Culture, more culture

I've started my cultural program in BD.

On Thursday I had a chance to attend a cultural event of London College of Legal Studies here in Dhaka. Well, basically it was the evening prepared by college students - songs, dances, talk shows, performances, even magic :P All in order to show different sides of Bangladesh culture. They do it there annually just for fun for themselves, teachers, alumni and parents and it includes the hidden competition between two campuses about who can put together better program. It was a lot of fun, although I'm very beginner in Bengali language and therefor missed lot of the texts coming from the stage. And I must be honest, Bangladeshi people are far better in Bangla songs than in Western ones - "Waiting for tonight" sounded especially bad :P The dancing part was the best!

Today I went for an undergound music festival. Haha!! I never attend any of these events in Estonia or listen to underground music at all! So already this was an experience itself! I still do think that people, who are able for half an hour or more in a row almost bang their head against the stage while the loudspeakers are screeming something very similar to Prodigy, are a a bit weird. But if this is their way of enjoying, I cannot have anything against it. Anyway, another band called Nemesis which mainly plays rock, was far better and enjoyable for me. There were many other bands, but (luckily) we didn't have time to listen to them all. Uh, and coming out of the place, I felt I've lost my ability to hear. It continued the whole evening... Or maybe running nose was doubbling the effect. Last thing - did I mention the whole thing was held in between 1.30 - 6.00 pm!

The evening today then continued with Bangladesh night organised by AIESEC here. This was really lovely! All aieseccers dressed up in their national clothes, singing, dancing, reading poems, making an overview of history of BD and performing a fashion show. And all of it only for me, Helen (from UK) and Shehzeen (from US/BD) - trainees in AIESEC North South University. I myself was wearing salwar kamez that I had bought with Helen and Rabab the day earlier. And I got an idea, that in Estonia we should also do this kind of national event to our trainees. Gives you a really warm feeling of welcome, is a good place to get to know people and makes you understand the country a bit more. The performances were followed by some traditional snacks and dancing party. It all happened on the top of the roof (but not in the rain ;) which made surprised that other people in the house or neigbourhood didn't complain about really loud music (especially considering the fact that most of the people are rather conservative)

I have also got my first culture shock here - but this is related to AIESEC not to Bangladesh itself. Things are run very very differently here as to what I'm used to see in Estonia (and I said very different, not bad!). As of now, explanations I leave for the future, especially as it seems that among other things I may soon get a bit more involved with AIESEC work too :)