the final weeks

Greetings all,

The other day marked the first day of Ramadan which is a month of fasting for the muslim faith. Here is how things break down. One cannot eat, smoke, chew gum or even drink water during the day light hours. Mohammad the great prophet of Islam decided this so people could feel what it was like to be poor (yes, I do know that I"m in Bangladesh) However one has the saving grace of chewing on a stick. Apparently, that is what our boy did . Also, everything becomse more expensive around this time as well, (the whole helping out people not as well as yourself) Everything ends with a huge muslim holiday called Ed, which is much like our X-mas, but not really.

Around 3 am everyday a guy come on the loud speaker and says you can start cooking and eating for the day. This follows the air rade sicrens. Keep in mind that it is still dark out because the fasting starts with the first break of daylight. We were informed that it is not respectful for us to consume anything outside during this time. Which I can fully understand. Also, during the daylight hours all the restraunts and tea stands put sheets on their windows so people can't see in. That way us non-muslims can eat and do what we normally do and not make anyone mad that is fasting, or if you want to cheat nobody can see you. I asked my host father about the "cheating" and how much went on. He told me that Allayh knows/sees all.

Many people asked me if I was going to fast, I always say "NO" and I wish them luck with their fasting. Shortly after this I find myself defending my faith. "It is a great feeling to eat after fasting all day" To which I say, "I bet it is, but I for one enjoy drinking water whenever I want to" Most times this ends to conversation but once in a while I really get some different questions...

Lastly, some other random comments and happenings for this week. The other day while we were walking home from the Hub site (the place where we train everyday) so guy comes up to us shaking his finger at us and saying that he doesn't trust Americans, to which I reply how many Americans do you know? He pauses and looks at me for a sec. and then just goes on shaking his finger at me. So I say Good, I don't trust you either because your ugly. (When your Bangli is as limited as mine, you have to stick with what you know)

The last story is about the head dude from USAID came to talk to us, he showed up in a bullet proof GMC SUV followed by two trucks! It was just something out of the movies, (I so want that!) he talked to us a while, and gave us the skinny on what USAID did in the Desh, I've got a couple ideas, so that could prove to be worth while, but the only thing I wanted to you to get out of the story was, armored
trucks and an army esscort!!!

Right now training is starting to wind down and our teachers are just killing time until our site visits next week. So not to much news to report on. Tomorrow our site visit info will be passed out, and what is even better is the fact that I"m taking my weekend leave to Dhaka for some much needed R&R. That right, for 10 dollars US I'm getting a room with cable, a soft bed, hot water and A/C... What's best is that Pizza hut does an after 5 special where it's all you can eat for 299 teka!

Today I will leave you with some closing comments from my fellow trainee Andy, " Keep trying, don't worry to much about the cow pies, you have to have something to put the PB on..."