December 31, 2022 – After lots of planning and frantically focusing on making sure that visas are lined up (a story unto itself), I’m super excited to be representing EWRI (and Penn State) at the IPWE Conference in Dhaka and then to travel to Hyderabad to prepare for a future IPWE. But today … Packing and driving to Dulles. Alternating between excitement and wondering if I forgot anything. Toothbrush? Toothpaste? Sunscreen? Bug spray? Passport???? Evisa????? (oh and packing a 2nd suitcase to go to Baltimore after this trip before going home). I did remember to leave the house with the US suitcase of winter clothes and the Dhaka/Hyderabad suitcase of spring/summer clothes.
Then, before returning to the hotel to finalize organization, we had a great dinner discussion on our briefing documents and what we as ASCE-EWRI want to get out of the trip (well, besides sampling a lot of great food that we can’t easily get in central PA). Yes, my main focus is on making sure not to cause an international incident and to spill as little food as possible on light-colored clothing.
January 1, 2023 – Travel day is here! Welcome to 2023 and off to Dhaka! And I wake up well ahead of the alarm. I convince myself that this is good because I need to sleep on the plane. And off to a 7:30 am departure for the airport. I still can’t believe that I am here to represent EWRI at the IPWE conference and in Hyderabad. I am absolutely humbled to have this opportunity to travel with Maria Lehman (ASCE President) and Brian Parsons (EWRI Director and ASCE Chief Sustainability Officer).
People watching at the airport. Wow, I had forgotten what travel was like around the holidays – lots of families with lots of bags. And after boarding the plane, because of the 12 hour flight and time zone changes, that’s it for New Year’s Day.
January 2, 2023 – Arrive at our layover in Doha. After 12+ hours in the baby-screaming section, I’m ready for caffeine AND a nap. Which one should win since we have 4 more hours of flying to go?
Since it is not long after the FIFA World Cup, the airport is still decorated for all the international visitors heading to the games.
We arrived in Dhaka around 6 pm. When you land, you can see the smog reminiscent of 1970s Los Angeles. And the airport is open to the atmosphere, so the haze settles in the airport. Knowing the links between air pollution and health, I keep thinking about the impact of constant exposure on people’s health. I’ll be gone in a few days, but Bangladeshis live with it and all the health effects.
In baggage claim, we split up to locate suitcases – Maria and I on one side of the belt and Brian on the other – jostling among families with carts of cargo. Much of the plane’s cargo appeared to be blankets and comforters and towels and water. Once we had our bags, it was off to the hotel for a short night’s sleep!
International Perspectives on Water and the Environment Travelogue – Dhaka Mega-Project Day