Ben

You’d think that a four-year honours degree would be of some use when looking for a job.

Transferred my weblog from Movable Type to Textpattern and redesigned it, including a number of new sections and styling for each. It was a long job, mainly because Textpattern has a steep learning curve, but I’m pretty happy with it.

Went for my first wedding anniversary. It was a really nice break.

...being an interpreter really appeals. Not only do you get to learn a really cool skill (talking and writing in another language), you will always be in demand for things like business meetings, welfare, and so on. I’d like to be a Bangla interpreter, as there aren’t many of those at all here, but getting up to scratch is going to take a long time.

I technically have a driver’s licence…but it’s a restricted provisional licence, because here in Australia, new drivers have to go through a provisional licensing scheme which lasts three years after you pass the driving test. I’m eligible to go for my full licence now, but I need to study for the exam.

I got into Auslan via a deaf friend, who can hear well enough to have conversations with, but does better with sign. I’m not qualified, I’ve never been to classes, and I’ve only ever glanced through the Auslan dictionary, but I’ve picked up enough to get by. I’d like to learn it properly, though – my signing is pretty bad!

...being in Bangladesh, I have been fascinated with Bangla (Bengali). It is a beautiful language, and I would be so pleased if I could speak it fluently. Presently, I’m ‘teaching’ myself from a book by William Radice, and I’ve just about learnt the alphabet of sounds and how to write words in Bangla, but my vocabulary is alarmingly small. Hopefully, I will find a Bangladeshi I can practice with soon!

...and take my wife with me! I went to NZ in 2003 for a ski trip and it was pretty special. I’d like to go back and explore the South Island more thoroughly – see the west coast, wander through Christchurch, maybe drop in at Dunedin, and most importantly, see the Remarkables mountain range again.

...go back to the children’s home and see all my brothers and sisters again. Wander Savar bazaar and speak to the shopkeepers. Go back to the village and see A again. Ride a ferry down to Barisal.