Home at last

After 2 flights totalling 17 hours, we're home. Mr. Hadi and his wife, Marzan, hosted a farewell feast at their home and presented us with gifts on our final evening in Dhaka. You see us in this photo wearing our new duds --- The Panjabi for the gentlemen and the Kameez for the ladies. (For more pictures visit the photo gallery)

As a new travelling volunteer for SCAW, and on my first visit to south Asia, I was looking forward to this Bangladesh distribution as a learning experience, and it exceeded all of my expectations.

Working with a great team of Canadians and overseas volunteers, I have learned things on many levels --- about Sleeping Children, about Bangladesh and its people, and about myself.

I already knew, of course, that SCAW is a wonderful organization with a tradition of helping in many parts of the world. I had not fully appreciated the extent to which the spirit of founder Murray Dryden guides the decisions and interactions in the field day-to-day.

I saw it in the unflagging concern for the details, in the care with which the children were always handled, and in the courtesy and respect accorded all participants, even under trying conditions and time pressures.

When choices had to be made, Murray was there in minds and hearts, ensuring that the mission remained clear and shining. Our expert team leaders, Joan and Richard, ensured that there were no compromises of the SCAW values despite the inevitable challenges and distractions created by unfamiliar surroundings, language difficulties, and cultural differences.

I learned how much the Bangladeshi volunteers were an integral and essential part of the SCAW team, not just in terms of procurement and logistics, but also as fully involved participants in deciding how to deal with the reality on the ground. Many of them, and some of their spouses, are now friends, and I know we will stay in touch.

And I learned how a team can come together, using the talents and strengths of all its members, while setting aside personal comfort to achieve a common purpose. There was never a time when a ready hand was not extended, or a favour withheld.

The in-country experience has been a constant and enveloping flow of sights, sounds, smells and sensations, sometimes assaulting the senses, sometimes delicately massaging them. Heat, humidity, flavours, chants, laughter, sweat, flowers, dust, rain, depressing poverty juxtaposed with relative luxury, excitement and mind-numbing fatigue --- all were part of an everyday experience far removed from life back in Canada.

In fact, Canada barely existed for two weeks, except for occasional e-mail messages from home. We were all fully engaged with our new friends and with the task at hand. We had no idea what the stock market was doing, how the world financial crisis was unfolding, what political issues were in the headlines back home. We could have checked, as we had iPhone and Blackberry and Internet, but these things were of little concern on planet SCAW. There is something about this thing that focuses the mind of even the most addicted news junkie.

I learned that in every country, and especially in Bangladesh, many people are working for the improvement of their country and their communities, making personal sacrifices for the betterment of others, and reaching deeply into their own pockets to make it happen in a society where public funding is not available for many worthwhile causes. They have a vision of where the country must go, and they are committed to doing what they can to move in that direction.

The people of Bangladesh are industrious and hard working, motivated by the same desires and goals as us --- security and wellbeing for themselves and their families, a better life for their children.

I also learned that this almost-66-year-old could hang in there physically and match the pace of younger folks for 12-hour days with the humidex at 45. I learned that I could be a good follower, something I am not called upon to do in my regular life. I learned that I can live happily, at least for a while, without all of the gee-whiz stuff we take for granted back home, taking pleasure from simple things --- the joy of a child with his or her new bedkit, the big grins when they grabbed my hand and said “Hello,” or “Assalamu Alaykum,” or “Thank-you.” And I learned that I can still get excited.

Thanks to our team leaders, our Canadian and overseas team mates, and all who supported this effort in whatever way they could.