Back in Dhaka!

Well the weather hasn't changed in Dhaka in the 2.5 weeks when I was gone.  It's still hot and humid, although perhaps a little less so.

I am back at work here after a few days break to recover from jetlag.  Last week was Eid, which is not a good time to be a goat or a cow or even a camel as many families buy one of these animals and slaughter it as part of the celebration.  The animal is butchered right on the street outside the house!  I am not including any pictures of this but it does lead to some gruesome sights walking down the street.  The meat is then distributed to friends and neighbours as well as the poor. You see many people walking around with bloody plastic bags filled with meat!

As a friend of Dan's put it:  "Mary had a little lamb...not any more!"

More photos coming soon...

Hiking in Calabogie

Jolene and I 

Ben, you probably shouldn't eat that mushroom....

Getting bumpers installed on the car.

Given that the traffic here is pretty bad and many cycle rickshaws will use your car bumper as a way to stop, we decided to get bumpers installed on the car today.  These will hopefully protect the car from getting really scratched up, although I am doubtful given the way people drive here.

First I had to pick which bumpers I wanted.  This involved going to the shop and having a variety of different bumpers held up to the car while I decided.  Then I was given a price.  It seemed a bit high, so there was some arguing back and forth and I managed to get the price down to something which sounded more reasonable.  Then my driver told them that they should give me a further discount because I was from the Canadian High Commission.  This reduced the price slightly more.

The deal was struck and they said that the bumpers could be installed right away.  Great.

The bumpers were given to a 15 y.o. shop boy who took them in a cycle rickshaw and told us to follow him in the car.   We followed him off the main road, but into the slum behind.  To this little shop, where apparently the welding would be done. 

Welding took over an hour while I waited in the blazing heat.  Finally it was finished and the welder even jumped on the back bumper to demonstrate how well it was attached to the car.  

We needed to go back to the first shop to pay.  To save time and avoid traffic, we drove up the wrong side of the road to get back to the shop!  The driver waving the rickshaw drivers out of his way as we drove!

The local bumper welding shop.  

I was invited to sit of this chair to wait.  The photos do not capture how hot it was...35 degrees.

Waiting for the car to be done in the shade of the local tea stand.  Current number of people working on the car: 1, number of people watching: 5 

The tea stand owner shows up and opens up shop.  He sells tea, pastries, bananas, and cigarettes. Local gossip is free.
My driver (Michael) is in the background keeping an eye on the welding.

This is what happens when there is no standardization of the electrical plugs....choose your shape.

This sign was to remind you to pay your taxes.  This week was tax paying week, although the exact details were not clear to me.

Working at BSMMU on the oncology ward, doing rounds with the medical team.  

Today I visited the International Diarrheal Diseases Research Centre, Bangladesh (icddr,b).  This is a hospital and research complex which sees mainly patients with diarrhea.  It is world famous for developing very inexpensive and extremely effective protocols for treating diarrhea.  Currently there are about 500 people/day presenting to their emergency room. This hospital is funded by the Canadian Government as well as other foreign aid agencies.

A week flown by!

Doctor's examination room at Traveller's Clinic. 

Travellers' Clinic, I'm working here on Sunday and Monday

Local Paracetemol (Tylenol)

My first day at BSM Medical University Hospital on the heme-oncology ward.    Giving out toys donated by World Child Cancer.  I had nothing to do with the donation of these toys, but I was given the honour of distributing them to the children admitted to the ward!

Children and their parents waiting for their toys!  

At the entrance to the heme-oncology ward at BSMMU a poster advertising last year's workshop.  I will be involved in this December's upcoming workshop to speak about Palliative Care.

Orchid in the wild!

At the tailor, picking fabric for Dan's shirts.  

The neighbourhood

Lift made out of bamboo at construction site near our place-manpowered. 

Garden at the Canadian Club

Tennis Lessons at the Canadian Club

Looking at the Canadian High Commission from across the street.

Wednesday

Well, a week has already gone by.  It has been busy, but I am definitely feeling settled in.  Our apartment feels like home already. I get more comfortable and confident navigating the craziness of Dhaka everyday.

Yesterday I visited the Travellers' Clinic in the American International School where I will be working. I am now officially on staff!  The email below was sent out this morning to the staff at most Embassies and High Commissions, so I'm sure I will be busy!  There are 600-700 children at the American School.

What's the difference between an Embassy and a High Commission?
A High Commission is diplomatic mission in a Commonwealth country (by another Commonwealth country)
An Embassy is a diplomatic mission to a non-Commonwealth country.
The same applies to ambassador vs high commissioner.

Local park, sponsored by City Bank.  A sign further down the path advertises their Hajj Savings Plan.

What better way to promote your Bank, than sponsorship of this empty fountain?
It is better than the other fountain which is full of stagnant water (and mosquito larvae carrying Dengue fever)...

Local mosque as seen from the window of our apartment.  This explains why the call to prayer is so loud at 4:15am...Although, I've already started sleeping through it.