Comedy Club in Dhaka?? Who knew?

Tonight Andy I went out with two other couples to see some stand up comedy in Dhaka.  The man that was the feature comedian came from Chicago (where I am from) and did some great and well needed comedy for a great mix of folks at a comedy club here!  I was not really sure what to expect, but it was indeed hilarious and just what all of us needed.  He was on a tour that was sponsered by the State Department from the little that I read and heard about it.  He had been all over India doing his thing and then made it over to see us!  The crowd was a mix of expats and local Bangladeshis.  I highly recommend that if you get a chance to see him wherever he happens to be--mostly Chicago area, that you go see him.  Here is his page:  http://www.azhar.com/

One of our friends that we went out with made a great observation about our group that was going out.  This time last year, minus a week, we were all together watching the Superbowl in Silver Spring, MD.  How awesome is that?  We have friends that have stuck together and have formed a lasting bond.  It is what makes this lifestyle so wonderful.  We also have made great friends that are living in our building that makes it really feel like we are living in a college dorm.  We share drinks, dinners, playdates, and meet at the bus stop twice a day.

I have been on a break from my teaching online and it has been really wonderful.  My back problems have been nearly gone since I am not sitting at my computer all the time.  I am feeling like I can really enjoy living here more and more just by having some time off to go out and about more.  I have intended to get caught up and finish some other writing projects that need editing so I can get paid, but I have one more week left of break.  I will give it the old "cram it all in at the last minute" try.

Andy has been out of town a lot lately and he has gotten to see a lot of Bangladesh while he was out visiting project sites.  He also leaves tomorrow for Chittagong, which is an area to the southeast for a whole week.  He is a part of something called "America Week" and I am honestly not really sure what that entails.

Here is what happened when he finally came home from visiting Jessore and Rajshahi last week in the first hour.  Kids had just gotten home from school and he had just gotten home from an as usual crazy, stressful 8 hour drive.

Some very exciting news is that we will be going to Sri Lanka for the kids and our Spring Break and are thrilled.  I haven't left Dhaka or actually our "diplomatic enclave" area since we got here in December.  It gives us something to look forward to, because you really are never alone here.  Just going to the park is different.  We get followed and stared at and asked questions constantly.  The people are well meaning, but it is not why we really go to a park.  There are the Expat clubs for us to go to, but you know you do the same thing, and eat off the same menu and that too gets old.  So, a new place with a beach and some peace and fresh air is sounding so awesome.  Andy will also get to go to Budapest for training in March, and I am totally jealous!

Tomorrow our HHE shipment (comes by boat and comes later than the UAB, which came by air) arrives, which is usually a big one and I am not sure what all is coming other than a few exciting things:  a pool/ping pong table, kids toys, cuisinart, and kitchenaid mixer.  And...in about a month the car that we bought sight unseen from Japan arrives!!! 


Here are some pictures of Andy's adventures out of Dhaka to Jessore and Rajshahim.

                                                Above--on a ferry crossing a river.

                                             The ferry, the Keramat Ali.

                                             Man on the ferry.

                                         Nope, don't need to use the bathroom thank you.

                                            View from hotel room in Jessore.

                                                 Driving here, trucks coming at you, always.

                                                More driving.

                                       Group of men happy to get their picture taken, maybe.

                                        Not uncommon, glass being hauled on a rickshaw.

                 There's the glass in the front, and some kids behind them on their own rickshaw.

                                              Road construction, by HAND!

                                         Another truck playing chicken.

                                        His hotel was actually called Nice Hotel in Rajshahim.

                                        Lovely bathroom with a lovely polka dot curtain.

                                            Just moving my cattle.

                                         Child moving his cattle.

                                           Not sure, but not odd to see.