Working in a different country is not always trouble-free. Number one problem is simple - the language barrier.
To communicate with the people in the slum we can always use sign language, the few words of bangla we know or just try to guess. what it is all about. But in order to make really something happen, we would need to know the language. And bangla is nothing like english. And then you might learn bangla but one of the families might just speak hindi...or bihari.... And then you want to go and do work in Nepal....nepali...Sri Lanka...tamil. Huh. Wouldn't it be great if you could just insert a chip in your head when travelling and just change it when ever you need a new language?
I have spent some days in the slum without a translator and I must say it is hard. People tend to have needs and when they see you arriving, they come to you talking talking talking. And in the end I can say that I don't know, I will let them know when I can get to the bengali speakers. So I sit and wish I knew the words.
Luckily we have our dear friend Kuttush, who works with us as translator and much more. He is a true jewel and known also as Super Kuttush, as he is a true help finding local markets for us to get better deals. And well, buying at the market it always easier with him.
Just today I was told by one of the principals of the schools we send some the kids from the slum, that he would love to give us lessons in Bengali language at his school!
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