Week 49: After being on these buses so long, I can't wait to ride my lifelong love again soon: TRAIN!

49th-1st in Dhaka 8/6

Spent part of the day updating my paper for the conference. I had gotten some comments from Dr. Rahman, and some others from when my dad had read through the paper. I worked through what were issues, discussed some of it with Saket and Samantha online, and produced a piece which I’m very proud to submit. I went out to get the copyright form and registration form printed out.

In the afternoon, after spending the majority of the day doing all this, I went out and rode two buses. I did the #13 two times, and the ride back was the most I’d ever seen the bus get crowded. It was great data! I had a good time collecting despite it being really uncomfortable on the bus…it’s crowded remember?

49th-2nd in Dhaka 8/7

I woke up with a bit of heartburn, and a pain in my stomach. Didn’t want to do the morning data collection. Somehow I convinced myself to get up and go to Kalabagan though. It was only one hour, and I thought I could handle it. I did, it wasn’t fun, but now it’s out of the way. At home, I rested. Was not feeling good. Had some breakfast, despite the heartburn, of rice and fish.
I then organized myself to go submit my paper to the conference. I got the paper printed out three times somewhere, burned the CD, and got the materials to send to India. I went to Sundarbans Courier Service last night and they said they send to India. So I went back today to send. I wrote the envelope out, and put everything inside. They then picked it up, looked inside, and told me they can’t send CDs. While they were discussing amongst each other why they can’t do this, I grabbed my stuff and walked out.

I ended up having to take all these things to DHL. They were willing to ship it, but it is expensive. Had to pay, no other choice as far as I can tell. While there, I asked them again about prices to ship things to the US. It is also very expensive. I really need to figure out what I’m doing about all this stuff I want to bring home. Especially since it costs so much just to bring it on the planes.

I saw these guys on the street in Azimpur. Always tried to get a shot of the guys with the bees! (pic: these men sell honeycomb, but they keep it fresh with lots of bees...and then walk around with this bowl full of honey and bees on their head) [and I have to add that I have been singing this song since I saw these guys because of the second line "I've got bees on my head, but don't call me a bee head": the theme song from the Andy Milonakis Show (didn't post this originally but my friend Ben sent me the youtube link so I decided to post)]
















I then rode the #9 bus, and boy did it fly through its route. The bus got super packed too! Buses like this are exact reasons why my original hypothesis was wrong.
During and after I was feeling sick still. Perhaps it was lunch, maybe stuff lingering from the morning. But although I wanted to ride one more bus, I couldn’t bring myself to do it, and instead took a bus straight home.

At home I was sick, maybe the worst of all my times. I drank saline and ate crackers, but that only helped so much. I tried watching movies, but all I had were boring, and I ended up falling asleep.

49th-3rd in Dhaka 8/8

Still not feeling too good today when I woke up. Stomach pain. Hungry, but afraid to eat. I had enough energy though to make it over to Auvi’s place. We had been planning for me to come back over for lunch sometime, as he wanted to serve me the beef I loved when I ate there last time. We also had plans to discuss our trip to Chittagong sometime in the coming month.
I had lunch there, which his mother encouraged me to eat. I took rice and some vegetables on my plate, and she also insisted I eat some beef and chicken. Nothing spicy, nothing oily. Just foods to fill me and get me back to a normal diet.
After lunch we hung out in Auvi’s room. His friend Zarif was over too. They are in the middle of their final exams of their last semester at university. Zarif was studying for an exam. They also have a final project due next week, they have to build a line following robot. And they haven’t even started. Auvi tried explaining to me why, and what they’re going to do, but I still never really understood how there was any way anything was going to happen.
We worked out our Chittagong trip dates. We’re going to travel two weekends from now. Next weekend I’ll be in Rangpur with Ayon and his university friends. I’m excited.

