Working with the World Bank

My professional affiliation with the World Bank has started a day before - from 20 Dec'07. As a part of the Humphrey program, all fellows are required to do a 6 week long professional affiliation with any org/institution based in USA. It may be local or non-local in respect to the host campuses. I chose doing with the World Bank - a non-local one.
Even though some hassles and excess costs involved (like getting a short rem accomodation, moving to a new place and so on) with a non-local affiliation, choice of World Bank is great, I think. Also to get an offer from them is tougher. But I pushed hard and did manage to get that. Because I think my exposure to WB activities on trade matters would help me and also Bangladesh in future. Because WB policy decisions influence BD a lot.
So far I worked in WB for just 2 days. Working in the PREM (Poverty Reduction & Economic magement) unit of South Asia Region. My superviser is Dr. Sandeep Mahajan who looks after some aspects of trade related matters of BD with WB.
Despite the fact that WB offices in DC area are scattered in several buildings, major one is the main building. Most activities are in the main building. It's a nice, modern and very spacious building . Great work environment for an institution like WB, as expected. But the Cafeteria & Dining related facilities I'm most impressed with. Different type of food you can choose- African, European, South Asian & so on. Dining hall is so big & so many people busy with eating & talking to their table mates (it's more like one to one or one to few business meetings). I'm informed that at WB head office, almost 10000 people work. In different floors Christmas trees are decorated. But the one at Lobby area is so big & small flags of all member countries are placed on the tree there.

Heavy Snowfall

Right now heavy snow falling over New England area. It started from noon, already 4-5 inches snow. Boston University classes and also many services were cancelled this morning. Everything looking as white as snow. It's really wonderful scenary.

Last week there was snowfall. It took almost 5-6 days to clear. Just when it melted, today's heavy snowfall came. I think, we've to pass this long winter time with such snow experiences. Next week I'm inshallah going to Washington DC for one month to do a professional affiliation with the World Bank. No idea what would be weather there. But whatever be, I gonna taking it easily.

Sporting Event

Last Saturday (8 Dec'07), we ( BU Humphrey group) organized a special sporting event at Fitrec (Fitness and Recreation Center) of Boston University. Some MIT fellows also joined us. Wives and children of some fellows joined us. We played soccer, badminton, table tennis & basketball. It was great fun.
Fitrec is a modern and state of art sporting center. Most modern gym, swimming pool, rock climbing, cycling & squash center and several indoor stadiums which can be converted to soccer ground, volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis or other games. A food court serves the vistiors' needs. All possible amenities are available there. BU can boast of having such a center.

Thanksgiving Day 2007

On 22 November 2007 (Thursday) we experienced the great thanksgiving day of America. Our host family (Don Murray & Gloria Murray) invited me and Sarah Namuli, another Humphrey Fellow from Uganda. We reached Murray family’s house of Braintree at around 1.30 pm.

The house looked neat and clean. The dining room was in a festive look. There we met the bigger Murray family – 2 sons & 1 daughter along with their 5 kids in total. Don, Gloria and also Diane, their youngest daughter-in-law cooked all foods – Turkey, potato mesh, salad & so on (forgot some names).
With thanks on Thanksgiving day, we started our dinner with Turkey, bread, butter & other stuff. Food was good in taste & we’re not in a hurry. So we kept chatting while eating. Different issues came up in discussion including recent cyclone damages in Bangladesh. After sometime once we finished the main course, desserts were served. It’s apple pie, ice-cream and another cake. We enjoyed that also.
Finally at around 6 pm Don & Gloria gave us a lift back home. In the meantime I captured a memorable thanksgiving day with Murray family.

Castle Island visit

On 10 November 2007 (Saturday) my host family Don Murray & Gloria Murray took me to the Castle Island, a little island very close to the Boston airport. It's so named after the fort situated just on the brink of the Atlantic Ocean. The fort once used to accomodate a huge number of British soldiers in the sixteenth century. Even though the weather was very chilly & breezy that day, I being accompanied by Don & Gloria enjoyed a long walk along the seaside and viewed wonderful scenery.

