FUN on a DistributionJoan Hryniw — Lakeside, ON
All of us had fun! To experience and achieve fun on a distribution takes a large dose of planning and hardwork by our overseas partners and our Sleeping Children team. Our Canadian volunteers also gave immense doses of energy, caring, and labour. One section of our distribution involved a three-day journey doing a distribution each day in a different area. Up at 4:30 or 5 am, a cup of tea, into the bus and traveling for two or so hours. A short breakfast break followed by another two to three hours of travel would bring us to our site. Setting up, photographing the children, and giving out the bedkits was followed by a quick lunch with our hosts. Back onto the bus around 4 pm and another three- to four-hour ride to the next area. Reaching the next hotel, cleaning up, preparing for the following day, and down for dinner around 8 or 9 pm and finally bed around 11 pm completed our day. Believe it or not, it was fun!
It was a piece of cake for us when you realize just what our Overseas Volunteer Organization(s) [OVO] have accomplished. On top of having to arrange all the logistics for each day's distribution, they have also looked after us royally. Their concern for our comfort is overwhelming. Their joy in sharing their food and culture with us cannot be measured. Bangladesh is a peaceful, caring country. Our Rotarian friends are anxious that we realize this. No matter where we went, to schools, a hospital, restaurants or the homes of bedkit recipients, all welcomed us with open arms. They have an intense concern that we should understand that they are not the Taliban and that they do not condone their approach. We experienced rickshaw rides to a hospital one evening and a second time to a local restaurant. Each time we were greeted along the way with big smiles and sometimes even cheers. We had fun! One Evening at a restaurant on our own we experienced fun again as we attempted to order our food (no English spoken here) eat Bengali style without cutlery and have our photo taken by them. It is amazing how smiles, handsigns and laughter can draw people together when they cannot communicate with words. We had fun communicating with the children while they waited for their turn by blowing bubbles, singing, making artificial snow, and dancing. It was fun! The long bus rides with the Rotoract youth who accompanied us and entertained us with Bengali songs. Yes it was fun!
And last but most important of all was the knowledge that 5,000 children helped by the Rotary team were having fun with their very own brand new bedkits. |