After spending the afternoon there, Zarif and I headed back to Dhanmondi together. I watched “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” I liked it a lot, enough to go back and watch the original afterward. I ate dinner at home of crackers and soup as my stomach still wasn’t 100%

49th-4th in Dhaka 8/9

Moweena took a giant bag of recyclables today. She said she’ll get Tk15 per kg at the scrap junk place. Bottles and paper and plastic, she’ll get money for all of this. The bag was half her size! She collects all the stuff in the kitchen. When I realized what she was doing, I stopped throwing things away and put them in the kitchen instead, so she wouldn't have to go through the garbage later. (pics: Moweena with the bag of recyclables, all the items we've saved over the past two months)

The places in which you sell this stuff confused me for the first few months. Even when my father asked me what it was on my parents’ visit, I didn’t know at the time. The places look like stores selling garbage, or perhaps nothing at all.

I’m feeling a bit better today, but rice and fish for breakfast wasn’t very appetizing.

Diya picked me up in her father’s car and we went to a movie screening in Gulshan. Her friend Adnan had produced with his friends a film about historical sites and history of Bangladesh. They called it “Finding Bangladesh” and they were motivated by their lack of knowledge about their own country. They had the Westin’s ballroom reserved, with lots of chairs set up in front of a giant screen.
Geared to students, and light on the seriousness, it had them exploring the best sites of Bangladesh, in an effort to educate kids about what is really out there. The film was funny, they did a great job editing, and although there were points where it was a tad awkward, it was a good production. If I had to make recommendations to them, it’d be to remove some of their personal sentiments. Their input about repainting Ahsan Manzil pink as disheartening, or that the government isn’t doing a good job maintaining certain sites, made the film lose a bit of credibility as an educational tool. Also, I would recommend them to get all their facts straight. They dated some buildings several centuries too early, especially in Sonargaon where they labeled a group of 18th century buildings 13th century. As well, they said one old temple was 100 meters tall! That would make it the tallest building in Bangladesh! It looked more about 10 meters tall. I’ll forgive them for their spelling mistakes that showed up on film.
The best parts were definitely recognizing that this is the first film of its kind by students in Bangladesh. Very impressive. They have no budget, yet took the time to visit the places and see all the sites. Then edit and make an hour plus long film. And then get it out to the public so well!
They have two more films to go, as they split the country up into thirds, covering two divisions in each film. Was very glad Diya invited me along to this. (pics: Diya and the invitation to the movie screening, the giant screen and stage before the screening of "Finding Bangladesh")
















Diya’s mom picked us up to go home. On the way back we stopped at the BDR shop, a supermarket of sorts, her mom needed to get eggs. Diya wanted to wait in the car, but I was glad to go in with her mom. Being there, looking at the few shelves, and watching her with the shopping cart, made me think of being with my own mother at Foodtown. I just looked at the shelves and bought some things too: spring rolls, chocolate chip cookies, juice. Diya came in as we were checking out. I had wanted to help bag, but there were many gentlemen there to do that for us. The resulting outcome: I miss helping my mother shop for food, and look forward to it when I get home! (pic: Diya and her mother at the BDR shop)

I watched a movie tonight, and was eating dinner during. But the audio and visual tracking lost each other, and it was annoying to watch after that. Turned it off and went to bed.

49th-5th in Dhaka 8/10

I went to Auvi’s around lunchtime as we were going to go to Kamalapur Station to buy our train tickets. We had lunch there as well. But things didn’t turn out so well when we went to the station. The tickets aren’t on sale until two days from now, which is surprising as the trip is only 11 days away. It seemed a bit ridiculous to both of us.

Had raw guava for the first time today. Didn’t know the things that everyone were eating like an apple were guavas! Probably never would’ve tried it if Auvi hadn’t handed me a piece. I’ve only had it in juice form, and I think I recall it being pink then, while this was entirely white.

After this, I went to Tejgaon where I did two evening data collections, one on either side of the road. It was raining, and so I had to stand underneath an umbrella the entire time. Luckily I had something to rest my clipboard on so I could still write and hold the umbrella at the same time. No one bothered to talk to me tonight because no one wanted to be in the rain, of course if they wanted to stand under my umbrella, I would’ve been totally fine with it.

After I went and got a snack, which ended up being my dinner, at a bakery. I found a fried roll with pasta inside! Very interesting, that I ordered an extra. However, despite its tastiness, what I really wanted tonight was a Grease Trucks’ Fat Sandwich, the wonderful food sold at Rutgers University. So filling, so tasty. Texted Chris, an RU alumnus, to let him know.