Then Don took me to their house at Braintree where we'd a long chat the whole evening. Don showed me his album full of pictures with Bangladeshi orphan girls. The orphanage in Mongla area is run by a Christian religious group Don associated with. I had some good talks with two grandsons of Don & Gloria. Don made some apple pie & other stuff with which we together enjoyed our dinner. It's such an evening that very difficult to forget. Thanks to Don & Gloria.

State Department reception to humphrey fellows

A welcome reception was given to humphrey fellows 2007-08 by the US State Dept on 30 Oct night. All had to pass through security gates and many antique enriched rooms/corridors till the main hallroom. Ms Karen Hughes, special advisor to the US President welcomed fellows with her eloquent and forceful speech. Also ambassadors/high officials of the diplomatic missions of the countries having fellows this year attended. Everybody engaged themselves in meeting with someone new, greeting, talking, eating and more noticeably taking photographs. It was a great networking scope for all.
On my query, Mr. John Sedlins, Chief, Humphrey Fellowships and Institutional Linkages Branch of the US State Dept responded that even after being the State Department official, he himself rarely gets the scope of getting into the hall. Being in the State Dept mainhall was a great honour indeed. As a Humphrey Fellow really feel proud !

Visit to Parkdale High School in Maryland

On 30 Oct, all humphrey fellows did experience the American high school visits in the DC, nearby Maryland and Virginia areas. Fellows were divided into different groups and then sub-groups. Each group visited a particular school and each sub-group to a particular class of the school. I was in sub-group 3 of the group who visited the Parkdale High School, Maryland. It's a big public school with about 2200 students and 100 teachers. Noticeable that students are mostly non-whites (blacks, mixed, hispanics). The group was taken to a hallroom where students served the breakfast with items made by themselves and the Principal delivered a short speech on his school.
My sub-group members ( me, a Burmes medical doctor, a Syrian female journalist, a Namibian lady doctor working with HIV Aids, a Panamian engineer cum researcher and a Slovakian university teacher) presented about themselves and their countries by 3-4 minutes one by one. Then students asked a lot of questions ranging from the educational arrangements to homosexuality in those countries. We responded individually as well as collectively. It was a great fun and enjoyable event.
American high schools are with great modern facilities including computer labs. Many have their own radio and/or tv braoadcasting facilities. Teacher-student ratio is very high. The class we visited had only about 15 students but the area was such a big that it was like a rural based Bangladesh primary school.

Global Leadership Forum Washington D.C

The much expected Global Leadership Forum meeting for the humphrey fellows was held during 28 Oct - 1 Nov period. All the 173 fellows representing 87 countries and stationed in 15 different campuses in USA gathered at Le'nfant Plaza Hotel in Washington DC. They attended seminars/workshops, visited many high schools of nearby DC area, took part in the reception party hosted by the State Dept, viewed the leadership qualities of Hubert Humphrey in documentary films and more importantly, committed themselves to make a difference in their own society/field/country.
It was indeed a special previledge for all humphrey fellows to be honored with such respects & expectations from them.
I flew to DC (Ronald Reagan Airport) from Boston. Reagan airport is very close to downtown Washington DC - just 3 stations away from L'enfant Station by the famous Metro Subway. It's a wonderful modern airport.

Humphrey Fellow

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Dr Yunus conquered Boston University

Today (13 Oct) is the Eid day for Bangladeshi born & also other muslims living in New England area. With such an eid day enjoyment, the pleasure of Dr Yunus, a nobel lauret, coming to Boston University was added. Dr Yunus delivered his lecture today noon in front of the overcrowded people in spacious Metcaiff Hall, mesmerized the audience and conquered the heart and mind of all who attended. You can't imagine how popular he is here. After the lecture, everybody crowded to take some photographs with him and the demand was so high that the security people had to interfere at last. We the Bangladeshi people simply feel proud of him.

Apple picking - a different experience

As a Humphrey fellow, we're previleged to participate in many kind of activities. Yesterday (12 Oct) we visited State Street Global Adviser, a big investment firm in downtown Boston where we experienced how a modern day global investment firm runs its activities - global presence and continuous monitoring as well as coordination with offices abroad, huge turnover, sophisticated trading facilities and also research activities by the help of so many people. Today we're taken to an orchard in New Hampshire, about an hour and half driving distance. The firmowner very eloquently explained some technical as well as marketing aspects of running such a firm in New England area. We enjoyed the offer to pick and taste different varieties of apples - fuji, mackintosh, gala and so on. We're also allowed to buy our picked apples at huge discounts. This is new kind of experience - an event to enjoy.

