Many weeks and months of preparation (even down to the last minutes - I removed a small bit of duct tape, 3 safety pins, and a few bandaids from my bag this morning in he name of shedding weight), culminating in a send-off of warm hugs and exuberant waves at a small airport in northwestern…

The Koch family welcomed me fully and well. I felt both lonesome and fulfilled watching the sisters greet one another and enjoy each others' company. I was fed often and to bursting - always a positive mark on my impression of places. They invited - and subsequently continued to allow - my plunking away at…

Let me tell you a little bit about my host. Julia and I met at Andrews University in 2007. As was the case with most of my college friends, Julia first became friends with my high school compatriots, who then introduced us. My first "conversation" with Julia began with my feeble attempts at ordering ice…