I decided during my 27-hour travel odyssey that I would NOT be ranting on the complications of international travel in this blog. That was BEFORE my luggage didn’t make it to Bangalore. Yep. 27 hrs in the same capri pants and long-sleeve t-shirt… after traversing (make that “racing through”) several terminal concourses in an effort to reschedule flights and beg ticket counter agents to let me on my plane (it was still at the gate, after all). They didn’t, the next flight was delayed, and the transfer at Heathrow was shorter than originally scheduled by at least half. My host (SK) said I was the first person to visit our office here and not get their luggage. It had to be the loneliest feeling in the world to be the last person left standing after the “swarm” that the Bangalore baggage claim area is at 5 a.m. … even lonelier because my bags never graced the baggage claim carousel.

So – what’s a Southern (plus-sized) girl to do?! SK offered to take me clothing shopping, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of him standing dutifully at the front of the store while I searched for unmentionables. So I did what any self-respecting former Girl Scout would have done: I washed my entire ensemble in the bathroom sink with hotel-provided shower gel. Then I blew up the hair dryer trying to dry the darn things. Not to be deterred… I ironed everything dry. I was so proud. Goodness knows I didn’t think I was ready for a sari.

I’ll try hard to keep the rest of the entries a bit more upbeat and less “me-me-me”… I will say that the team here (in the hour I’ve been onsite) is just very very friendly and accommodating. They’re all very eager to give advice and to “protect” me from doing anything crazy like eating the cafeteria food. (Sorry, Drew — SK said No.) They’re good people. And I’m looking forward to a really good experience the next couple of weeks. That’s, of course, assuming they find my luggage at Heathrow and it comes in on tomorrow morning’s 5am arrival… I’ll keep you posted.