As it turns out, it’s still winter in the Bay Area. I guess it can’t be ninety degrees everywhere. I had all my sweaters and chilly-clothes boxed up, so this means I have to re-pack.

My house looks like a bomb went off. Thankfully, most of the stuff is just waiting to be transported to other people’s houses. I’m giving Sra. Villalba one of the computers and the monitor. She’s the intellectual, politically-oriented type of person and is excited about being on the Internet.

Miguel’s graduation is tonight. He’s officially a lawyer now! I’m proud of my little borracho and glad the timing of all of this allows me to attend.

Frank and Chris are painting my room, cleaning the carpets, and furnishing it with a bed and desk. Aren’t they sweet? I’m really excited about living with them and the fabulously photogenic Derrilique. I have great affection for all three and believe we’re going to be excellent roommates.

After nearly a year of my vision quest in the Chihuahuan desert, I am ready to return home to the seething pit of self-indulgent, hyperindividualism of San Francisco.

What will I take back with me? I will return a different duck – a more confident one with a greater sense of self-assuredness and independence. My Spanish still leaves much to be desired, but I am well versed in the many uses of “madre” and the many inflected forms of “chingar” things you never learn in the classroom. I will return writing my periods and commas outside of quotation marks because I think the Mexicans have it right. And most of all, I’ll return no longer fearing to eat menudo or lengua. I also know a burrito tastes much better when it isn’t loaded with rice and all kinds of other crap.

Mission Accomplished, my banner will read. No, I won’t be wearing a cod-piece or designer camouflage suit, but I’ll be leaving Mexico with no regrets and returning to San Francisco with a new set of experiences that have truly changed my life.

¡Viva México!