Two weeks, five days
That’s only thirteen working days left, of course, before we head off on another overseas adventure to the Land of the Bengalis. Thirteen days!
It’s all been happening. We’ve been to the doctor and had our jabs for hepatitis (apparently, typhoid shots last two to three years, so we should still be covered from 2005). We’ve filled in copious amounts of paperwork and sent our passports off to Canberra to get precious visas stamped on them. We’ve been running awareness activities, including a fundraiser trivia night. The team has met three times (although only once in its entirety) to prepare for the trip. I’ve been trying to learn and relearn Bangla. I’ve applied to our airline for extra luggage allowance, in anticipation of all the extra stuff we might end up taking.
I am looking forward to the following:
- Rocking up at Sydney International Airport, laden with excitement and baggage;
- Flying again (especially if there are decent films);
- Travelling with seven friends, one of whom is a new-ish friend;
- Seeing so many smiling brown faces again;
- Conversing (hopefully in Bangla!) with said smiling brown faces;
- Eating with my fingers;
- Real rain;
- Travelling to the village(s);
- Slumming it in a lungi;
- Driving through thrilling Bengali traffic!;
- Making lotsa video and taking lotsa pictures;
- Eating kathal, fresh anarosh, and loads of amgulo;
- Teaching children about our great God;
- Seeing U and L again
I am not-so-looking forward to:
- The amount of work I need to do before I go;
- Possibly not sleeping on the plane;
- Possibly losing luggage;
- Possibly not being able to travel to the village(s);
- Possibly getting sick (my kingdom for imodium);
- The flight home
It’s funny how DFAT is advising me to reconsider travelling – I’m not sure if this is because of the state religion (which seems to be a predominant theme in other countries with similar DFAT travel advisories), or if it has something to do with the current caretaker government, which has been in operation since January and will remain in power until November 2008. Apparently, there has been something of a purge of the cabinet, and many noteable politicians have been arrested (and even hanged!) on corruption charges. I am more worried about getting sick (or, worse, being called into court before I go).