Well I finished todays class. My students are across the spectrum, from the almost fluent students all the way down to the non English speakers. It is okay, I think I can handle it. They all seem really excited to learn, maybe it is just that they are getting to hang out with an American, which seems to be quite the popular thing to do around here. I was completely apalled by their grading system here, and I hope you will be too. It goes as follows: +A=100-85, A=84-75, -A=74-60, B=59-49, C=48-40, D=39-30, 29-0 is failing. Most of the students here make B's, which as you can see is not exactly overachieving. At first when I asked them what kind of grades they make in school I was pretty impressed, but know I understand. When I told them that I was using the American grading scale they were terrified, it was pretty humorous. I think that I they make a valid effort to participate and come to class then I will pass them. My host brother just took his HSC examination (Higher Secondary College), he recieved an A. He was in the top percent of his school. Only fifty percent of the students passed the exam (refer to the above scale, D being passing), so it is a pretty sad situation. Here unlike our country the person who does well on their examination must buy gifts for all his or her friends. So Al-amin bought twenty kilograms of misti (milk and sugar balls, the national sweet), it was insane.
On another note I went to a massive party near the Hindu temple, which is a couple hundred years old. The party was really crazy there were about a thousand people there. When they realized that I was there with my brother they got really excited. Immediately they person in charge of the party went and got a goat and a cow, then procceded to sacrifice the animals for me. IT was a bloddy mess but everyone was really happy. It was one of those wierd cultural situations were I was at a loss for words, not that my Bangla would have helped. That was the first time that I have ever seen an animal ritualistically sacrificed, for me the honorary guest. But the ultimate irony was that they sacrificed a cow in front of a Hindu temple, talk about cultural insensitivity. A lot of the other volunteers tell me I am crazy for getting into some of these situations, I tell them that this is what it is all about, this is the fun stuff.
At the moment I am trying to get over a pretty bad ear infection. I think I had some water trapped in my ear from showering and then I slept on it, because the next day my ear hurt really bad. Then I got a pretty nasty fever the next day, but they medical office gave me some antibiotics. It feels really strange just calling the doctor and they see you immediately and they give you the medicine you need right there on the spot. They seem to be pretty careful about our health, they have a really hard job keeping us all healthy. This is one of the toughest countries to live in healthwise, as well as psychologically. The program here has lost several volunteers due to mental problems that arise. I am already insane for coming here so I don't think I have anything to worry about. Just about everyone in our group is getting some sort of sickness, some worse than others. I am the only one out of 56 people who have not gotten diharea(however you spell it), knock on wood. Instead I am the only one who has gotten an ear infection. Considering this is a country where they dont use toliet paper, I will take the ear infection any day. That would be some pretty traumatizing business having the backdoor trots and only being able to use your hand. I am sure I will get it before long, but I am holding out as long as possible. The actual statistic is, 500% of volunteers get dihare, so everyone gets it a couple of times. I have recieved about sixteen shot so far, I have no idea what some of them are. They are making us take something called Mephequin, it is for the malaria. It has a lot of side effects, such as, euphoria, lucid dreams, depression, hair loss among other things. But the most prevelent are the lucid dreams, I wake in the middle of the night sitting in my chair having no idea where I am at, what time it is or whether I am still dreaming or not. It is pretty wild, it happens to me about four or five times a week. oh well.
By the way, before I started this blog I was regularly recieving emails, but now I dont recieve any. So either people have lost interest, which is entirely possible, or now they see it unnecessary to send emails. It was really nice to hear from people, but now I receive nothing. I know that people want to hear about what goes on here, but believe it or not I am really interested to know how things are back home. It is always a good day for me when I see something that is sent from home, sometimes it kind of feels like a one way street. Anyways, I am not trying to complain it just would be nice to hear from people once and a while. Dont be embarassed to post on the blog, if so just send me an email that way I dont feel like a dancing bear. Although I did recieve the b-day cards from uncle bill, aunt connnie and grandma, thank you very much. I never thought I would be so excited to recieve a card. Bill I will save the toliet paper for the rougher days, I am sure I can stretch it out a couple of months ;)
Ramadan starts in two weeks, I was thinking I might try and observe it and see what it is like fasting with my family. It will be an interesting experience to say the least.
Until next time, shada shoitan signing off.