Monday, January 21, 2008

Missing the family - but technology helps


I've been to the USA for about 7 months. This is my longest stay in a foreign soil without accompanying the near and dear ones. Mine has a very small immediate family - wife & only child son. Naturally I miss them everyday. Without their sacrifice it won't be possible for me to come & stay here as a Humphrey Fellow. So very special thanks to them for their sacrifices. However, thanks to techonolgy also - as it compensates to some extent of everyday missing the nearest ones. Internet technology allows us to talk almost everyday mostly at free. As an example, today I chatted and talked by using the audio clips. My son, from the other end, sent some recent pics of them (one as above, he with his mum).

My wife is expected to join me by the first week of March'08. But my son isn't coming as he's busy with his own study. I'm glad that inshallah he's doing excellent in his study at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Settling in US late- a big trade-off


Today (12 Jan'08) I spent an enjoyable day with good Bangladeshi style food. Because I's invited to my classmate Kamona Saha's house. By taking a ride in Washington DC metro train, I first went to Metro Center, then changed train to go Silver Spring by the red line. From there Kamona & her husband took me to their house by car (about 10-15 minute drive from the station). Famous TV channel 'Discovery' is headquartered at Silver Spring city. Through the Discovery building glasses in the ground floor, I noticed a huge Dynosore skull standing tall.

Almost the whole day in her house we talked, tasted so many foods and left in the evening. Kamona's husband, a polite and lovely man, loves eating foods. Good day I passed indeed.

Kamona Saha & me - both got our education in Economics Dept of Jahangirnagar University and both joined the civil service the same year (though she in Administration & me in Trade service). But after serving quite a long time she left her govt job and for the last 9 years leaving in USA. Her husband was also a high official of Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) who left everything behind to get settled here. Now both of them work in a pharmaceutical chain store & in order to survive both of them work at least 8-10 hours a day. They know better than others how hard it is here to earn money (unlike the perceptions of many in Bangladesh who think dollars fly in America). They're, however, not in a very bad position (have bought a townhouse, though by bank loan) and their daughter and son studying in university & high school respectively.

But, in consideration of their official postions back in Bangladesh (very shortly Kamona could be at Joint Secretary level official) & their everyday hardwork, their sacrifice or opportunity cost(tradeoff) for getting settled here is a bit high, I think. This is because they're late starter. Point is, if you plan to settle abroad; plan & do it as early as you can . Anyway, all the good wishes for them.