The first time M. Jan Rumi left Bangladesh it was to attend Berea College in central Kentucky. He survived the inevitable culture shock and continued his education with a graduate degree in computer science at Purdue.
Rumi found he liked living in America, and when he and his wife visited Hawaii they decided to make it their home. A management consultant by profession, Rumi, 63, is the honorary consul of Morocco and Bangladesh.
He began a one-year term as dean of the Consular Corps of Hawaii in February.
JOHN BERGER: What do you hope to accomplish during your term as dean of the Consular Corps?
M. JAN RUMI: The core function of the corps is to help the citizens of the countries we represent if they need assistance and to maintain friendly relationships among the nations we represent. What I would like to do beyond that is develop the idea of an Aloha Corps.
JB: How do you see that developing?
MJR: The Consular Corps already embodies what is known as the “Aloha Spirit.” By representing the Aloha Spirit to our countries on an organizational level, we can be the foundation of an Aloha Corps that will build bridges between nations.
JB: Morocco is the only African nation that has diplomatic representation in Hawaii. Why is that?
MJR: Diplomatic relations between Morocco and the United States began in 1777, and today Hawaii is a bridge that connects Morocco with Asia. The Moroccan fountain outside the Hawaii State Art Museum represents those ties.
JB: How are Hawaii’s ties with Bangladesh?
MJR: We just signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Hawaii-Hilo and the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, so I expect more Bangladeshi students will be coming here.
JB: What do you like to do when you don’t have to do anything?
MJR: I read the newspaper. I like to jog, I like to travel, and I like to read good books, especially philosophical books that will give me a bigger way of understanding what is life and why we are here.
JB: Is there something you’ve done that might surprise people who know you only as a consultant?
MJR: In 2001, after 9/11, I co-wrote a book, “Wising Up: A Youth Guide to Good Living,” with Reynold Feldman. He happens to be Jewish, so here’s a Jewish guy and an American-Bangladeshi-Muslim guy writing a book together. I’m very proud of that.
Reach John Berger at jberger@staradvertiser.com.
