Beximco visit

This weekend we had the pleasure of visiting Beximco Industrial Park, the largest private sector group in Bangladesh. The flagship platform now has operations and investments across a wide range of industries including textiles, trading, marine food, real estate development, hospitality, construction, information and communication technologies, media, ceramics, aviation, pharmaceuticals, financial services and energy. The Group sells its products and services in the domestic Bangladesh market as well as international markets. BEXIMCO is the largest employer in the private sector in Bangladesh and employs over 48,000 people worldwide. The Group’s global clients include some of the world’s best known brands including BT, BASF, Chevron, Calvin Klein, H&M, JC Penney, Macys, Zara, UNICEF, Royal Doulton and Villeroy & Boch.

We drove out to their Gazipur industrial park to take a look around and learn about their huge operation. Fascinating day! We toured their garments factories and also visited their Shinepukur ceramics as well.

Beximco textiles is unique because it is a fully vertically-integrated production. Most Bangladeshi factories purchase their fabric abroad and just assemble the garments here to advantage of the low labor costs. Beximco, on the other hand, starts with just cotton, and does all their own spinning, dying, weaving, and garment assembly.

We saw lots of machine things, that did lots of cool things, from spinning to the weaving to dying and such. Process was highly automated and high-tech with very few people working for them.

Top 5 pros of living in Dhaka

All right, all right, I am a born again optimist, so I will start out with the positives:

1) Travel!

After the amazing opportunity we had to travel around Asia, I can’t help but again mention the travel as the top pro. After all, you have many amazing places to explore… And so many amazing culturally-rich countries just a short flight away…

2) Pampering!

Stressed out with work, traffic, pollution? The Desh is the place for you! It is super affordable to get great massages here. Or my girls, manicures, pedicures and facials are also a fraction of what you’d pay for it in the US.


3) Household staff!

Yep, in Dhaka you can actually afford to have a staff, and most people here have a helper and a driver. We also have both, and we’ve been very happy with them. Our helper leaves our place spotless, does our laundry, pet sits when we’re out of town, does our grocery shopping and cooks. None of the aya or  driver have ever rolled their eyes at us, or answered anything without a smile on their faces. They’re not perfect, but who is? Our life in Bangladesh is definitely easier with them than without them.

It will be tough for the kids when they will go away to college and realize that clothes don't pick themselves off the floor and appear in their closets clean and ironed. And that the dishes are not magically taken care of…

4) People!

I am sure that there are more hospitable culture out there. However, I never myself been inside one. Bangladeshis will go out of their way to please you. Show them respect and smile at them, make the slightest effort to show you are one of them and you will have made instant friends.

5) Affordability

Just like you can afford to travel, hire household staff and get others to pamper you, you can afford pretty much most things in general (except shopping at the mall – that’s expensive!). But want to go out to dinner? Assuming you’re not ordering US/Australian steak, anything else is a super good deal. It’s nice to go out to eat without breaking the bank.  You can find anything from sushi, to Korean, to Indian, to Italian, to vegetarian. And since it's practically impossible to get a liquor license here you can bring your wine or beer to go with you meal.

Why 2013 Rocked!

2013, you have completely rocked my world! There are so many things that made you just plain awesome. 2014, you have pretty huge shoes to fill!Started my first diplomatic assignment.

Lived in Bangladesh in election year, and survived the endless days of hartals and violence.

Started writing this blog and enjoyed it tremendously.

Travelled all over Bangladesh.

Had my pictures published on the first page of a large circulation newspaper.

Visited the Tiger nest monastery and Angkor Wat temple! Crossed things off the bucket list!

Conquered my fear of flying and got on a helicopter for the first time in my life.

Started teaching English for a group of local embassy employees.

Made tons of new friends and met really awesome people.

Realized that deep inside my soul, I am actually an optimist. I can now look at the glass and see just the half full part.

Witnessed a bus being set on fire that made me realize how fragile reality can be.

Held together my family in the most severe culture shock hours.

Reconnected with my Michigan best friends.

Traveled to eighteen countries, three continents, countless villages and cities, found beauty in the most unlikely places.

Went around the world with my family and made a lifetime dream come true.

Began my year in United States and ended it in Dubai, both times with the people who have always mattered to me the most.

Realized that the more I have done, the more is left to be accomplished and that I need to move on!

Thank you 2013, for discovering a better me inside of me.

Superbowl in Dhaka

There are not many holidays to make you feel American abroad. Officially, there is  the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. But the unofficial one is Superbowl Sunday. I could make a very strong argument that the Monday after should be given as a day off. But who would listen to me?

Of course, there are logistical challenges overseas. The main one? Time difference. In Dhaka, kick off time was 6:30AM. So forget about the crappy quality of the Internet transmission. Instead of having beer and chicken wings you need to settle for breakfast and instant coffee. That's a huge sacrifice, to go without the two traditional Superbowl staples.

I thought for sure no one would be crazy enough to watch the Superbowl at the American Club. But , was I wrong. Never underestimate the determination of Americans! With the television playing a low-quality Slingbox broadcast, we sure as heck make for a compelling argument to declare Monday a day of rest.

Blurry eyed and sleepy I rolled into the office.