Reaction
After a few weeks and people have heard we are moving to Bangladesh it is interesting to consider the variety of reactions that I have experienced.
A group of people see our decision as exciting. In fact one person immediately rushed out and started applying for jobs in schools in Africa and the poorer regions of the Middle East. Other peoples genuine excitement for us is great and adds to our own excitement of adventure.
A second group's reaction is surprise and wonderment. (My children!) This appears to be based mainly around ignorance of Bangladesh. They seem surprised to know that there is the twelfth biggest shopping mall in the world in Dhaka. Bigger than anything in Australia, Europe or the United States. Economic growth is higher than Australia and New Zealand combined. There is electricity (though not all day), mobile phones (though not 3G), the internet and cable TV. Once these people become informed they move into the first group.
But there is a third concerning group. Their comments are "That's interesting!" or more honestly "Why would you go there?" Their comments seem to indicate the divide between the developed and developing countries. You can go and holiday in the Third world as long as it is in the oil states of the Gulf, Thailand or the cities of China. But going to Africa or elsewhere in Asia is not acceptable to holiday let alone live.
I have been surprised that some many people have reacted in this third way.
