Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this whole thread is a marketing scheme by Aarong to drive traffic to their website.

Op here. It's not but because no one takes us out I have grown fond of Aarong. There are very few places you can use a credit card here for clothes shopping. Also in the US, I don't go shopping for the kid's traditional clothing usually due to distance and the cost is a lot higher. I was drawn to his culture because of the dresses but now that I am here I have very few opportunities to explore some of these things. On the last trip, we didn't go clothes shopping until almost the end of the trip and it was rushed. A lot of his family members came and they were following me around saying the items at Aarong were so expensive. Naturally, this made me feel a little guilty for shopping but it was the only opportunity presented to me. I feel I have to beg to go out shopping. It's the only thing we can do around here. There aren't museums close by and they think restaurants will make me sick. I have also been asking DH to help find a doctor to look at my toe and he's not helping much. I can't use Google and contact the doctors here. I tried and no answer. I think they do a lot of same-day visits. People just show up and wait.

Op here. Also, Aarong has fixed prices. We did go to Zum Zum Tower in Dhaka and most places had price tags. I think sometimes Dh is kind of foreign here and doesn't know much because it has changed. I was the one who introduced him to supermarkets in Dhaka. He was telling me it's a new concept. Bottom line I feel he's being selfish. Because he doesn't want to go out shopping or out to the chicken farm we usually can't go. He has been taking long naps. I told him today I was bored out of my mind and he needed to take charge more and help me feel more supported. There is a padlock and all around his property. I can't get out if I try. He should be taking the initiative to make the trip at least semi-fun. My stomach has also been feeling bad for the last two days maybe due to stress. I did try dal and rice earlier today and my MIL was very happy. Since I got so sick last time I was being super careful. I was sick in Bangladesh for over a week and then another three weeks when we returned. The fever kept coming back even with antibiotics. Our hospital bill in the US was also super expensive but luckily insurance kicked in right on time as dh began a new job when we came back.

Anonymous wrote:I think this whole tread is a marketing scheme by Aarong to drive traffic to their website.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I think this whole thread is a marketing scheme by Aarong to drive traffic to their website.

Op here. It's not but because no one takes us out I have grown fond of Aarong. There are very few places you can use a credit card here for clothes shopping. Also in the US, I don't go shopping for the kid's traditional clothing usually due to distance and the cost is a lot higher. I was drawn to his culture because of the dresses but now that I am here I have very few opportunities to explore some of these things. On the last trip, we didn't go clothes shopping until almost the end of the trip and it was rushed. A lot of his family members came and they were following me around saying the items at Aarong were so expensive. Naturally, this made me feel a little guilty for shopping but it was the only opportunity presented to me. I feel I have to beg to go out shopping. It's the only thing we can do around here. There aren't museums close by and they think restaurants will make me sick. I have also been asking DH to help find a doctor to look at my toe and he's not helping much. I can't use Google and contact the doctors here. I tried and no answer. I think they do a lot of same-day visits. People just show up and wait.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody should be eating chicken nuggets. Why people even introduce those to kids is beyond me.

If I were you OP, I'd figure out a way to get out--LEARN how to find your way back to his family's house. Go for a walk, enjoy the new environment, smell the smells, eat the eats, and have fun. I doubt anyone is forcing you to sit around the house all day, it's a choice you're making out of fear. Make a different choice.

Hire a car for the day if he won’t take you out. Not sure what county you are in but in the developing world these things usually aren’t expensive by US standards.

Have him or one of his family members hire one they know/use and give directions.

Are you afraid to go out alone? Depending on your look and dress your instincts might be valid so not judging, especially if you are the skittish type.

I have a look that allows me to blend in when I visit many countries in the developing world, so I just need to dress conservatively and go about my business.

Either way give it a try, have the driver accompany you. What is the worst that can happen. You might even have an adventure or two.

Op here. Dh would never allow this with two young kids. Where would we go besides a Mall in Dhaka?

Anonymous wrote:Just saw the pictures. This is very different from India . India has a very different vibe with a much larger middle and upper middle class . While their grand parents may have stayed in houses like this the current middle class is very comfortably off with all amenities like cars , air conditioning and washing machines . I wish you could get out and make a short trip to Calcutta which is just across the border and a short 45 minute ride away . Your kids would love it and it’s really cheap compared to other cities in India .

