Our time in Dhaka is growing to a close. Full Stop. Am I sad? No, Am I happy? A little. Maybe the stress of moving and planning a move, and planning a home leave with three kids and a cat can damper the joy of a post or the joy of leaving a post.
I have never had an employee before. I have always been the employee. Now we as a family have people to worry about after we leave. Shuspol, the maid. Suma, the nanny. Julhas, driver and Akbar the gardener. We don't really need this many people but felt it was nice to be able to help them out and give them a job. Currently the gardener, Akbar is in my good books. He wasn't in the good book, 18-19 months ago when he was lying 'senseless' in a Dhaka hospital due to his poor handling of traffic situations. He got hit by a rickshaw, CNG or Bus, the story has changed much over time. Anyway, he has not asked for ANYTHING. He does his job, and works hard. He is great to have around. The others are not quite the same.
Everyday, the ask me to find them work, when I leave. I am trying. I put ads up, emailed new comers, and put them on Facebook. Everyday they ask for my TV or camera, or clothes. I know I have alot compared to them, and I am generous. But really, my bra? Please, I would like to keep my underwear, thank you very much.
Moving is stressful and I have put off the stress for a long time. This weekend the school had a organised garage sale. I have been looking forward to this since last year. What a great way to get rid of all that stuff you have to get rid of. Stuff that is worth something, and could be useful to other expats staying behind. Expensive conditioners that didn't get used, toothpaste that I over bought, some great baking supplies I don't use anymore, baby items for the never ending baby boom. I had gathered up my stuff and was ready! So excited. The night before the sale, I kept waking up with nightmares about how horrible the sale was. I found this very strange, it's just a garage sale. Those were NOT nightmares, they were premonitions. The sale was horrible. People everywhere, local bearers and and local families, grabbing every item and paying 1/20th of the price and walking off with it. Swapping items for other items. Taking whole bags of items for the price of one item in bag. I was overwhelmed and under prepared for such a commotion. On the good side, everything sold, whether for free or wildly underpriced such as the stroller for $2.50. Lucky for me, I held strong on my un-paper towels that I made from a pinterest idea, and to very cute wooden toy dinosaurs. I refused for them to be grabbed and bargained on. I think the paper towels might have covered the cost of the table, at the sale. (you had to pay to sell in garage sale)
I haven't even thought much about what life is going to be like where we are going. I know there will be more things to do, and places to eat out, and SAFARIS. I registered the kids for school, but can't figure out on a map where that is in relation to where we might live. Mostly all I think about is leaving here, and going home. I miss my family and friends, the kids miss their friends. It is going to be a nice summer to get back to the US, before starting another crazy chapter. Not that I have a plan in place for the summer. Go to parents house, and then we have a week at the beach with the MH family actually scheduled. Fly by the seat of my pants, it will be fine.
Dhaka has been good, I will miss it when we are gone, but I think life has a way of stressing you out so you can't be sad to leave. You can be sad later when you think back on fond memories. So for right now, I am happy to be going home.
I have never had an employee before. I have always been the employee. Now we as a family have people to worry about after we leave. Shuspol, the maid. Suma, the nanny. Julhas, driver and Akbar the gardener. We don't really need this many people but felt it was nice to be able to help them out and give them a job. Currently the gardener, Akbar is in my good books. He wasn't in the good book, 18-19 months ago when he was lying 'senseless' in a Dhaka hospital due to his poor handling of traffic situations. He got hit by a rickshaw, CNG or Bus, the story has changed much over time. Anyway, he has not asked for ANYTHING. He does his job, and works hard. He is great to have around. The others are not quite the same.
Everyday, the ask me to find them work, when I leave. I am trying. I put ads up, emailed new comers, and put them on Facebook. Everyday they ask for my TV or camera, or clothes. I know I have alot compared to them, and I am generous. But really, my bra? Please, I would like to keep my underwear, thank you very much.
Moving is stressful and I have put off the stress for a long time. This weekend the school had a organised garage sale. I have been looking forward to this since last year. What a great way to get rid of all that stuff you have to get rid of. Stuff that is worth something, and could be useful to other expats staying behind. Expensive conditioners that didn't get used, toothpaste that I over bought, some great baking supplies I don't use anymore, baby items for the never ending baby boom. I had gathered up my stuff and was ready! So excited. The night before the sale, I kept waking up with nightmares about how horrible the sale was. I found this very strange, it's just a garage sale. Those were NOT nightmares, they were premonitions. The sale was horrible. People everywhere, local bearers and and local families, grabbing every item and paying 1/20th of the price and walking off with it. Swapping items for other items. Taking whole bags of items for the price of one item in bag. I was overwhelmed and under prepared for such a commotion. On the good side, everything sold, whether for free or wildly underpriced such as the stroller for $2.50. Lucky for me, I held strong on my un-paper towels that I made from a pinterest idea, and to very cute wooden toy dinosaurs. I refused for them to be grabbed and bargained on. I think the paper towels might have covered the cost of the table, at the sale. (you had to pay to sell in garage sale)
I haven't even thought much about what life is going to be like where we are going. I know there will be more things to do, and places to eat out, and SAFARIS. I registered the kids for school, but can't figure out on a map where that is in relation to where we might live. Mostly all I think about is leaving here, and going home. I miss my family and friends, the kids miss their friends. It is going to be a nice summer to get back to the US, before starting another crazy chapter. Not that I have a plan in place for the summer. Go to parents house, and then we have a week at the beach with the MH family actually scheduled. Fly by the seat of my pants, it will be fine.
Dhaka has been good, I will miss it when we are gone, but I think life has a way of stressing you out so you can't be sad to leave. You can be sad later when you think back on fond memories. So for right now, I am happy to be going home.
I have been through that Garage Sale Hell and back. It is not fun. I have learned to go in with prices written down on a notebook or pre=written on tape/ tags. That way I don't get so overwhelmed and stay somewhat sane. At least my experience when doing it this way was almost enjoyable. Sorry you had the rush and grab and swipe experience. So not fun. But SAFARIS ARE!!! Smiling super big for you!! The sale madness memories will fade in how awesome safaris are!
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