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.