Letter 47. Beautiful friends.
17th October 2005
Dear friends,
When I have been sick or felt bad in any way in Bangladesh, I have often asked myself “why are you in this country, what are you doing here?”. I have had a very good week now, but I ask the question again, now with a positive tune. What am I doing here? People I meet ask me the same, and I should have an answer. I was leading a group from Norway, and I am going to volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity. But I have had some days just being here, and that’s what I have been doing, being. I have enjoyed just living in Bangladesh, and I actually think it is quite important. I have often felt that Bangladesh is a difficult country to live in. Now I have felt that I can be happy here, just being, and it is important for me to know that this is possible.
An important aspect of my being this week has been being together with friends. One of them is Mary. She is the health coordinator at YWCA of Bangladesh, and works on her annual report these days. “I need your help the whole day today”, she said when I came to the office after the Norwegian group had left. At the end of the day she asked if I would be there tomorrow. When I confirmed, she replied with a big smile that she needed me the whole next day too. It is great to be needed, to have some work to do and be appreciated. As I am not an “official volunteer” with YWCA now, I didn’t expect to be asked for this, so I am very happy to be unexpected useful. If I would not find any other work to volunteer with, I would certainly have the chance to accompany Mary for many days.
Another friend I have spent time with, is Jhumur. She comes from Barisal, but is now staying in Dhaka with her husband. She previously worked as a YWCA teacher in Barisal, now as a YMCA teacher in Dhaka. I travelled with her to Bergen when she was in Norway in February 2000. She was my dance teacher and we had a lot of fun. I stayed at her house for a day, and she said that I could stay there as long as I wanted, a week, a month or years if I liked. I could bring my sister as well, next time I should certainly bring my sister, and she could stay there while I travelled around Bangladesh. I was treated well with lots of delicious food. I think I got a bit more beautiful…
I met Jhumur and several others who have been to Norway through YWCA-YMCA on the 40 years anniversary of Dhaka YMCA. It was a big celebration with many guests, long speeches, a nice cultural programme and of course a very tasty dinner. It was good to meet so many members of YMCA who have strong connection with Norway and are committed to continue our partnership. I am sure I could spend weeks with them as well. My two months in Bangladesh is too short time for doing and being all I should.
Another friend is Ripa. She works in the reception at YWCA. I know her from my many stays here. But I have not had so close contact with her before. Maria says that she has the longest and most beautiful hair. I would add that she has the biggest smile and most laughing face, together with Mary. In addition to this she is one of the most caring persons I know. When there are few guests in the guesthouse, Ripa finds her lack of work a bit boring, and is happy to talk. One evening we found out that we are now both students of theology, as she has just started a part time course in theology in the theological college of Church of Bangladesh. This is a church based on the Anglican and Presbyterian traditions as well as including Methodist and other Protestant elements. I have attended their English services a few times, and feel much at home there.
Ripa invited me to attend her class one day, and I was so happy to get the chance. The class was conducted in Bengali, but I could follow a little, as the subject was liturgy, and they were just learning about the Lutheran tradition when I came. They also wanted to know about my studies. Some of them are going to be ministers, some are church workers and some are in secular jobs, like Ripa. She wants to serve outside the church, but she feels the need for theological knowledge also for service in society in general. I have also spent some time with Ripa finding websites with useful information for her study, so now she can spend her guest-less evenings studying in the reception. It was encouraging to see the students’ interest in the subject. Church of Bangladesh is not a big church. Christianity in Bangladesh is not big at all. 0,3% of the population is Christian. But Christian services play a significant role in the society, as Christian education and health institutions have improved the situation for many. Other sorts of development work have also changed the situation for many poor people.
So this is what the last week has been like, spending time with friends, volunteering some work, living and planning my next weeks. This night I will go by launch to Barisal, a town south of Dhaka. Bangladesh is the biggest delta in the world, with the rivers as important channels of communication. I will arrive early tomorrow morning. Sisters from the Oxford Mission, an Anglican convent, will meet me. They were very welcoming when I asked if I could stay with them for a week. When I come back to Dhaka I will probably spend a few days with friends again, before I start what I have told I will be doing here; volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity, the Sisters of Mother Teresa. I visited their orphanage, Shishu Bhabhan in Old Dhaka yesterday. It was a good experience. Not all descriptions I have heard have been positive, but I came to a home of love, where the Sisters and workers contributed their best and the children hungered for my attention. I look forward to staying there. I will volunteer with them for three weeks.
Happy greetings from Hanne.
