Bidding Bangladesh Fare Well

On January 2, we packed up early so that we could go out for one final lunch with Shaz, her family, Sophie and John, and Sophie and John’s host "sister" Sharmin and family before leaving.   Everyone was very relaxed, now that all the events were over.  We lingered over our kabobs.

But then it was time.  We first said our good-byes to Sophie and John, our fantastic traveling buddies.  We were already planning a reunion with them when we return to MN. Harder was saying good-bye to Mark.  He was going home from here, and we were continuing on.  Hardest still was saying good-bye to Shaz' family.  We weren't sure when we would see them again.  And, how do you ever express your appreciation for all that we had been privileged to experience? 

I was reminded of something Iqbal had told us on the city tour.  Bangladesh is the home to the philosopher/ writer/ teacher Tagore who won the very first Nobel Prize for Literature.  Iqbal said that Tagore set the tone early on for Bangladeshis’ welcoming nature.  Tagore wrote: 

            You come to our shores a stranger. 

            We invite you to our home as our guest. 

            You leave as a friend. 

Iqbal said this is what all Bangladeshis strive for.  EVERYONE certainly succeeded in our case.

Before we leave Bangladesh, I have to show a few more favorite pictures from the wedding week that didn’t make it into the earlier posts:  

Shazreh's two mothers now

Another new mother...

Can you tell they are brothers?

And a few more pictures from across Bangladesh before we move on to Myanmar:

Bus Conductor

A heavy load

Fresh fruit for sale

Washing clothes...

...clothes drying.

I wonder what she's thinking...

Vendor with the best face ever!

        ... Farewell