Its been about two months since I’ve returned to the United American States. Its been a whirlwind.

The first few weeks of being in Chicago was a mad rush to see as many friends as possible. Had a bit of a “Welcome me home” shindig and saw a few good faces, but a few others couldn’t brave the heat or the trek, and that was a bit sad. But other than that it was a grand old time! Good food and drink and company! Family and friends alike!

A couple more weeks of trekking to the city to traipse around and playing Zombies!!!, as well as getting lunch and drinks with other friends got my heart filled up with warm fuzzies, and then it was time to move to Tempe to begin my life as an Arizona State U grad student in Intermedia (digital sculpture).

The drive out west took three days, and was blissfully uneventful. Its amazing how far the great plains stretch out. It was more amazing how we crossed the Colorado border, went over a hill, and instantly the plains seemed to transform into hilly scrubs. Did they draw that border because of the landscape difference? Or do state agricultural policies differ enough that its visible in the land?

Praises to the powers that be, because my girlfriend Britt landed a job out in Phoenix over a phone interview. Two months in, we know why the school was so eager to hire out-of-staters. Most of her class is great, but there are a fair number of trouble-makers that find new ways to anger and frustrate her daily.

But her job let us land an apartment reasonably quickly. We lived out of a Motel 8 for almost a week, but then moved into our fine fine place.

Now we live comfortably! Britt’s the moneymaker and I do the laundry and some of the elementary cleaning and cooking (though I’m not very good at either). I’ve settled into my classes, but not into my role as a grad student. In a couple weeks that should turn around, and I’ll be earning an income as well as getting down to bizniss in my field of study.

Things are good! Stuff is on track. I’m still in touch with some of my friends back in Japan, and I’m still waiting to convert a decent wad of yen into cash, as well as get a deposit into my account from my Japanese pension refund. But in a few months, even that will be concluded, and I will have no more business with Japan. So this blog will essentially come to a close.

I’ll back it all up elsewhere in case the Intarwebs succumb to an apocalypse as a memento. Thanks all for reading and keeping up with my adjectival adventures. I’ll letcha all know if I ever start up a new and amazing adventure that isn’t quite so mundane as graduate school.

Gambatte! Good luck!