Volume I: It Started Like This. . .

“When you travel you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don’t even understand the language the people speak. . . . You begin to be more accessible to others, because they may be able to help you in difficult situations”
-Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage.

Those who inspired me!

John & Bernice Huff

They lived the life that many wouldn't dare to do at the time; just coming out the Civil Rights era, they not only believed in having equal rights, equal pay, equal access with equal results, but they would challenge anyone who went against them.

My father worked at the Post Office at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and my mom worked for Pacific Bell. With inspiring incomes and good education, all they ever wanted from their children was good health, reading skills, spirituality, tolerance and peace among people of all races and cultures. In our house, my parents always demanded that we read and not to watch too much television.

We lived in all black neighborhoods as well as integrated communities; I guess my parents wanted us to see and experience all sides and not to be trapped into one setting. We met challenges from both white people and black people. Racism exists on all fronts. Nevertheless, my parents said that there were good people in this world and one day we'll meet them and become friends.


Those who tried:

Teachers, school counselors and many others, tried their best to keep me focus on the class work. But I wanted more in life. Instead of reading the class material, I stared at maps, spinning the world globe and read about many places and cultures around the world through encyclopedias. I didn't know this before, but those books really helped to become the man that I am.



EDUCATION:

I always hated school, mainly because of unnecessary peer pressure, the cool kids, the jocks, the cheerleaders, the tuff guys and other fools who thought that they were gangsters. I remember even thinking of dropping out by the 8th grade, I just couldn't take it anymore. I mostly hung out with potheads, skaters, punks, rappers, rockers, the nerds, the depressed, the outcasts, the handicap, the foreigners and others that I still call my friends.

• Bonita Elementary School, June 1981
• Junior H.S. Diploma, Los Angeles, Carnegie Jr. High, June 1984
• H.S. Diploma, Los Angeles Banning High, June 1988
• A.A. Degree, French, El Camino College, Torrance, June 1997
• B.A, Portuguese, UC Santa Barbara, June 2000.

TRAVEL EXPRIENCE:

My First Adventure, Road Trip, California Central Coast, Summer 1976

• An upcoming black middle class family hitting the road from the inner city

• drove in a large Ford Station wagon, my sister, Sherri and I sat in the very back

• We first stopped in Santa Barbara to take a walk, take pictures and have a small lunch near the boardwalk.

• Passed the small Danish Village of Solvang, where my parents have spent many times during their marriage.

• Passed through San Luis Obispo and made our way to San Simeon to visit the infamous Hearst Castle. I wanted to go swimming in the pool.

• My sister and I hung out at the beach, while parents were either having an argument or were in love.

• Drove further up the coast, passed through Big Sur and finally arrived in Monterey.

• Before checking in our hotel, my dad saw only all white guests, wondered how the hospitality would be with our family's presence, we checked in with warm welcomes.

• My first attempt to swim, unsuccessful, took swimming lessons later.

• Ate at a seafood restaurant, dad was upset, my sister & I kept laughing at the table, later that same night at the restaurant, I had a stomach ache, probably from laughing too much.

• Dad drove the entire way up and down the coast back to Los Angeles, parents decided to move to the suburbs

Soundtrack:

1. Thelma Houston-don't leave me this way
2. Lou Rawls- You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
3. Wild Cherry-Play That Funky Music
4. Heatwave-Boogie Nights
5. Steve Miller Band-Fly Like an eagle

New England, Summer 1980

• Left the 6th grade going into the 7th grade, scary times being young. Parents wanted sometime alone, so they decided to send my sister and me to New England for the summer.

• The summer vacation already planned, we flew on a TWA 707 jet all alone transferring plans in St. Louis, Missouri.

• While on plane, my sister and I had a small food fight with some kids on the plane; the flight attendants probably hated us.

• Arrived in St. Louis and no one came to take us to the next flight to Hartford, Conn. Found flight on our own, my mother almost died knowing that we did it alone, plus she disagreed with my former elementary school teachers that I had a reading problem.

• Stayed with my father's sister, our aunt, Barbara and her family. Big House in the woods, fireflies, bees, dogs running around and a murky swimming pool out back. This not the city we thought.

• Made few friends and plenty of enemies, my sister and I did our own thing: roller skating, reading, talking to parents on the phone, we wanted to come back home.
  
• We barely spent 3 weeks way from home. It was good to be back in LA!
  
  

Soundtrack:

1. Call Me - Blondie
2. Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me, Girl - The Spinners
3. Upside Down - Diana Ross
4. He's So Shy - Pointer Sisters
5. Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.