49th-6th in Dhaka 8/11

I left my house early to head to Tejgaon again for the morning data collection. For some reason it was really hard to get there! A pain! Took a half hour to cross to Dhanmondi. My first rickshaw went a bizarre way and I had to leave him and take another as we were stuck. Then the bus was stuck in a massive jam, and I was crushed like never before inside.
I honestly feel the jams have gotten worse in Dhaka since I arrived. More frequent and longer waits.

I did the first data collection. The ticket guy near me recognized me from another place another day.
After that I headed up to Gulshan. Got breakfast at Coffee World, and had a waffle.
Saw that A&W got closed down. Asked a guard across the street what happened and when. He said it was one week ago, and it was because they had not paid their rent in 3 years! I guess I won’t be having Iftar there this year.
Went to the Jet Airways office to check out airfares. Decided against flying them, I’d only be doing it for flight miles, and it’s too much for what I’d be earning. Will fly budget airlines for sure.
Went by UPS and FedEx today, and very surprisingly they are much much cheaper than DHL! 3 times as cheap. My calculations tell me that for a 25kg package through DHL, it would cost $650 to ship to the US. UPS is only $260 and FedEx is $198! Bizarre a little. Both UPS and FedEx have a 25kg box special that is a great deal, the prices above. I pick up the box from then, fill it up, and ship it, up to 25kg. So I’ll be doing that for sure. Only catch is the box is a fixed size that isn’t too big, so I want to make sure I put my heaviest things in it, to make sure it hits the 25kg.

Went back to Tejgaon to do two more midday data collections, one on either side of the road. Nothing exciting, it started to rain a bit again and I had to use the umbrella. (pics: my simple tools for counting buses, the best picture I've caputred of a crowded bus and people running to the door and cramming every last spot)
















Later I went to Ferdous tailors to pick up my tuxedo! I was very excited to see the final product. I got there and they gave me piece by piece to try on, starting with the pants, then the jacket then the shirt and then the cummerbund. It all looked great. Fit perfectly. Was very impressed. Now I just need an occasion to wear it!

At my evening data collection tonight at Banani bus stand I saw a foreigner buying a bus ticket! I never have before seen this. I’ve always been the only one, unless I’m dragging someone else on the bus with me. I kind of wanted to talk to him.

After I met with Toma at Bella Italia, where we had great pizza (kind of like Federici’s in Freehold) and seafood pasta. Had been craving it for awhile. Then we went across the street to Andersen’s Ice Cream for a sundae. Her driver picked us up, and he dropped me off at Sat Rasta, from there I took a rickshaw to Farmgate. This was much faster than taking the #6 to Farmgate. The driver said I went through a “dangerous” place, but I feel like people would say that about half the places I go or do here. (pics: Toma having seafood pasta at Bella Italia, myeslf and a delicious ice cream sundae)
















49th-7th in Dhaka 8/12

Worked on planning my India trip this morning. I’m throwing around different itineraries to see what best fits what I want to see. My friend Megan has been giving me advice on Kolkata, but for the rest I’m searching internet sites and books to see how much time I should spend in each spot. The train times I want never seem to exist, so I have to work within what is there.
I think I have a schedule I think I like, now that I’ve decided to take the train from Dhaka to Kolkata on the 7th. Emailed the conference organizers to affirm that I need to be there on the 12th, so I don’t show up for something unimportant. They confirmed that I really should be there.

Went to Rampura bus stand to do a midday data collection. The ticket collectors there were the most interested about my work than any others before. They didn’t leave my side, except to sell a ticket or two on their infrequent buses, the entire hour. They asked lots of questions, and I had no issue entertaining them as long as I could still work. The road was easy to count as traffic moves so slow there.

