strangers with kindness

I’m starting to think there is something in the water here (besides arsenic) that makes the people of Bangladesh extremely helpful to strangers.

Today was a long day. After waking up early, I headed to the Bangla Biman office which is more like a train station type setting with the busy crowds there. (the actual train station on the other hand is extremely clean and well organized unlike India’s). I looked at the ticket number being served, “143” and looked at my ticket, “253” and headed to one of the empty spots on the leather couches. After waiting what seemed like an eternity, my number was called and I got my flight changed in 5 minutes. The employee was nice and helpful, though she didn’t really react when I complemented her bracelet.

Waiting in line at the office for longer than planned, forced me to rush back to my place to finish packing, eat lunch, and leave. After gathering my things, we were about to head out when the electricity went out. We were on the 8th floor of the building with my super size suitcase, pilot case, and messenger bag. Without a choice, we hauled the bags down the stairs. Mithun put me on a rickshaw and I held on to my belongings as we headed to the station.

After reaching the station, I thought I’d be cool and take my bags myself as I am an American and that’s what I’m used to. Once I quickly realized that I have no idea where I was going, I agreed to pay the ~15 year old coolie 20 taka to help me out. While trying to confirm if I was at the right platform, I approached a well dressed man and asked if he spoke English or Hindi. He said English and I asked him if this was the right place. He looked at my ticket and said he was in the same car as me and he’d help me out. We got to talking and he told me about his family and job, I told him about mine. He talked to the ticket person to put our seats together so we could sit together and he’d help me once we arrived. After watching a couple of trains arrive with thousands of people from Biswa Ijtema, things were not looking too good. (Biswa Ijtema is basically a tabligh-e-jamaat worldwide conference in Dhaka once a year. It’s the second largest gathering of Muslims after Hajj so around 1-2 million people make it here.) Out train had been delayed and then had technical issues with all the people riding on top of it. At this point, the earliest my train would come was another 2 hours (in addition to the 2 I already waited). The uncle told me I could return my ticket and try again tomorrow, as he rushed to catch a bus.

I reached one of the ticket counters and asked again, Hindi or English, and then he told me to go to another area of the station to return my ticket. Someone happened to overhear this and seeing that I was clueless, he told me to follow him, and he took one of my bags. The queue was pretty long, so Raqul (the nice person) told me to stay with the bags (including his) and he took my ticket to wait in line. After consulting with some people, they advised me to take the bus the next day (which Raqul was planning to take tonight). He returned my ticket, and then said for me to follow him again, this time to the bus station to get a ticket. We took two rickshaws, and he actually even had one of my bags ( I know I should never trust someone this much, but I just did.) We reached the bus area, and he was waiting and looking for me. He told me to wait again as he left me with my bags. After coming back with a general class ticket, I told him I wanted A/C coach (I know, I know, forcing a stranger to get me A/C). He said no problem, asked for more money and came back with a ticket confirmed for tomorrow morning. After exchanging numbers and thanking him, he put me on a rickshaw to go back home.

I have now come back home, am lying down and typing on my laptop, while auntie is making noodles and cha for me. God bless Bangladesh.

(note: the family I’m staying with is usually really helpful, but one son had to defend his thesis today, the father is out of town for work with the car, and the other son and uncle are on vacation)