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I go to FSI (aka: the National Foreign Affairs Training Center) about twice a month for Japanese Area Studies, where we get a little culture, a little history, a little current events. I think it's really interesting. When I was there last week, I noticed the site maps that have been placed around the campus. I loved them so much, I had to take a picture. 

Isn't it great! A site map that's blank. I love it! There are several ways I can think to interpret this. 1) Stating the obvious. "You are here." Why yes, I am. 2) Some sort of existential/philosophical interpretation. Am I really here? Where is here? Who am I? 3) A blank slate representing the no-man's land in which those of us at FSI exist - having left one assignment, but not yet at the next assignment. 4) They haven't gotten around to putting the maps on there yet.


I think I'm hoping for #1. Or maybe #2. 


Right next to this particular sign was a rather good coyote statue. I believe they're supposed to scare away the geese. This led an Air Force friend to joke that they (the Air Force) just have the Marines take care of the geese. And that led to all sorts of images in my head of 19-year old Marines with big guns and flame throwers and the like going after a field full of geese. Which is probably evidence of how burned out I was getting and why I decided that I needed to take most of this 3-day weekend to NOT study. I know; I'm a rebel. But I really do feel so much more energized now. I think I may actually manage to shove some more Japanese words into my head before the weekend's over! Assuming that I am here, that is.