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     After spending a month working in Greensboro and living with my good friend, Suresh, and his family, I finally got to go home. Since I was driving, and hate driving, I figured I would try to make as exciting as possible.

     After praising Greensboro for never having any traffic even during rush hour, I was unpleasantly in a traffic jam halfway from Greensboro to Winston-Salem. If you look on the map, there is only about 20 miles between the two cities so I did not make it too far. This was a Sunday around 11am. I was stuck, not moving for about half an hour. I think I saw an ambulance way up front somewhere so no complaints.

     Once I started moving again, I remembered seeing a funny-looking mountain on my drive-in so I decided to step there. I got off the highway and drove towards it. I wasn’t sure how close you could get but I figured I would try. After driving around a city for about 20 minutes, I saw a park entrance at the base of the mountain. It also looks like if I would have been patient, I could have gotten off the highway right near this entrance instead of going More >

     Tanya has been walking all over the place the last couple weeks. Of course it started with a step and a fall, then she learned how to fall safely, then increased the number of steps and as of yesterday I have counted up to 14 steps in one go. It looks very unstable but it is fun to watch especially when she tries to pick something off the floor while crouching. She is crawling up stairs and onto anything she finds. She is laughing a lot and this morning I woke up to her stroking my goatee and yelling “eh” repeatedly until I woke up.

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     It is exciting to see Hibah grow and become an independent person right before me. Two small things happened but yet very moving, at least for me.

     First off, I asked Hibah if she wanted to come with me to the Friday prayers. These start with a lecture that is usually not too exciting and then a short prayer at the end. All in all, it takes about 45 minutes. Hibah said no, understandably. I responded that I get bored without you. Her response, “Well I get be bored with you.” I could not stop laughing. (more…)

Sunday. July 13, 2008. Islamabad.

     With the heavy curtains closed all the time, I have no concept of day or night. In addition, I can pretend I am not in Pakistan. I wake up around 8am. I’m hoping nobody calls me today to go out so I can just relax and recuperate.

     I watched some episodes of the Office and surfed the internet. I decided to try some breakfast so I order toast and an omelet. Fortunately I can now bare the smell of food. I patiently wait to see if it comes out. It stays down. I smell horrible but I am still exhausted. It is amazing how much vomiting and diarrhea expend your energy. Around noon, I fall asleep and wake up 8 hours later. Now, that is a nap. I drink some more of the nasty electrolyte powder in water and watch some episodes of the Office. I eat another set of toast and an omelet and tip the guy 1000 rupees. It is only a $14 tip but I think it is huge for Pakistan but I am not sure but I want to keep them happy since they are my only contact with the outside world. After More >