Run up to Ramadan

It's not long and the blessed month is upon us again. It's time to get a few things well prepared so as not to feel overburdened by the mundane things in life. Hopefully the spiritual side of Ramadan is going to be the focus this year as an alternative to FOOD.

Unfortunately the kids are getting a bit addicted to cable tv and nintendo and playstations. So its time I turned my mummy switch to full power. ( I admit, I haven't been that interactive with them). Have been browsing the net for some Ramadan ideas and there are excellent activities available from sites like Talibideen Junior. I especially like the idea of a Lapbook. This sounds like a great project that can really be used as project modules for a regular timetabled activity.

I am all for routine and as hard as it is to set up a new timetable every holiday season it has to be done for a meaningful and fun break. With younger kids it's the best way of dealing "boredom factor".

Next few posts I will be giving some short ideas for fun and creative activities for Ramadan...

Rain, Rain and some more rain.

The last few days have been wet - many places in Dhaka were flooded out. A relative of ours came to stay on the fourth floor as they were knee deep in their groundfloor flat. The poor people are the greatest sufferers though. They turned up to work without a complaint wading through waist deep waters in some places.

The children haven't felt too traumatised, for not being able to play outdoors. Instead they fought it out inside, making empty plastic bottle boats and rockets. I guess the rain inspired them instead,- thank god!

Fatima has a heavy chesty cough- gave her lots of zartar and honey to help break up the mucus.

Even though its been raining, the heat has been sticky and unbearable at times. Obada just cannot keep his clothes on. I guess his baby skin is extra sensitive to the clamminess. I hear there has been a dengue rise on the way- and the lake looks like a bed of nasties waiting to hatch...

Another day. Had a crazy day yesterday. I had to fire one of the house maids, but she refused to go. What a total nightmare. In a country like Bangladesh there are no contracts, no provisos or outlines on how to deal with these things. Everybody is their own lawmaker for such things as domestic staff employment. To be fair I gave her a months notice. I asked her to change her behaviour, other wise I would end my contract with her. However the young girl was just too mouthy, hormonal or what I have no idea really. I can discipline my children for their behaviour but she is somebody else's daughter. I don't feel I have any right. So what is the Prophets advice?

No point mistreating your domestic staff. Let them go. Easy as that. Or so I thought. She refused to go. In a country where domestic staff are abused, mistreated and underpaid I guess she found me an easy ride. But everything has it's limits - so does my patience.

In the end I had to call in the local law enforcement - a few nice cops who were extremely helpful and gave excellent advice. The young girl quickly changed her tone and left soon after with our guard to chaperone her home.

Well, thereafter I was advised not to ever call the police on such matters as they could have turned the whole thing against me to recieve bribe payments! Wow. Am I so naive.

The whole thing makes me wonder if I am suitable to live in Bangladesh. I wonder how real foreigners deal with things. "White" people that is. Sorry if I offend anybody but hero worship of any western foreigners still exists in our inner colonialist minds.

How can I teach my children about equality amongst humans? This country has a strong class culture, more than I have faced living in Australia or England.

It's really a worry.

Well it is summer holidays, school is out. But not for baba, he still has to work for two more weeks. Actually this will be the first summer holidays that baba's holidays will be the same as the kids. I guess working as a school teacher has it ups?

At the moment the boys and Fatima have found plenty to keep themselves busy without my contribution but its only a matter of time. I will have to get prepared with some summer course prepared specially for them...

Last summer we were just settling in Dhaka, the summer before we had a great time with art appreciation classes in Damascus as well as swimming.

I really miss London during summer...

Mothers out there...