“Bangladeshi” at Park South Medical

      As an ophthalmology assistant I meet people every day. New patients, new coworkers, new doctors. My job is located in Parkchester, which is heavily populated with Bangladeshi families. A large percentage of our Bangladeshi patients have either just came from their country or have been living in the parkchester area for a few years but never ventured out the area so english is very much foreign to them. As more bengali patients began to visit our office we had to hire a translator to assist us as well as the patients to make the office visit as comfortable as possible.
      I walked into work thursday morning to meet the new translator, his name was Elias but he introduced himself as Eli. It shocked me that someone with a culture so different from mines can be so similar to myself. The way he walks, talks and sense of humor almost mirrors myself the only difference is he knows another language. As we both grew to learn more about each other not just as coworkers but as friends, i learn fascinating facts about his culture like how it's ran by hierarchy. The older and wiser you are and the position you play in society determines the respect your deemed to receive. I've also learned that male dominance is very big in their culture. It made me think back to the times older bengali patients were demanding of days and times they want to come in even though it was physically impossible because no doctors were present. It's not that they can't come in it's the point of a receptionist especially a female receptionist is talking to an older bengali patient as equals where in their culture he is above you thus having authority over you. Eli isn't an extremist when it comes to his religion, he follows most practices but bends the rules a bit like at times of fasting he would sneak a snack here or there and he doesn't pray as often as most. He doesn't even like some of the traditional dishes. In my view, Just because someone is a different race and follow different set of beliefs doesn't make them very different from yourself. It's always that one person out there that's more like you then you will ever think, and Eli, Reminds me of myself.