Article

by Mary Killewo

Let’s Have Lunch !

Life can be very difficult when you have to follow new routines in a foreign country.

It becomes even more difficult and boring when you are not employed. This is true for women who come to Bangladesh only to find it is difficult to mix with the local women who also find it difficult to mix with foreigners. Old friends are too far away to consult, new friends are difficult to find and those of us who are used to extended family structures have no one to visit them.

Some foreign women are employed. They are busy and most of the time they find life interesting and challenging. For them, time flies. But women who are not employed need to find ways of making their lives interesting and challenging as well.

During my stay here, I have come to realize that although there are many interesting and thought-provoking things a woman can do alone at home and outside, it is always a good idea to get together with other women and be exposed to the other side of life as well. This exposure enables women to know each other better and share information. Such socialization activities not only help those with frustrations and tensions to overcome them, but they also make participants feel good and raise their self-esteem.

In a group, one may find that there are many with similar problems. Such interaction may therefore help them to share ideas for possible solutions to the problems, which would otherwise be difficult to solve in the loneliness of houses and apartments.

I would therefore like to propose two specific areas of socialization that can be explored to cope with the threat of boredom and frustration. These are getting together for a meal and walking or swimming together.

Going out for a meal, particularly at lunchtime, to an inexpensive restaurant or taking turns at someone’s residence is a very attractive idea. I am proposing lunchtime because this is the time when most women are at home and most likely to be bored and depressed. This is the time there is almost nothing to do in the house except for those who have small children. This is also not the best time for shopping. Shopkeepers are tired and hungry and prices are higher than at other times. This is the time to build castles in the air and although many of us do it at times, the castles remain unreachable. If eight to ten people come together for a meal, as some of us have done, it would save many of us from depression.

Going for a walk or swimming is a healthy undertaking. Many of us do not do this for various reasons. Some women are far from parks or swimming pools while others do not bother to find out where such recreational facilities are available. These matters can be discussed over lunch.

These two propositions are just examples of how people may interact, and there are many other suggestions that would make life in Bangladesh lively and interesting.

I would like to thank all UNWA members for their enthusiasm and time.