Late Thursday night we arrived in Bangladesh.  That is when we realized we were far away from home.  At the airport, we were met with the constant staring that is beginning to feel normal now.  Stepping out of the airport, we were hit by a wall of hot, muggy air and crowded streets lined with garbage and children watching us as they played on the makeshift tin roofs of the slums.  Since we arrived late, we stayed at Bangla Hope's dental clinic in Dhaka.  The next morning we awoke early for an 8 hour drive to the orphanage.  This was not just any drive.  The driving here is beyond chaotic.  Finding proper words to describe vehicle transportation is seemingly impossible.  Drivers weave and pass constantly with literally inches to spare.  The driving is lawless and everyone uses their horns constantly.  Being a passenger under such circumstances isn't easy at times, but we decided to trust the ability of our driver and relax.  Both of us were extremely tired, but our eyes were glued open to the new world around us.  Bangladesh is a country with more people and garbage than any place should have.  Words seem like useless descriptors when trying to explain a world so different than we are used to. 

Traveling is exciting, but after three days of cars, buses, and planes we were exhausted.  We finally arrived at the Bangla Hope orphanage around 3 o'clock in the afternoon.  Passing through the gates into the orphanage brought a sight that neither of us could have been prepared for.  One hundred and thirty-three children were lined up perfectly from the smallest itty-bitties to the tallest.  All of them had the most beautiful smiles and bright eyes.  Our hearts felt as though they would burst and it took all of our willpower to fight back tears.  When we got out of the van we were ushered into special seats and the older children sang and danced for us while the younger ones hung garlands around our necks and threw flower petals into our laps. 
This was followed by introductions, handshakes, and hugs from each of the children and staff.  

We have now been at the orphanage for a week and are beginning to settle into our lives here.  Each day brings us new adventures and we find ourselves falling more and more in love with our new home and family.

-Elise & Cassie