Updates and photos from Bangladesh
October 30, 2007
October 25, 2007
Netrokona, Bangladesh
The days have become cooler and shorter in Bangladesh as the winter nears. The final signs of this year’s monsoon season ended a few weeks ago with a couple of days of showers. I made my way to the Shorkar’s home and was surprised that I did not have to trek through pathways of mud. The once water filled fields are now covered with this year’s winter rice paddy fields.
Upon arrival I was spotted by Shanto who was playing with other children in the bamboo forest. He ran to me and quickly pulled me by the hand to his house. He seems more talkative and remembers my name. I asked him where his mother was and he told me, “noutun goruer chate.” (With the new cow.) The milking cow was given to Mrs. Rita Rani on the 24th of October along with a 2 week old calf. As I sat down in their home to wait for the entire family I looked around and noticed how vibrant it seemed. No more suffering as we last found them in late June 2007.
Shanto took my baseball cap from where I had placed it on my knee and put it on his head. I asked him if he would come to the U.S. with me and he said no, because his mother is not in the U.S.
Once the family returned with the new cow I was excited. Not only did they receive the milk cow, but the calf as well. Without my knowledge they prepared a glass of warm fresh milk so that I could drink. They also made some special paiesh (a Bangladeshi snack of a mixture of milk, rice noodles, and sugar). I ate it as they were showing me where the new cows would sleep.
On October 26th, Mrs. Rita will also receive her new batch of silkworm eggs. She is confident that they will not spoil this time because there are no more rains.
Babul has continued to pull his rickshaw, but only waits for the government to give him his rickshaw’s license plates. Once he receives those, he can pull longer during the day and in the busier parts of Netrokona town.
The rest of the villagers are waiting for the small school to open next year. There are many children who are of school age but live to far from a government school.
As I was leaving, I laughed as Shanto was ‘defending’ his little infant sister Purnima who was fighting over a small stool. Shanto went over and snatched the stool away from an older kid and then he and Purnima walked into their home. I told him, ‘Shanti, dhusto na.” (Peace, don’t be naughty). Although I warned him, I was happy to see how strength within the family.
As I walked away I was told by Mrs. Rita Rani that I must return for lunch and not to forget the photos of myself and Khushbu. They want to make sure they have our photos on their wall. I guess we have become a part of the family.
- Greg Pardo
Posted by: MikeNetrokona, Bangladesh
The days have become cooler and shorter in Bangladesh as the winter nears. The final signs of this year’s monsoon season ended a few weeks ago with a couple of days of showers. I made my way to the Shorkar’s home and was surprised that I did not have to trek through pathways of mud. The once water filled fields are now covered with this year’s winter rice paddy fields.
Upon arrival I was spotted by Shanto who was playing with other children in the bamboo forest. He ran to me and quickly pulled me by the hand to his house. He seems more talkative and remembers my name. I asked him where his mother was and he told me, “noutun goruer chate.” (With the new cow.) The milking cow was given to Mrs. Rita Rani on the 24th of October along with a 2 week old calf. As I sat down in their home to wait for the entire family I looked around and noticed how vibrant it seemed. No more suffering as we last found them in late June 2007.
Shanto took my baseball cap from where I had placed it on my knee and put it on his head. I asked him if he would come to the U.S. with me and he said no, because his mother is not in the U.S.
Once the family returned with the new cow I was excited. Not only did they receive the milk cow, but the calf as well. Without my knowledge they prepared a glass of warm fresh milk so that I could drink. They also made some special paiesh (a Bangladeshi snack of a mixture of milk, rice noodles, and sugar). I ate it as they were showing me where the new cows would sleep.
On October 26th, Mrs. Rita will also receive her new batch of silkworm eggs. She is confident that they will not spoil this time because there are no more rains.
Babul has continued to pull his rickshaw, but only waits for the government to give him his rickshaw’s license plates. Once he receives those, he can pull longer during the day and in the busier parts of Netrokona town.
The rest of the villagers are waiting for the small school to open next year. There are many children who are of school age but live to far from a government school.
As I was leaving, I laughed as Shanto was ‘defending’ his little infant sister Purnima who was fighting over a small stool. Shanto went over and snatched the stool away from an older kid and then he and Purnima walked into their home. I told him, ‘Shanti, dhusto na.” (Peace, don’t be naughty). Although I warned him, I was happy to see how strength within the family.
As I walked away I was told by Mrs. Rita Rani that I must return for lunch and not to forget the photos of myself and Khushbu. They want to make sure they have our photos on their wall. I guess we have become a part of the family.
- Greg Pardo
The Sharkar Family
