We finally made it back from India last night. It was surprisingly a pretty nice trip. We got to take hot showers- which is only the second time we've had hot showers in 6 months. Hot showers are NOT over rated. Out hotel actually had decent wifi too- which is saying a lot. And, they also had an incredible coffee shop. It was just like a western coffee shop. We were so thrilled!
It says something about Bangladesh when you're in India and the little boys are saying, "It's just like America!!" And, really, the contrast really does amaze me. You immediately notice the increase in wealth and cleanliness, the decrease in people and traffic, and it's all around just... more advanced. We actually found a legit, western coffee shop there. Women walk around by themselves- nicer shops, nicer clothes, nicer vehicles... It makes me feel so sorry for Bangladesh.... there just doesn't seem to be a whole lot of hope for improvement.
Driving to India you get to see the incredible filth, poverty, pollution and over-population in the cities and you get to see the beauty and simplicity of life in the villages and farming areas. Or, I don't know. I guess I don't actually know much about it- but it seems beautiful driving by...haha.. It's so green and the fields of rice are so beautiful... and watching people out there working together and plowing the fields with water buffalo..? It's pretty cool. Women working in beautiful saris and the endless ponds and rivers.. It's really amazing and beautiful.
While we were driving by I saw a family camped out in a field. Their home was a sort of make-shift tent made out of plastic and it looked big enough to sleep in. I don't think it would be big enough to sit up in. I saw a mother sitting out in that field feeding her 3 young children breakfast on a mat in the grass. I haven't seen a family as poor as that. It's so sad. In Chittagong we saw a little girl on the street carrying her baby sister around who was sleeping on her shoulder. She was running around by herself on a busy, crowded street- taking care of someone only a few years younger than her. As sad as it is to see that, it's strange because she doesn't know any different- for her it's just normal.
It's hard seeing things like that all the time- and really feeling unable to really do anything...
We realized as we were crossing the border this time that our Bangladesh visas expire in May. We has all assumed we had a year since we arrived in July. But, our visas actually end a year after the date they were issued which is May. Apparently Bangladesh allows you to stay an additional 3 months are your visa expires and you have to pay a certain amount of money. So, instead of being able to stay until October at the latest, we can actually only stay until August at the latest. Which is like a really big news flash. Visas have to be renewed from the States, so I don't know exactly what that means- if we all have to go back or if some of us can go back and get them renewed. I don't know.
So, anyways- that's a lot to take in for us. A lot to think about. I guess we'll see. I feel really unsure about what my next step is after a year is up here... it's a little intimidating. :-/
It says something about Bangladesh when you're in India and the little boys are saying, "It's just like America!!" And, really, the contrast really does amaze me. You immediately notice the increase in wealth and cleanliness, the decrease in people and traffic, and it's all around just... more advanced. We actually found a legit, western coffee shop there. Women walk around by themselves- nicer shops, nicer clothes, nicer vehicles... It makes me feel so sorry for Bangladesh.... there just doesn't seem to be a whole lot of hope for improvement.
Driving to India you get to see the incredible filth, poverty, pollution and over-population in the cities and you get to see the beauty and simplicity of life in the villages and farming areas. Or, I don't know. I guess I don't actually know much about it- but it seems beautiful driving by...haha.. It's so green and the fields of rice are so beautiful... and watching people out there working together and plowing the fields with water buffalo..? It's pretty cool. Women working in beautiful saris and the endless ponds and rivers.. It's really amazing and beautiful.
While we were driving by I saw a family camped out in a field. Their home was a sort of make-shift tent made out of plastic and it looked big enough to sleep in. I don't think it would be big enough to sit up in. I saw a mother sitting out in that field feeding her 3 young children breakfast on a mat in the grass. I haven't seen a family as poor as that. It's so sad. In Chittagong we saw a little girl on the street carrying her baby sister around who was sleeping on her shoulder. She was running around by herself on a busy, crowded street- taking care of someone only a few years younger than her. As sad as it is to see that, it's strange because she doesn't know any different- for her it's just normal.
It's hard seeing things like that all the time- and really feeling unable to really do anything...
We realized as we were crossing the border this time that our Bangladesh visas expire in May. We has all assumed we had a year since we arrived in July. But, our visas actually end a year after the date they were issued which is May. Apparently Bangladesh allows you to stay an additional 3 months are your visa expires and you have to pay a certain amount of money. So, instead of being able to stay until October at the latest, we can actually only stay until August at the latest. Which is like a really big news flash. Visas have to be renewed from the States, so I don't know exactly what that means- if we all have to go back or if some of us can go back and get them renewed. I don't know.
So, anyways- that's a lot to take in for us. A lot to think about. I guess we'll see. I feel really unsure about what my next step is after a year is up here... it's a little intimidating. :-/
No comments:
Post a Comment