I’ve lived in Costa Rica for a year now, and honestly, it’s expensive. Why? Some people say it’s because of tourism. That might explain part of it, but there are many nearby countries that also receive tons of tourists, and yet their prices are far lower than those in Costa Rica. For example: Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico—even Brazil.
But tourism isn’t the whole story. There are other factors:
IVA (sales tax)
Tariffs
Imported products are much more expensive, including:
Phones and computers
Cars
Gasoline
About 80% of what you find in a supermarket—even coffee
Government fees, such as:
Tolls
Car registration
Parking meters
In short, a lot of things cost an arm and a leg here. So my opinion is that the high prices in Costa Rica come down to the country’s size and a long history of poor governmental decisions.
Expensive items include gas, cars, electronics, most supermarket products, coffee, imported goods, and even McDonald’s. Government services are also pricey: tolls, car registration, parking meters, IVA.
Hitched a la Mexicana
Recently, I got married. My wife lives with me now. She’s Mexican—we met while I was traveling through Mexico in 2021. During COVID, I was unemployed, so I took the opportunity to travel through the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico. In Xalapa, an enchanting city I had visited many times, I stayed at a beautiful hostel in the historic district for only seven dollars a night. My future wife worked at a café nearby. I was struck by her beauty, so I kept going back. Eventually, I worked up the courage to ask her out. We went to an Italian restaurant known for its wood-fired pizzas and shared a few glasses of wine.
We stayed in touch for a few years. I invited her to visit me in Costa Rica, and eventually, I asked her to marry me. I felt like I truly knew her—her looks, her personality, everything. We complement each other well. We divide household duties easily and we get silly together. Once a week, we go out for a few beers.
Enter Feline
My cat is loving but has a dark side. It has bitten and scratched me out of nowhere. The other day, it even pooped inside the house, though it normally uses the litter box on the balcony. So I told my wife, “Unlike a dog, we don’t have a cat because it’s affectionate. We have a cat because it keeps life interesting. It pushes us into both positive and negative emotional states—but hey, that’s change, right?”
Social Stimulate
Today I did 120 interviews. Most days it’s around 100. It doesn’t exhaust me. It reminds me of when I worked physical labor at Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill in St. Pete—I would just go and go, never getting tired. Ten- or twelve-hour shifts, no problem. I need to keep my mind and body busy.
In conclusion, life is good when you have a partner and you stay active, and don’t worry about the prices.
People, it’s been a while since I’ve done any updating. I’m now in Costa Rica. Been here for about 7 months. This city isn’t small but it has the feel of a small city. There’s not many skyscrapers or wide boulevards. It’s like the main structure of the city layout and character hasn’t changed in decades. Kinda dirty. Lot’s of vegetatation, especially adjecent to the 4 rivers that cross the city. While driving , one doesn’t actually see the rivers because they lay below the city. You could say that the city sits on a mesa above the rivers. Yet away from the rivers, there are many streets with no trees and with a hodge podge of types of cement of various levels that make up the sidewalks.
But the job is enjoyable. This is a whole new world. It’s nothing like any job I’ve had. Well, the closest is working for the military overseas. There’s lots of benefits but lots of restrictions. Unfortunately, I haven’t got into the Costa Rican society. Yet, I have gone out a few times and had a few beers and talked with locals. I went on a date. I’m trying to make Costa Rican friends, but not trying hard enough due to I like being alone and I find it difficult to initiate conversations with strangers. I haven’t always been like this. It wasn’t my plan to become the person I’ve become.
Noticias: I bought a car. I haven’t owned a car since 2003. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have all my ducks in a row. Apt, job, free time, health, car, disposable income….all checked. I have a wonderful balcony where I am king. And nobody can see me, well, without binoculars. Drinking only on weekends and no smoking. I miss the happiness and moments of ‘zen’ that smoking gives me, but it does have negative physiological effects that have become increasingly annoying.
Roadtrip:
I’m out of the city for the first time. I’m traveling with an old friend, Richard, to a small touristy town called La Fortuna next to a volcano, Arenal. The town attracts tourists because of the hot springs in addition to the volcano. This place is fairly warm, tropical, humid, love it. Richard has had trouble with drinking before and now he’s on a bender. I’m not drinking and he’s pissing me off but he’s a good friend so I tolerate it.
