Catching up
>> 14 Feb 2009
Hi folks
It seems like ages since we've done a proper posting, so I guess we've got some catching up to do.
Last time we wrote Nic had just come back from Rajshahi I think. Since then we've had a really good couple of weeks. At work we've both had a really hectic time. Nic's been organising a seminar with STOP THE TRAFFIK for a lot of organisations that are involved in anti-trafficking work in Bangladesh. I'm pleased to say that the seminar went really well; it was well attended and very beneficial from our percpective. And even more amazingly Nic has now learned how to Alt Tab between screens (new-found techno wizz!)
Andy's been kept busy doing a lot of graphic design work for the seminar and despite a lot of rushing around and last minute adjustments then end products look fab!
On 4th February (seems like ages ago now) our house helper invited us to her house in a slum near our office. So, we trotted off after work with our colleague, who also lives in the same slum. As we approached we walked down a cobbled street with open drains on each side and a few small shops. Running alongside this road was the slum houses, which are essentially small bamboo shacks with corregated tin roofs.
We were greeted by our house helper's youngest daughter running up to greet us with a beautiful big grin on her face. Not far behind her was our house helper with her other daughter and some friends. We were showed along a narrow alley to her house, which was one room which just about fitted a double bed in and a book shelf. There was also an upstairs, which her son slept in and which you had to climb a ladder to get to. The walls were very thin bamboo sheets, in fact they were so thin that every so often we could see 2 pairs of little eyes looking through from next door.
As we sat on the bed there were a group of our house helper's friends who were there and we got plied with biscuits, crisps, drink and this really tasty sweet rice Bangladeshi dish (yummm!)
After that we got taken to 2 other peoples' houses and we had to put off other invites. At each house we got given food and drink, which was amazing. We were deeply humbled be peoples' hospitality and generosity. Despite having so little the sense of community and family was amazing and their hospitality was overwhelming.
I'm not sure whether we've mentioned this but somehow over here the locals have decided that Andy bears a striking resemblence to Mr Bean (yes, Mr Bean is known and very popular here), so when we went to the slum this got round so that every house we visited referred to Andy as Mr Bean - they thought it was hilarious!
Anyway, we had a really nice time and were so grateful to be invited.
Then, the next thing to happen here was Andy's parents arrived on Thursday 6th February. They arrived safely, despite all the hussle and bustle and Dhaka airport and so far things have gone well.
A couple of days after they arrived we took them to our church home group, On of the attendees at the home group unfortunately has been quite unwell over the past couple of years, so has stuggled to find work. We commissioned him and his to make us a traditional Bangaldeshi woven stool, which was excellent, so we subsequently asked for a couple of waste paper baskets. Anyway, after home group he invited us to his house to see the progress of our waste paper baskets. This was quite an adventure - particularly for the new comers as we got taken down smaller, darker and narrower alley ways to a small slum area near our home group.
The baskets were excellent - we were so impressed with how skilled he and his wife were, particularly when they're working with such few resources. What a shame that they can't make an income from it. The local church members are trying to offer advice and support to help this couple and we are pitching in where we can.
Anyway, Andy's parents' blog explains in more detail what they have been up to but I guess the main thing that concerns us is that we took them on a trip up to Nilphamari. We made the 8hr train trip up there, stayed a night in the lovely Leprosy Mission Guest House and then visited our factory site and the local village during the day. We had a lovely time meeting the villagers and our team up there and I think we caused a bit of a stir (as you tend to do if you have white skin!), particularly when we were taken to a local market.
We were only in Nilphamari for a couple of days and then Andy and I have been in and out of the office since.
Today we went on a staff trip up the river on a boat. We stopped at a hindu temple and 200 yr old colonial building, which has kind of been left to rot, which is such a shame because it looks like it might have been quite an impressive building in it's day.
We also stopped at a place where people were weaving beautiful saris. The work was absolutely amazing. It was so inctricate that it would take 2 people up to 6 months to make one Sari. I even had a go at a bit of weaving and sat chatting to a happy couple who were married and working together at the loom - how wonderful!
What was a bit upsetting was when we learned that children as young as 9 would work at the place and I guess would work there for many long years after that. The conditions were relatively good but awful that children that young should be working there. I guess when it comes down to a choice of whether to eat or get an education eating comes first.
I think I've waffled on for long enough now.
Thank you to all of you who are keeping up with our blog; it means a lot to us to know that people are following it. We'll post some pics and videos up in the next few days, so keep an eye out for it.
Love Nic and Andy.
