It was December 31st, 2011, when I first landed in Bahrain. A winter season, in a time zone I had never experienced before. I was surprised to see the afternoon prayer begin at 11 a.m.! That small shift in time left me totally confused. Everything felt unfamiliar – the climate, the people, even the sky looked different. A person from the company was assigned to pick me up at the airport. He arrived on time, and we had a warm conversation on the way. Thankfully, we got acquainted quickly, which gave me a bit of comfort in an otherwise strange land. The company provided me with a temporary room. The next day was a holiday – New Year’s Day – so I had a full day to experience this new place. Another colleague, Balaji, had also just arrived from another state in India. We became friends instantly. That New Year’s Eve and January 1st of 2012, we spent together – walking around, searching for a decent restaurant, and finally enjoying Indian food that gave us a taste of home. Th...