FLAT MARLEY GOES TO BANGLADESH

That's small FLAT MARLEY in the middle of this henna party. Lady took ten teens to Bangladesh to learn about their culture and life for teens there. They ate Bengali food, learned Bengali songs, traveled around in bicycle rickshaws, visited government schools, and shared some American culture with the local teens. Here, the girls are telling stories and drawing designs with henna.

The political situation in Bangladesh is very bad. During the time Lady and the teens were there, four days of nationwide strikes were called. Lady and the teens had to stay inside most of the day and couldn't go to the other schools as planned. But they made the most of the time, and found other places to go by bicycle rickshaw, the only vehicles allowed on the roads. The sad thing is, Bangladesh has had more than sixty days of strike this year due to the war crimes trials. The whole country is suffering. Businesses have to close. Kids can't go to school. People lose work and make no money.

 Lady's girls spoke to these girls (above) at a training center for girls from a slum area. Here, they get some basic education and job training. They get two meals and a snack each day as well as a shower. They also learn about a God who loves them and values them, even though their culture does not.

 These kids (above) are in an orphanage. They sang songs with the American teens, and listened to talks. They even sang for the Americans. They have so little but they prepared a nice snack for the teens.

 When the American students taught at a small government school, the windows and doors were packed with people wanted to listen and look at these teens from the far away land. 

 The American teens were asked to speak at a government high school about the dangers of smoking. When they arrived, they discovered only the boys were present. The girls attended in the mornings and were gone! At the last minute, the girls planning to speak had to be replaced by boys speakers. They are 16! They would not have listened to a word the girls said. They did however like the skit the boys and girls put on for them. 

Because of the strike, the American teens had to ride to the airport in ambulances! They loved it -sirens and all! 
This was Lady's second trip to Bangladesh. She loves it. Maybe one day we will live there!