The Start

My blog starts in Houghton, MI. I moved up to the upper peninsula of Michigan, more notably known as the U.P., from Milwaukee, WI., where I finished up my undergrad degree in civil engineering from UW-Milwaukee. I moved into my house in Houghton August 30, 2008, and started graduate school early September. I was just beginning my Peace Corps Master's International (MI) program in environmental engineering at the Michigan Technological University, where I would spend one full year in the U.P. taking classes and preparing for my Peace Corps assignment. At the start of the year, I did not know when, or even where I'd be going for Peace Corps. That was also half the fun, along with meeting the other new and returned MI students in the various departments around campus. Kind of strange, but I was actually born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and have now returned to the state 24 years later. While that's lower Michigan, I do smile each time I see it on my passport. While it quite doesn't feel like home, there is a draw..part of the season. Fall in the U.P. was by far one the best seasons I've experienced. You couldn't beat the colors or change this time of year. Winter is a longer story, because it's also a much longer season. I'll try to get everyone up-to-date on that sort of stuff, my life and goals and keep posting when possible. I may also let the pictures do most of the talking. Till next time..