Ladies and gentlemen, a brief anecdote that I've been meaning to share with you ever since I returned home. It happened on my first night home, that I awoke in the middle of the night and was paralyzed with the realization that I had NO IDEA where I was. In what city? In what country? China or Japan? In what hotel? With which roommate? Frightening! Even more frightening to realize that there was someone in bed with me! Good news -- I was merely at home in bed (with my husband, not the feared stranger). Struck me as funny that I was no longer able to recognize my home environment, after having been so entrenched in other environments for three weeks.

I have the list of books recommended by Sam, and will be posting them as soon as I unpack enough boxes to find the journal I used on our trip. Also, I have photos that I would be happy to share with the group, again, when I unpack enough boxes to find our blank cd's. Sorry to have been out of the loop for so long!

Marisa