T minus 13:45

Well, my bags are packed. Almost.

Clothes? Check.
Books? Check.
Laptop? Nearly.
Malaria pills? Check.
Snacks? Many.

How do I feel about going back? Well, it's not "looking forward," exactly, because it's not actually a lot of what I'd normally consider fun. It will be really hot. And humid. The time change (11 hours) is a killer. It's a long flight and then a long visit there, and while we're there we work pretty much from 6 am to 8 or 9 pm. The level of uncertainty is enormously high. The project itself is something of a moving target, though I think we're a little more clear on it now. There will be unexpected developments, and when I'm tired and hot I'm not at my most flexible. But at least I know some of what to expect this time.

Where will we be?

9:30 Friday am - John and his wife Rose pick Kris up on the way to the airport (thanks, Rose!)

11:45 Friday am - leave LAN for DTW

2:30 Friday pm - leave DTW for Tokyo - 11.5 hours flight

Then Tokyo to Bangkok, arriving 11:45 pm Saturday

Leave Bangkok Sunday morning at 9, arrive Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 10:30 am Sunday

So...basically, Saturday disappears while we fly over the Pacific Ocean. We pick up the day on the way back (when it stays the 23rd of July for like 38 hours...), but it's rough on the way there.

More as it develops - but I need to go finish getting ready now.