Op here. Thank you for clarifying! I have always had a feeling India is different but it was hard to know. I wouldn't feel comfortable showing pictures to my Indian neighbors. We had a lot of Indian neighbors which has been great but confusing at times because the culture as you can see from the photos is entirely the same. Bangladesh is also majority Muslim. I think this post has brought out bad feelings towards my husband. I don't have anywhere to turn right now. I could talk to my family but I don't want them to feel bad for me and I don't want to be put in a position where it feels like I may be talking badly about someone's culture.

Anonymous wrote:Nobody should be eating chicken nuggets. Why people even introduce those to kids is beyond me.

If I were you OP, I'd figure out a way to get out--LEARN how to find your way back to his family's house. Go for a walk, enjoy the new environment, smell the smells, eat the eats, and have fun. I doubt anyone is forcing you to sit around the house all day, it's a choice you're making out of fear. Make a different choice.

Hire a car for the day if he won’t take you out. Not sure what county you are in but in the developing world these things usually aren’t expensive by US standards.

Have him or one of his family members hire one they know/use and give directions.

Are you afraid to go out alone? Depending on your look and dress your instincts might be valid so not judging, especially if you are the skittish type.

I have a look that allows me to blend in when I visit many countries in the developing world, so I just need to dress conservatively and go about my business.

Either way give it a try, have the driver accompany you. What is the worst that can happen. You might even have an adventure or two.

I think this whole tread is a marketing scheme by Aarong to drive traffic to their website.

Just saw the pictures. This is very different from India . India has a very different vibe with a much larger middle and upper middle class . While their grand parents may have stayed in houses like this the current middle class is very comfortably off with all amenities like cars , air conditioning and washing machines . I wish you could get out and make a short trip to Calcutta which is just across the border and a short 45 minute ride away . Your kids would love it and it’s really cheap compared to other cities in India .

Where were you born and raised, OP? What about your parents and grandparents?

What do you and your DH do for work?

Anonymous wrote:Why do you go for a month? You posted some pretty identifiable stuff about yourself if you care.

Me again. I've traveled like that and I can do it, but it is not joyful. So many people are judging without actually knowing what it entails.

Why do you go for a month? You posted some pretty identifiable stuff about yourself if you care.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was one of the people who had asked you to cook your food and to adjust. Seeing all your home pictures makes me realize that it would be difficult for a person who has never seen those kind of things to adjust. The pump, dish washing area, grill door, firewood etc.

I hope you and DH have a good talk before your next visit. Maybe he goes first and you and kids go for a shorter visit. Or he goes with kids and you join later.

Plan to visit some touristy spots instead of just staying in Faridpur. Or get a visa to any nearby country. You do the planning and get your husband on board.

Op here. We went to Turkey before arriving here. Honestly, I don't think I want to do any of the touristy stuff here. Sitting in traffic is a huge problem here. It kind of kills the joy. Dh would be worried about us navigating out of the airport. There aren't ubers here. Most of the drivers don't speak English. I just have to accept it's something we do every 5 or so years. It's hard for me and especially a pain that dh acts like I am a princess because I want to buy the kids Punjabis. The one thing I enjoy about coming here is shopping because it's cheap and because I want my kids to wear traditional Bengali clothes for holiday parties in the US. I rather buy from here instead of Amazon.

OP, I was one of the people who had asked you to cook your food and to adjust. Seeing all your home pictures makes me realize that it would be difficult for a person who has never seen those kind of things to adjust. The pump, dish washing area, grill door, firewood etc.

I hope you and DH have a good talk before your next visit. Maybe he goes first and you and kids go for a shorter visit. Or he goes with kids and you join later.

Plan to visit some touristy spots instead of just staying in Faridpur. Or get a visa to any nearby country. You do the planning and get your husband on board.

Op here. More pictures of inside the house. There is an ac in MILs room that is new. It is towards the top of the wall and has a cover over it. All the furniture has locks on them and they use keys to open everything. The property also has a series of padlocks to get out. The only entrance to the house also uses a padlock at night. There isn't a back door. There are two bathrooms. One is a full bath but no bathtub and another one is a half bath. My MIL probably thinks I am weird for taking pictures of the house.

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This is where the dishes are being cleaned. The cleaning doesn't come everyday. She sits on the little stool. Dhs mom and my SIL also sometimes clean stuff there.