Oh, the things one hears these days

[Caitlin Morgan]

The rhetorical dangers of culture clash (comments from local women made through a translator)

“Is she yours?”
--woman to Sahil, about Katherine

“Are you Muslim or Hindu?”
--(I still don’t know how to answer this question)

“Chicken?”
--Manzhu, our translator, at every single meal, still disbelieving that we actually do not want meat

“But if you get tired from this walk you won’t be able to finish the rest of the day!”
--Manzhu, regarding a 1 km stroll, for which we insisted a rickshaw was unnecessary

“Why don’t you wear a sari? You have so much money! You could buy a sari. Don’t you like a sari?”
--woman on the roadside to me, the girl in the wide-necked peasant blouse

“Hah hah hah, she believes in Darwin!”
--Manzhu, on my “religious” beliefs

“So if you left tonight with your boyfriend, and came back tomorrow night, your parents don’t say anything?”
--another BRAC employee, quizzing a very uncomfortable me on family and social rules

“Bengali goats are very tiny but have lots of kids—just like our women!”
--Manzhu