The first night he was here, in San Jose, we celebrated and drank a lot, which resulted in me enthusiastically opening the front glass door to the apartment building lobby and broke it, which could have gotten me into hot water. Fortunately, nobody said anything more.
San Jose can be chilly. It’s higher up elevation, much like Medellin, eternal spring. But I miss, and prefer, the hot humid climate of Miami.
People at work are worried about what the Trump administration is doing. Cutting government waste and therefore people are going to lose their jobs. I’m cool with it. If I lose my job, I go back to where I was, which wasn’t bad.
Conclusion: It’s never too late in life to start a new job or live in a new place.
I went to a cocktail party hosted by the Italian Embassy. I willed myself to talk to others. I talked to the Italian Ambassador and to a retired artist, retired doctor, and many others. It was a hit. Also, as I was waiting for the event to begin, I saw a young woman looking at some historical items on display so I approached her and acted as if I was a tour guide at the Library. I was upbeat and friendly and consequently she responded positively, and we had an enjoyable conversation. Playing make-believe in an imaginary situation. Conversation ended. I didn’t ask for a phone number, perhaps could have acquired it. I just wanted to talk to someone, and conversation in Spanish is an awesome plus, too.
Social commentary:
At work my co-workers annoy me but I don’t say anything. Is that wrong? They think I’m a nice guy, but I’m not, I’m just holding my tongue. Is this a proper way to behave? I’m not sure. I have to work with these people, so if I’m honest and piss them off then I have to go back to work and face them. Perhaps I’ll be honest with them, but in the past that has ended badly, so now I’m gun shy about being honest.
Secret of success:
People talk about how to get ahead, like what we NEED is a good education, money, or friends in high places, but I present something people don’t talk about but is very helpful to success: DELAYED GRATIFICATION. What is it? The ability and/or willingness to postpone immediate pleasure for a bigger prize in the future, sometimes a distant future.
What are the benefits of delayed gratification? A better and more rewarding education that leads to a good career. A job that pays more. More money in the bank account. A rewarding retirement plan. A long marriage. A marriage that is happy and fulfilling and therefore a happy family with children who are confident. To make a long story short, delayed gratification leads to a higher standard of living.
Years ago I read about a study that was done, a human experiment. In a room was placed a table, two chairs, and on the table a sweet, a candy bar I think. In one chair sat a child and in the other side of the table sat an adult who was a member of the experiment team. The adult told the child that he would leave the room and the child could eat the sweet but if the child waited the adult would bring back an even better sweet. The adult stayed out of the room for a bit and the child found themselves in a difficult situation, no? Some ate the sweet and others resisted temptation. They repeated the experiment with many children. And then the Experiment Team followed the lives of the children until adulthood. As you can guess, the ones who resisted temptation had better academic success and more success as adults.
So this leads me to the question: can delayed gratification be taught or is it innate? Both, some people are born with this ability and some need to be taught and some unfortunately, will never master it.
Today in our society we shouldn’t just teach traditional education but also teach delayed gratification: HOW to do it and WHY it’s important.
Until the next report, my friends. I’ve got news brewing.
I’ve been in Washington DC for 5 months. I’ve had a relationship and broke up. I’ve accumulated money and now know what it’s like to walk the streets and know that I could go into any restaurant and buy and meal and still have enough money left over to pay my bills. A year ago I was broke and a little depressed. Now I have money and I’m a little depressed.
Driving Range
Soon I’ll be in Costa Rica. Damn, I’ve traveled and lived in many places. I just want attention. I’m a whore. For those without talents, one need the gall, the willingness to do what others won’t do. It could be outworking the competition, it could be going beyond what is socially acceptable. Be willing to say what others, most, are too afraid to say.
I’m where I’m at now partly for my wish to be safe. I’m no longer punk, I’m no longer a hippie. I want the paycheck and the security.
Trump just won the election. Thank God. The Lefties have held the power for 12 of the last 16 years. A characteristic of the Left: They are ashamed of America. They are ashamed of being Americans. Not all but significantly more than those on the Right. They Left think that the USA has victimized other countries. Leftists want to apologize to all non-Americans. For example, Obama officially said sorry to Japan for dropping nuclear bombs on them. The Japanese didn’t ask for an apology. And they attacked first. No apology needed and therefore only complicates our relationship. Clinton apologized to the Africans for the slave trade. He apologized to the descendants of the people who sold the slaves. So this atitude and mindset could backfire when we need to deal with other countries, like negotiate treaties and tariffs. Ok, the Leftists are nice, but the world isn’t nice so we need leaders, at least from time to time, who aren’t nice. Think: Michael Jordan and Steve Jobs: two extremely competent leaders who were not nice.
