Culture Shock is dandy...

So according to the Peace Corps culture shock diagram I am somewhere in the blue circle of ethnocentric denial. But i am getting over my previous meltdown. I am just extremely tired and feel like i am burning out. And I am in need of various vices not limited to but including wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. One more month of training.....

So I promised to tell you all of my site announcement, except that i am writing this on Thursday and my announcement is on Friday... and I am here now. Its ok i will try to get back to the cafe in the next few days to tell you. I am excited and i pressed very hard in my interview for an all girls college. Really I have no interest in teaching the boys here. I mean now i am in an all girls school and it is the ONLY thing that re-charges me. The other day my students begged me not to leave Gazipur. "Madame! Madame! Please do not go. We love your class. Please stay and teach us English.!!!" Then they "gifted" me two note books. It really melted my heart considering I have only been teaching for 2 weeks. See these girls have never had anyone believe in them. They have never had any one say "Show me what you can do!!" They have never had anyone be interested in their opinions and dreams. Never had anyone see them for more than breeders and maids. Its funny because back in the States I had these rose colored glasses in reference to Islam. I still don't think that you should bash anyone's religion but damn this religion is the most hostile i know of towards women.

So yeah I am feeling better and enjoying oatmeal in the mornings. At the end of October when we swear in as volunteers we will go to Dhaka. We get to go to the American club (which has a bar!!) and get a few days of R & R. A few trainees went to Dhaka a week ago and there was a party hosted by the US MArine Corps. Yep thats right folks the US Marines who guard the US embassy see us Peace Corps girls as "fresh meat". Ummmmm Peace Corps.... Marine Corps... sigh that kind of union could never work. Anyway, I did not go to said party as i have no interest in being oggled by American soldiers thank you very much. I am plenty oggled by male Bangladeshi population. Anyway the Peace Corps is the largest American ex-pat community in Bangladesh so that is pretty interesting.

Updates:
Bellydancing: Class is going good and I am looking foreward to teaching it at site. We are also having a trainee talent show and yes I will be belly dancing in that as well as being a member of the BBB troup. YEp thats right folks BBB the Burka Burlesque of Bangladesh!!! You never knew I was such a shameless hussy. So yeah Trevor one of our other pro-dancers has coreographed this little number... should be fun....

Host Family: THey are behaving themselves more and more. The pavlovian chapter/ exercises from my psych 101 class is paying off quite well. Beetee was gone for a week, visiting other relatives but she is back now. And where ever I go in the house she follows me and pets my head. She also kisses the inside of my elbow. Anyway my host mother is behaving herself but I cannot do any work in the house. The minute I sit down to read she paces back and forth in front of my until I stop. Reading makes her uncomfortable and she is jealous of my books.

Tropical Disease: none so far but mosquito season has started andI have loads of bites. The tropics suck.

Also I wanted to give you links to some of my comrades blogs so you can get different perspectives.

http://travisschultzsonlinejournal.blogspot.com

http://chroniclesfromthedesh.blogspot.com

http://pcwanderlust.blogspot.com

http://ze6ke.com

So take a nosey and see what is up.

Mom: I got your pictures. NIce car!! So how is the midlife crisis going? Tee hee... Really though I do want to go cruising with you and Iran,in my burka of course.

Dad and Grandma: Don't be such worry warts!! Really I am fine. I probably should not write the negative stuff but hey Peace Corps is tough and Culture Shock is not easy. I am ok though. Have fun on your Meditteranean Cruise. I am jealous of course but I can forgive myself for missing the Russian trip and the Italy trip. What I am vexed about is that you are going back to England so soon!!!! I don't even have leave built up yet! Ah well.... I will be getting around Asia since i am here. Cockroaches are starting to bother me less and less.

Che Bear: Imiss you so much, which is funny because when we were kids i wanted to kill you. Guess I am getting soft in my old age. Yes at 27 I am one of the oldest trainees here. Most of us are 22, 23 and 24. Babies!! Anyway I love your e-mails so much you write really well and it picks me up! I am going to Singapore and my friend Adrienne said you could come with us. So mabey we can coordinate.... Anyway kiss Audie for me.

Cathy Bear and Erin Bear: Thank you for the letters!!! I read them almost everyday. I really want to move into your house Cathy. Can I when i get back? heh heh heh.... Really I am so happy that you guys write you are the best friends a girl could want. And you are both bellydancers! Yee haw! Also Erin please save your pennies for our trip you have 2 years. Cathy you are also invited damn it.

Dom, Katheryn, Tommie: I really am sad not to be celebrating Samhain with you guys!! Please think of me and give my love to his blueness.

Ok......so today I am better... Tomorrow i may not be but please rember that I am not myself and I am more myself here.

Kisses
M