Postcards from the Edge
of BangladeshAbout Me
So… I’m Estelle, a 33 34 year old South African who has been living in London for just gone 10 years now. After much soul searching (and a fairly decent redundancy package) I’ve decided to pack up my ‘civilized’ life and decamp to Bangladesh for a year to volunteer for a local NGO, through VSO.
I’ve tried to prepare myself as much as possible, but I still don’t really have a clue what to expect. Hopefully my patience and sense of humour will serve me well out there in the big wide world…
NOTE: I make no deep or profound revelations about volunteering in the under-developed world on this blog. Mostly it’s me moaning, and sometimes it’s me moaning a lot.
8 Comments»
estellevisagie wrote @
Bugger. Turns out I have neither quality I was hoping would serve me well. Fine. Let’s at least hope my bullish personality will see me through then…
James wrote @
Darling! Hit by a bicycle already – poor Ethel! hehe Seriously though – look – both – ways. Did you clean the wound properly? Sounds like you have a nice flat and some new friends. Hope your day of exploration goes well. Miss you already!!
Joanna Kakissis wrote @
Hi Estelle:
I’m an American journalist who will be heading to Bangladesh this September for a series of stories. I’d love to talk to you. Would you mind dropping me an email? joanna@joannakakissis.com. THANKS!
Alamgir wrote @
Wow, read your blog about bangladesh…. I am from Bangladesh too. There are two classes in Bangladesh, … the rich, who control the politics, skim off the foreign aid (to stay rich) and usually own land, …. then there is the rest, the majority. These people are really poor and have little power to change their lives.
You lived among these, the poorest, and survived. I admire you. And I am sure you made them curious about the world outside, and I am sure some lives have changed for the better!
On behalf of my poor (and yes, corrupt) country, I would like to thank you!
–Alam
Raw Hasan wrote @
Hi Estella,
Glad to see that you’ve decided to volunteer at Bangladesh!
Recently we’ve lunched a new site to help travelers and expatriates of Bangladesh. We’ll be very happy if you come and share your travel experience with us.
Thank you! 
I didn’t know you had a sense of humour Stella……did you buy one in India or did you learn it from me?!!!! Xx
Ha ha Donson. You’re sooo funny. Obviously I learnt it from you. No one in England has a sense of humour like Donnie! xxx