Hello! So I’m living in Arlington, Virginia just outside the capital of the USA. I love it here, and so far I love the job, which consists of training and orientation, so far. I’m meeting a bunch of people including my classmates and this makes me happy. I don’t normally talk to strangers so this is a new wonderful addition to my life. Within our group of 70+ people, there are people who have been hired because they speak Mandarin, Portuguese, Arabic, and Spanish. We’re working for the State Department so there’s lots to learn about how this organization functions and what they expect of us while working at an embassy.
The Beat Generation
Also, I haven’t smoked tea leaves in over a month because the new job has random testing, which makes me happy because it’s not a healthy habit, not a really bad habit but not very healthy. Granted, it does make me happy and causes me to smile. Plus, it makes the state of ‘not being high’ not as fun compared to when you are not a habitual smoker. But, the lack of smoking has made working on my tedious projects, editing video and writing, more difficult, however studying Spanish and exercising regularly is still very easy to do.
Miami Blues
I met up with an old friend of mine, Cullen from the Miami Days. He manages a beach club, The Cove, in Washington DC. It’s a swanky spot and is similar to a place he managed in Miami’s Wynwood district called 1-800 Lucky. He’s a cool dude who makes art himself, in fact, he designed The Cove. We met many years ago in Miami Beach. He was regular at a bar that I worked at called ‘The Sandbar Lounge’.
The Sandbar Lounge on St. Patrick’s Day.
That bar had sand on the floor and mini life guard towers inside. I even filmed a web series there called ‘The Island of Doctor Taco’.
James Bond
I met a girl. I was taking a bus back to my apartment and we met at a bus stop. My bus arrived and I said good bye. One stop later I got off and walked back and asked for her number. She’s Honduran and she’s only been in the States for a few months. We’ve been playing phone tag, she’s reluctant to hang out. But we’ll see.
Conclusion
Life is looking up and I am not only happy but simply relieved. I’m not carrying around a weight of stress everywhere I go, due to not being able to pay for anything nor knowing when I was going to run out of money. For example, during my year in Colombia I was everyday surrounded by happy reality and possibilities: parties, beautiful women and good times and good people who want to have a good time and wanted me to join them in their good times. But I couldn’t because I was always so worried that I wouldn’t have any money in the immediate future. I was negative and frankly had a bad attitude and I saw everything around me through a negative filter, even if on a conscience level I knew that life was wonderful and was extending me an olive branch of joy.
Hello. After departing Medellin, I went back in Rancho Cordova, California, which is part of Sacramento. Spent time partying and drinking with old friends and family. Painted my Dad’s house and he threw me some coin which I needed desperately, because I left Colombia with about 200 dollars in the bank. I’m blessed, and I’m fortunate to have come back here at this time, because my work visa was up and money was down.
Another City another whatever
After Sacramento I spent 3 weeks visiting my older brother, Kelly in San Antonio. Great times, but no weed smoking, since after this I’ll start my new job with random drug tests. We did lots of fixing and cleaning around his big home, which makes me happy because it’s a productive time to spend time with people you love and like. Just doing something that requires teamwork, so, really no awkward moments. You dig?
Camping with the bros in the Central Valley
New Gig
Also, I’ve just began the official Consular Fellow Orientation in Washington DC. It’ll be about 5 months of training which includes the specific training for my position I’ll be doing in the US Embassy and a couple more months of Spanish instruction, even though I had to pass a Spanish test to get here. After this, I’ll be sent to a Spanish speaking country or possibly Guayana in South America or Belize in Central America, which both speak English, yet I hope I get a Spanish Speaking country.
Why?
Why do I keep this blog? To practice writing? To reach out to someone unknown out in the internet world? I’ve always read, admired writers, and wanted to become a writer. I’ve wrote. A lot. So this is just me doing what I want I like.
Did someone say autistic?
I don’t know if I’ll ever have a girlfriend but I’ll keep trying. I’m trying to talk sexual, man to women, with women. I have a hard time moving out of the platonic conversation stage. Gotta never stop. Will never stop. I will have children someday.
