What I learned from Dhaka

The city has quite a reputation. It is cruel, unforgiving, and even hostile to newcomers. However, Dhaka simultaneously embraces all, gives a chance to anyone who dares to venture into its crowd, and most importantly, teaches everyone some valuable lessons.

Here are some of the things that I learned from Dhaka.

Time management

Elsewhere, outside Dhaka, one can complete a few chores within a short period of one hour. In Dhaka, it feels like there is no such thing as "one hour". Everything takes more time, and in order to function in this city, one has to learn how to manage one's time. One has to learn what needs to be done immediately, what can be saved for later, and what can be done over the weekend.

My years in Dhaka have taught me how to properly manage my time, and hard as it can be, it's a useful skill.

Prepare for everything

Dhaka can be unpredictable. The sun can be too much, it may rain quite heavily, and you might need to stay in wet shoes for hours. Sometimes, there might be a commotion coming your way, and you might be stuck in traffic for a while.  

 It could also happen that you face absolutely no issues, no traffic on your way, and arrive an hour earlier than you hoped. Anything can happen in Dhaka, so the average Dhaka resident should be prepared for anything.  

 Dhaka has taught me to carry a backpack everywhere. In it, I keep a first aid bag, a small towel, a pair of extra socks, an umbrella, a book, a battery pack, sunglasses, a headset, a waterproof folder, one hundred takas in change, and several other items. All of these were found to be necessary at one time or another, and I have learned to be prepared for any situation that might occur.

Learn your variables

When I used to live in my hometown, I never bothered to learn about the surroundings much because it was not really needed. In Dhaka, you learn to check the weather before going out. You wonder if any processions or exams are going on in any particular area that might cause congestion. You wonder if any particular roads might be blocked for construction or any other reason.  

 Dhaka has taught me to learn about variables as much as possible, and it has taught me to plan.

Value of a holiday

I never knew the value of my free time in my earlier years. The busy and routine-confined life in Dhaka has taught me how important holidays are and how great it feels to just sit back and enjoy a day off. I imagine most of Dhaka feels this way, which must be why Friday morning starts rather slowly in Dhaka.

Courage to fight

My early days in Dhaka were challenging. Being new to the city, I got on the wrong bus more than a few times. I ended up in new and unfamiliar places, and sometimes, due to my own fault, I got into worse situations. However, this is Dhaka and tough as this city can be, it also taught me how to get back up from those places and situations, and I returned home a little wiser. All these experiences taught me courage and how to keep my head in difficult situations.

 As unforgiving as Dhaka can be, it can also be nurturing and a land of chances. And a great teacher, especially to the young adults. I certainly learned a lot from Dhaka. What about you?