Beautiful Bangali wedding

Hospitality is a large part of this lovely culture! Such an example to follow. Susan and Ruthie (the ladies who's home I eat in) invited a newly wed couple over a few days ago, along with his brother and mother. Even though I was unable to understand all the conversation I was so blessed by the beautiful example of a new family who's foundation is in Christ.

As arranged marriages are the norm here, this was one of the cases. Although they had met in 2006, and were able to see each other on and off until now, they were waiting for her to finish her education. She was living in Dhaka (the capital city), and he here in Malumghat. His father passed away a few years ago so his Uncle helped arrange for everything to take place. The decisions made here are very family oriented! This includes marriages. The bride had never been to this area of Bangladesh, so I'm sure this will be a huge adjustment for her - moving to the country, living with a new family (since he is the eldest son he is expected to care for his widowed mother and be the head of the home, so they all live together), new friends, new church, possibly a new job, and of course the whole marriage part.

He definitely has taken on the leadership role of the home, so encouraging to see. He was talking of how each night they have family Bible Study together before dinner. He works on the compound in administration, and is also a elder/deacon in the church.

I was able to attend their wedding shortly after I arrived here. So different, yet so beautiful! The day before the wedding a traditional turmeric ceremony is held. This is called 'gaye holud' which means yellowing of the body . This is where turmeric spice and other curry spices are mixed together and smeared on the wedding couple to make their skin beautiful for their wedding day. I was able to go to this ceremony and participate in the activities.

The grooms family household where the turmeric ceremony was held

Family and friends gathered waiting for the bride and groom.
One of the nursing students in my class with her little beautiful daughter. Even the little ones are dressed so beautifully in their sari's. As orange/yellow is the color of the turmeric applied on the couples skin most people are wearing these colors.
Close friends/relatives of the couple bringing out food for them.

The bridal party. She was so beautiful! It is respectful for the couple to look solomn as the bride is now leaving ties to her family. Speeches and prayers were made.

Grounding up of the turmeric and other spices

Each person present would put some of the spice paste on their fingers and rub some on the couples arms and/or face. After this we fed them some of the food set infront of them. Here is the grooms Mother putting the paste on her son and feeding him.

The Wedding!! So an advantage of being the new person is you get pulled into things normally most people aren't. I was able to have a sneak preview of the bride while she was getting ready before the ceremony. Absolutely beautiful - of course!

Church ceremony - message, youth choir singing, vows, signing of the certificate, instead of kissing they place a string of flowers around each others neck.

The 'feast' was held in the church yard. The food consisted of rice (of course), goat, fish, chicken, vegetables in sauce, dahl (lentil dish), egg, and a type of rice pudding for dessert.

The couple with grooms Mother.

The beautiful couple :)

February 21st - Mother Language Day

Feb 21st is a national holiday called Mother Language Day. In 1952 when Pakistan wanted to make Urdu their official language some people protested and were killed, thus also called 'Language Martyrs Day'. Bengali language is highly esteemed here and these people are recognized each year for dying for their language. This started the Bangladesh independence movement that came to be in 1971 (formerly known as East Pakistan).

Since it was a day off at the college, I was able to attend a celebration at the high school. This included all the kids ~ 750 from the primary and secondary schools run by AOB (Association of Baptists, known as ABWE in Canada).

Organizing 750 kids

The kids paraded barefoot (sign of respect) around the Bazaar (town), and mainroad, around the schoolgrounds of primary school back to the highschool. Traffic was stopped for this.

Staff members from the hospital remembering - notice the flag at half mass. The flag is green with a red dot in the middle to signify the bloodshed of these individuals.

Kids parading back to the highschool.

All the kids picked flowers laying them at this memorial at the hospital.

National anthem

Kids with the alphabet and flags painted on their faces.

Primary school on the compound - Grades 1-5

The first day after I arrived I got a tour around the compound and these little Grade 1 students sang a song for me...so cute!

MK - Missionary kids school on the compound for the families here.

Memorial Christian Hospital

Here are some pics of the hospital. This is the entrance to the compound with the hospital pictured on the left. The hospital has 2 OR theaters, 2 delivery rooms, male ward, female ward, postpartum ward, labor ward, outpatient department, lab, xray, pharmacy, physio, limb making area, etc. To the right is a link to the hospitals website.

This is the waiting room from the outpatient department

Bookstore across from the hospital for people waiting for treatment/test results/family.

Pots for boiling laundry...no joke!

Laundry area

Launderers...amazing the hard work they do!














There is one machine for scrubs and a few other things.














Laundry sheets hanging to dry














Ironing...














Workers at the 'mess', coffee area for the workers.














Grounding up spices




























Hearthouse -employment for disabled or abandoned women. They make amazing crafts, purses, clothing, etc. which is sold throughout the country.










































Workshop...many men employed here, fixing anything. Cars to medical equipment to household items.

Bangladesh??

Less then a year ago I was looking on the map where Bangladesh is and now what do you know…here I am sitting on the concrete floor of my bedroom in Bangladesh. I love that. Really great to be here! So much has happened since a week ago when I arrived, I’m trying to think of how to best articulate it but here goes:

Where? Malumghat District, Bangladesh
What? Here to work as a clinical instructor in the new nursing program started at the hospital here.
When? Now until….only God knows, depending on my visa situation (3-6 months).
Why? If you’re interested email me: wiebejolene@gmail.com I would be happy to send you updates beyond the physical aspect to the heart of things happening here.

Since I left home, until I arrived at my new home here = 48hrs. Jet lagged…yep! Travelling here...can fly either direction around the world, basically the same. Longest flight ever from Vancouver to Guangzhou China (yep, never heard of it till I flew through it). 13.5 hrs.

Here is my new home:

It's kinda hotel style, right now there's 4 other women living in the same house.

This is my view out of my house. The 'cal', basically an inlet of the Bay of Bengal. Rice fields for miles.

Our sitting area
My space...and a few cochroaches
'Living room'
Kitchen...haven't eaten here once yet. I head over to Susan and Ruthie our neighbors to eat. They have amazing cooks with amazing food!

I arrived here last Wed afternoon, Thurs had orientation to the compound, met with few different people as well as the nursing students for a picnic, and a hospital tour. Friday (is our Sundays), church in the village across the street in the morning, and expat church here in the evening. Saturday myself and 4 other girls/women from the compound went out Cox’s Bazaar for the day – lunch, and some shopping. Shopping once again proved to be a unique experience...I think shopping is universally fun, no matter where you are. Haven't forgotten how to bargain yet.

Since the start of this week I’ve been able to spend some time in the different areas of the hospital – physio, OR – observed a few surgeries, male and female wards. I’ve also been spending some time going through the curriculum - finding out where the students are at. Healthcare can be a whole other world in a different country – some similarities from other countries but so many differences. I’ve been trying to learn the different policies/procedures, how the hospital is run (flow of things, charting, meds, roles/responsibilities/scope of nurses, different diseases, how different diseases/injuries are treated here differently from at home, etc). Also trying to learn a new culture...cultural tact, respect, etc. So many differences…not that I wasn’t expecting it but many things you don’t know till you live it. Meeting multiple new people…expatriot staff as well as local staff. I’m thinking these names are impossible. Next week I will be starting Bengal lessons…that kinda scares me. So much more to say, but that'll have to suffice for now. Hopefully this internet will let me post :).