Conclusion:
Just keep going, try to have fun and make enough coin to finance your lifestyle.
I’ve been staying at The Rock Hostel for a couple of weeks. I like it here. Good social vibe. There’s many nationalities here: Peruvian, Argentine, French, English, American, Colombian, Italian, Brazilian, even Japanese. I checked in on December 31st and we went out to a lookout point next to a statue of Jesus to watch the fireworks. I got really drunk and had a good time. I didn’t really want to go out and just kinda got corralled into the taxi.
El Truco
En la calle, mujer me dio dinero. Yo observaba un juego “esconder un objecto debajo uno de tres cubiertos. Una taza. Una persona jugo y ganó dinero. Fue una mujer. Yo estaba dentro de la multitude y ella volteó para ver y me dio un poco de dinero como 5 mil. Yo lo rechazo y ella trataba de convencer que yo lo tomara. Pensé que tal vez fue un truco y me fui.
El Trabajito
I got accepted, finally for the embassy job, which I’ve been trying to get for at least 6 years. Now I have to go back to the States to prepare for the ‘call’, which I could get at any time. My money is almost all gone. I may have to borrow from family members. Yet, this job is going to be life changing. I will earn more money than I’ve ever earned. And the increase isn’t gradual. It’ll be night and day. From penniless to hefty pay checks.
Un Año en los Andes
From my drone above my Sky Palace, Lol.
My time is almost done here in Colombia. It’ll be un año next month. I don’t know how honest I want to be with myself. I could have had a lot better time in Colombia. My first 6 months were in Bogota, the 2nd in Medellin. I really want to do better next time. To be more social. Initiate the convo. I did meet many people here and I enjoyed riding my motorcycle through the mountains. I will always miss it.
Conclusion:
Sometimes you are surprised that you can’t get off the merry-go-round.
Calle 70 soccer game: Medellin vs Junior of Barranquila
I was at a Parque where a lot of people hang out and drink beer and smoke weed listen to music and sometimes play music. Adjacent to the park are a few stores and restaurants. I went into the store to buy an empanada. As I waited in line a guy cut in front of me to buy his beer. Oh well, this happens a lot in Colombia. I tapped him on the sholder and said something like, “Hey.” “Do you have priority?” I said it seriously and he looked at me and said, “Yes”. I was impressed with the frankness and I laughed. I think he was surprised that I wasn’t mad. I let it go and didn’t protest.
To New Pastures
I’m moving out of the apartment where I live up in the hills. I’ve been there for a few months and I’m dying to move into the city. It’s a pain in the butt to have to ride home every night. Up the mountain along a windy narrow, extremely steep road. I’ve had a few mishaps along this stretch of road. I got sideswiped by a car coming down as I was riding up in the rain. Another time I was going uphill on this steep road and a car was coming down. I quickly got out of his way and went into a rocky ditch and up my finger got cut from the brute force. Hurt like the dickens and it took long to heal . I had to go to the hospital and they gave me stitches.
The Youtuber from Miami
A friend of mine who I went to college with at Miami Dade College, Robert Piñon, contacted me out of the blue and said he was here in Medellin. He has a Youtube channel on Youtube where he does pranks and comedy things and it’s got a lot of followers. I’m sure he’s making money from all the views that he has. He’s traveling the world and making videos.
He asked me to film him doing these comedy pranks. Also, he does street interviews asking pretty girls questions dealing with relationships. It’s been so fun, and inspiring. We did a bunch of interviews on Calle 70 where there’s tons of nightlife. It’s inspired me to be more social. We also filmed at a night-life spot called Parque Lleras. It’s known to have a lot of prostitutes intermixed with locals and tourists. His idea was to approach prostitutes and he’d ask them funny questions like. “How much?…….For you to clean my kitchen?” Well I’d film from afar so the prostitutes didn’t know they were being filmed. Suddenly a couple of them saw me and came at me yelling demanding that I erase the footage. And she threw a beer on me. It was a little hair-raising but also kinda funny. We told them over and over that it’s legal, which it is. But I admit it bugs the hell out of people.
On another day, we interviewed a couple of women. Once of them was cute, a Venezuelan, and owns a little pizza stand. Her name is Karelin. I went back to see her again, bought a slice of pizza and we talked for a bit. I went back another time and asked her out on a date. She said maybe but then she stopped communication. I don’t know what’s up with her. I think I just won’t talk to her for a couple of days, but eventuallyI’ll go back and say hello.