After this I took a bus down to Kamalapur Railway Station to wait for Auvi so we could buy our train tickets to Chittagong next week. I was also going to buy my train ticket to Kolkata. I had lunch at the station. After lunch, I headed to the Kolkata ticket counter. The ticket buying requires a passport and visa, and I got stuck behind a guy registering his whole family of 15 people. A long wait. I filled out the form meanwhile, and then just stood there. He at least provided me good conversation. Auvi showed up during this time, and after I finally got to buy my ticket to Kolkata, we headed to the window to buy our Chittagong ticket. It took less than a minute. I felt a bit bad that Auvi had come all the way down there. But he didn’t mind, nothing else to do he said….coming from a guy in the middle of exams!
We also talked about our itinerary too, and how I have a fantasy football draft that Sunday! He has a wedding that day too. We’ll try to arrange both. I’ll be brining my laptop for sure.
Buying the tickets to both these places made me more excited to go there. Especially India.

I then rode two #6 buses from Kamalapur to Gulshan. I didn’t get off in between, and it took about 3.5 hours to do them. Both had lots of crowding and a few interesting people to talk to me. Conductors always talk to me after they see me stay on the bus between routes.

At night I bought the plan ticket from Kolkata to Chennai in September. I will fly the budget airline SpiceJet.
Ayon called, and we chatted about our trip to Rangpur this weekend. He told me all about his past trip to Sylhet, sounded like a blast. Lastly, he told me he’ll be coming to Chittagong. Uh oh, we bought our tickets today though, he better go soon and get his.

Week 18: Transitioning from the holidays to a research schedule

18^th-1st in Dhaka 1/2

Was going to go out and buy a few things before I hung out with Cynthia. But I went to get our padlock and it was left open by Mohan the last time he came back. It’s almost impossible to get it to work if it’s left open (as opposed to leaving it locked.) And this time I fumbled with it for an hour. Couldn’t get it to work. Ended up having to lock the door with our other padlock for which we only have one key, meaning I had to give that key to our landlord. Our landlord is very busy planning for a wedding coming up, felt bad disturbing her.

Cynthia and I met and went to Old Dhaka to explore for a few hours. We headed for Ahsan Manzil and then walked back from there to Gulistan. She said the rickshaw ride we took from Gulistan to the river was the longest she’d ever been on. Sat and looked at the river go by in front of us. We actually went inside Ahsan Manzil since this is the first time in three tries for me that it’s been open. But we didn’t do the museum inside any justice. quickly walking through just to see the layout of the old royal palace. We left after at most 20 minutes and started walking back. Wound through the streets, stumbled upon a Hindu festival right in the middle of one of the streets. Saw monkeys hanging out on the edge of a building. Ate some petha in front of a Hindu temple. Glad to share her first time in Old Dhaka with her. (pics: Ahsan Manzil, Cynthia walking in front of Ahsan Manzil, monkeys in Old Dhaka, my favorite Hindu temple right in the middle of the streets of Old Dhaka.)

We took a bus back to Gulshan. Ate some ice cream at movenpick.

Dropped her off at Numyaer’s and then somehow got invited with all of Numayer, Nashad, Risal, Cynthia, and Numayer’s cousins and sister to Heritage restaurant. It was to spend the money that his side earned at the “gate”. I mentioned the “gate” from the wedding, where the groom’s side pays the bride’s side to enter the wedding. Well the same thing happens when the bride comes the first time to stay at the groom’s family’s house permanently. Family members will block her entry until she pays some sum of money. So the money we were eating off of was the money Nashad paid to come to Numayer’s home. I’m quite sure technically since Risal, Cynthia, and I are from the bride’s side, we weren’t supposed to be there, but we were still glad to be included. (pics: Risal/Nashad/Cynthia after Numayer's "gate" dinner)

Then we went to movenpick!! Hah! Cynthia’s and my second time today!

18^th-2nd in Dhaka 1/3

Picked up my suit today. It is really nice, and the shirt and tie I got for it look good as well. This is the start of loading up on clothes to bring home due to the lower garment industry prices here.

Went to Baridhara and dropped off baksheesh (tip) to Sujit, but he wasn’t there, so I gave the card with money inside to Erin to give to him. Also dropped off baksheesh to my guards downstairs.

