Friends and family-

After five months into a two year trip around-the-world, I am exceptionally happy to report that I am in fact alive and doing well.

For those who may be unaware, in August of 2006, I left the world of full-time employment, moved out of a nice little house in Iowa, sold nearly all of my possessions, kissed mom and dad goodbye, and headed out on what hopes to be a trip around the world. The trip was not as much of a spur-of-the-moment decision as it may sound, as I had planned to do something like this since graduating in 2003, but the timing was right with my job prospects, savings, and, not-to-mention, the kind people at the Rotary Foundation and the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club wished to send me as an ambassador to Hong Kong.

The past five months has been spent getting accustomed to life abroad: new languages, new foods, new smells, new sights, new sounds, and new places. I am presently in Hong Kong, China enrolled in school until May and working on behalf of the Rotary. I apologize for the delay in getting out an update, but adjusting to traveling, China, and life again in academics, has been both an amazing and, at times, an overwhelming experience.

As promised (and thanks to some good spirited heckling from many of you) I have finally been able to put together an online travelogue to help you keep up with the adventures. And, to make up for my lack of communication these past few months, I would like to announce my first promise of 2007: 16 Posts in 15 Days right here at www.noboundaries.org. There will be new features added to the website in the coming months, and there are a few bugs I’m still working out, so your comments, feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
The next 15 days will be an ambitious attempt to catch up those of you who are interested in my travels and my whereabouts. Over the next 15 days I will share with you my experiences, thoughts, adventures, and misadventures leaving the US, in Hong Kong, Beijing, Japan, Macau and places in between, through stories, photos, and videos. Hopefully updates after that will come on a regular basis on the website. My future travels hope to take me through Southeast Asia, New Zealand, India and Africa.

If you have a few free seconds, do me a favor: send me your latest contact info (address, phone, email, etc.) and birthday so I can update my address book. While you’re at it, tell me how you are! If you send me your address, I’ll send you a postcard from a far away land!

Thank you to everyone who has sent me emails and notes these past few months, I am sorry if I have not gotten back to you yet—your communication is greatly appreciated and I promise I will get back with each and everyone of you very soon. I wish you the best in the new year, and please keep in touch.