Back in the U.S.A.

Our official "welcome to America" was a two-hour line in a drafty hallway of LAX. We inched forward towards customs, becoming brainwashed by looping Homeland Security videos depicting immigrants being fingerprinted and catalogued in databases. We fiddled impatiently with the plastic buttons on our luggage handles and watched time creep closer to the departure of our connecting flight. Finally, a stoned-looking official snatched our customs forms, tossed them haphazardly into a pile and waved us limply into America. Yes!

Our connecting flight to Phoenix had long since flown, so we got free food vouchers and beelined to the food court for some serious Americanized Mexican food. We ordered a burrito, a quesadilla, a Negro Modello and an obscene amount of oversized, salsa-laden chips, which we crunched emphatically until our rescheduled flight two hours later.

When we finally poked our heads out of the gate in Phoenix Sky Harbor, we saw our families who had driven from all ends of the Phoenix valley to greet us! We tried to act casual, but then we got all excited and started to half-jog towards them, grinning uncontrollably. For long minutes we all stood around smiling and gawking at each other like zoo animals, saying things like "how was your flight?" and "its good to be home!" It was close to midnight by the time our bags circled through the conveyor belt and we did a big round of family hugs. Dan drove north with his family and Kim drove south with hers.

The Arizona weather in March is invigorating: blue skies stretch comfortably, soothing breezes float casually and scrawny desert plants present bright, twisted flowers like offerings to the sun gods. We have gone on a a few deliriously beautiful hikes, reminding us that the austere desert landscapes of Arizona are stunningly unique, picturesque and great for exploration.

Surprisingly, it feels great to be back. The culture shock really isn't that bad. Before we left, the repetitive track housing developments were depressing reminders of homogeny and unsustainable development; now they are orderly, peaceful and efficient. Before, the Safeway mega-grocery store on every corner, the Walgreens, Target, Blockbuster Video and Circle K every two miles were disappointing reminders of the loss of independent business at the hand of corporate power, now it just seems easy to fulfill our basic human needs: food, medication, housewares, entertainment and gasoline.

Dan has been working at Brandwithin a few days a week, designing some packaging designs for Kim White and a website for Peggy Baxter's brand new A-Z therapy center . Kim has been working some shifts at Whole Foods. She is intent on analyzing her bloodstream to locate any strange Southeast Asian parasites that may have infiltrated her intestines.

Futher Adventures
In looking for the next opportunity for personal and spiritual growth, Kim has crafted a plan to empower herself as a strong, independent person, capable of tackling anything life offers. Her task is to move to Boise, Idaho, alone, and get herself set up with a house and a job. Being that all of Dan's design clients access him through his cell phone and email, Dan has decided to drive north into California on an open-ended road trip, working and traveling through America.

This is an unexpected twist to the cutesy inseparability of the past 18 months, and we are as curious as you are to find out how it will go. We'll let you know.

Love,
Dan&Kim

jenn posted on 2008-05-28 at 10:11 pm

that comment was from me. duh. sorry i forgot to put my name then posted it twice. i guess i get totally stoked about cake.

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posted on 2008-05-28 at 10:09 pm

I #$%&ing LOVE Cake, too! That's totally awesome!

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posted on 2008-05-28 at 10:09 pm

I #$%&ing LOVE Cake, too! That's totally awesome!

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Peel posted on 2008-05-19 at 2:27 pm

I'm sick of your endless stream of fantastical fantastic photos making me feel inadequate so I was slightly relieved that your journey was finished, but now you'll no doubt spew out many more being on an American expedition of sorts.

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Aor Poy JJ posted on 2008-05-16 at 11:27 pm

We Missssssssss You

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jason b posted on 2008-05-16 at 9:28 am

dood i think you should have your signature say 'a journal of love & adventure & coffee' dig? you guz rock. john and i were both pleased to see that our sorry old asses were mentioned on your blog. we feel blogfamous. blogfumus? duh.... keep well in Phoenix krrrob! kob khun sawadee krrro-boom!

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Sprock posted on 2008-05-14 at 10:27 pm

Welcome back, Braheem. We should meet up this week before I head off to Fiji.

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Anna posted on 2008-05-14 at 8:01 pm

Yay! You're FINALLY back! Welcome, fellow Americans! I just finished my exams today. first year down, 1 to go. and boy has it been quite a year. your pictures and stories kept me aware that a world outside of PA school really does exist. I have a few days before this physician assistant stuff begins and I look forward to reading about your latest travels in more detail. because of exams, I have been putting it off and now I can finally savor the treat of your gorgeous pics, your beautiful smiling faces and funny and lovely tales. at this point, I am curious about your new future travels - why to different states?! I hope to soon find out...

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becky posted on 2008-05-14 at 7:12 pm

Hi! Welcome Home! Wot, No Video : ( Bye Bye! Much love to you for your new adventures. They may be your most daring yet. May they be thrilling, inspiring & always filled with love.

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