DHAKA, BANGLADESH

I made it to Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.  The smells, sounds and sights are reminiscent of my time here a few years ago.  But this time, instead of doing research in villages, I’ll be studying Bengali in Dhaka.  Once we finalize our housing situation, it'll be nice to unpack my backpack for three months.

On my first day here I read in the local newspaper that Dhaka is considered the second worst city in the world to live in [The Economist Intelligence Unit].  Apparently Harare, Zimbabwe took first place.  I think every city has its ups and downs, and Dhaka certainly has some great things, along with some tough disadvantages.  But I couldn’t but feel privileged when I read this article.  Privileged in one sense because I get to experience such a city.  And in another sense, I am privileged to stay for only a few months with the option of leaving if I want.  It’s at times such as these when I think, “Thank God I’m going to K-town!”

Dhaka will be my home for three months.  12 million people call it home while the entire country the size of New York State is home to 160 million.  That’s half the population of the US.  Bangladesh is dense, and to make things more crammed, rising sea level is constantly displacing people and annual floods regularly disrupt the life of the poor in particular.  

Regarding climate change, the Bay of Bengal is possibly the most vulnerable region on earth.