Bit of an update. All is going very well. He has had the opportunity to travel a bit and this past weekend was his first unescorted trip.
He wrote in part:
Got back from Kyoto yesterday, had a fantastic weekend. We went to the temples during the day and then walked around the Gion District (Kyoto Travel: Gion). I happened to see the geishas by the river at night: Something I will remember for the rest of my life. Last week in Japan!