Reunion - after long 23 years

As usual many faces were used to see each other in everyday campus life of Jahangirnagar University(JU) long ago (at least 23 years). But many of them became detached at least from me as they chose to settle thousands of miles away from mine. Yesterday evening (Oct 6) I got the opportunity to meet some of those friends as they gathered to a doa mahfil (prayer) in New York for the eternal peace of late Moshiur who passed away in the Ramadan last year. Moshiur was our yearmate in JU who settled in New York in the late nineties.
I attended from Boston to avail the opportunity of meeting some friends(Rana, Likhan, Matin, Mustaque bhai, Dulal and some junior JU friends -see picture). They're employed in different fields - from hedge fund/potfolio management to school teaching. They're our ambassadors here in USA. Bangladesh is proud of them.

Jackson Heights, NY- new little Bangladesh

Bangla languages whispering all around, bearded and old aged street vendors (hawkers) worn with pyjama/paanjami and selling stuffs like tupi (caps)/tosbih/books and so on, many hejab clad and salwar kamiz wore ladies and girls busy with shopping, bangla script written signboards in front of all shops(stuffs inside include mostly made in Bangladesh or other sub-continent countries), all Bangladeshi fishes (from Katchki to Rui, Katla, Elish ----and what not !) being quickly sold, almost no white people wandering in the horizon, outside atmosphere looking a little dirty (no offend please !)- this is the typical scene of the famous Jackson Heights area of New York what I saw on yesterday afternoon (6 Oct). So many times we the Bangladeshi people hear the name of this place but only yesterday I got the opportunity to see by myself. Thanks to Mr. Monzur who took me there from Boston.

A special weekend (29-30 Sept)

Last weekend was a special one. On 29 Sept I visited an exhibition with the focus on green cars. At the radio transmission stall there I saw some T-shirts with the WBZ Radio logo. On my query, the attending lady informed that to get one, I'd have to answer a quiz correctly. I agreed to deliver. She asked a MCQ (how much blood an adult contains in his/her body?). Out of 4 choices given I chose the correct one & won a T-shirt.

In the afternoon, Mahmud took me to an iftar party at Lynn mosque where I met Lipu, Monir, Monzur & others. Then we (Mahmud with his entire family) passed the night at Lipu's house at Rowley town. We kept talking almost the whole night & after taking sheri everybody including kids went to bed. Next day Mahmud took me to his home. At noon we went to Lowel Mosque & Islamic Center where Mahmud's 2 sons & Monir's (Mahmud's brother) daughter attend the Sunday islamic teaching school.

In the evening of Sunday, an iftar party was held at Monir's house where some Bangladeshi born families attended. Then at night Mr. Belal dropped me to my house at Magazine St, Cambridge.

Visit to Federal Reserve Bank Boston

Yesterday (21 September) the Humphrey Group of Boston University visited the Federal Reserve Bank (generally called the Fed, it's the central bank of USA) Boston. We'd to take the Green Line of Metrotrain, got off at Park Street Station & then heading to South Station catching the Red Line train. After the usual security check-ups, we're taken to the 8th floor of the Research Dept . Mr. Jeff (Sr VP), Ms Jane (VP) and Mr. Tom welcomed us in a small but cosy conference room. Then they answered to our questions very eloquently. In the discussion, recent subprime rate in mortagage loan crisis, interest rate cuts by the Fed, peoples expectation & Fed Policies, independence of Fed from day to day politics, its decision making mechanisms etc. came up. We learned some things about the Fed.

My Blog Assignment

This semester I registered for 2 courses (Introduction to Ecommerce & Web Design by the lecture Mr. Brian Howland, and, Internet Marketing and Business Strategies by Dr. Vijay Kanabar) at BU which are directly related to designing of blogs/websites. In the last class of Ecommerce, course instructor Mr. Howland gave us a task to create our own blog as class assignment.

