My alarm went off at 6:15 am. I pressed the snooze button and slept for another half an hour today. My typical morning in Jessore involves making my bed, brushing my teeth, drinking a big glass of water, exercising a little, taking a shower, praying, listening to some smoothing music and singing along while getting dressed for work. I also make a coffee and drink it while getting dressed. Breakfast is usually served between 9 and 9:15 am and brought to me (I am so grateful for this) by my aunty or Pinky r maa (domestic help). This day was no different. I really enjoy the morning, as this is the only me time I get during the day.

The car from work arrived at 9:30 am and beeped the horn. I went to the balcony and let the driver know I am coming down. I grabbed the keys to open the front gate and handed the keys to whoever followed me downstairs.

I started work at 9:50 am and had a meeting first thing in the morning. After the meeting I went to the dining area and asked for a tea. I usually drink a cup of tea around 11 am by the pond. This is one of my other favourite activities during the day. I spend my time there just looking at the water and the surroundings and  gathering my thoughts. I sometimes have one or two other colleagues join me. Yesterday, I was by myself, which was perfect :). I worked till 1:45 pm and went to have my lunch. Since I got here I have been having lunch with Angela and Ira. Angela is currently interstate for work, so I was expecting to have lunch with Ira. When I got to the dinning hall, I noticed Ira already started without me… When she saw me, she was so apologetic. She forgot the fact that I returned from my two-day holiday. To make her feel even more guilty, I started to act really hurt… But then we laughed it off. Yesterday’s menu was stir fried cauliflower, a fish curry with green bananas, daal and white rice. I didn’t really have a big appetite, so I couldn’t eat a lot.

I run an English class for staff daily from 3 to 4 pm, so I rushed back to my office and prepared for the class. We had three different activities during the class and the staff enjoyed them.

After the class I hung out with Ira for a bit then came back to my office for some more work. I was informed the driver was not going to be available to drop me and luckily another opportunity came up. I’m not sure if I have shared this with you, but I am not allowed to travel anywhere by myself. So, I had to get someone else to either drop me or pick me up. Ira and Akash were asked to pick up some medicines for an ill cow, so they were about to head out. I took the opportunity to take a ride with them. The rickshaw rides in Bangladesh is an awesome experience and, at every opportunity, I try to take a ride on a rickshaw. The rickshaws are typically designed to carry two people. But somehow there is always more than two. If there are three people, then you don’t want to disadvantage one person. So, we try to squeeze in. Yesterday we did the same! It was so much fun!

They dropped me off in front of my uncle’s office and left. I spent a good two hours at his work, as I was waiting for him to finish for a meeting we had planned for that evening.

We had a productive meeting with two of my uncle’s friends. during the meeting we walked to a tea stall next door and had tea. I had a ginger tea, while the others had black tea. I bought a guava from a portable guava stall and ate it during remainder of our meeting.

We were all craving chotpoti from this particular shop, which has become one of my hangout spots, since I came to Jessore. It is called “Ismael er Chotpoti” and it is in Dharmatala. My uncle and his friends call it “So mile er chotpoti”. Not sure why… I must ask them, one of these days. The reason they have picked this particular chotpoti stall is the dish is not overly spiced and they maintain cleanliness. I haven’t had any stomach issues eating chotpoti here thus far though.

Our transportation to this place were two separate motorbikes owned by each of my uncle’s friends. I was super excited to be on back of one of these 🙂 I think the video below says it all…

Our discussion continued while we had chotpoti. My uncle’s friends had another tea from a nearby tea stall after the meal. They then dropped us off to the next destination. So nice of them…

After we got home, my two little cousins wanted to hang out with me, so we took some selfies together and chatted for a bit. I got freshened up and spent some time with two of my uncles, aunty and my granddad. At 1:10 am, it was time for bed. I turned on the alarm for the morning and the rest is history…