And then there were 4

   I began the countdown when there were 41 days, now there are only 4. It's been such a crazy week in the office trying to get things down before leaving.  My to-do lists are getting shorter, which is always a good sign. One more shopping trip this Saturday and then I can try to fit it all in the suitcase. :)
  The group gathered at Shamima's this past Sunday for lunch. She prepared some traditional Bengali dishes which were all quite good. I will just have to remember, "na jhal" which means not spicy. We also learned that we will only be spending 5 days in the villages. We will be divided into three groups and sent to three different villages, so we can compare stories when we re-convene. 
  After our visit to the villages, we will be visiting various social business activities that Grameen has also established.  Our weekends will be free, so depending on the weather and transportation, we might venture out to see other sights.

Making a list, checking it twice!

Egad! Only 12 days to go and I've got to start creating lists to make sure I have everything covered. A list for things to buy, a list of things to pack,  a list of things that needs to be completed at work, a list of things Bert can and cannot do while I'm gone. :) I can't believe that the time has almost come. It seems the days are flying by!  One of my colleagues gave me a three pack of Charmin to Go. I'm sure that will come in handy. I am hoping this weekend I can get lots of things accomplished. Time will tell.

To roll or not to roll, that is the question.

Packing is never fun when you are planning a trip. Now I am dealing with what to take to survive for an entire month. I've been reading articles about rolling your clothes together and somehow it will come out less wrinkled. I still have not quite figured that one out. The spare bedroom has become packing central. Everything I think I want to take is now on the bed. Is it just me or does it look like more stuff then will fit in the suitcases? I still have plenty of time to pack and re-pack, and get it just right....or at least try! :)

They said there'd be no math!

The temperature in Bangladesh is recorded in Celsius. So to convert it to Farenheit you must know the mathematical formula. I actually had to look this up, because if you thought I'd remember something like this from my high school math courses, you'd be wrong.Take the temperature and mulitply it by 1.8 and then add 32 to that number.
  They also use the metric system, and I've learned that the hotel is 1 kilometer from the Grameen Bank headquarters where we will be spending some of our time. One kilometer translates to .62 miles, and back in early May, I walked 5 kilometers in 51 minutes. So, today's story problem (and I hated story problems!) How long will it take me to walk from the hotel to the GB headquarters?
  Then there is the currency conversion.....Just a reminder, there will always be math!

Needles and visas and mosquito nets--Oh my!

Ok, so maybe I'm not  going to be following the Yellow Brick Road, but I do wish I could find a wizard who would take care of all my trip preparations. If I only had a brain, I would know that a trip halfway around the world would require multiple immunizations, a travel visa and even a mosquito net. I  do know that I will be heart sick without my beloved Bert . Plus it is taking an awful lot of courage for this middle-aged Hoosier to embark on such an adventure.
   I have finished Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus. I am now reading Give Us Credit by Alex Counts. Both are books about the Grameen Bank and its beginnings.