Day two in Chittagong was very busy, but very inspiring!
First we visited a literacy/computer/sewing training school, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Agrabad. (Incidentally, my host father, Sufi Mizanur, is the current president of this club)
The school is a wonderful project, teaching children how to read and write in Bangla and English, as well as help them train for future vocations, with computer and sewing classes
The next place we went was another school/ literacy center. The children showed us a little of what they've learned, and even sang for us! We drank some tea with the teachers afterwards, and our "ma" Zubeida convinced the teachers to sing for us the national anthem... she failed to mention that in return we should sing for them! We didn't want to try to hit the notes of our National Anthem, but we did sing "You Are My Sunshine" for them!
Then we visited another low-cost shelter sponsored by the Rotary Club of Agrabad.
After this we went for lunch and a tour of the steel factory owned by my host, Sufi Mizanur! The steel factory was INTENSE, and a very impressive operation, but we got our biggest kick from all of the safety signs posted all over, in English!
My family in Chittagong owns PHP Inc, which stands for Peace, Health, and Prosperity. PHP owns SEVERAL very successful lines of business, including the steel mill, a glass factory, a ship-breaking business, a hospital, the University of Information Technology and Science in Chittagong, a television channel, and many more. My host sister/mother, Saima, was telling me that it is a good thing Sufi Mizanur had seven sons, otherwise he would not have any time to sleep or see his family!
After this we went over to the proposed site of the new Kidney Foundation hospital, which is still just an empty lot with a small building / temporary office, but they are already up and running as far as helping people, with 3 donated dialysis machines.
Then we went for tea with Dr. Mahmud at his house, which is gorgeous, and his staff whipped up a small feast for us!
Then to home so I could actually spend time with my host family! Sufi Mizanur was in Pakistan due to an emergency, but Saima (his daughter-in-law, married to son #5) was kind enough to look after me. I had dinner with Saima and her husband, as well as another son and his family, recently returned from the states after having their baby in Miami. Both sons went to school in Canberra, AUS, so we had lots to talk about!
We are back in Dhaka as of yesterday, but now that I have regular internet again I will try to catch up on my blog entries!
First we visited a literacy/computer/sewing training school, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Agrabad. (Incidentally, my host father, Sufi Mizanur, is the current president of this club)
The school is a wonderful project, teaching children how to read and write in Bangla and English, as well as help them train for future vocations, with computer and sewing classes
The next place we went was another school/ literacy center. The children showed us a little of what they've learned, and even sang for us! We drank some tea with the teachers afterwards, and our "ma" Zubeida convinced the teachers to sing for us the national anthem... she failed to mention that in return we should sing for them! We didn't want to try to hit the notes of our National Anthem, but we did sing "You Are My Sunshine" for them!
Then we visited another low-cost shelter sponsored by the Rotary Club of Agrabad.
After this we went for lunch and a tour of the steel factory owned by my host, Sufi Mizanur! The steel factory was INTENSE, and a very impressive operation, but we got our biggest kick from all of the safety signs posted all over, in English!
My family in Chittagong owns PHP Inc, which stands for Peace, Health, and Prosperity. PHP owns SEVERAL very successful lines of business, including the steel mill, a glass factory, a ship-breaking business, a hospital, the University of Information Technology and Science in Chittagong, a television channel, and many more. My host sister/mother, Saima, was telling me that it is a good thing Sufi Mizanur had seven sons, otherwise he would not have any time to sleep or see his family!
After this we went over to the proposed site of the new Kidney Foundation hospital, which is still just an empty lot with a small building / temporary office, but they are already up and running as far as helping people, with 3 donated dialysis machines.
Then we went for tea with Dr. Mahmud at his house, which is gorgeous, and his staff whipped up a small feast for us!
Then to home so I could actually spend time with my host family! Sufi Mizanur was in Pakistan due to an emergency, but Saima (his daughter-in-law, married to son #5) was kind enough to look after me. I had dinner with Saima and her husband, as well as another son and his family, recently returned from the states after having their baby in Miami. Both sons went to school in Canberra, AUS, so we had lots to talk about!
We are back in Dhaka as of yesterday, but now that I have regular internet again I will try to catch up on my blog entries!
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