Understanding Bangladesh

High fashion and futbol on the beach

Do you remember Frankie and Annette from the beach blanket movies of the 1950’s? Maybe you have seen those movies as originals or the really bad re-runs, either way, if you thought that they were conservative, welcome to Bangladesh Baywatch! Swimwear takes on a whole new meaning on the beach at Cox’s Bazar. Everything you see at the local Iowa pool on a hot day would make the beachwear we have seen look a really bad beach movie. In the same camera shot, we saw burqas, hood and all, what we would consider fancy evening wear, and men in lungis splashing and frolicking in the waves. It was kind of fun to watch with all of the people who have been staring at us, it was fun to stare at them for a while. We were wearing normal swimwear, and we looked radical. To quote the day, it was bizarre at Cox’s Bazar.

As the day ended, we also saw the international appeal of futbol. While summer soccer leagues ended at home in Iowa and our thoughts are turning to American football in the fall, we all saw the appeal of the game on the beach this afternoon. We at one time had two tour guides, three middle school teachers, two very respected university professors, and five various states of children, from beggars to hawkers playing a game of pass on the beach. My favorite moment of the day was the boy who stopped by and not speaking any English, just starting kicking the ball with shouts that were only understood as, ”pass it to me.” That we did and it was hard not to think of the old commercials fhrom the World Cup last summer, you must remember, “All over the world everyone, no matter who we are or where we are from, we all smile in the same language, futbol.” I can see why the game of futbol has so much international appeal, as we witnessed this afternoon, it brings everyone together.

-- George   |    Login or Join to Post Comments