After changing into suit at Naira’s, we all went to the Bashundara Convention Center for the reception (same place that Nashad’s and Numayer’s reception was.) Hung out with the guys at dinner and outside. Megan came separately as well because she knew the groom’s side and also wanted to meet Nerpa, the bride. Receptions are all about taking lots of pictures and eating. Cake was cut too. (pics: myself/Naira at her sister's reception, Raja/Sadia/Tashfique in front of the large reception eating area which still has two seatings!, myself/Tashfique/Shariful/Raja hanging out outside at reception, all us guys posing with the groom and bride)

After reception the family and friends went back to Naira and Nerpa’s house. There the newly married couple, Nerpa and Probal, were brought into the house with the Koran being held over their head and welcomed by family members. After some time chatting downstairs, it was time for them to go to Nerpa’s bedroom which was lit with candles and petals on the bed. Nerpa went up the stairs alone and Probal was carried by Tashfique and Akbar. I think it is supposed to be bachelors carrying him. At the top of the steps Probal picked up Nerpa and brought her to the bedroom and placed her on the bed. (pics: Probal and Nerpa entering her home with Koran overhead, Probal being carried up the stairs by bachelors, Probal placing his new wife on her bed.)

The guys and I went to Shariful’s house after to spend the night. Played soccer on PS2. Fell asleep around 3:30 in the morning but honestly could’ve done so several hours earlier.

18^th-3rd in Dhaka 1/4

Woke up early at Shariful’s. Left as quietly as I could, the rest were all still sleeping. Spent all day at home and did some research even though it was the weekend. It was a day off for me and I really wanted to do some reading.

In the evening, my second roommate Moin came from his home in Khulna. He’d been there for 2 months because he had jaundice and was recovering. He said he’s recovered but is sticking to fresh foods without lots of grease, and trying to eat at home. He came home and we chatted while I was on the computer. I was supposed to go my landlord’s brother’s gaye holud tonight and Nafisas birthday party. Moin advised just to choose the birthday party since I knew Nafisa better, amongst other reasons. Well upon leaving for that, the landlord caught me on the stairs, and I felt real bad telling her I wasn’t coming. A few minutes later got a call that the birthday party was canceled. Why I didn’t go back to go to the wedding I don’t know. I just felt weird saying “no”, and then showing up right after. Still feel guilty now.

With nothing to do now I called Megan and we got Mexican food at El Toro. Mexican was ok. Guacamole was amazing. The amount of cheese on the nachos was not enough to satisfy my craving. I was nice to have a change in style of food though. Definitely not El Meson (my family’s favorite Mexican place in Freehold!)

18^th-4th in Dhaka 1/5

Today is 4 months!

Megan sent me a website where I can watch episodes of CBS’s How I Met Your Mother, so took advantage and watched one this morning.

Went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (POC3) today! I had low expectations for the movie as I found the second in the series to be confusing and only slightly entertaining. But I thought it’d still be fun to see a movie in the only international style theater here in Bangladesh. And they only play one English movie (and on a rare occasion two) at a time, and this movie will run for over a month before they bring in another film.

Before the movie had lunch. There are so many restaurants here, and each one is avidly trying to get you try to eat there. As you walk through the rows upon rows of fast food places, they each jut a menu in front of your face and try to get you to look at it. You have to walk past firmly to make it through, they’ll stand in your way. The funny thing is, they all serve the same thing! Each one has fried chicken, and rice, and vegetable dishes, and kebabs, and bread. It’s the same stuff at 80% of them, I don’t understand how they all stay open. There’s no attempt to differentiate, except for the one Taco Bell (not a real Taco Bell, in name only), and a few pizza places.

Just like in South Africa, the movie theater tickets are assigned. But unlike South Africa, there are different prices for seats depending on where you want to sit. Since it is stadium seating, the seats higher up with an easier view of the screen cost 50% as much. Only Tk150, but they are called the VIP seats, as opposed to the non-VIP seats at Tk100. I splurged and got the more expensive ones! Ha

Got some popcorn, and it was decent, they give it small bags, only one size. Cups of coke too, but these also were in sizes that are way too small for US movie watchers.

