Note: This is a monthly post following ROSETTA THURMAN’S EXAMPLE of writing monthly reflections on your life and work.

This is some of what I did last month, personally and professionally.

• Left California and spent a few days in New Jersey for an event at my parents house - which was weird in its own way, but I’m glad I spent some time with them.
• Left on a flight to Bangladesh! Started my internship/research position at BRAC which has been a great learning experience. Although my living situation hasn’t been too great, I’ve enjoyed learning a ton through my work here and getting to see aid and legal services projects on the ground in Bangladesh. 
• I spent a few days in Faridpur to see the legal services projects there and went almost alone, with a translator. Got to speak with barefoot lawyers (shebikas), clients, lawyer, and learned so much overall.
• Visited Gazipur and Manikgonj to see BRAC’s projects there including community empowerment, health, legal aid services, Ayesha Abed Foundation, BRAC Seed Mills, BRAC Dairy and much more. It was amazing!
• Got to visit the Manoshi maternal and child health project which is ongoing in Dhaka’s slums.
• Got to work on my writing quite extensively - writing my research paper as well as writing blogs, etc.
• Got to experience working in a completely different country and culture, and language as well. 
• Experienced the life of an ‘expat’ and I’m not sure I like or want it! 
• Kept my relationship with the BF strong despite being far away - through skype, making it work!

This has been a month of adjustment and I’ve been trying to figure out my place in this vast universe of aid and development, while also trying to make some impact. It’s been scary as a journey but I have learned a lot. My biggest fear is not being able to take action, not having the courage to challenge things, but I am trying to get over that and do what needs to be done here. And I am learning, first and foremost, before I can really change things.