The Sales Job
My job is difficult. It’s difficult to make sales but I THINK I’m getting better. Part of the learning that I’m doing takes place in the background of the mind. It’s not detected by my consciousness, but I feel it. I think that even though I’m not making big strides right now, I will have a break-through and my sales will jump up. BTW, I lost two customers. I told them the truth and gave them honest, accurate quotes. Then they were given lower unrealistic quotes by other brokers. I told them that the other brokers were doing a bait and switch on them and then I showed them proof that the other brokers were giving them fake low prices and at the same were posting their vehicles for higher prices on the Central Dispatch board. They still got sucked in with the other brokers and ended up paying more. On one level I don’t understand why people are letting themselves be fooled. But on the other hand I understand how people want to believe those low prices are real. People don’t want the truth, they want fantasy.
I stayed at a Hostel in Medellin. I really wanted the experience of staying overnight in town and not have to return to my apartment outside and uphill from the city. Also, I wanted to meet some foreigners, backpackers, people who are traveling through Colombia. It was so much fun. I made more friends there in 2 days than I have in Medellin in 2 months. You see, when you stay at a hostel, you sleep in a room with many people. It’s communal living. You wake and have breakfast with all the residents of the hostel and you’re sharing the common areas with all the residents. At night, people are drinking and socializing and so you get to know a lot of the people that way, too. It’s fun and very social. I stayed an extra day even though I didn’t have the money. And I think someone stole some money from my backpack while there.
I met this girl. She’s Spanish. She’s Basque to be precise. I kinda fell in love at first sight. Hot. Very hot. Had thoughts of marriage and living happily ever after. I don’t know what’s come over me. She left Medellin and went to Bucaramanga. We’re still in contact and I plan on seeing her when she comes back in December.
I left Medellin by plane with a 3 week stay in Texas, visiting my brother. I was worried about my legal status leading to a fine of 300+ dollars when departing airport. I have 1000 dollars to my name so 300 dollars is significant. When at the customs, the guy who stamps passports, I handed him my work visa printed on a paper. The paper was folded in half. On the side that has the pertinent info and on the other side was the stamp given by Colombian immigration that states that my work visa is invalid. Luckily he didn’t turn it over and he didn’t know. He ran my visa number and everything checked out. I was able to leave the country without being charged a fine. So far so so. When I return I don’t know if they will find out. So far so good.
Last night I had a strange yet emotionally deep conversation with my roommate, Juan. It was analyzing me and I didn’t like it. I have insecurities and I don’t like talking about them nor about me. But I had to at least talk a little about myself to clear up his misconception of me. He thought I was valuing monogamous relationships and that I disapproved of his multiple relationships that he maintained. I didn’t disapprove I just didn’t like to hear him repeatedly brag and explain to me his multiple sexual relationships. I had none. It’s like a man who has a lot of money constantly talking about how much money he has to someone who doesn’t have any money.
I’m close to zero in my bank account. I need to work more and make more money. I need to work more intelligently.
While in San Antonio, I made a few videos in which I discuss the car shipping industry. and I hope to gain customers this way. Money equals freedom to travel to visit friends to visit family. Gotta have dreams. Gotta have dreams. One of the vids below:
I’m no longer teaching English which makes me happy and frees up time to do my new job, making phone calls to perspective clients to ship their vehicles across the USA. I’m not having much success, but I am learning a lot. Also I’m being rejected which prepares me mentally to be fine with being rejected by women (and life in general.) Fear and uncomfortableness with being rejected has been an obstacle of meeting women all my life (and taking chances.) I’ve been afraid of rejection so I don’t make the effort to talk to women or be sexual with the women that I already know. (and go for my dreams.) Yet recently, I approached and spoke with 2 girls on the street yesterday. A little victory. In the past alcohol has helped me overcome that fear, but lately I haven’t been drinking alcohol very much.
Speaking of teaching English. Right before I quit, the company I worked for, BBE Languages, assigned me a class that began at 7am. I woke up groggy as hell at 6:45. (all my life I got to bed at 2 or 3am) When I taught the class I looked like a wreck, like a was extremely hung over. I hadn’t drank my coffee yet, either. I had my camera on and none of my 5 students had their cameras on. It was a strange situation. That was the straw that broke the camels back.
