Almost Famous
There aren't many tourists or westerners here in Bangladesh. In fact the National Tourism Organization has the above slogan Visit Bangladesh before tourists come. This means that when westerners do come they have automatic celebrity status. Stares, cat calls, instant crowds forming around you, young men inviting you to tea, anyone inviting you to their house, autograph signing, phone number requests and camera posing are daily occurrences. So are an obsessive amount of daily missed calls and stalkers. I have my first serious stalker. "Jodi I am a very simple man aged 31 and I work as a govt officer. I saw you walking many times in the street. You look very beautiful specially your eyes, your hair. I managed your phone number many days ago. I decided many times to talk to you but can't coz fear to miss you." I have no idea who this man is or where he got my name and number from. Luckily I will soon be back in Sydney where I will be anonymous once again.