hi everybody, it's saturday afternoon here - which feels like a sunday afternoon States-side.
...i want to check in after last week's conflict here in Dhaka. things have calmed down to something like normal - crazy Dhaka isn't ever normal. the school/embassy really made us a first priority during last week's happenings, so I never felt any immediate concern for my safety. here below is an updated article that gives a pretty complete account of the event and the aftermath - bodies in the sewers, gross and sad.
newly elected president, Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, will handle the mutineers with quick, cold 'justice' i'm sure. expats and citizens here are all waiting to see if this president is capable of maintaining order in Bangladesh. for the last 2 years an emergency military government oversaw measurable improvements in the country - a refreshing relief: there was a decrease in violent uprisings, riots, etc, and advances in business and infrastructure. under the emergency government, many corrupt leaders - including the now-president Hasina, were jailed. people worry that the Bangladesh is headed back to same-old, same-old... others think this event gave Sheikh Hasina some impetus to unify her government and exercise her position in an effective way.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/27/bangladesh.mutiny.family/index.html
in other news! i'm getting ready to travel to Rishikesh, India with the 7th grade as a chaperone on their week-long discovery trip next week. whoah! Rishikesh is in northern India, it is the home of Yoga, at the headwaters of the Ganges, a favorite spot of the Beatles! im feeling a little excited for this :)
also, if you know my dear friends Jen Wilson or Ross McDermott, you might want to check out their blogs (they should be linked at the upper right of this page) because they each have been having some wild times lately. Jen went to Thailand to participate in the world's largest ultimate frisbee invitational... and Ross keeps on rolling with the American Festivals Project. holy cow
love to you guys at home
