July 9, 2010

When we spoke this morning Rakib said “welcome home”. He said that Friday is a special day in Bangladesh (prayer day), and on the Fridays when we were on the Venture Trek he prayed that god would keep us safe. “Thanks for the prayers Rakib. The trek was adventurous, challenging, and dangerous at times, a few of us are sure that God was there for us when we slipped and were able to self arrest a fall, and avoid falling over one thousand feet into the canyon below”.
Rakib said his final exams are over and he is awaiting his marks. Rakib said he has started his second card (semester). He had no time off between semesters. He told me about his new areas of study in anatomy. He is starting to study the heart, lung, kidneys and all other organs of the body. He will also be studying the male and female genitalia and reproductive systems. Yesterday he spent four hours studying the stomach. Rakib said he will also be studying community medicine this card. The subject is not usually taught until the second year. Rakib’s teachers believe community medicine is very important and are including an extra year of study in the curriculum.
Cell phone service was very limited while we were in the back country on the Grand Teton trek. Rakib managed to get a message to me one day when we were in the front country. Rakib was late on his tuition and hostel payments and was getting some pressure to pay up. There was some confusion about who was sending Rakib money for his July expenses. I thought Dr. Ahmed was picking up the costs for the rest of the year. His money did not arrive. I tried to send Rakib money from Jackson Hole WY but it was the 4th of July holiday and the Western Union offices were closed. When I returned home I immediately sent Rakib money for his July expenses. The troop treasure reimbursed me with the money in the Rakib fund.
Rakib ended the call by wishing the Scouts, their families, and friends, good health, good fortune and Gods blessing.