Movie, just like US movies now, had tons of commercials as previews. Although after the commercials, there weren’t any previews. Granted POC3 is old, so why would they want to use previews that were released with the film? Also no more than one movie from the US comes here at a time. Additionally, all movies are approved by the Bangladesh Film Censor Board first before being seen in theaters by the public (use your imagination for what they are censoring, possibly political reasons included) so not guaranteed a preview movie will ever even come to theaters. Thus, no previews.

Anyway, the most interesting pre-movie event was the playing of the Bangladeshi National Anthem and the picture of the Bangladeshi flag on the movie screen. 80% of the audience immediately stood at attention at their seats, another 10% stood up slowly, and another 10% didn’t stand at all. It played for about one minute, and then shut off as the movie started. Didn’t expect that at all.

Another unexpected thing was an intermission. If you’ve seen POC3 you know there is no planned intermission, but I guess an intermission was decided to be necessary. At some possibly predetermined point they paused the movie mid frame and the lights went on, everyone promptly filed out and went to the bathroom and got snacks. Lasted about 10 minutes, then without any announcement the movie restarted. Not everyone came back, or came back in time.

Went to dinner at Malancha Restaruant. From the sign with picture of a burger on it, I thought it’d be international food. But no, was deceived, it was Bangladeshi food.

18^th-5th in Dhaka 1/6

Spent a good amount of the day at BUET today. Before heading out discovered that my bag had an orange left in it about a week ago. It was moldy and was leaking orange juice everywhere. Real real gross. I had to pull it out by hand and wash it out in the bathroom. Blehhhh. Hung it to dry, and brought everything in my laptop case instead to BUET.

Got to BUET and looked for Dr. Rahman to sign my computer user sheet. He wasn’t there. So I went to the library and spent some time on my laptop researching pedestrian bridges and tunnels. Found many good articles that I plan to use, and one which was very similar to exactly what I want to do if I go ahead with the pedestrian crossing project. Was in the library until my laptop began to die, and without a suitable outlet to recharge, I decided to shift.

Went to the lobby of the computer lab, and plugged into the best wall socket I could find.

Spent another hour or more researching on the pedestrian topics. Checked to see if Dr. Rahman was in as I was leaving BUET, and he still wasn’t there. Went by the ARC to see if the student I met last time was there. Hoping to talk to him about what he’s doing, and my ideas, see what we’re connecting on. He wasn’t there, out to lunch.

Also noticed at BUET today that my zipper fly on my pants wouldn’t zipper up. It would go up and down, but wouldn’t actually close. This was quite disconcerting. I decided to go home, and change. Hiked my pants up as high as they could go and pulled my belt tight. Then ensured by shirt was pulled down as far as it could go. My best attempt to avoid embarrassment. Wondered what people would notice first: the international guy or that this guy’s fly is open? Or even, both at the same time! A story definitely worth telling friends later. Brought them by a tailor later to have them fixed.

Headed home and got lunch at a sweet shop. Ate a chicken burger and vegetable roll. It was maybe a few minutes after that I felt sick. Uh oh. Went home and laid in bed.

Started to watch Transformers as I wasn’t feeling good and just wanted to relax.

Still decided to meet up with Cynthia and cousins for dinner, as this was her last dya in town. Met at Risal’s place, mistakenly choosing the long way to get there. Impressed myself that I remembered its location three months since I last went there. Hung out there until we went back to Dhanmondi to go to the Leisure Lounge for dinner. My stomach was getting worse and worse. Took some medicine Risal bought me. And had only pasta for dinner. But things weren’t getting better.

Did my best to be social during dinner despite feeling gross. Talked to Risal’s brother-in-law a bit about skyscrapercity.com. He’s another user, and it was really cool to talk about that stuff, not many of us post there, and to unexpectedly meet someone else was really cool. It was Cynthia’s last night too, and she was really nice and paid for us all. Didn’t expect that.

Trying to sleep. Stomach hurts. Moaning all night.

18^th-6th in Dhaka 1/7

Stayed in bed for the morning and watched the end of Transformers. Talked to Moin before he left. He quit his job. He’s going to go back home. He’s still feeling weak from jaundice, and needs proper rest. Said he can only get that at his village. So after just a few days of being here, he’s heading back home to get more recovery. No more second roommate.

