I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to touch base with all of you, I'm still in Bangladesh and doing well! :) it's been a really busy year so far, so I apologize for not writing a post in so long!

So, my current update is that I am scheduled to be in my company's fall posting, yay, so it's finally the end of my assignment! You can tell I miss America, after close to 2.5 years, ahh! I did apply for Houston jobs, so I am planning to move back there, and taking back my town house!! Exactly when I will be moving back, TBD, depending on the new job and my current project completion date, I am estimating the end of fall / early winter- probably December. Will keep you all in the loop!

Also, I have a work trip next month back to the states, so I will be seeing some of you soon!


Ok, what should I talk about? How about some random experiences I have from out here? Sure.

* One time, driving towards the field on the highway, we see an elephant up ahead. that's right, an elephant! Just blocking the lane and the cars are slowly lining up. A 10 year bangladeshi boy was sitting on top, demanding cash from each driver before he allows his elephant to let us pass through. what a punk! haha. this boy, ladies and gentlemen, will probably grow up to be a businessman ;)

* Our gas plant & wellpads are surrounded by rice paddies. So, one day i see this man with like 50 ducks. All you see is this guy walking around a rice paddy and the entire flock of ducks follow him, maybe from listening from his whistling. Well, our construction team decided that if this guy can make a pack of wild ducks to follow him, we should hire this guy ;) because our contractors don't listen to us!

* In the first few months here, my Bangladeshi coworker asked me-"When will you be doubled?" I was so confused. That's when I realize he was talking about arranged marriages, which is the culture here, so he wanted to know when I decide to get arranged as well! not a bad idea, i should start collecting resumes! hah!

* When I went to Malaysia with my buddy Candace, we went to a temple that was surrounded by wild monkeys. Well, I was hungry and took out a granola bar, opening the wrapper. Looking over, a monkey swings by, watching me. Hmm, i put it back into my bag, kept walking. The monkey grabbed my bag and would not let go! So, imagine this asian girl pulling on the bag against a monkey! Hah, pretty funny actually. He reached in and grabbed that granola bar alright. Sigh, I decided I didn't like monkeys anymore :)

* One time I traveled outside Dhaka called Mymensingh. I guess there wasn't a lot of foreigners that go there because I got a lot of stares. Anyway, I was dressed down for sure, in my sweats and t-shirt, walking through a park when this university student girl came up to me with a dozen roses! :) she kept thanking me for visiting her country! super sweet and over the top! The rest of the students came out and they took a ton of pictures! I felt like a super star, hah, in sweats!

Ok, story time is over. I'll post again when I hear more about my move!

Bye! lil.