This is real.

I have safely arrived on the other side of the world. My flight was 4 hours late leaving Atlanta, so upon landing in Chicago at 8:10 (my connection to Dhaka left at 8:30), I had to sprint through the airport, trample some old people in the security line, and literally beg the gate agents to re-open the gate for me. I was so happy to be on that plane that when a mother asked me to trade seats with her so that she could sit with her children I immediately agreed and simultaneously doomed myself to 13 hours in the center seat of the middle aisle, in between homeboy and his grandmother who were going to Pakistan. No big deal, though, because Etihad Airway is the jam. The flight attendants were all from exotic places and wore the white scarves under their hats. The food was delicious; I roused my self at one point to track down a Klondike bar distribution that I had missed while asleep. Can't miss out on that kind of opportunity. My layover in Abu Dhabi was much calmer. I was glad to be wearing a long skirt and to have a scarf to throw over my head; most of the women were dressed likewise. Oh, and I went with Ryan's suggestion and put a ring on it (oh, oh, oh!). Since it is very unusual for a young woman to travel alone, at least the indication of being married dispelled super-creepers from accosting me. This setting is quite the idiosyncrasy; I have never been so aware of my femininity and identity as a woman, but I also feel quite masculine; particularly in this part of the world, what I am doing makes me a renegade (in the word's of my dear sweet grandmother).

I arrived in Dhaka at 5 am this morning (3pm of the previous day Atl/Ath time) and just jumped right in. I was so relieved to find Ryan with no trouble after I got through customs. There was some confusion as to the exact date of my arrival (Dr. Luby et al. thought I was arriving the 16th, rather than the 15th. Ryan Luby would fit right in with us) that I didn't realize until almost too late. Thankfully I randomly came across some complimentary computers while in the Abu Dhabi airport waiting for my final connection to Dhaka, discovered this discrepancy, and was able to sort it out.

The Luby's live in the "diplomatic enclave" and after a tour of the American International School where Ryan graduated high school from, we walked (and walked and walked and walked) around the neighborhood and talked (and talked and talked and talked). Rickshaws are real and they are everywhere. The weather is incredibly hot and humid. I hope y'all are able to meet Ryan some day; he could hold his own among the Wise Women non-stop conversation action and is a wealth of interesting insights and perspectives. And anytime the conversation wanes, books are the go-to convo-topic. My kind of guy.

We were determined to stay awake until after lunch. This was a major struggle after we got back from the walk. Played cards; was destroyed in ERS. Then watched The Blind Side. About half way through, I wasn't sure that Ryan was speaking English anymore, I was unable to answer him in discernable words, and my eyes were closing involuntarily. Nap time. His younger sister woke me up 4 hours later, in time for Ryan and I to walk across the street to play some Ultimate Frisbee! So much fun. We played 3 aside; both of my teammates were teachers at the school. After showers, we read and then joined the family for dinner. Family dynamics fascinate me, so I enjoyed more than just the delicious food. Dessert was mango fresh off the tree from their yard.

Being here is unreal. It is amazing to me that all of these places exist in the same world as Ath/Atl. I am going to the ICDDR, B (International Center for Diahhreal Disease Research, Bangladesh) for the first time tomorrow to talk to folks. I would love to keep writing and telling y'all the stories so far, but I am going to go join Ryan in watching the Brazil v. North Korea game.

So much love!

Katie B