I've been in Japan for a little over two weeks now and it's been a wonderful time thus far. This week was the start of classes after two weeks of orientation and adjustment. The adjustment period, the fight against jet lag, and the overstimulation that stemmed from immersion in a totally new and overwhelming environment have all dissipated for the most part now. I feel like I'm finally in the swing of things and that life isn't totally a blur, a surreal dream, or a panic anymore.

I think it’s a familiar feeling: You go on an incredible vacation or take an excellent road trip, then try to tell someone about it when you get back and you end up saying stuff like, “Yeah, man, the beach was, like, so great! And I ate this burger that was, like, really good.”

That’s what I hope doesn’t happen here, even though I always have trouble putting the best weekends of my life into words.

Before I dive into the present, I am going to indulge in the past (for a bit, just for bit). Don’t worry, the detour will come full circle in the end. Inshallah.

Flashback:

MY FIRST FEW WEEKS IN SALAMANCA

It has been craziness.

The good kind of craziness of course, filled with people, places, laughing, joking, Spanish, English, and some of the best food I've ever had...

10 September 2015 | 09:21 PM

It has been a whirlwind.

It's FunkTerm Berlin, an audio chronicle of my time abroad. Episode 2 includes experiences with German humor, tourist venues, and staying safe abroad.