In just a few hours, we shall say bye to 2010 and welcome the new year of 2011. This year I started serving in a foreign mission for the first time in my foreign service career. My transfer order was signed on 7 January'10 and I joined the Mission on 1 April. My experience of working at the Washington Mission is now 9 months except for three months at the London School of Economics (mid May-mid August, 2010). For my family members (Ushashi, Swarna and Amma) this is their first ever new year in a foreign country.
An important event for our family in this year was the wedding of my cousin Eshita on 31st night. My family members have a mixed reaction that we four are detached from rest of the family at the ceremony which is incidentally second such thing for our generation in the family! I was the first to tie the knot in December 2007.
Other notable things that happened to me in the soon-to-be- last year are:
Driving car: With assistance from my colleague Mr. Mehedul I could buy a Nissan Altima 2005 from a car auction center. My colleagues are appreciative of the car's look and make. Mr. Khokon gave the first encouragement and lession to drive in Washington streets.
Visiting Japan, Ireland, France and Scotland: I had a brief stopover in Tokyo at my colleague Nazmul Bhai's place. Though he was extremely busy over independence day programmes and the Ambassador's departure, Nazmul Bhai was extremely genrous with us and took the time to drive/guide us around important buildings in Tokyo. Again it all happened when Bhabi and the kids were away from him in Bangladesh. I went to Dublin for just one weekend. Stayed at the Camden Place Hostel. It was a very brief time; however, I was fortunate to meet a very friendly group of US student tourists. With them I took a city ride and even brought groceries to cook together and share one evening's meal at the hostel!
At the courtesy of my old friend Pauline and her husband Louis, I had a birthday celebration in Paris. Pauline and Louis came from Switzerland while I went to Paris by a bus from London. Eiffel Tower, Victor Hugo's home, Sorbonne University campus provide some of the most memorable images of my French trip.
We were taken to Scotland by the Hansard Society to study Scottish politics and parliament. Fortunately we could attend a question answer session at the Scottish Parliament involving the incumbent Prime Minister Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party (SNP). I had two dinners at the Bangladeshi restaurant Royal Bengal: one with my LSE classmate/roommate Fabricio and another with my old friend from IR department of Dhaka University Richie who, now settled in Dundee, drove all the way from his home to meet me after a span of around 13/14 years!
RUSI
I worked at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) as a temporary staff member during my studies at the LSE. RUSI, the oldest think-tank of UK, is a memorable experience for me. Located opposite to the British Parliament and just a few yards from the Westminster Tube station, it is a great meeting point of British intelligentsia having bent in defence and security matters. My interaction with the RUSI scholars such as Alex, Avnish, Dr. Jonathon, Dr. Lisa, Prof Clarke is really cherishable. Founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, RUSI still remains one of the unique British institutions that promotes scholarly research and critical thinking in defence and security matters. I was also lucky to have publication in the RUSI newbrief.
Day long study tour at Oxford: As part of the Hansard Research Scholars Programme, we had a day-long political studies trip at Oxford. We had two classes at the Oxford Department of Politics and International Relations on British Constitution and Parliament. It was a very useful exposure and we were given free time to walk around the Oxford campus and the town. We were given group tickets but I ran to and fro only on my interests and curiousity that's why lost track of other group mates. As a result I returned London alone paying extra fare!
