Are We on the Same Page? A Misplaced or Misunderstood Joke Can Cost You A Relationship!!

Humor is great. Often time we appreciate good sense of humor.
But, if a joke is told or written to a person in a way where there is room for misinterpretation, then the joke may backfire. So, it is very important to make sure that the producer of the humor and the target consumer of the humor are emotionally, intellectually and culturally on the same page. It they are not on the same page, then no matter how solid the relationship in seems, a bad joke or misunderstood humor is enough to ruin a relationship forever. This caution is even more applicable to people in long distance relationship. People who may accidentally make a misunderstood joke in person to someone typically sometimes can get lucky to get a second chance (boy, that’s rare!) the true implied morale or meaning of the joke. But, if a person in a long distance relationship makes a misunderstood joke, then s/he may never gets a second chance. So, my advice to everyone (to myself mostly): ‘ Think twice before making a joke. Make sure that you and the recipient of your joke are emotionally, culturally and intellectually on the same page so that the intended meaning will not be misinterpreted. Most importantly, even if a bad joke is misunderstood, the person on the receiving end would have the faith on your goodwill strong enough so that you will get a second chance to explain your true intention, context and morale of the joke, and, if necessary, apologize for the mistake.’

Visit of Big Apple, Rondezvous, Memories, and, Hopes

I just returned form New York City last evening. Since I did my summer internship at United Nation's in 2001, this was my first re-visit of the big apple. I met some of my UN Colleagues there-Dr. Jeanne-Marrie Col, Nirjhari Delong, Korazon etc. Met Adam Rogers of UNCDF. He is an amateur photographer as well, his photos taken in Afrian countries frequently appears in various UN publications. I did also meet some UN officials of Bangladeshi descent: Dr. Selim Jahan of UNDP and Mr. Hasan Ferdous of UN Information service. Could not meet A.K. Chowdhury, -one of the Under Secretary Generals, as he was away. Also could not meet Dr. A.R. Khan and Ms. Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, as they were out of country. My host family was great. This Bangladeshi couple (Mr. Munna and Mrs.Zharna) is known to me since last 12 years. They were very welcoming.

I did coincidentally meet journalist Saleem Samad in NYC(hey Saleem bhai, stay evergreen!). Mr. Saleem is now in exile in Canada and taken political asylum there. He was staying in NYC for last three months in connection with a fellowship. I did meet other journalist friends,viz. Mr. Muzahid Ansari of nybangla.com( Ansari Bhai, your Moorighanta was fabulous), Darpan Kabir of ATN etc(thanks, Darpan, for sharing your novel with me. The character Simi was a wonderful creation!). Met some great youngsters such as Manzur of Habiganj(hey Manzur, your green veggie was great!), and Mithu of Naogaon(hey Mithu, I hope and pray that your wife can soon be with you!).

Few words about artists. I had a desire to re-visit MOMA this time and also to visit some studios of artists in NYC who are of Bangladeshi background. One name was in my head. I only know about one sculputure in NYC- Mrinal Haque. But, this time, I was happy to meet another great artist Alam Tipu. In my next visit of NYC, I would like to visit Alam Tipu's studio(Alam bhai, your website is a cool one: www.alamtipu.com ). Please keep up the good work.

I enjoyed meeting these new people, as well as, visiting old friends. While passing by the Peen Station I was reminded of the trips organized and participated by my UN summer interns from around the world.
Will be looking forward to visit again this vibrant city in near future.
Miss You Big Apple (the metaphoric synnonym of NYC), as you host some poeple with even Bigger Hearts!

8th March World Women's Day: A Tribute to Two Mothers

Today is not mothers' day. It is world women's day. Then why I am writing only on mothers, and, not on other women? In fact, these mothers, like any other mothers, represent all the aspects a girl must go through. Pre-natal, neo-natal, post-natal, girlhood, adolosence, youth, and, life of a mature woman. My mother gave birth of five kids. Mother Teressa was mother of millions around the world, specially to thousands of those who needed a mother most-the street-urchins, the lepers, the slum dwellers. My mother mostly spent her life in a middle-class family environment. Mother Teressa took covenant in her young age, and, never tasted the mainstream family life so to speak.
Mother Teressa sacrificed a lot, my mother endured a lot. As a wife, as a mother (raising five kids back to back is no joke, guys!). Teressa knew a lot, had faith in the eternal goodwill of mankind. My mom always maintained her naive, astonished humility to the world around her. On this world women's day, I pay tribute to all women via writing about these two women touched my life in various ways.

Three Comrades: A lonely Bird on a Lonely Tree in a Lonely Twilight

Who told me to highlight only great people or great events or ideas on this personal blog site?
No body did. Sometimes it is nice, just to look around, serfing the net. As one of my journalist friend call it 'site seeing'.
This photo posted on a site caught my eyes.
It is hard to tell which one of these three things on the photo is more lonely: the bird, the tree or the twilight.
I could not figure out. But, reflecting on this picture gifted me with some blues.
[photo courtesy: Rohon Kuddus. His blog website address is http://rohon.blogspot.com/]