Orientation trip

Tuesday morning (just yesterday, but does seem like ages ago now!) we left at 6:30 for our trip north to visit our sites and some of the programs of MCC. Leaving Dhaka, it seemed the city was never ending and I began to fear Bangladesh was a giant suburb. At last we were surrounded by lush green rice fields rather than sky scrapers and congested markets. We bypassed Mynmeshingh, where we would spend the first 2 nights, and drove further north until the India border was in site. Our destination was a Catholic mission which is a recipient of funds from MCC to support the children who live and study there. The air at the mission was hot and thick, but the lush greenery, clear skies, and bright buildings made it a refreshing site. We were warmly welcomed by 2 sisters and ushered in for nescafe instant coffee (a special treat in Bangladesh), coconut crepes, and coconut pie made especially for us. After tea were were welcomed with songs and dances and presented with freshly cut flowers from the children. It was really beautiful, and still feeling a bit sad from all the goodbyes at home, it helped me remember of what a special privelige it is to view and participate in another culture. We had a tour and viewed the place where Christians gather each October for a pilgrimage and services. The sister escorting us expressed how vulnerable they feel as Christians who are such a minority (3%)in a Muslim country. The tour continued and we met the priest and others before being ushered in for a huge lunch. There were two types of chicken, rice, and vegetables followed by bananas and home canned pineapple. They presented Ethel (our Country Rep) with a giant bag of fresh coffee beans, so if any one has any roasting tips, do let us know. It's something to look forward to for sure.

The journey back to Myenmesingh was kind of surreal, so maybe I'll describe it at a later date. I'd just never even seen rice patties(?) before, and suddenly I've seen rice planting and cultivation at all stages. There's like rotatiller thing that goes throught the swamp preparing the soil (muck?), people ankle deep in mud planting the rice plants, and I don't know what else. There were people bathing in large murky ponds. There were congested market areas filled with rickshaws, food, craftspeople, fabrics, everything you can imagine (ok, well, I didn't see any ice cream shops or espresso stands, but the essentials were covered).

We eventually arrived at the MCC office/guest house which is really nice. They are really simple, but have ceiling fans and showers which, like I've said before, just make life good.