It was pointed out to me by my garbage collector, who comes up the stairs of our apartment building to pick up trash bins and dump them into a big container he carries, that my can was filled with maggots. I promptly cleaned that out.

On the subject of garbage, I’ll mention some stuff about it. First, there are no trash cans here (kind of like Washington DC once they got rid of them due to the fear of bombs.) But here there are no cans because anywhere is legitimately a trash can. You can throw your trash anywhere you want. Parks are littered, sides of roads are littered. But why is it not totally covered? Well because every morning people hired by the city government (by the department in charge of cleaning) come about dressed in yellow smocks, and take to the streets sweeping them up with brooms. They pick up the trash, not all of it, but most. Most are women. Thus knowing this, people feel free to throw their waste any moment they want to. Honestly, it does look a bit dirty, but it’s working ok. I guess it saves having to set up all these trash cans. (pics: small pile of garbage on the street along with some chicken feathers from a carcass a dog was eating, trash in the drainage ditch along the side of the road)

From houses, workers come to pick up the trash. They come to your door and if you’ve left your trash out for them, they dump it from your basket into a big bin they carry. They carry the bin full of trash to their carts outside. These rickshaw style carts can hold a decent amount of trash. And they cycle the trash to the dumpsters and get rid of it. I’ve also seen these carts take trash from the dumpsters, so maybe that’s how they are emptied. I’ve never actually seen them get emptied. The trash piles up in the dumpsters after its collected, which do smell a bit as you pass. (pic: garbage carts parked in front of dumpster)

The sweepers in the morning also help get rid of all the dust. For such a rainy place, its quite dusty (now because it’s the dry season I presume,) lots of dirt, the place looks a little cloudy all the time. People wear masks to deal with the bad air.

Also no plastic bags here. I’m quite sure there was policy passed to not have plastic bags in Bangladesh, so at stores you can get net bags and on the streets food is served in old newspaper or used copy paper shaped into cups or plates or packets. Many places use newspaper. What a great way to recycle! (pic: old piece of copy paper used to wrap up 100g of peanuts)

Lastly, talking about things that aren’t quite that pleasant, if you ever have a feeling of vomiting from the bus, feel free. I’ve seen on numerous occasions people leaning their head out the window and retching. Its gross, the streets gets covered. But what’re you to do if it comes? Not sure why so many people are vomiting though. I’ve seen a car below get covered by a bus barfer just once.

Went to Banani to American center to pick up packages. Some from my parents, a postcard from fawn, and the Tonight We Die CD from South Africa. Fun bringing all that back by bus.

18^th-7th in Dhaka 1/8

Went to ­­BUET. Spent the morning in the library. Brought the right plug adaptor this time. Actually stayed in there awhile and got things done. Checked before and after this morning for Dr. Rahman but still no sign of him.

Met with Sohel for some time at ARC, the guy I met last week randomly in the hallway who seemed to have similar interests. Talked to him about my ideas and just tried to get to know him better. Found out that research has actually been done in Bangladesh on what I’m interested in, but it’s not published in major journals. Usually its a M.S. thesis. Either way, I can find this stuff in the library here, so it’ll be good to review it. He was more excited about the pedestrian stuff I told him since that’s what he’s been working with.

Dr. Haque came in while we were chatting. He showed me even more papers that he’s worked on, or his students have worked on, that I could consider.

The Civil Engineering library will take some getting used to. I’m being optimistic and hoping there is a method to the madness. But as far as I can tell there is no organization. Yes there are shelves marked ‘Undergraduate Papers’ but after that, on that shelf, you will find stacks of papers from random years on random topics, none of which are related. It would be cruel to say they were just thrown there because they are placed in nice piles. The graduate thesis papers are on a shelf and numbered, but by how I don’t know. Not by topic, not by year, not by name. Not sure yet. My mom, the librarian, would have a fit. I’m not sure how I’ll ever find anything there, but my best hope is that the librarians, when not busy, know exactly where each and every document is. I’ll ask around, but just not too sure what the chances are.

Left, felt exhausted. Couldn’t find what I want. Will go back next time and ask someone to help. I’ll bring all the necessary information so they can’t say I didn’t try.