little shopping in town and headed back to Chittagong.

For May day weekend we escaped to a guest house outside of the city.  The guest house was located on the compound of a mission hospital and it was so calm and peaceful.  It was fantastic.  I spent the weekend eating, sleeping, and swimming.  Couldn't have asked for more.

Rangamati

What I have been up to lately

Happy New Year

I should quit waiting so long in between my blogs, because by the time I go to write one I have so much to tell and don't know where to start.  Since school started I have mostly been focused on lesson planning.  I have a new found respect for all teachers; I had no idea how much work went into planning just one lesson.  I give all teachers major props.  It is a good thing that I love my students so much, or I would really be miserable.  My students are all so wonderful, I want to teach them everything.  They make me so motivated, because I want every lesson to be perfect.  All the students are so sweet and respectful.  They are such beautiful people.  

Ok, I will stop gushing about all my students, and making all the other teachers out there jealous.  Instead I will tell you about the school fair I went to on Saturday.  Well, mostly I will tell you about sugar cane juice and "ring the duck".  I tried sugar can juice for the first time.  At first, when I got my glass, I was skeptical.  It is the color of ditch water and I don't remember it having a scent.  In all actuality it is quite good.  I think it tastes like sweetness and fresh grass.  Now I am sure you are all curious about ring the duck.  So at the fair they had booths set up with different games to play; just like any other fair.  Amy told me to check out the ring the duck game so, of course, I go have a looksee.  I walk up and there is a pen with about 5 live ducks huddled in the corner and a man throwing a wooden ring at them.  You were supposed to ring a live duck.  Where is PETA when you need them :)   

Today started as any normal school day does.  I barely got out of bed in time to forgo a shower and make myself some toast and coffee before I hurried downstairs to teach my first class.  Things went relatively well, except one of my students was having some trouble coping with being away from home.  It was so difficult, because I knew she had sooo much to say, but she just didn't have the English.  It broke my heart not being able to comfort her the way I wanted too.  That, combined with a lack of sleep and too much lesson planning, made me quite cranky by the end of the school day.  After moping around for a couple hours I went on a cleaning rampage (crazy...I know).  I cleaned my bedroom, cleaned the bathroom, swept and mopped the floors, and then proceeded to shower.  All so totally out of character, must be in stage two of culture shock.  Anywho, I was feeling much better after my cleaning spree when Katherine came home and told me that there was a dance party; "like spring break minus the guys".  Of course if there is dancing I am so there, so Amy and I ventured down stairs.  We were met with a swarm of students pulling us into the cafeteria where even more girls were dancing.  It was so incredibly hot.  I don't know if I have ever been that hot.  All the windows were open and the fans were on, but I couldn't tell.  It didn't matter because the students were having soooo much fun.  It was crazy.  We danced with the students for two hours and right before midnight we were herded into another room that contained a table covered with flower petals and lots of balloons.  At midnight the students started popping the balloons, which were full of glitter, and throwing petals all over the place.  I so cannot do the moment justice with my words.  There was singing and glitter and flower petals, it was amazing.  I will say, Bangladeshis know how to bring the new year in right.  LOVED IT!!!!

I do believe the excitement, from the nights festivities, is wearing off and I am getting sleepy.  Please excuse any grammatical errors.  I was so excited I just wanted to write and get it all out there.  Bye until next time.

 

Busy Bee

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have updated.  School finally started and I have been so busy.  My students are wonderful and so I want to spend all my free time lesson planning.  I promise there will be an update soon.  Keep checking.  Bye.

Still Alive

Hello everyone it has been awhile, sadly not because I have been off on an adventure.  Mostly just being extremely ill and becoming very intimate with the toilet and my bed.  Since I have been sick I have had a lot of free time to do nothing, I devised an informative list of things I've learned about Bangladesh, because I am sure you are all planning to visit me :).

1.  The power WILL go out at least once a day, but usually more often

2.  There is not always a logical explanation, for example, why would the landlord by locks from China if he cannot get the keys made in Bangladesh. I don't know

3.  People do not run across the street even if they are about to be hit by a bus, but I do.

4.  I will stick out no matter how hard I try to blend in.

5.  You will probably want to take half the children you see home with you, because they are adorable.

6.  English signs are never quite right.

7.  The bugs are big and very fast.

8.  You will get eaten by mosquitos no matter how much bug spray you wear.

9.  Bangla accent + English speaking = Banglish (very hard to understand)

10. Scarves are for covering boobies, not for looking good.

11.  Nobody wears shorts even if it is really hot out. :(

12.  You will forget that you are wearing boxers when you put the garbage outside of the apartment and will have to be reminded by your roomie, because the old man is staring at your knees.

13.  "Everything in Bangladesh is broken"- direct quote from someone we met here in Bangladesh, but our washing machine is proving it true.

