Daily Prompt: Take a Chance on Me

What’s the biggest chance you ever took?did it work out? Do tell!

We all take chances on a lot of things, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, keeping this in mind, I applied for a British Council Scholarship to study in London,UK .

I was aware there were a lot of applicants for this particular scholarship. I had three years experience in teaching,which was not enough to qualify for a scholarship. I was bold young and didn’t mind the fact I could be rejected.

Someone told me there were thousands of applicants , and they screen the candidates for interview.  I thought perhaps I may not be called for an interview. I kept this a secret from my Mom and the siblings. I knew mom wouldn’t make fun of me, my siblings were different.

The principal where I was teaching called me one day and gave me the news of my interview. It seems the secretary called him and told him about it. The interview letter hadn’t come yet.

I was happy when I got the letter. I was scared about going for the interview.

On the day of the interview the secretary told me to wait outside her office. While waiting  I saw my older sister, she  was visiting the office for something. “What are you doing here was her question?”

Before I could reply, the secretary replied, “She is a candidate for the scholarship.”

My sister was surprised but left the building hurriedly.

I waited a few more minutes, then I was called in . There were seven of them sitting around a large oval table, someone told me to take a seat. As soon as I sat, the interviewers started asking questions. I cannot recall what they asked and how I answered. I was relieved when it was over.

Two weeks later the mailman brought a large thick envelope, my younger siblings were curious, I didn’t tell them anything about the scholarship.

When I opened the letter, I found a letter informing me I was selected and the tickets. I could not believe I got the scholarship!

……………………………. 🙂

Blogging 101: Week end post

This is a post about my favorite sport, “tennis, ”  this was an anxious week -end for me and my daughter. Sunday was the day the final men’s  tennis match was played in Wimbledon, London,England. The players who reached the final was Novak Djokovic from Serbia and Roger Federer from Switzerland.

Each player had won the famous trophy more than once. Novak was going for his third trophy and Roger for his eighth . Both are excellent players and anyone of them were capable of winning the match.

This time I decided to watch the match regardless of who wins. The first few games were pretty even, after each scored six games there was a tie-break, Roger made some unusual errors which cost him the set.

The second set was equally competitive they tied at six games all, the tie break followed and Roger won the second set. I was happy I thought Roger had a chance to win.

There was a rain delay of twenty-five minutes, when they came back Roger did not seem himself he made too many unforced errors which cost him the second set followed by the third and eventually the match, I was disappointed, consoled myself by thinking Roger would do well in the next tournament.

Wikipedia image

 

 

365 Writing Prompts: Success

Tell us about a time where everything you’d hoped would happen actually did.

I cannot recall a time when I had hoped for anything. Every now and then, I’d tell my little brother , how I wished I could go to London to study. He and I knew it was something people like me, can dream of, but it would never become a reality.

I was once told by one of my profs. I should dream big only then I’ll be able to do well in life. Early in life the tragedy my family and I had to face was enough to make us feel, if we can be blessed with food each day and a decent shelter is all we could ask for. At that time I did not have any kind of ambition.

However my mom was a very pious woman, she must have prayed for us, day and night to be successful in life. I think it’s the only reason we were able to get a  good education.

When I was attending college in Dhaka city I was always concerned if my brothers were late in sending my fees. I went through this ordeal the whole time I was studying. I didn’t have the time to think of anything else. My mind was preoccupied with how many more years I’ll have to depend on my brothers.

The only time I was able to relax is when I received a scholarship to pursue my B.Ed. degree. I had the freedom to think of other things.

I still did not aim for anything out of the extraordinary,I just quietly hoped God would fulfill my wishes.

………………………………………… 🙂

 

DP Daily Prompts: Cliche

Cliches become cliches for a reason. Tell us about the last time a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.

I use this expression quite often, we as humans are tempted to think if we wait, something better might show up, it’s not always the case.

My daughter and I were looking for an apartment in London ,my daughter went online, she saw a few and wrote the addresses and phone numbers so she could contact them.

She was able to get an appointment to see one at 10 am next morning. At 10 am we were there to see the apartment, it was a one room apartment, one could use it as a bedroom at night and living room during the day.

The rent was 210 GBP a week, I knew it was expensive, there were some advantages it was close to her place of work, there were little shops nearby where my daughter could get her groceries, it was in a good area and it was a secure place. My daughter wanted to see other apartments which were even closer to her place of work.

While we were talking to the landlord, I saw another couple waiting to see the apartment. It was the time of year when apartments in London were scarce and those that were available were grabbed by the would be tenants right away.

I told my daughter, “let’s not wait, let’s take this one.”

I felt if we let it go we may not get another one as close to her work as the one we viewed. I reminded her, “a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.”

We took the apartment, my daughter spent one year in that place and loved it.

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/dp-daily-prompts-3

365 Writing Prompts: Express Yourself

Tell us about a time you couldn’t quite get your words or images to express what you wanted to express. What do you think the barrier was? For bonus points try again.

I was in the dining hall of William Goodenough House in London UK. The issue that day was food they were serving, the smell completely overpowered my senses,I was certain I’ve never smelled anything so vile,I was in line to be served I did not want the food, but could not express to the chef how revolting it was. To be on the safe side and to avoid any controversy I pointed out the bread I wanted, she looked at me and said, “Is this all you want?”

“Yes” I said and moved on. While I was sitting in the dining hall I kept thinking why didn’t I tell her the real reason for wanting only bread when there were other foods I could have. I did not want her to think I was rude.

Today I won’t hesitate to speak my mind, I’d tell her: everything smells like pork,I do not eat pork!

