Giving...

I couldn't be prouder of my scars and bruises... last week my team and I helped build a home in Kaliganj, about 2 hours outside of Dhaka. Of all the forms of aid that can be given, physically contributing to a tangible result has to be one of the best experiences I have ever had. Blogged with the Flock Browser

The power in my office has gone for the 5th time today, allowing me a brief respite from work and an increasingly rare opportunity to post some thoughts, but can't seem to slow my mind down enough to commit anything substantial to the page.  I feel as though I'm turning myself into a walking to-do list, constantly updating, scheduling, rescheduling, adding tasks and tracking the progress... and inevitably losing patience and gaining frustration, and in the process convincing myself more and more that I could do better, that there has to be a more efficient way to do all of this... I have had some welcome breaks in the last couple of weeks.  Along with my teammates and a couple others, I visited Srimongol, a beautifully peaceful part of north-eastern Bangladesh which is home to the tea plantations of the country.  Especially when compared to the gray pallidness of Dhaka, the green-carpeted hills of Srimongol felt like an entirely different world. Our group enjoyed 5-flavor...

The Big Bangs celebrating the win, then donating the proceeds to Roger Bodary, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh...

1 6,800 takas raised for Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh. More than 120 people in attendance. 22 teams registered. 1 st Big Bangs 2 nd Old School 3rd High rollers / Smoking ballers Best and Fairest Team: The JD’s / Old School Shooting Champ/SNIPER: Julian from Jaguars Most talkative person: Baby Shaq from the Smoking Ballers Best Coach: Leigh from the JD’s Best play: Rod from the Big Bangs, scoring against his own basket after a steal… Most outstanding team: the A-unit (girl team from AIS-D) with 2 victories (that’s right boyz!) Most combative team: the YAO with two games in a row outside under a burning sun! Most innovative team name: the Runners Least innovative team name: the Runners 2 Blogged with the Flock Browser

I just spoke to someone from the Ministry of Sports (not sure that's the official name of the Ministry...) He said that the Tournament we put on was the first of its kind EVER in Bangladesh... The first ever Basketball Tournament that was open to all, not just an army or club league game for locals...  In fact, it was the first Charity Basketball Tournament in Bangladesh... There are plenty of small tournament going on all the time, nice to know we had some 1sts though... Blogged with the Flock Browser

My Team, Big Bangs, won the Hoops for Habitat Tournament. My Team, Georgia, beat Kentucky and Ole Miss and is now 1 win away from a ticket to the Big Dance. My Team, Clockwork, beat the Cobbers by 20 points... I've said it before, what a great weekend... Blogged with the Flock Browser

This has been one of those weekends which makes you wonder what you did to get so lucky... After playing poorly in a softball game early Friday morning, I was looking forward to a day spend sulking in front of the tv, however my neighbor and team-mate Julien convinced me to take him and a couple of others on a tour through Old Dhaka. A group of 5 of us, all French bar myself, set off around midday to the "real" Dhaka, as expats refer to it, our first stop being Mother Theresa's Orphanage.  I was quite pleased to see how easily I remembered the way there...  Although most stores were closed due to prayers, Friday being the holy day, it was nevertheless impossible not to be impressed by the sheer number of storefronts littering the streets... certainly a completely different world from Gulshan... We arrived at the orphanage during the kid's nap time, but I was still permitted to take the group around and show them how the place works.  Interesting to note that we arrive...

There's something to be said about teamwork, and working towaards the same goal... On Saturday, March 15th, the "Big Bangs", my basketball team, organised and ran a 3x3 Charity Basketball Tournament. Although we had discussed the concept very loosely before, it was only a week ago that we decided to take any action for it. The details were discussed, the rules decided upon, emails sent out and posters put up... We didn't expect a big turnout, in fact we would have been quite happy with 4 to 6 teams, ourselves included... by the time the whistle blew for the 1st game, however, 20 teams had registered, and over 150 people were filling the the International School Dhaka Gym... Thankfully the inner nerds within us had drawn up potential pool-play formats for up to 30 teams... The participants were quite diverse; teams were entered from the American Embassy, the Japanese Embassy, local high schools, expats, locals, even a couple of girls and mixed teams... The level of...

Hoops for Habitat 3 on 3 Charity Tournament Proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh Traveling Trophy Awarded Saturday 15 th March International School Dhaka 1pm to 5pm 250 taka per player Max 4 people per team Team must have matching t-shirts/singlets Registration ends Thursday 13 th March Call Pierre – 01726 702547 to register. Or Julien – 01720 982919 for information in English, French or Swahili Or Raja – 01670 444555 for information in English, Bangla or Hindi Blogged with Flock