My long lost thoughts...

7 weeks since my last photo montage... so you can be sure I have a lot to show for it :) ENJOY! 

Savanna and I dressed in our patriotic colors and garb for United Nations Day at school.  I was really wishing America had a cool cultural costume like most of the other countries represented our student/faculty parade. 

The Bangladeshi representation at UN Day- Ended up being one of the hottest days of the year and we enjoyed a full cultural show out on the soccer field! 

We left Dhaka and arrived in Kuala Lumpur for an overnight stay to kick off October break.  The China town set up was pretty awesome compared to the shopping we are accustomed to in Old Dhaka.

Arriving in Bali and heading straight to the beach made me the happiest girl south of the equator! Sav is here putting her feet in the Indian Ocean for the first time.

A fast boat ride over to the Gili Islands was a on-the-spot travel choice we made once we got to Bali.  The waters were incredibly blue and breathed paradise into our lungs. 

Best. Breakfast. Ever. The Banana Pancake Trail (name for the series of places that backpackers stop in South Asia that are famous for serving banana pancakes to Western tourists) obviously included the Gilis. 

A treacherous bike ride around the island (only takes about 45 minutes to get to the opposite corner) rewarded us with a beautiful sunset. 

I think AIS/D should have an intern exchange program with the Gilis. 

We got back to Dhaka and to swoop us out of the Dhaka Depression post October Break- the school had an AIS/D Oktoberfest celebration! It was on the rooftop of Rich and Colleen's place- and it was awesome! Home brewed beer and the interns won best costume! Pretty big accomplishment considering it wasn't even a costume party.

Bree's Birthday was the next night, so we got dolled up and went to a delicious sushi restaurant for dinner.  Then off to the Westin for rooftop drinks and a quick costume change before heading to the Aussie for a Decades Dance Party.  It was a fabulous bday night :) 

Slam Poet Taylor Mali came to AIS/D for 2 weeks and we got the pleasure of showing him the sights, sounds (and smells) of Dhaka! This included one of the fabulous boat trips we enjoyed during orientation week. 

Going on the boat in the morning time meant there weren't any Bangladeshi dance party boats- only truly functional boats. 

We were the only Bangladeshi party boat on the river this morning. Delicious brunch with a group of fun teachers, parents and Taylor Mali! 

A friendly river scene

Me and Bree :) I am going to start rocking the bindi soon, too. 

They were as interested in staring at us as we were at them. These guys just seem to be moving sand from the land to the boat.

The women and children near the men working on the boat are cooling off with a nice bath in the river. 

Fishing caught in action. 

After the boat trip, we caught the tail end of the AIS/D Christmas Bazaar.  Everyone will be getting fun Bangladeshi presents from this set up right here! 

The coming of the cool winter months is welcomed because we don't need our AC units, the power outages are few and far between, and slippers are a standard around the apartment.  However, the mosquitos and other critters are out in FULL FORCE! So we must zap them to death with the electric racket and spray them to paralysis with the roach spray.  

AIS/D Juniors put on a fabulous Talent Show at school.  I even got to perform before intermission in the first half.  I was laughing as the song began because a student yelled out that he loved me :)