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/365-writing-pr…press-yourself/

365 Writing Prompts: Stranger in a strange land

what’s your favorite part about visiting a new place–the food? The architecture? The people watching?

My first visit to London England was full of surprises, the first stop was the Heathrow Airport. The lounge was surrounded by shops, the candy shop, cosmetics,there were restaurants around, one was ,’Eat’, I watched the people working they were hard at work, not looking anywhere but their focus was on the customers. I could not picture myself in a place where all one does is ,’serve the customers’. It to me was too boring .

I bought a sandwich for myself and sat down on a bench, I made sure I could watch the people coming and going. It was delightful to watch people rushing to get the next flight, then there were others gingerly walking, I could see they were coming off a flight, their faces looked tired it must have been a long flight.

While watching them I thought someone in some corner must be thinking, where is this person going or where is she coming from? She is here for a while, I hope she is going somewhere. If I knew this is what  the person in the corner thinking, I’d say, ‘Yes I too have a flight to catch my stopover is a long one.’

I suddenly remembered I have to buy some chocolates for my family at home, I rush to the nearest shop, there are so many varieties, I’m having a hard time selecting the chocolates. I look around and find a family looking for chocolates too, they picked up a  box of chocolate, I looked and saw the name ‘Flakes’, I bought one and hurried to board the flight!

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/365-writing-pr…a-strange-land

 

DP Daily Prompt: City Planners

If you could clone one element from another city you’ve visited— a building, a cultural Institution, a common street food, etc.– and bring it to your hometown, what would it be?

The idea of cloning is terrific, some of the institutions, buildings,shopping centers, common streets I’ve seen in another city or cities and bring back to my hometown, there are a few I’d like to have in my hometown e.g. “Oxford Street In London, England” is a grand addition to my hometown, or even “Selfridges”, here is one problem I’m bound to encounter, my hometown is not large enough for the store or the street that could be placed with ease.

Maybe I’d like to bring back the Jean Talon farmer’s market in Montreal, it’s not too large, it’s a place where you can see a variety of yummy foods and produce, oh but bringing some of the produce back to my hometown can be a stumbling block esp. produce which are not grown in my hometown, to bring them by truck is a worry because the produce will rot by the time it gets to my town.

My next option is to leave things as they are and be contented with the thought some things cannot change.

k: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/dp-daily-prompt-4/

DP Daily Prompt: Are you being served? Post by Ranu

Once I bought a shoulder bag in a store in London,England.  I took it home and was disappointed when the zipper broke as I tried to open it. I went to a store nearby to get it fixed. The store clerk asked me the date I purchased the bag. I told her yesterday, she seemed puzzled and told me I must take it back to the store. Back in Dhaka if this happens they refuse to admit  they sold me a defective bag, replacing it is out of question.

Reluctantly I went back to the store. I stood in a corner of the luggage department. I hoped I’d see the man who sold the bag, after fifteen minutes I saw a different store clerk approaching me,he asked me did I need help. Quite hesitantly I showed him the bag,he took it from me and was taking quite long to return,I thought he will tell me he cannot take it back.

He apologized ,told me he could not find a similar bag,but he had one which was slightly larger. He was ready to refund my money.I was impressed and agreed to take the larger one and pay the difference. He was so polite, I wished the store clerks in Dhaka would take a refresher course in good manners from someone like him.

DP Daily Prompt: The Excitement Never Ends Post by Ranu

London (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

It happened a while ago. I always dreamed of  going to England to study. Whether I would ever be successful in doing so or it would always be a dream,I did not know. The thought was there.I never talked about it with anyone especially not my siblings.

I was not a serious student, working too hard was not in me,despite this fact I wanted to study overseas . My brothers who paid my tuition fees for college and university ,were incapable of sending me.It was a question of a large sum of money.I understood it. I did not expect them to try,they had already done enough for me.

I am a big believer that if you want anything bad enough,the doors of success opens up out of nowhere. This was my case,I saw an ad in the newspaper, British Council was offering scholarships in innumerable subjects to successful candidates to study in London . How could I pass this up.I was dreaming about it for eons. Now fate was giving me a chance to grab it. I did not have faith in myself,I was a student who spent minimum number of hours to get through my courses. It was a test I was willing to take,if it failed to materialize it was okay, I did not deserve it.

I applied and waited patiently for a response,at the same time thinking,Me?no they will discard my application the moment they receive it. after what seemed a decade I received a letter in which they said I was selected for an interview. I was cautiously optimistic and made sure no one knew about it.

I have no recollection of what the questions were,I only recall the interviewers,their eyes were pinned on me,this is how I felt. I dared not look at them fearing I’d fall apart and it’d be a total disaster. I came out of that room,feeling nothing good or bad. The days that followed were painfully slow.

My joy knew no bounds when I was handed a thick envelope,I hope the news is good,please God I thought. My hands continuously shaking I opened the envelope and found a letter and a  ticket to fly to London. My feelings were completely numb,is this a dream or is it real. Did my dream come true? My mind spoke to me, “Open your eyes ,Chaman, your dream is now a reality!”

I spent sleepless nights about the journey. I was never the giggling type but I was excited!

DP Daily Prompt: Farthest I traveled Post by Ranu

Bahrain Royal Flight 747SP climbing with landing gear not yet fully retracted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three years ago the farthest I traveled from home was Dhaka,Bangladesh. I took a flight from my home to Toronto,Canada.My next flight was Toronto to London,it took  seven and a half hours. We had to go through customs in London. From London it was back again on flight to leave for Bahrain. Our last flight was Bahrain to Dhaka.It took twenty-two and half hours in all,it was only flying time, I did not include the stops along the way.

When we landed in Dhaka,I was exhausted. I was impatient to go to my brother’s place for much needed rest.