Fortunately I started creating my own blog since I came to USA about 2 months ago. Mr. Keith of SUNY at Buffalo helped me learning this technique.

With my little blogging experience, I hope to survive at least this assignment.

Iftar Party

Last Saturday I was taken by Mr. Mahmud, a well accomplished professional working in Boston, to his house near Andover (about 20 miles away from Boston). Mahmud is from Khulna, had his degree from IBA, DU, now working in a multinational hedge fund. In his house I met his friend Mohammad & his wife who live in NY, Saiful, Mahmud's younger brother & many others of BD origin. We'd a iftar party in a festive mood (with prayer & religious fervors of Ramadan). All of them are very friendly & have good touch with the status of ongoing Bangladesh situation. Then at about 10 pm Saiful took me to his store at Dorcestor, Boston. It's his own business, not very big in size but very good sale( I observed for hours since he closed that at around 12.20 am). He's got some other stores & also planning to start some new ones. Saiful is an example of many Bangladeshis who came here for economic success and achieved that.
Yesterday on Sunday, Bangladeshi muslims arranged an iftar party (Break of fasting in Ramadan month) at the Islamic Center of New England at Sharon, MA. About 400 muslim male & female gathered there for iftar. After iftar, they prayed salat. It was a great social gathering too.

Chilli Party by host families - wonderful experience

Yesterday on Sept 8 evening, all Humphrey fellows of BU were invited to a chilli party organized by the American host family volunteers. The idea is to connect a bridge in terms of understanding among the Americans and the Humphrey fellows each of whom represents a unique culture of their own country. So while enoying the food, all kept on talking with each other as liked and thus learning more about others. This is not an end. Each and every fellows are assigned with a particular host family and they're expected to meet occassionally with the host family for the rest of their Humphrey Year. A special bondage is to be developed that way - great idea indeed !

BU Humphrey fellows are greatful to all who're volunteering to be a host family this year - Sally, David, Don Murray, Gloria, Kate, Kip, Matt, Julie, Doris, Laura, Kevin, Lucy, Dan, Jessica, Bill, Bob, Adam, Carmen, Debbie, Gail & others. Thanks to all of them.

The chilli party was held at Julie's house in Newton city, a little away from Boston city. We all enjoyed the gathering. But what surprised me most is that Don Murray, my host family husband joined the party wearing a yellow T-shirt with big lettered "Bangladesh" on the chest (see the picture). Don loves Bangladesh much & actually visits there often (even in January last this year - to Khulna region). He's also a great craftman- showed his homemade sample ship. Cool stuff ! I look forward to enjoying more joyful times with my host family.

Boston Duck Tour

AS the last program of the orientation stage at BU Humphrey, a duck tour was organized on last Friday 31 August. Tour vehicle is a duck like motor vehicle which can be driven in the streets as well as into water. Seat capacity is of about 25 and almost open where both sides are covered with transparent plastic windows. The tour takes about 2 hours when the driver explains little history and other info eloquently while passing through the famous locations or buildings.

The fascinating part is when he drives the vehicle into the Charlie river and expose tourists with splendid views on both sides of the river. On the east side lies Cambidge city along with its famous MIT and many bio-medical reserch institutions/companies. Harvard University is also not far. On the west side is Boston University and of course Boston city downtown with many skyscrapper buildings. Showing some great views of Boston & Cambridge, it turns back and finally reaches the point where from it started - Prudential Center. Freedom trail and Alexander Graham Bell's house I liked most. It's a wonderful tour experience.

Sargent Camp Center experience

On 27 Aug morning we, all 16 Boston University (BU) Humphrey Fellows, were taken to the BU Sargent Camp, an outdoor education center of BU which is situated into a deep forest, near Peterborough town of the State of New Hampshire (Live Free or Die is the spirit of NH !). The camp is about 3 hour drive from Boston city, a very calm & quiet place & designed to perform many outdoor activities - soccer, volleyball, basketball, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, hiking & so on. The camp is away from city hustles & busy environment, even though cosy beds & clean baths are provided by BU. It's surrounded by tall trees - mostly pines, oaks, birch, maples, etc.

