DC Orientation 2012

Shubho shokal! I'm currently in DC for the CLS orientation before we leave for Bangladesh. Thursday was a long travel day; I took two planes, a train, and a subway to get to my hotel. I was very grateful for public transit! Everything was on time, so I arrived early this year (unlike last year, when I arrived two hours late for orientation!) The group is very diverse this year, with majors in everything from fine arts and film to sociology to engineering. It is a majority graduate students and recent graduates, with only a few undergraduates. There are five returning students, including myself: Andrew, Tara, Audrey, Bennett, and me. I discovered that Bennett and I are planning to do the same AIIS language program in Kolkata for the next year, and we're both waiting with fingers crossed to hear about funding. Since it is a small program, I am happy that I will know one of the other students. Yesterday we had our day of meetings and orientation panels. In the morning we were able to visit the Bangladesh embassy again and meet the ambassador. We were joined by Ann Stock, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Once again, the ambassador and his staff were very welcoming and excited to see us and talk with us, as we were to see and talk to them. I spoke to a few of the staff in Bengali and realized just how excited I am to have the opportunity to speak Bangla again. In the afternoon, the returning students sat on an alumni panel to give advice to the new students. In talking to the other students and in sitting on this panel, I was struck by just how much I picked up in my nine weeks last summer. At this time last year, not only did I know no Bengali, but I also did not know much about Bangladesh. Now I feel like I have a handle on things. Today is a beautiful morning in DC, and I'm going to the National Mall for a while. My friend Lingyi will be meeting me later, but I have the morning to myself. We fly out tonight. I remember being really nervous at this time last year. It was my first long flight, and I was traveling to a foreign country for the first time. This year, I feel much more comfortable with the idea of traveling so far and so long. I'm not saying that I will enjoy the flight, but I know that it is definitely worth it. This year, I feel comfortable with my abilities and I am excited to return to Bangladesh. Apnader bhalo thakben.