Thats all for now.  Hopefully next blog will be a little more exciting.  Bye.

Tomorrow

I can't not believe that the students are going to start arriving.  It hasn't set in yet that all of this is real; I am living in Bangladesh and I am going to be a teacher.  It's complete and utter madness.  That said, I am really excited to get started, or maybe I am just excited to be done with orientation.  Either way I am excited and nervous.

  Last night we went to a surprise birthday party for the founder of the AUW.  It was really exciting to meet the person who had the insight to set into motion a project of this magnitude.  It makes you realize it is real people who make a difference, not some obscure entity that you only read about in the paper.  It was also nice to partake in the consumption of  bbq chicken and hotdogs and even, gasp, a beer.  

On a more serious note; cockroaches have been spotted in the building.  None have dared to enter our apartment, but I will keep everyone posted, because I know you are all as concerned as I am about the situation. 

Yay More Pictures!!!

Unknown Village

Today we had a break from the monotony of sessions.  Our group spent the morning walking through a village outside Chittagong.  However, I can not tell you the name of the village, because none of us remembered to ask.  Anywho... This was the first opportunity we have had to get out of Chittagong proper, and see how people live in less populated areas.  We walked down the main street, peering into the shops that decided to be open on a Monday.  At first a few of the villagers walked behind us out of curiosity, but the farther we walked the more people started to join our caravan.  By the time we reached the end of our walk there were about 45 people, mostly children, swarming around us.  Anytime I tried to take a picture ten children would try to jump in front of my camera.  I was amazed at how many children weren't in school.  It was rather disheartening.  We stopped to visit one of the village schools, which consisted of three corrugated tin building buildings.  Two of the buildings housed classrooms and the other looked to be a kitchen.  The woman taking us on our tour insisted that all the school children come out to the yard so that we could sing them a song.  The night before we had decided the Hokey Pokey would be fun to perform, and so we did.  The students just stared.  They could care less; they must have thought we were crazy.  Most didn't even want to try when we tried to it with them.  Apparently, the Hokey Pokey is not so big in Bangladesh.

We also got to visit a play building that our guide had built for the children of the village.  The building was three stories and included a library, computer lab, and playground.  They provide different classes for the children free of charge. One NGO even holds a school there in the morning.  It was amazing to see what this woman had given to the children of the community and how it inspired other people to give.  She told us of the many people who give their time and money to help sustain the heart.  It is encouraging to see projects that are well run and successful in a country that has its fair share of corruption and failures.  I am very excited with the idea of my students being able to do projects with the village children. 

Quick Update....Holy Shit

I just killed the biggest spider I have ever seen in my entire life.  I would have taken pictures if I hadn't been concentrating so hard on not urinating myself in fear.  It was easily the size of my palm, and I have eye witnesses for all you non-believers out there.  My heart is still beating 90mph.  The gianormous spider followed me into my room, it was so close to me I could have touched it.   I'm scared to sleep alone at night.  Tomorrow I am buying bug spray.  Good Night.  

This week was ugly

I planned on writing a long blog, but I figured a picture is worth a thousand words.  (Many sessions+Bangla lessons+writing assessment test+confusing grammar lesson) X (not enough sleep) = above picture

Second Picture Installment

Beggar Children

Today a few of us decided to spread our wings and walk from our new location to the grocery store.  We maneuvered through traffic with surprising success and I was feeling fairly confident about my new found independence when a six year old boy spotted our group and came up to beg.  Now, I have experienced beggars, some are very persistent, but I have never experienced anything like this.  I tried to be firm and say no, but the child kept pulling on my arm.  All the while more children spotted us and came up to us.  After a few minutes we have a swarm of six or seven children putting their hands in our faces, pulling on us, and touching our feet.  People on the street saw what was happening and would tell the children to leave us alone, but to no avail.  They did not stop until we entered the grocery store and they couldn't follow us.  It was so overwhelming and I think we all were a bit shook up from the experience.  It is so difficult because there is not right thing to do in a situation like that.  My only hope is, that next time, I will know exactly where I am going and not be so overwhelmed.  I do not think that it will ever get easier for me to see children begging.  I thought my heart was going to break.  I wanted to give them all my money, but what would it really solve?

...And The Story Continues

I don't know why I wait so long between each blog, because then there is so much to write about that I don't know where to start.  On Thursday night we had a small adventure.  We had tickets to attend a local high school musical.  We left the guest house around 6:20 and went directly to the schoool, but we found out the the production was somewhere else.  We then drove to another building.  I walked into an auditorium of Bangladeshis, and there were people on the stage talking in Bangla.  People in the back were staring at us like "who the hell invited them?".  We were totally at the wrong place.  Luckily we found the correct auditorium just in time.