We spent there for 2 days. During our stay there many groups came in and also went out. Our own activities were mostly centered on learning better of our fellows through listening their own stories, teambuilding, formulating our commitment to the Humphrey year and finding a suitable working strategy as a group. But there were some time when we could manage to go for swimming, caneoing, and kayaking. It's indeed a great fun !

Settling in Boston

Last week was really a hectic one. To start a new life all fellows had to do many things - check out from the hotel, make rental agreements, move to their new houses, buy cooking utensils, linen, etc; attend briefing sessions, open bank account, go for photographs, arrange issuing student ID, activate ID for lab usage, visit campus to be familiar with, meet with the respective academic advisers, think for course enrolment and so on. But among those, most interesting one was the Auction Night. On 24 Aug night, all fellows competed with each other to buy many basic stuffs left over by the fellows from previous years. Around $985 fund was collected from the auction which would be entirely donated to the helpless children of riot hit Rwanda. Thanks to Dr. Khinschuk for initiating and wheeling such a noble venture.
Almost all fellows including me bought their own laptops on last weekend. Me also bought a pre-paid mobile phone. Without those, life unhinkable here at least.

Humphrey Team at BU starts

Today on 21 Aug, the Humphrey Program at BU begins its journey. At around 9.30 am, with little introduction of themselves by all the Fellows (16 fellows from 16 different countries - BD, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Bosnia-Harzigovina, Morocco, Mali, Senegal, Uganda, Comoros, ElSalvador, Nicaragua & Argentina), presentation on on-campus rental housing was made ( followed by physical inspection of property). I opted not choose on-campus - because rooms are small but very expensive. Actually I already managed a house for sharing (with some Indian students). It's in Cambridge area close to MIT but only about 20 minute walk to BU. That location is great. Along the Charlie river very beautiful walking path indeed !

Finally to Boston

How long I cherished to come in Boston, the city famous for its education hub image. I still remember, back in 1988 I applied to Boston University for higher studies. Only due to financial constraints I couldn't come that time. Now with the Humphrey Fellowship, the lost dream fulfilled although very late.
I flew to Boston from Washington DC on 16 Aug last. It's daytime and weather was great. So from the plane the picturesque image of Boston was revealed to me. It's awesome and magnificient. On the brink of great Atlantic Ocean, Boston city standing atall with so many islands, and bays of many different sizes and shapes.I've seen many great cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jeddah, etc. But Boston's landscape is so special.
Mr. Silas of the Humphrey Program in BU received me at the airport. After check-in to the hotel we'd a little tour to the Boston University (BU)
Having been to Boston some days earlier than my course starts, I tried to explore it. Each day I select a route & walk as much as I can. On 18 Aug I's taken to one of my relative's house at Sharon, a small town about 50 miles away from Boston. There I saw myself the achievement & success ( also frustration) of a Bangladeshi born professional settled long ago here. I notice their children struggling to talk in Bengali language. Also surprising is that albeit its a little town, all wealthier people live there. All houses there are so big ! Imagine the facilities there. That's the speciality of USA - 6% of world population enjoys about 30% of world resources.

Bangladeshi Professionals in NC area

I've been to my friend Pabitra Saha in NC for the last few days. He's a famous cardiologist working in the Health Center in East Carolina University. In the past we spent so many beautiful days in our boyhood. Both me & Pabitra are from the same rural background(with limited earnings of our parents). He studied medicine - me Economics. He settled in USA after his medical degree from Bangladesh. I choose to serve my government. But after long 22 years, I met him at his own residence in USA. By now, he's well accomplished specialist surgeon.

On 12 Aug he took me to Dr. Kishore's house where Dr Paritosh met. Kishore & Paritosh are also from Bangladesh who're our contemproray. All of them got their basic medical degree from the Dhaka Medical College. Now all of them are accomplished professionals here in USA. Well paid, well respected. Not only them, many other Bangladeshi origin professionals are working in North Carolina area. They're helping to change the image of Bangladesh in a positive mood. We're proud of them.

What we need is not to isolate themselves from their own roots. We hope that they'd try to help Bangladesh speed up its development efforts.

