Traffic, Rickshaws, and Crowds, OH MY!

Hello Everybody! Greetings from Dhaka City!

Whew. I have been thinking about writing my first blog for a while now, but each time I sit down to do it, I seem to find myself at a total loss for words. Where to start? How can I even begin to describe what a crazy and incredible experience these first few weeks in Bangladesh have been? I feel as though I got thrown full force into the pandemonium of one of the most densely populated and highly polluted cities in the world upon my arrival here, but really, how else could such an entrance unfold? I don't think there is any way of easing yourself into incessant crowds of people, hours of traffic jams, complete cacophony, dense smog and dust and extensive poverty. Especially when coming from the leisurely sea-side town of Victoria, B.C. However, I must say that I am loving it. There is something so wonderful about the complete foreignness of every moment. Everyday, every excursion seems to be an exciting adventure into the unknown. Who knows what I will see or experience? Who knows what aspect of reality I will be exposed to- the likes of which I have never known, that I could never even have imagine before?

Besides the adventure and excitement, there are also a number of various solaces I am beginning to find comfort in. The immense kindness and hospitality of Bangladeshis being at the top of this list. WARBE has been instrumental in facilitating as pain free of a transition as possible, and the building in which I live is replete with warm and loving families who have taken me in with open arms, teach me Bengla and the secrets of the streets, and ensure that I never, ever, go hungry. Ever. There is also much to fall in love with here: rickshaw rides and produce markets, flowers and cha, saris and beautiful fabrics, and the feeling of finally escaping the chaos of the street at the end of a long and dirty day, climbing up to my rooftop, and staring at a blood-orange smoggy sun setting over the city, while listening to the day's final call to prayer. Ahhhh yes. It is moments such as these when the whole glory of this experience reveals itself.

And I am excited. I am so immensely excited to see how my time here will unfold. To see more, to be exposed to more - because I am realizing that this placement presents boundless opportunities for experience, both personally and professionally, and I already feel so lucky to be here, and so excited for all the possibilities held by the future. Work has been focused on the transition process so far: getting me set up, getting me comfortable, and slowly carving out a role for myself within the organization (which is a great organization at that, I'm hoping to talk more about WARBE and their operations in an upcoming post). I may not have been able to ease into Dhaka, but WARBE has allowed me to ease into my internship experience. So far we have focused on education and orientation - learning about the organization and their operations, as well as learning about the migration process in Bangaldesh, and some of the horrific and heartbreaking abuses to human rights that often occur in the process. WARBE is doing some really good and important work here, and I only hope the contribution I make will be a positive one (as I will try my best to ensure!).

Anyways, I suppose that's enough for now, I'm sure it wont be long until my next update (usually once I get the ball rolling on these things, I find it hard to stop)

-Kelly

Kelly Lindsay is working for six months as a Program Assistant with WARBE, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.