Chapter One: The Road-Trip

It's been almost four years since I last posted anything on my blog. At the time of that post I was studying in England, waiting to hear if I had gotten in to any PhD programs and thinking my Californian classmate complained way too much about English cuisine. Now, after three years of graduate school in the Bay Area, I'm about to return to Europe for another year of study and to annoy some other American about the wilted German produce, the scarcity of avocados, and having to grow my own basil. I really hope, though, that this blog doesn't turn into a catalogue of complaints about how Germany will never match up to California. I'd much rather this blog be about what Germany is than what it isn't and about my experiences and insights there. So, in that spirit, I begin this blog. The first few posts won't actually be about Germany. I don't get there until August 16th. I'm first driving across the US as one long goodbye and celebration of by far the greatest country in central North America. My driver, Joey, will first be taking me to Portland (the city popularized by Portlandia) to visit my friend Ari who grew up there. We'll then make our way across Oregon, see some stuff there, then spend a few days in Utah County visiting wineries and saloons. Then it's off to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and across the plains to the Badlands. After camping and backpacking in those parks, we'll stay with some family and friends in Chicago, before heading to Maine where Joey is from. I'm dying to see Maine and eat lobster until I puke. Joey told me that in Maine they crawl right out of the Ocean and into the boiling pots all by themselves. I kind of doubt that but there's only one way to find out! So long Cali!!!! (post beautiful picture of sunset over Golden Gate Bridge and queue "California" by Joni Mitchell).