Summertime memories

I am being flooded by warm memories of a thousand summers gone by. It's hot here in Bangladesh, the smells are new, the heat reminding me of lazy school days when the teacher is tired of teaching so we watch a movie instead or have a study hall and we stick to the plastic seats of the desks. Waking up warm and, without any covers on reminds me of hot August Ohio summer mornings when I would go running before work on the farm. I am smelling the mixture of gas and newly cut grass as people decide to mow their lawns for the first time. I am reminded of getting my go-kart out of the corner of our garage and taking it for a ride on the farm, shaking out all the cobb webs. I am tasting Dr. Pepper, my favorite childhood soft drink, while I make boxes with my cousins in the box room at the farm. Don't tell my mom I drink 7 a day.

I am thinking about Calvin's Spring Arts Festival and going barefoot on Commons Lawn, while watching my friends mill around and eat free food and throw a frisbee around. I hear tropical bird sounds which brings me back to Florida or Hilton Head, South Carolina on family vacations passed. I smell the salty water and think about feeding the sea gulls. I feel the hot hot sun and want to jump into my aunt's pool or turn a sprinkler on and run through it. I think of popping the tar bubbles on the road before they re-paved it with black top. The tar always got stuck in my jelly shoes or on my big toe. We had to get it off with paint thinner.

I hear loud music with amped bass and think back to last summer on the porch at Harambee. Sitting, drinking a cold icy cup of water with the kids as they take a break from their playing. I feel the humidity and wonder when the big crack of thunder will come and release the moisture from the air.

I look at the picture from last summer backpacking at Noordhouse dunes and I want to run into lake Michigan and play and swim for hours. I hear the waves.

The hot and humid weather is good and producing unexpected reactions...I need to be more open to my unexpected reactions. My imagination is ignited, and good memories are washing me clean.

Unexpected kindness

Yesterday, I hung out with my friend Isaac in Dhaka, running errands, attempting to find contact solution, and visitng my Sister friends at their Mission. We ended up at Coffee World, a place where you can get real coffee and read books in English and hang out. There are not many places like this, so whenever I go to Dhaka, I make a point of spending time there. Anyways, I asked a man, about my age sitting across the way what sort of sandwich he ordered. He told me what it was and then I ordered it. He and his friends were chatting and laughing. After a while they left and Isaac and I continued to hang out there. Finally we asked for our bill. The waiter said, "your friend 'mam." I said, "what? my friend ? " he said, "as you wish, 'mam"... I said, "as I wish what?" he said, "you do not need to see your bill" I asked why. He said, "as you wish 'mam" I didn't know what I was wishing, so I asked to see the bill. The waiter brought it over. I asked, "you mean the friends sitting right there (i point) paid my bill?" he said, " I don't know 'mam" (being all cryptic) so i said, "you mean we don't need to pay?" (this wasn't a super cheap lunch either) he FINALLY said, "yes mam." Isaac was just as perplexed and said, "we can walk away and not pay?" the waiter again said, "yes, as you wish"... well... alright then. so we walked away and all the waiters were smiling. Our friends who paid were definately long gone but i said, "thank you" out loud anyway. It was so nice to be treated that way; sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by all the staring and people asking me for money, wanting me to be their friend so I can get them a VISA or something. (not that I can) It was nice have a secret kind act done for us with absolutely no strings attached.

Wheat

They grow wheat and all sorts of crops on the sides of the mountains. It looks very labor intensive.

Mules are used to haul items like beer, rice, bottled water, and other goods up the mountains to the various villages along the way. Often we had to get out of the way for them to pass.
Still looking remarkably clean. This must have been one of the first days.

Big decision of the day--what to order? Darrren to the left. Kate with the bandana, me with the hat...
This guy (far left) we nicknamed "the hollander" --he was from Holland (go figure) We hung out with him the first few days..we met lots of super interesting people.

Foggy hiking makes me happy

One afternoon was so foggy, and I was walking all alone near the river, it was amazingly atmospheric. And my favorite day...I think. They all were amazing. but the mist and fog and moss hanging from the trees and that fresh ripe air getting all soaked into my lungs made it multi sensorarily good.

One of the places we stayed. This is the most posh backpacking I have ever done. They have lodges all along the trek, with good food, hot showers and comfortable beds. (although one time I ordered a Tuna sandwich and got chunks of spam on soggy white bread. They must have missed that cooking class. other than that it was a week of good food with no Dhal Bhat (dal and rice) which was a nice break.

High in the Air

To celebrate my 25 1/2 birthday, I went paragliding. off this mountain, in Pokhara, Nepal (where we had our MCC South Asia retreat...)
These are my feet. It was remarkably un scary and left me wondering just exactly what I am going to have to do to get a rush, make my heart skip a beat etc etc... Nearly getting hit by busses walking around Dhaka is much scarier. It was so fun, drifting up above the mountains, so quiet.

Nepal

This looks like a pull down mat at some K-Mart photo shop, but let me assure you, this is for real.

on ward ho

off to Nepal I go!