The Road Less Traveled...

          It's been two weeks since graduation and I still am having a hard time believing it. It seems like not too long ago I was moving into Teter Quad to start my freshman year at IU. Over the past four years I have made some life-long friends and memories that will never fade, but it's time to move on. Yes, despite every bit of me wanting to just stay in Bloomington for the rest of my life, its time to begin a new chapter. And what better way to separate myself from IU than to move to the other side of the world.


        Bangladesh is a small country in South East Asia, nestled between India and The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (formerly Burma). I have accepted a position with the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, or BRAC, in the social enterprises division located in the capital, Dhaka. I will be working with the social media accounts as well as writing project reports for various enterprise ventures. As the worlds largest NGO (non-government organization) BRAC has done amazing work in advancing the economic and social infrastructural of Bangladesh as well as several other countries in Asia and Africa. BRAC does work in everything from solar power and microfinance to poultry and livestock. 


       As a telecommunications major, it may seem strange for me to move half way across the world to work for a company that has little to do with information technologies, but I am confident that my stay will be beneficial for not just my professional life but my personal growth as well. At my commencement ceremony Booker T. Jones said "My advice is, if you want to be comfortable at the top, get familiar with the bottom." I hope that my stay in Bangladesh will help me do just that. 


      While in Dhaka, I will be staying in a bed and breakfast/guest house called Sabrina's Home. After emailing Sabrina back and forth I am very excited to be staying there. Sabrina and her husband seem like amazing hosts for my stay.

         Sabrina has told me that Mr. Hu was formerly a professional chef and would love to teach me a few things while there. I couldn't ask for a better place to experience the food and culture of South East Asia. 


        I leave May 23 and arrive in Dhaka May 25, so I'm sure the next few days are going to be hectic. I am pretty excited for the trip, despite it taking 36 hours, because I will be stopping off in a few places on layovers. I've gone ahead and looked at places to eat while in between flights and much to my surprise/delight there is an Irish pub at each stop, including Dubai.  Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy a nice lager on every step of the way!