La Motometraje
I’ve been filming my motorcycle rides. I have a DJI Action camera that I attach to my handle bars and I upload the videos to a Youtube Channel “Moto Medellin” Who knows maybe the channel will get many views and make me some money some day, but I’m not holding my breath. I’ve been uploading many videos to Youtube since 2010, yet nothing has ever paid a penny. But I love creating videos.
Rumbo a mi casa.
Parque Social
At least 4 days a week I go to a place in Medellin called Parque Carlos Restrepo. Lot’s of people hanging out there, drinking and smoking weed. Live music, too. I want to talk the people, but I’m shy, so I watch the people, I drink a beer, and I write. Only one beer because I’m riding a motorcycle and riding around here is precarious enough while sober.
La Unica
One day, I met a girl who was selling books at a mall. Her name is Evelin. I asked her if she wanted to see a movie with me. Her niece went with us. We saw a movie based on an Agatha Christi book. It was dubbed in Spanish so I didn’t understand everything, but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to decipher the meaning by the body language and facial expressions. I’ve spoken Spanish and studied Spanish for over 20 years. If someone many years ago would have told me that I would still be this deficient at Spanish after 20+ years, I wouldn’t have believed them.
Con Evelin y su sobrina antes de ver la pelicula.
Poco Alcohol
I rarely, rarely party while living here in Medellin. It’s not the lack of desire, I just can’t ride a motorcycle after drinking beer. Too dangerous. Plus to get home I have to ride up a curvy steep hill and it’s difficult even if I’m sober. I live so far from civilization. Man, I have to move to the city. I live in the sticks and the lack of social activity bothers me.
Truco Social
I figured out a new technique to get over my shyness and talk to strangers and specifically to talk to women. I have a clipboard with a list of 10 questions. Interesting questions, for example:
In what way would you like to be better?
What makes you laugh out loud?
If you were in a circus what would you do?
What’s something that I would never guess about you?
What 3 words best describe you?
What do you wish that people understand better about you?
What was the last funny video that you saw?
If you were a superhero what would be your superpower?
What’s something popular now that bothers you?
If you could know the answer to a question about your future, what would be that question?
So far everyone has reacted positively.
I find it easy to approach strangers using this method and the conversations are always good and they continue after the questions have been answered. Yet, I perhaps leave the conversation too early (I still have the belief that I’m bothering them.) and I haven’t asked for any girl’s phone number yet, which is my goal eventually.
Aplicacion Bumble
I’ve been using a dating app called “Bumble.” It’s like Tinder. It’s popular here in Colombia. I’ve been corresponding with a couple of ladies. I asked one out to have a cup of coffee, initially she said yes then she went radio silent. This happened on Tinder, too. I’ve discovered that if I ask the girl to meet in person too early they don’t respond well, they possibly get spooked. In Bogota, I did happen to arrange a date with a girl on Tinder. She was 50 minutes late for the first date. And she cancelled about 45 minutes before we were to meet up for the 2nd date. I was on the bus on they way to meet her when she told me. Oh well, the search continues. BTW, I’m nervous about meeting new people so I kinda understand.
I’ve had a few dates with Evelin. If it continues to go well I may settle down with her. Y’now marry and the whole bit.
I’m getting better at my new job, arranging the interaction of people who want to ship their cars with carriers who want to ship cars. I enjoy it even though I pull lot’s of hours.
Conclusion:
My whole life has lead me here: Living on top of a green mountain outside a major city in Colombia in South America. Don’t know if this is the best place for me. Pages turn.
I’ve been in Medellin about 3 weeks and everything is fabulous. I bought a freedom-bestowing motorcycle. It cruises around the winding roads and mountains day and night. It’s therapeutic. I’ve learned a lot more about my new job. I’m not in handcuffs. My motorcycle hasn’t been towed. I dodged a bullet.
