Since it is too expensive to fly to Scotland...

... we flew Scotland to us!

This weekend was the St. Andrew's Scottish Ball at the Westin! It was a fabulous affair! 22 of the teachers sat at 2 tables together (organized by the fabulous Kelly McKay).  We got all dolled up at La Femme a few hours before meeting the rest of the crew. I downloaded a few pictures of hairdos on my iTouch so that we could break the language barrier with the girls at the salon! It worked out great- Donna, Sav and I got up (or half-up) do's and Bree got her hair meticulously straightened.  These ladies have mad hair styling skills and patience! We started the night off at Kelly and Ed's to collect our tickets and socialize before the big event. It felt EXACTLY like Christmas! They had a few Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, holiday scented candles and Christmas carols on the iPod! Everyone looked so nice dressed in their best.

Donna and Savanna looking glam after their La Femme do's 

Bree and Ed at the bar pre-ball!

After arriving at the Westin, we enjoyed a few glasses of wine at the cocktail hour and were serenaded by a bagpiper brought in from Scotland for the ball (high rollers)! The night could not have gone any better (unless I had been one of the lucky ones to win round trip tickets to Europe or Kathmandu... ahem- TRACY!).  We had fabulous food, traditional Scottish dancing (Sav and I went to the BHC to learn 4 of the traditional routines, so we knew exactly what we were doing on the dance floor!), followed by typical late night dancing and then a flatmate hangout sesh upon returning home at 2am! (Poor Wahid was soooo tired).

Our table at the Westin! 

Sav and I with the authentic bagpiper 

Transported from Bangladesh to Scotland

Rocking our temporary tattoos! 

Dancing the night away

This morning we laid in my bed and re-dished about the previous night before dragging ourselves into jeans, t-shirts and scarves (the change in weather here is SO incredible). We headed to the Canadian Club for delicious eggs, bacon and lattes, then shopping and errands all around Gulshan! (We have Secret Santa at school this week, and I am still getting a few last minute presents for family and friends).  We were walking around Gulshan 2 circle looking for bindis when we happened upon a beautiful sari on display. 30 minutes later, we left the little hole-in-the-wall-shop with 4 incredible silk saris in our bags! We made it home just in time to meet the tailor (he has to make the blouses that go under the saris, so we can wear them to the staff Christmas party on Friday) and walk to the British High Commission for a Christmas Picnic! Dave got us tickets and had a delicious spread of finger foods and sparkling wine on blankets in the garden at the BHC! The bagpiper was there (same one from the previous night!), and then someone was singing Christmas carols up on a stage at the end of the garden.  It was so enjoyable to sit and relax in a cool Dhaka evening with new friends and scrummy treats.

Should we send this to the UVA magazine? 

Still rocking our Scottish tattoos...

While this weekend has been the best in Dhaka so far, I am still SO looking forward to coming home for a true Christmas feeling in just 12 DAYS!!!!! <3