Dragged to NC from Varginia Beach

After spending couple of days in Wash DC area, I desired to visit further south. So one afternoon, hopped on a Greyhound bus. Target is to arrive Greenville, NC (to my close friend PK Saha- a medical doctor). Unfortunately the bus was delayed by 2 hours & when it reached Richmond at about 9.30 pm, the connecting bus to Rocky Mount already left. Also there's no immediate bus. So had to spent almost whole night without sleep at the big bus stoppage. At about 4 in late night, I's given a local bus ticket - Rocky Mount via Norfolk . The behaviour of bus company people was not so good. They felt angry when asked any queries. To my question, someone replied that the same bus would go to Rocky Mount. Also the driver didn't say anything at Norfolk to get off. So I stayed aboard on the same bus, arrived to wrong place. And when the bus arrived at Varginia Beach, the driver expressed his anger why I didn't get off at Norfolk. He left me advising to talk with the station manager. I realized the mistake. It's long 152 miles (Beach to Greenville). Finding no suitable bus to arrive Rocky Mount from the Viginia Beach, I felt frustrated. I then rang my friend Pabitra whom I's going to. He said that he'd immediately start driving to pick me from the place I stucked. He's good cars & GPS navigation system(to direct cars follow the right driveways). Within 3 hours he reached there and salvaged me.

I'm given cordial hospitality in my friend's house. He's a Cardiologist. Also his wife a Nephrologist. A very happy family with 2 schoolgoing sons ( extremely intelligent they're). Good house - very clean and tidy ! His father & mother also live with them. It's he whom I spent with long 5 years in our school days(from grade 6 to 10). He's now well accomplished medical professional indeed & train other doctors in USA ! We're proud of him.

Visit to Washington DC

Saying goodbye to Buffalo I arrived Silver Spring, MD by Greyhound bus ( 13 hr journey!) . In Buffalo Sadiqur Rahman, MD took so much trouble to change my air ticket. We had to go the airport several times. Also Ripon ( my friend's brother-in-law) did help to go the airport, lake Erie & greyhound bus office.

Having been to Silver Spring on 6 Aug at around 11 pm, my friend Fakhrul Islam took me to Wasington central DC next day where we visited Washington monument, Capital Hill, many meseums, Jefferson monument, White House and so on. The metro of Wash DC is really cool !

HPP Closing Ceremony

The 3 week long Humphrey Preacademic Program (HPP) at UB ended on 3 Aug at the Students Union. At the outset, Mr. Ruben of Guetaemala presented a colorful PP presentation with all participants with one appropriate or funny names - mine was 'Question Man', others were Telephone man, Politician, Feminist, etc. Then Certificates were given to participants by Prof Dunnet. After that, Regina, Phillip, Hameed & me spoke. From the coordinators side Mr. Keith Otto & Prof Dunnet spoke. Everybody became emotional to say goodbye to UB so quickly. At the evening, final dinner was served at a Thai Restaurant in Amherst. Food was really good. Keith's got a choice.
At evening, me, Jian (China), Julien (Madagascar), Vandaana (India), Alex (Togo) & Moe Moe (Burma) walked around South Campus for at least 2 hours (with talking of course). It was so cool.
Shafique

Last 2 Weeks at Buffalo

We've been in Buffalo since 12 July last. Our Preacdemic programm is to be finished soon. But we enjoyed last 2 weeks ( in addition to usual classroom related works)- seeing the great Niagra Falls, feeding the poor people at a local church, visiting architech Frank Loyd's creation at Martin House and Knox Art Gallery at Buffalo, Conversation with a native undergraduate student, Lunch with a native professor, visiting with a local host family, etc. These're all great.

Actual Preacademic Starts today

Humprey Preacademic Program (HPP) orientation was held on 14 July last with visit of the UB campuses. And from today i.e 16 July preacdemic courses actually started. Oral communications class, meeting with Rebecca of iie & blog creation workshop held.
Yesterday was the rest day. I visited Dr. Rashida's house at Amherst. They've got really nice house and, more importantly, brilliant kids who've got lots of awards in their pocket.
Shafique
Rom 600
Clement Hall,UB (South Campus).

Humphrey Preacademic

Humphrey Preacademic Program going well at the UB, Buffalo. It's started on 13 July'07. Fellows are accomodated in Clement Hall- every Fellows having got their own single room with TV, Freeze, Telephone & other usual stuff with common cooking facilities.