Security meeting shesh...

So I am back at the Sylhet internet cafe and our day long meeting has been concluded. "Shesh" by the way is Bangla for "finished". We met with our program manager and the country director who consequently because of your phone calls was denied going home for the holidays under these tense times. Basically we are working more intently with one another to create a bridge between the office and the volunteers because there is down right bad blood between the B7's and the office and now some of the B8's feel angsty too. I think that there have been misunderstandings on both parts and it is good that we are working together to build trust. We have revised our emergency action plan with direct volunteer input and we all feel pretty good about that. And the country has been quiet for the past few weeks. Just Bangladesh as usual. That is not to say that crap cannot happen but we are prepairing more and more for it if it does. And this country is so unpradictable that out of the blue major incidents can happen and then during tense political situations nothing happens.

Those of us who feel that we need to leave are leaving and many are staying. If something happens at my site who knows how I will react to the situation. You never really know until you are faced with these types of experiences. I have to say though that I feel committed to staying and although this is a damn tough country to work in there are starting to be pay offs. People in my town are getting used to me. My students call me by name on the street. I am more and more comfortable to be in my site and do things around this country. And I feel really committed to Peace Corps and what I am doing. Soon I will move into my new apartment and I am hella excited about that. I am also meeting a large international community and ex-pat community and there are a lot of opportunities abroad, sometimes even more than at home. And after my experience here I will be able to teach English anywhere. Which let me say that Japan always wants native English speaking teacher and they pay a CRAP LOAD of money. So I have many thoughts bouncing in my head. They will probably change and I may go through "I want to be home right now" feelings too, but its just the nature of this kind of work. I really do like being overseas though and the work that I am doing rocks.

So as far as it goes it looks like we are staying here in the the country. We have a very detailed list of contingencies and what to dos if things go nutty again. I am feeling better about the situation and I know I will be better able to deal with this country emotionally once I have my own apartment I can retreat to.

For now we are staying. My site is quiet and the volunteers have calmed down. Our voices have been heard and actions have been taken. Amar balo lage abong ami amar nouton site balo bashe. Which is Bangla for "I am feeling good and I really love my new site".

So my readers I hope you have had a wonderful holiday. I know I did and the New Year will see me in my new home. Oh yes I have been staying in a nice hotel here in Sylhet. I have had yummy food, a hot bath and cable tv. I watched "Aliens" with some of my comrades and oh yeah the little ants got to my underwear even here in this fancy hotel. I asked the other women volunteers here if they had experienced the pervert panty ants. But alas no they had not. I wonder what it means........

So business as usual...... I will write again when I get back to M'bazar. Just wanted to give you an update about the security situation. Looks like we are staying folks and I am glad of it. I hate leaving my work unfinished.

M