CNN

But then I remembered what thanksgiving is all about. And so I stand and toast to the following:

First, to our crew of misfits. Cameraman Sanjiv Talreja, who I saw leap off a ferry to get a shot as his blackberry flew into the water - also a man who can sleep anywhere - including on the back of flying motorbikes. Producer Ayanjit Sen, who can speak more languages than I knew existed, somehow managing to keep our expenses in line, when you're tipping local boys on barren islands who help carry our gear that can't be an easy feat. To producer extraordinaire Tim Schwarz who swooped into country from Hong Kong with gear and the heart to carry the story forward - literally editing pieces in speedboats across the vast Bangladesh delta. All the while, never once did they complain about the smell emanating from their fore mentioned dirty and smelly reporter.

To our foreign desk - always a calm voice on the other end, making our pieces stronger, available 24 hours a day for anything, and making sure the world sees the tragedy that has struck this beautiful nation.

To our London bureau - for running around like crazy and making sure all our paperwork was in order. Our editorial head in London for recognizing early as she did that this was an important story, and coordinating with our incredible futures department to deploy quickly.

To our families - who put up with so much. So many missed holidays, year after year - checking the TV to see how we're doing instead of watching football as many others are, and always looking on the Internet to see how we're doing. Text messages in the middle of the night, expecting the worst, but always sending supportive messages. Our wives and significant others - who groan when that phone rings and we leap out the door - another holiday burned . they still stand by our side.

To all journalists, who are in war zones and disaster areas around the world - from Iraq to Africa to tents in Bangladesh - speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves, acting as a global megaphone, showing how the majority of the world really lives.

To the people of this beautiful country who have lost so much - but still try to hand us what little water they have left - when we look thirsty and insisting all the way through thick jungle and past mass graves to carry our heavy gear.

To the children of Bangladesh whose faces tell the story of death - as they carry forward, one foot in front of the other.

Finally and most important - the people who live on the island of Char Andar, all the way in Southern Bangladesh - in the Bay of Bengal. They have very little to be thankful for - other than for just being alive - surviving the storm.

I hope they know somehow, I will never forget the day I met them, Thanksgiving Day, 2007.

-- From Cal Perry, CNN International Correspondent, in Bangladesh.

Posted by In The Field Online Producers: 4:43 AM

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