Dear friends,
When I have been sick or felt bad in any way in Bangladesh, I have often asked myself “why are you in this country, what are you doing here?”. I have had a very good week now, but I ask the question again, now with a positive tune. What am I doing here? People I meet ask me the same, and I should have an answer. I was leading a group from Norway, and I am going to volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity. But I have had some days just being here, and that’s what I have been doing, being. I have enjoyed just living in Bangladesh, and I actually think it is quite important. I have often felt that Bangladesh is a difficult country to live in. Now I have felt that I can be happy here, just being, and it is important for me to know that this is possible.
An important aspect of my being this week has been being together with friends. One of them is Mary. She is the health coordinator at YWCA of Bangladesh, and works on her annual report these days. “I need your help the whole day today”, she said when I came to the office after the Norwegian group had left. At the end of the day she asked if I would be there tomorrow. When I confirmed, she replied with a big smile that she needed me the whole next day too. It is great to be needed, to have some work to do and be appreciated. As I am not an “official volunteer” with YWCA now, I didn’t expect to be asked for this, so I am very happy to be unexpected useful. If I would not find any other work to volunteer with, I would certainly have the chance to accompany Mary for many days.
Another friend I have spent time with, is Jhumur. She comes from Barisal, but is now staying in Dhaka with her husband. She previously worked as a YWCA teacher in Barisal, now as a YMCA teacher in Dhaka. I travelled with her to Bergen when she was in Norway in February 2000. She was my dance teacher and we had a lot of fun. I stayed at her house for a day, and she said that I could stay there as long as I wanted, a week, a month or years if I liked. I could bring my sister as well, next time I should certainly bring my sister, and she could stay there while I travelled around Bangladesh. I was treated well with lots of delicious food. I think I got a bit more beautiful…
I met Jhumur and several others who have been to Norway through YWCA-YMCA on the 40 years anniversary of Dhaka YMCA. It was a big celebration with many guests, long speeches, a nice cultural programme and of course a very tasty dinner. It was good to meet so many members of YMCA who have strong connection with Norway and are committed to continue our partnership. I am sure I could spend weeks with them as well. My two months in Bangladesh is too short time for doing and being all I should.
Another friend is Ripa. She works in the reception at YWCA. I know her from my many stays here. But I have not had so close contact with her before. Maria says that she has the longest and most beautiful hair. I would add that she has the biggest smile and most laughing face, together with Mary. In addition to this she is one of the most caring persons I know. When there are few guests in the guesthouse, Ripa finds her lack of work a bit boring, and is happy to talk. One evening we found out that we are now both students of theology, as she has just started a part time course in theology in the theological college of Church of Bangladesh. This is a church based on the Anglican and Presbyterian traditions as well as including Methodist and other Protestant elements. I have attended their English services a few times, and feel much at home there.
Ripa invited me to attend her class one day, and I was so happy to get the chance. The class was conducted in Bengali, but I could follow a little, as the subject was liturgy, and they were just learning about the Lutheran tradition when I came. They also wanted to know about my studies. Some of them are going to be ministers, some are church workers and some are in secular jobs, like Ripa. She wants to serve outside the church, but she feels the need for theological knowledge also for service in society in general. I have also spent some time with Ripa finding websites with useful information for her study, so now she can spend her guest-less evenings studying in the reception. It was encouraging to see the students’ interest in the subject. Church of Bangladesh is not a big church. Christianity in Bangladesh is not big at all. 0,3% of the population is Christian. But Christian services play a significant role in the society, as Christian education and health institutions have improved the situation for many. Other sorts of development work have also changed the situation for many poor people.
So this is what the last week has been like, spending time with friends, volunteering some work, living and planning my next weeks. This night I will go by launch to Barisal, a town south of Dhaka. Bangladesh is the biggest delta in the world, with the rivers as important channels of communication. I will arrive early tomorrow morning. Sisters from the Oxford Mission, an Anglican convent, will meet me. They were very welcoming when I asked if I could stay with them for a week. When I come back to Dhaka I will probably spend a few days with friends again, before I start what I have told I will be doing here; volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity, the Sisters of Mother Teresa. I visited their orphanage, Shishu Bhabhan in Old Dhaka yesterday. It was a good experience. Not all descriptions I have heard have been positive, but I came to a home of love, where the Sisters and workers contributed their best and the children hungered for my attention. I look forward to staying there. I will volunteer with them for three weeks.
Happy greetings from Hanne.
posted by Hanne at 2:09 AM
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