Yesterday was great, because I had my first day off since arriving.  I was able to sit around all morning.  In the afternoon we went on an outing to the Chittagong Club.  The one place in town that serves alcohol.  Nicole and I were able to enjoy a birthday beer, and let me tell you, beer has never tasted so good.  After lunch we went to a couple different markets to do some shopping and then returned home exhausted.

Today we went to look at rickshaw art with a local art teacher.   The colors on the rickshaws are so bright.  All the artwork is done by hand.  The guys can sew so fast its amazing.  I was totally in awe.  If it was me would totally stitch my finger to the plastic.  We were all standing in a group looking into a shop and listening to the teacher when I look behind me.  There must have been at least 15 men congregating around us just watching.  The teacher had to try to shoo them away and once they were gone more just kept coming to replace them.  It was hilarious.  One guy took a picture of us with his camera phone.

  I am very pleased to state that although my presence always draws attention, I never feel unsafe in the city.  No one seems threatening.  They just look because they are curious and I feel as if most are too scared to approach us.  I feel so much safer than I thought I would and I hope it stays that way.

  Well off to another session.   

Family Coaster

Just in case you wanted to experience the family coaster first hand Amy posted a video of our wild ride on youtube.com

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rzDWquWGs8

Enjoy

My Address

So if you would like to send me a letter or even better a care package my address is:

Augustina Delaney

C/O Omar Shareef

Asian University for Women

House No.7, Road No. 2

Khulshi Hills, Chittagong

Bangladesh

If you write me I will write you.

First Picture Installment

Thus far.....

It has only been a couple days, but I still feel like I have so much to write about.  Weird, maybe thats cause I am in a totally new country.  Hmmm... where to start?  I guess with the city.  Chittagong is big and crowded.  The air pollution is insane.  My poor pink Montana lungs are slowly getting acclimated, but sometimes I sound like I have been smoking since I came out of the womb.  I always think my pictures are blurry, but really its just smog.  There are almost no westerners in the city so our group of 11 is quite the spectacle.  Every time you turn around there are 5 sets of eyes staring back at you.  People have even asked if they can take pictures of us or with us.  As soon as the car pulls up people are knocking on the windows, and putting their hands in your face asking for money.  It is difficult to ignore.  

On the lighter side, we have started to go out into the city more.  There isn't a lot for us to do entertainment wise.  We did go to the local amusement park, Foy's Lake.  The amusement park consisted of an old ferris wheel, two water slides, a caterpillar roller coaster, some swings, and a stagnant man-made pond.  The actual lake was on the other side of the amusement park and was quite beautiful.  Amy was feeling adventurous so we decided to splurge and ride the caterpillar coaster for 4o taka (about 50 cents).  The "family coaster" is similar to the kids coasters at the fair.  It was great, because we were definitely not the oldest people on the ride.  I have never seen adults genuinely having fun on a kids ride before.  It was awesome... so worth the money.

Yesterday was shopping day.  We went to a couple places before taking a break at Sugar Bun/Baskin Robbins.  I order a milkshake, and that is exactly what I got.  Milk blended with ice and I think there may have been a little bit of ice cream in the mixture also, but its hard to say....yummy.  The afternoon was the best, because we were able to buy fabric for our shalwar-kamiz (the local outfit).  I was really excited till I got to the shop and saw all the different colors and fabrics and prints.  I'm so indecisive.  It took forever to pick out what I wanted.  I was so relieved when I was done, until today when the tailor came and I had so many more choices to make.  What neckline do I want, how long do I want my kamiz, how fitted, do I want ribbon, do I want embroidery, how do I want my pants shaped, how long do I want my sleeves and on, and on, and on.   I can't believe how patient the tailor was with all the girls trying to decide what they wanted.  If I was him I would have ran the other direction.  I can't wait until my shalwar-kamizes are done.  Although, I am a little worried that they will be ugly and not what I thought I was asking for. 

Phew I think I am done for now.  Byee

I have arrived

After packing and repacking, an eighteen hour plane ride, a seven hour layover in Bangkok, a two hour plane ride, and a 5o min drive I have finally arrived.... well sorta.  We are currently staying at a guest house in Chittagong until our permanent residence is finished.  Its crazy, I can't believe that I am actually here.  

So far all I have seen of Chittagong has been on the drive from the airport here.  There are a lot of people.  Traffic is insane.  I can't believe that the city can run.  All I saw was one traffic light and no one even heeded it.  Somehow it works, because I didn't see a single accident.  I did however notice that most of the buses were pretty scraped up on the sides.  Hmmm...I wonder why that is?  

I met a couple of the people involved with the development and implementation of the Asian University for Women and I am now more motivated then before.  The women are coming from Pakistan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and one from Myanmar.

Ok, I have to go brush my teeth.  I promise there will be more later.