matt's goodbye "program"

Matt took me to his work today (they work on Saturdays), as he wanted to buy lunch for the office before his Pfizer NY team came into town and then we left. We thought we were going for lunch. Turns out we were going for a whole goodbye "program", involving speeches, paparazzi-style photography, and many lavish gifts. Matt got a fatua (business casual shirt) and punjabi (long dress shirt), I got a beautiful salwar kameez, we both got mugs with the Grameen Kalyan logo on them, and Matt got the clock that he's been eyeing for 6 months -- it has the GK logo, plus all the numbers are in Bangla. We also got huge bouquets of flowers.

They had a special cake made that totally typifies the Bangladeshi spirit. They mean so well and try so hard to be hospitable with their limited command of English and resources. In any case, the message is supposed to convey that when Matt says "goodbye", his office mates will only accept it as a temporary "adieu", because they expect him to come back and they will see us again soon. Basically, "you say goodbye, we say see you soon." Very sweet. (And I mean that literally too, the Bangladeshis like their "misti" super-sugary).

After spending a day conversing with everyone from the cleaning lady and "peons" (their actual job title, unbelievable) to the Managing Director of the whole health program, we had a surprise meeting with the head honcho himself, Professor Yunus. I now have the pleasure of being able to say that a Nobel Peace Prize recipient praises my work with special ed. students in Harlem as challenging and invaluable.