I’m back in Dhaka after a ten hour car ride. I have not seen a bideshi (foreigner) since Friday morning. When that happens, I know I’m seeing the good stuff. That means I’m off the beaten path, seeing the true sides of the country and not what all the tourists see. What’s the point of visiting a country if you leave without meeting the people and gaining a basic understanding of the culture?

I love eating the food they eat in the restaurants where they eat it. I love standing around with a group of guys listening to their talk and not understanding a word of it. I love sharing a cup of tea after dinner. I love watching the way their world works, their interactions, how they respond to each other and the things around them. I love that we can live on opposite sides of the world, yet still enjoy each other’s company simply because we are all human and created by the same God with the same wanting to know each other.

I also love the southern portion of Bangladesh. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. So much water, so much green vegetation. The area is the “coastal belt” of the country, so the land is broken up by waterways where fresh water and salt water mix. We had to cross 4 or 5 bridges and 3 ferries to get to where we were going. We even had a few hours boat ride to visit some of the areas as roads do not work in that area. During the monsoon season (which is now) the area floods, leaving chars (islands in Bangali) where the houses are built. In the dry season, the water recedes and the islands “connect”.

But I won’t get in to that too much now. I took a lot of pictures, but I won’t be able to post them until I get back to Kathmandu. I want the pictures to do some of the talking and not just me.

I will mention, however, the most interesting aspect of the trip for me, well, one of the most interesting aspects at least. Everyone always assumed that I was the “boss”. In fact, they always called me “boss”. When we would visit some of the villages, the people would come up to me, speaking Bangali, and ask for medicines and other aid. I had to point out who was the real “boss” and that it wasn’t me. I’m not going to go into a commentary on this (I really have nothing to say about it anyways), but I just thought it was interesting. Visitors are a rarity in that part of Bangladesh. My first clue was when we were waiting for a ferry and a group of guys were taking pictures of me with their cell phones.

I guess in a way it shows the power we have to help people (guess I’ll do a commentary anyways). They knew I was from a wealthy country simply by my being there as its obvious I am not from Bangladesh. We can try and deny our abilities to do good for others sighting money, time, and logistical issues. But in the end, we are only making excuses. We will always have the ability to help. The people who need the help know this. Why don’t we always know this?

And I must say, the Bangali sun is hot. I’m used to the 15% UV reduction bubble (aka pollution) in Kathmandu. I burnt a bit, but oh well. All part of the experience.