Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Post #1: Rhode Island

This one will be boring because I'm just starting this blog. Expect dazzling prose and compelling literary wizardry after I get done with this one.

Thought #1: Blogs can get tedious if the person is telling you too much. Like why the guy who sold him the dental floss was rude and gave him the wrong change and then he had a bagel for lunch but with extra cream cheese this time and how that makes him think about how he's thinking about getting a cat and what a good name for a cat might be and -- then you're asleep at your computer. I'll try not to do that.

Thought #2: If you feel like posting a reply of any sort to anything I write please do. (Unless you're some jerk who just happened by this blog because it's on a blogging website and you want to make a pain in the butt of yourself by posting stuff like "Adam eats boogers." Then don't do it. You suck and should die.) Even if it's really short. Just say something.

Okay, now the boring stuff: I'm in Rhode Island now, visiting Sophia, my girlfriend/quasi-girlfriend/"friend"/ho (OMG, JK). She's short and gentle and artsy and way pretty. And I have to say goodbye to her tomorrow, for 2+ years. I think crying in the airport is great. And I plan on doing it. Even on the plane. People are too stoic and lifeless in public places. I plan on crying and blowing my nose on whomever I please. Tomorrow I fly back to Chicago, then it's a long trip back to Idaho for a few weeks while I shack up with my folks and prepare to leave for Bangladesh. I have to get my wisdom teeth out in about 4 days. Snap.

I leave for the 'Desh on the 6th of August, for those of you interested in mundane details. I'll be living for 3 months with a host family, learning the language and how to teach English to Bangladeshis. Then, they'll send me to site where I'll do just that for 2 years. There I'll live with another host family for 3 months and after that I'll find my own apartment. If all goes well, I'll be back in the USA right around my birthday (Nov. 19) in 2007. 2007!!! Holy cow.

One last thing: I have a lot of doubts about the decision I made to go to Bangladesh. As you'll find out if you read more posts after this, it's a really, REALLY hard country for us Americans to live in. Just stressful, I'm told. People are packed in like sardines and they're poor as all-get-out and they're all up in your business whenever you're in public and the climate is crazy hot and muggy and it's Muslim and (insert further complaints and prognostications). But, while I'm scared, I'm feeling like "this is it." This is what I'm supposed to be doing right now. I'm supposed to go somewhere scary. And be uncomfortable. And suffer a little. And get out of America for awhile. And try to learn how to not be so selfish and individualistic.

So, I guess on that note I should shut up for now.

Isn't pizza the best invention since sunless tanning? I'm going to go eat some and be happy. Or try to.