blue sunday

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i head back to rayenda from bagerhat, where temps are touching 100 degrees F. Its a friday, my last day off before i leave on sunday. i sleep the whole day. evening as i am headed to have a quiet meal at the 'Haj' i am mobbed by a group of little girls. one leads me to her aunt, who she promises speaks perfect hindi and she does!
i sit on a chair for an hour, graciously accepting an invitation for tea, while i am questioned by about 25 community members and this time, i have a translator at hand! one observes, the volunteers wear dirty clothes. and yes, we sure do :)

of course, everyone is being mobbed these days, more so than normal days, for everyone in the village wants an invitation to the goodbye party(or picnic as it was being called) on the 12th. the party itself was a short, yet wonderful affair with short speeches, a short entertainment program including a rock star performance by alan and a slideshow of 200 photos as the highlight. all women volunteers looked stunning in salwaar kameez or saris while men looked sharp in bangladeshi caps and kurtas (embroided shirts).

the last one month, every morning, i get up, dig into an 'any mountain' plastic shopping bag nailed to my bedpost, and get ready for work. the attire is a paint and grime ridden HODR t-shirt, a worn pair of pants, a red bandana and the coveted HODR cap. on the heavy lumber days, i wear my running shoes , otherwise i wear tevas. yesterday, i get up and for the first time, wear a salwaar kameez. i am ready to board the bus to dhaka.

its funny how a place you share with 20 people from around the world, with a bunk bed and 4 sq. feet of shelf space for your personal space, can feel like home. space seems so inconsequential and yet, i search for a roomier apartment every time.

i break down as i give marc a goodbye hug. 'its like i am leaving home', i say. 'hope you will find another home during your travels', he says and wishes me good luck. a hug to stef, and i leave, scared to look back.

i have said goodbye once too often now, but it hits me every time still.
i am human- still and for that, i am thankful.