"Welcome to Dhaka, Bangladesh" Says the captain and I'm overjoyed..and yet unable to see the ground from my window seat..and wondering how the hell this man is going to land the plane. "Quasha!" says the guy next to me..meaning FOG!...hence the poor visability. But without a problem the pilot landed the plane safely. It's been two plus years since last I was here and a lot has changed. The airport has been renovated to my surprise! But it took two hours to get through immigration, for two reasons. 1. about 20 people cut in front of me in the most strategic and shady way possible, it's quite a skill and I plan on picking it up. 2. no rennovation can improve the lack of organizational skills at the airport and as soon as the immigration officer realized I am originally from Bangladesh he decided to strike up a conversation (where's your family from, is this your first time, are you fluent in bangla, etc.)..this is probably the third reason immigration takes two hours to get through! there is an upside here, I met two wonderful people, one from Canada who is coming to Bangladesh with Doctors without Borders and the other from D.C. working for the "Save the Children" organization. We all briefly exchanged our purposes for visiting/working here and then exchanged cards--two great connections for me to have in some future endeavors here in Bangladesh!
Couple changes I've noticed here already...
Traffic has gotten WAY WAY worse in two years. A trip which should normally take 15 min took 45 min. The dust/pollution is a lot worse despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions (this is a problem the country is actively trying to alleviate). Thirdly..the mosquitos actually wasted no time to start chomping on me, my first bug bite occurred as I walked through the exit ramp from the plane!! Lets hope I don't join the ranks of my father and aunt who got Dengue while they were here ;) Jk, i'll be fine.
Jet lag has been vanquished. Work starts early tomorrow as I partake in a seminar with the medical students at Dhaka Medical College to discuss integrated learning/teaching (a testament to the problem base learning program at Drexel which we are trying to get started here). Hopefully the first day isn't too traumatizing...real accounts and pics from the wards starting tomorrow!
OH also if anyone was curious (JUSTIN especially since we have the worst luck in recorded history) but I of course was seated next to screaming children the ENTIRE way...and then next to two Bangladeshi guys who spotted my stethoscope as I pulled out my headphones from my bookbag and started to tell me about his persistent cough and showed me his prescription for his workup...and then asked if I could fill out his disembarkment card b/c he didn't really understand everything on it...Anyone that knows my handwriting is probably in shock that anyone would allow me to fill out any paperwork for them...
(Note to self: Please make sure to get in touch with the Save the Children lady, her efforts with Adolescents and family planning andthe anemia investigation will be very helpful for DCI and FIDVB)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
the final US post!
Sitting at JFK...surrounded by the smell of american-borne bangladeshi cooking mixed with the hopes of delicious REAL bangladeshi food. its amazing that when one person hears another speaking bengali they automatically want to adopt you! This is great since I'm travelling almost 24plus hrs alone, which can get quiet. However I will say, I've already prayed that the already-squealing children waiting to board are not boarding my flight!!! With my luck ill be in the new-born baby section of the jumbojet.
I'm excited to see Dhaka, and family and get down to business at dhaka medical college. The most daunting obstacle that lies ahead...JETLAG!
I'm excited to see Dhaka, and family and get down to business at dhaka medical college. The most daunting obstacle that lies ahead...JETLAG!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
T-2 days!
Leaving for Bangladesh in TWO DAYS!
Weather today in Dhaka (the capital city) is 80 degrees with a low of 55 at night! I can get used to that for a month as the east coast transitions from winter to spring!!
News of the day in Bangladesh: five of the ten men who killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (the "father of the nation") were hanged today. Their bodies were escorted by Police back to their respective villages. The end of this trial comes 34 years after the killing and still remains a very controversial topic as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his ideals were controversial themselves. However it does not excuse the brutal killing of this leader and his family. I believe the nation finds itself a bit torn as the men who murdered SMR were freedom fighters themselves and bled for the nation during the liberation war.
Weather today in Dhaka (the capital city) is 80 degrees with a low of 55 at night! I can get used to that for a month as the east coast transitions from winter to spring!!
News of the day in Bangladesh: five of the ten men who killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (the "father of the nation") were hanged today. Their bodies were escorted by Police back to their respective villages. The end of this trial comes 34 years after the killing and still remains a very controversial topic as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his ideals were controversial themselves. However it does not excuse the brutal killing of this leader and his family. I believe the nation finds itself a bit torn as the men who murdered SMR were freedom fighters themselves and bled for the nation during the liberation war.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The first blog.
Monday Jan 25th...blog day 1.
Zack matched with Temple by the way!! So everyone congratulate him!
Four days until I leave for Bangladesh!! So this is how this is going to work--I'm going to try to access this blog every day more so for my sake so I can keep track of my own activities but if anyone is interested and wantsto keep up with what I'm up to over the next month please feel free to read along :)
The goal of this trip is to establish my own goals in Bangladesh. I am embarking on an awesome rotation at Dhaka Medical College..of course after I embark on the almost two day long journey there! My Dad and I came up with the idea for this rotation mostly because I've been wanting to rotate there on official terms for years now! With his help and the help of a lot of people at Drexel we've established an International Rotation at Dhaka medical college which is officially a Drexel rotation and students can get course credit for it. I am more or less a test case but this is exciting nonetheless.
There are a few kinks to work out, which I"m sure i'll take care of when I get to Bangladesh. The housing situation isn't completely worked out so I'll be staying at a family-owned apartment. I have to admit that I am a bit nervous on multiple levels. I am travelling to Bangladesh for the first time without my parents which is nerve racking because they usually take care of everything once we get to Dhaka. Also..my dad kind of warned me that I'd see a lot of greusome stuff, I'd learn a lot but I might get a little freaked out. Don't get me wrong, I knew all of that in the back of my mind and i'm excited to really make a difference where it matters..but I'm nervous about how I might react. The state of the health care system may be in shambles here...but I suppose things could be worse as I'm about to see.
I'd love to keep in touch with everyone so please send me an email so I have yours. (Mine is Nha0300@gmail.com). In the mean time..let the countdown begin!
Zack matched with Temple by the way!! So everyone congratulate him!
Four days until I leave for Bangladesh!! So this is how this is going to work--I'm going to try to access this blog every day more so for my sake so I can keep track of my own activities but if anyone is interested and wantsto keep up with what I'm up to over the next month please feel free to read along :)
The goal of this trip is to establish my own goals in Bangladesh. I am embarking on an awesome rotation at Dhaka Medical College..of course after I embark on the almost two day long journey there! My Dad and I came up with the idea for this rotation mostly because I've been wanting to rotate there on official terms for years now! With his help and the help of a lot of people at Drexel we've established an International Rotation at Dhaka medical college which is officially a Drexel rotation and students can get course credit for it. I am more or less a test case but this is exciting nonetheless.
There are a few kinks to work out, which I"m sure i'll take care of when I get to Bangladesh. The housing situation isn't completely worked out so I'll be staying at a family-owned apartment. I have to admit that I am a bit nervous on multiple levels. I am travelling to Bangladesh for the first time without my parents which is nerve racking because they usually take care of everything once we get to Dhaka. Also..my dad kind of warned me that I'd see a lot of greusome stuff, I'd learn a lot but I might get a little freaked out. Don't get me wrong, I knew all of that in the back of my mind and i'm excited to really make a difference where it matters..but I'm nervous about how I might react. The state of the health care system may be in shambles here...but I suppose things could be worse as I'm about to see.
I'd love to keep in touch with everyone so please send me an email so I have yours. (Mine is Nha0300@gmail.com). In the mean time..let the countdown begin!
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