KolKota

I took a night long bus ride out I came to Kolkota, a place we hear a lot about. I pass through the long lines of check in and check out, changing bus at the border. I am able to move around the Kolkota on my own, I am able to speak the written bangla very well hear, Iam understood well hear, and Iam able to move free here. I went shopping on my own, not being asked a single question. Iam so happy that I came and that I am renewed too. I am not say that the poverty here in not worse than Bangladesh, but there is a greater difference here. They mind they own business (the beggars)...this is something I didnt see in Bangladesh. I have visited several places and its so amazing to see great pillars that hold houses that were build some hundred years ago...Its amazing. I will put out the pics later. It is a city of buzzling with noises and I should say that you will hear it all through out the day and night. But there is no chaos about it. I am ready to leave tomorrow for Bangladesh and hoping that I will come back again. I saw a baby with another baby lying down right beside the dump, the very little one was crying, screaming its head off, no one could hear her, it was bright day light...and as I continue mt walk I was thinking the mom must be out there some where looking for food....I lots of stuff but I cant share them.. its just too much...So Ill leave it here and put the pictures out later.

Eid 9th and 10th

So Tomorrow is Eid day. I am running away from the killings/sacrifice. I know I should stay for my first Eid celebration of witnessing the slaughter but I have to go because I just needed to get out of here for a while. So preparation for Eid started three days ago when bucks and bulls on the road. Every street I passed, men with one to three of the mentioned animals walking not giving you way if you are driving so you have to honked from far to warned them of your coming.

So, last night I traveled from Bogra to Dhaka and it took 7 hours...it was one of the longest bus ride ever from Bogra to Dhaka. This is totally because of Eid, there is no other explanation what so ever for the lateness. So today I walked around little and have seen bucks, bucks, bucks and bulls, bulls, bulls...here, there is no restriction of animal in a city, so it just looked like the farm except that the places are surrounded by tall buildings. So most of these animals will give their lives away for the name of Eid.. which I will not see it. Sorry to say but not pics because my camera battery is weak or rather I need to buy new batteries. So the sacrifice will take place only when the Imams will announce the sacrifice only when the lunar cycle is confirm right that is why also two dates picked, because don't know when will it happen. However, the celebration continues for at least threes.

Litte Accident

Well, I have not told some of you that I had an accident last week. I am totally fine and traveling to Kolkota. Anywhere the reason I am sharing this which I didnt want to sharing is because, this accident had opened my eyes. First of all, women are not threatened but having false statu statements about them being well respected when they are at home or not riding a motorcycle or are they that poor to be out on the streets riding motorcycle which they were told. So back to my accident that occured a week a go. It wasnt my fault, but I was left alone on the road. The road was quite frankly full of men no one came for my help. So I got up and lift my motorcycle and started it. How amazing ha...I was happy that I was ok, and that I was able to ride it back. But this made me raise questions like what would have happened, if it was a serious accident? would that make the men to come for help. I mean...I dont really know. So I went back to the office and asked my boss about what had happened and he sad that in this culture men are not allowed to touch a woman. So thats so scacry dont you think. I am right now seeing what the women here are seeing. First I thought, they just have to come out of it, but no, not when its a physical and mental fight the women have to put up with, it takes energy, time, money and support. Two weeks ago, the whole MCC Bangladesh had a training on gender issues and talked about nurturing the women. Really how can we do that? This is my question now. After that I have talk with a particular lady, about how she is handling this struggle. She mentioned that we women who are out there are strong ladies. There are things that we have done which most women here have not done, and we want to do more but we can only do if only our bosses, male co-workers and our husbands (families) are with us helping develop more. So I mentioned that they (ladies) have to be mentally prepared and that also they are competing with the male opponents in terms of crimbing the position, so they have to be ready for that. So now is my question left unanswered and that is how can we nurture the ladies. To be mentally strong to withstand the culture and with the competition with the hierachy position especially with the men.