I was flying my drone filming a parade during La Fiesta de Las Flores, Medellin’s biggest soiree. This area of the city is restricted by the authorities, and this lead to my drone being forced to land, per orders of the air traffic control. Problem was that I was over a highway. I couldn’t control it and it flew in the path of traffic. It got hit by a vehicle. A motorcycle. It hit the motorcyclist in the face. I felt so bad. I offered to give him money. He declined but accepted a little: 20,000 pesos. He could have called the cops. He could have shook me down in the sympathetic state I was in. This could have been really bad for me if he would have insisted on taking it further. I apologized profusely. When the impact happened I picked up my fallen drone and ran to him. He has holding his face. I thought,”Did it hit him in the eye?” It didn’t. He had pulled off to the shoulder. I went and asked him how he was. He was rubbing his face and complaining of pain. I told him I had to go get my backpack and that I’d be right back. I gathered my stuff that was about a block away and jumped on my motorcycle. I actually thought of high-tailing it. But I also thought: “That’s not who I am.” I returned. We talked and everything turned out fine. I’m very relieved and very lucky. I couldn’t have been fined, tied up in lawsuits, sued, or even jailed, deported and my motorcycle lost.
Later I wonder if he had been fibbing. I never saw any damage on his face. He complaing about a pain in the mouth, like it had hit his teeth or gums. Later I saw the footage because I was filming at the time. It looked as though it hit his helmet instead.
Ride from apt to town
Shit. Here’s an event. I was riding back from the other side of town and it was raining cats and dogs. It was hair-raising. Mini rivers coming down the steep streets. We had to go uphill steep then downhill. Once, I lost traction in the front wheel and almost spilled. Then very close to home I was going up a steep incline when the narrow road made a sharp turn to the right. A blind curve, to boot. I had to hug the right side of the road which is difficult because the road sloops down steeply towards the shoulder. I saw the headlights. All of a sudden a white car is coming right at me. I gotta spill to the right into mud to avoid being hit, but my left handbar made contact and scrapped along his driver side door. I was fine, though. He stopped. I surveyed the damage. My clutch handle was broke but everything else was fine. I’ll take the other route up for now on.
So I wrote them a resignation letter stating that this job relationship is not working out. That we are not a good fit. It’s like this if a company hires you, you’ll be on a probationary period during which they can decided if they want to keep you and if not, release you with little restriction. And the same goes for the employees. The employee has the company under his ‘probationary’ period. So that’s me. I’m cutting ties with the company because I deem the company not up to my standards.
Yet, I’m still not 100% comfortable with my decision. I don’t like to quit. And I don’t like to quite on an organization that I have joined. I feel guilty. Like I’m letting them down.
I just turned in my resignation letter to BBE Languages, my employer. I wasn’t getting paid enough to pay my bills without going bankrupt in about 3 months. I told them that I needed to remain at my current number of hours per week because I took on a 2nd job to supplement my income. They appeared ambivalent about it. Then they added another class that started at 7 in the morning. WTH? They did the opposite. The only way I’d keep my teaching job is if I have enough time to do my 2nd job. I need the money. I am paid about 300 dollars a month, which is the price of my rent. If I continue to work at that company my bank account will soon dry up no matter how many pennies I pinch. In addition to teaching, I had to lesson plan, which took at least an hour, and write multiple progress reports for every student. All, not paid. Yet, I would like to have the work visa and health care that comes along with the teaching gig. So I wrote them a resignation letter stating that this job relationship is not working out. That we are not a good fit. It’s like this if a company hires you, you’ll be on a probationary period during which they can decided if they want to keep you and if not, release you with little restriction. And the same goes for the employees. The employee has the company under his ‘probationary’ period. So that’s me. I’m cutting ties with the company because I deem the company not up to my standards.
Yet, I’m still not 100% comfortable with my decision. I don’t like to quit. And I don’t like to quit on an organization that I have joined. I feel guilty. Like I’m letting them down.
I’ve been diving head first into on-the-telephone sales job. I like how all us salespeople are compared publicly via a ‘top 10 sales earners released at the end of each month. When I learned of this competition being a factor, I immediately wanted the job more.
Road through the forest near the pad.
This area I live in is extremely hilly. The residents of carved their houses and neighborhoods into the sides and crevices of these mountains. They are ‘mountain people.’ Articles and books have been written about the difference between mountain people and flat-landers. The cultures are different. And our perception of reality changes when we are in the hilly/ mountainous areas vs a flat area.
Near Center of San Cristobal
I’ve been talking to this girl who works at a store near the center of San Cristobal. It’s a store that sells plastic stuff from China. She looks to be 100% Native American. She’s Venezuelan. She’s short and dark. Not a classic beauty, but she’s attractive. I find her attractive. Oh, and we went out on a date. It was me, her, and her cousins. We danced in a bar.
Wander and Ponder 