sigh...Bangladesh

Bangladesh? This is what we have been waiting six months to hear? The one country in the world that we would even consider declining, and we get it. I don't know.

This is but my initial reaction to the news, perhaps it will change with a little more information. We kind of knew it would be Bangladesh, as the programs that we were selected for are emphasized there. It was the bottom of both of our lists of preferences though, and we are still adjusting to the idea of having to choose to go there or not. As it stands right now, Malinda is more enthusiastic about it than I am- maybe she should be writing this post.

Both of us would be teaching English it seems. We won't know exactly where we will be assigned in Bangladesh, that will come after a three month language instruction period and cultural immersion period. From what the PC has said, Bangladesh is "hot, humid, flat and very green." It is the size of Wisconsin, but has half the population of the entire United States. That's 140 million people crammed into Wisconsin, making it one of the most densely populated countries on Earth. It is also among the very poorest.

It is a primarily Muslim country, breaking off from India along with Pakistan (Bangladesh was once politically East Pakistan but became independent in 1971). Approximately 85% of Bangladeshis are Muslim, 10% Hindu, the rest Buddhist or other faiths. It is very conservative, but Islam is considered moderate there.

Electricity is common, especially in the cities, telephones are not reliable, but cell phones are very much in use. The internet is availbale in urban centers, usually in internet cafés. Pollution is severe, disease a serious problem, and cyclones and flooding are likely to occur at some point while we are there.





The steets of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh