Thanks man.

In my family we use the term 'uncle' loosely. We have family in Germany, but we're not sure exactly how we're connected... same last name and all, but not sure where the exact connection lies.

Their kids were the same age as my brothers and I so we grew up going back and forth and visiting... so they really were like our cousins, you know.

It definitely was reverse culture shock, which is hard because, well, it's reverse. Culture shock into an incredibly different culture is an act of discovery. Culture shock when you're going back into a similar culture as home is one of re-discovery. It's all very bizarre, and I definitely had a rough time. Adjusting to a new and different culture was an exhilarating adventure, while adjusting back into a familiar one was work, and hard work at that. But once I adjusted, it was definitely a fun time.

Anyway, thanks again for making it all the way through. That's quite the task! Few have gone as far as thou!

Ah, I do what I can to overwhelm people and fully make them think I'm insane. Not very hard when I can't seem to write anything under ten pages, whether it's a blog entry, a novel, or a comment on matador. I like your outfit in your Ready For Anything photo. Is that Prada?

Just checked out twistedcompass.com. Intrigued. It has...potential. How are you involved?