but my brain knows better, it picks you up and turns you 'round

Dhaka. Well what can I say but...what a way to be initiated into Bangladesh. I slept most of the flight from Signapore to Dhaka and woke up 20 minutes before landing, and immediately felt completely and utterly sick to my stomach. But I checked it, settled myself down and got off the plane into that blistering damp heat. Kohima was waiting for me outside the airport and took me to a guest house. There were so many people I couldn't believe it. It was midnight and there were hundreds of people driving, shouting, constantly moving and being crazy. My guest house is lovely though. Clean, tiled floor, my own bathroom and a four post bed complete with mosquito netting. There is even a TV but I have yet to know how to turn it on. I'm moving into my flat tomorrow because my roommate Alana comes home tonight, and I'm living with her.
I had a bit of a restless sleep, got up early, took a shower and decided I would go explore the different floors of the guest house and as I opened my door, I panicked. I heard the women cleaning the room beside mine and remembered I don't speak a word of their language. I don't know how to say hi or food or I'm hungry. So I shut my door as quickly as I could and sat on the floor for a few moments. And then it finally came to me that sitting on my floor would not increase my knowledge of the Bengali language nor would it help me learn how to function in a society in which I was as good as mute. So I got up, found the dining room, and asked a man who was cleaning it if I could have breakfast. He spoke a few words of English thankfully, and brought me some toast and jam.
I am now writing this a few hours and another meal later from the CRWRC Bangladesh offices. Kohima took me around to meet a bunch of people, show me the place and where I am going to be working. I have a desk in the SATHI offices downstairs and the woman I share my office with seems really nice. I think she works with children's health, but I could be wrong...I did only meet about 20 people today in a language I didn't understand.
That being said, I'm excited to meet Alana tomorrow and move in to some place a little less temporary - plus it will be nice to chat with someone who's first language is English. I know I'll survive...actually I'll probably love it here in a few days time, but for now I'm feeling overwhelmed and completely incompetent.
I hope you all are well and I am thinking of you,

bri

ps. your e-mails have made my day. i really do enjoy hearing about what is going on back at home, even if you think it is mudane...write me about it!

psII. J, I think I took your contacts case, so sorry. that doesn't help you or me, but at least I have extras.

PLUS! all of you who laughed and said ripping all those CDs to my laptop was a waste of time...oh, how wrong you were. they have sustained me! ah, good music is home to me.

the prettiest thing i ever did see...

Singapore is crazy. Crazy in a beautiful stunning way, but crazy none-the-less. The airport is the largest, busiest place I’ve ever been in. When I got off the plane, I just started walking down it because I didn’t really know what else to do and in a moment of sudden spontaneity I found myself on a free 2 hour tour of the city. It was fun and interesting and free, which is always good. And the tiny little tour guide kept on saying “and look to your left to see (insert ANY attraction here). Beautiful, beautiful. A wonderful sight don’t you think?” And I was laughing to myself and sitting between a crazy Spanish woman with cool dreads and a really REALLY tall German man who was dancing on the precarious line between friendly and creepy. But it was nice to finally talk to someone in English. I know, I’ve only been out of the states for 24 hours now, but the 19 hour flight from San Francisco to Singapore had 6 Caucasians on it. And when you’re on a flight with 400+ people, 6 is not a whole lot. And 4 of them were in first class. So I sat next to a really nice Thai couple who couldn’t speak English but managed to ask me once if I was hungry or cold. And though I am neither hungry nor cold because its 31 degrees here and I just gorged myself on 6 satay skewers and a Singapore sling, I do have the sinking feeling my luggage has not followed me across the Pacific. I checked it at Calgary and it was supposed to be checked all the way to Dhaka, but considering I’ve had two rather lengthy layovers, I can’t see my suitcase making all the checks with me. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
One notable thing about the flight though was the window seat I got. I was unimpressed at first because I think my legs are better built for aisle seats, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. We flew over this breathtaking lightning storm southeast of Japan and it was incredible! And when we landed in Hong Kong to fuel up, I couldn't believe the beauty of the place. The mountains and fog and ocean. And we landed there at dawn so the sun was just rimming the horizon behind us and it was beautiful. I would love to go back there and explore the island some day.
Anyways, I am currently being entertained by a young man across from me who is checking his e-mail on one of the stand-up kiosks and dancing while he does so. I don’t think he knows I can see him, but I’m having a good time with it and it looks like he is too, so no harm done.
Well this blog has turned into being WAY more regular than I had planned, but starting in 10 hours I won’t have regular internet access, so that will regulate things a little bit better. Sorry for making all these entries boring travel rantings and musings.
Well, for right now I’m signing off and wishing you all a great day. I have thouroughly enjoyed opening my e-mail every time I land and seeing literally a dozen new e-mails from my friends and family wishing me well and wondering where I am. You make me smile and it makes traveling alone a bit less lonely.
Well I have seriously been considering going for an $8 shower and $2 nap at the transit hotel, so I think I shall do so. Miss you all,

bri

*pictures to come later i guess...this connection won't upload them to either my blog or flickr, so maybe i can try to get some up once I've found a good place in Dhaka to do so!*

if you're going to San Fransisco...

So it begins. Well my friends, as some of you may know by now, I am lucky to be writing this blog entry. On may way from Edmonton to my farm on Friday, I got into a bit of an accident. I’m including some pictures both here and on Flickr of my beloved car. Long story short, I rolled my sweet bronze baby coming around a curve in the road south of Brooks and no longer have a car. In fact, I am more than lucky to be alive. Those who saw the scene of the accident couldn’t believe I managed to crawl out the back window and up the ditch. The truth is, despite the twisted appearance of my car, I myself, sustained very little injury. Other than a cut on my wrist from the glass and a skinned and bruised knee, I am fine. No stiffness, no soreness. I can’t believe it really. So to sum up that un-needed adventure, I guess I am living more simply when I return in the winter. Enough of reading about those who are eco-friendly, I will take up the challenge myself – walking, biking, running, I am up for it all...okay, maybe not the running.

Well, that being done, I am writing this while I wait for my flight to Singapore, and other than an unfriendly flight attendant who told me I was not allowed on the plane in a slight misunderstanding, the day has been a bit uneventful. Well, other than the fact that I am beginning my journey to Bangladesh today. I hope you all are well and I miss you already as I have nothing else to distract me from my thoughts of what’s ahead and what I’m leaving behind.

bri

...and the stage has been set for the play

I am not one to fall into the habit of making blogs, but I have done so in order to be a complete egotist and display my adventures to the world in monologue fashion...the fact that you are reading this right now feeds my ever growing complex that I lead an interesting life that people want to know about. And considering the adventurous trip I am embarking on in a few days, perhaps my current situation does deserve the title of “interesting”.
However, it is hard to wrap my mind around that idea tonight. It is 12:29am and I am watching a CSI Miami rerun - obviously making the most of my last week here. It is already noon tomorrow in Dhaka. My future roommate e-mailed me today and told me my bed was delivered to her place. It is stunning to think that next week this time I’ll be half way across the Pacific. That being said, I should hit the bed, seems how next week I’ll be eating lunch at this time!