Reflections - Barbara Mitchell

For the second time I found the Aussi Bangla experience very overwhelming - a barrage of mixed emotions. I was overcoming with waves of happiness, sadness, exhaustion, energy, wonder and empathy.’ Often there were feelings of total uselessness while mingling with these quiet, gracious and very poor people who were appreciative of anything we could do for them. We can never do enough.

There was also a very special bond among the lovely team with whom I shared my life for 18 days.  Again we laughed, cried and consoled ourselves after each tiring day with a cup of tea and chocolate.

The last day on the Jibon Tari we sat out on the deck and each told the story of meeting our life partners. I feel honored that these wonderful people allowed me to be privy to the most intimate and touching details of their lives. What a special bond we share.

We all think ourselves lucky to have clean drinking water, hot showers, fresh air and blue skies.

How lucky am I to have had this wonderful experience with such wonderful people