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.

Life after High School

VOLUME I

*SPRING 1989, PORTUGAL

• 19 years of age during 1st visit.

• Worked for Delta Airlines

• 1st visit with Nuno Gonçalves

• Made more than dozen return trips to this great country

Summary of travel:

As a young black American male, I did not see race to be an issue in many regards to me and who I was as a person or any other person of color. Instead, many locals asked about the racial situation in the United States. Overall, I experienced more of a friendly relationship among the people in the community. FYI, Portugal was the first European country, which started the African slave trade.

Experience & Skills obtained from this trip:

International relations, cultural and language diversity, inter-personal skills & communications, European studies, political & social structures, culturally enriched setting by local citizens in the community and this also encouraged me to pursue into more travels, writing and photography.


SOUNDTRACK

• Earth, Wind & Fire-Thinking of you
• Rui Veloso-não há estrelas no céu
• Duran Duran-Notorious
• The Boys-Dial my heart
• Bobby Brown-Tenderony

ROAD TRIP 1990, THE BAY AREA, CA

• 1st road trip without the parents
• 20 years of age
• 8 hour drive with one of my good friends, Ted Duarte
• almost ran out of gas, Ted did not want to go to an Exxon gas station, due to political reasons
• witnessed a strange accident on Interstate 5 going north from Los Angeles
• while in the Bay Area, we visited Ted’s brother, Chuck
• Hiked around the Berkeley hill tops, listened to music and took pictures
• Experienced alternative-hole in the wall restaurants and smoked marijuana.
• Drove back to Los Angeles via Highway 101
• Again, almost ran out of gas
• This experienced changed my friendship with Ted in a positive way.

Summary of this journey:

Ted and I have been friends since the 4th grade and it always seemed possible that we were going to take upon some sort of adventure. While on the road, Ted did most of the driving; we left at night, which added more mystery to the trip. Until this day, we still talk and think about the accident we saw on the side of the road. A body covered with blood in front of a semi-truck laid on the side of the highway.



Experience/Skills:

Appreciation of friendship, self-confidence, bravery and other youthful fulfillments of that time.


SOUNDTRACK

1. Deee Lite-Power of Love
2. Arrested Development-Tennessee
3. Living Color-Glamour boy
4. Dee La Soul
5. Seduction-It takes two

*SUMMER 1990, PORTUGAL

• 21 years old
• Nuno offered me a summer adventure
• I took the offer and took an entire month during the summer
• I brought about less than two hundred dollars
• Went to the beach of Costa da Caparica, beach town of Almada
• Daily spent long hours at the beach and all night in the city
• Went to musical concerts and festival events in Lisbon
• During one event in Lisbon, I got lost from Nuno and other friends
• With somewhat familiar directions and bus numbers, found his home
• First visit to the village of Manhouce in Northern Portugal
• In this village, I was the first black person the people ever seen
• My presence made village locals come out their houses and stop working
• Fell in love with simple farm-village life
• Nuno and I almost got chased by bull

Summary of journey:

I was attending community college and working at a local hotel in the Long Beach area. I was taking several language classes, like Spanish and French and other college necessary courses, like Political Science and Writing courses. In all, I was bored with school and work. My mother offered to pay my way to go back to Portugal. At the time, Portugal was very cheap, the former currency, the Escudo Português was no match to the at the time U.S. dollar, I only took two hundred dollars with me. With the consideration that I was staying with Nuno and his family and with free meals, housing and other accommodations, the money I had lasted the entire month duration. Nuno’s family was also very kind enough to take to several places around Portugal, the Algarve in the south. Which is known as the Portuguese rivera.

They also took me their home village of Manhouce. While in the village of Manhouce, this was my first experience of being the first black person in this small community. People would stare with amazement and children would want to touch my skin. One time, in particular, I went swimming at a local river and when I jumped into the water, the town’s kids got of the water, worrying that my color would somehow taint theirs. Nuno, being a city person, went into the water and showed them that no need to worry. Though, I found it strange that these people never seen a black person before, they were overall friendly and yet naïve to the world outside of their village. Television was almost unknown. These communicated face to face, information was from word to mouth, even newspapers were considered a priviledge. These were people of the land. They helped each other out, they ate well and they lived well.

Experience and skills:

Apperciation for nature, different people, race relations and simple living



SOUNDTRACK

1. En Vogue-Hold on to your love
2. Depeche Mode-The Policy of Truth
3. Doug Lazy-Let the music pump
4. Tears for Fears-Everybody wants to rule the world
5. Mellow Man Ace-Welcome to my groove

*FALL 1992, FRANCE

22 years of age

1st trip to France

Visited Phillip Gomez

Stayed for one month

Took solo trip to Luxembourg

Traveled also to Germany and Switzerland

Improved my knowledge of French language & Culture

Provided a full presentation in my college French class upon return

Summary and observations while in France:

I tried to find the ugly Frenchmen who hated the American in his country, that person has yet to be found. I was well received and welcomed by the French, even in the city of Paris. I stayed in France for one month, which gave me enough time to experience French culture in every aspect: political and social structure, race issues, immigrants and their communities, class distinction, language barriers including Alsacien dialects and language, French youth and their perspective of themselves and Americans, the creation of the European Union and the relations with its neighbor Germany.

Experience & skills obtained:

Understanding of European politics, language skills, confidence particularly with solo traveling, writing skills and communication, cultural diversity, foreign currency, and respect for humanity.


SOUNDTRACK

1. Technotronic-Pump the Jam
2. Black Box-Strike it up
3. C & C Music Factory-Make you sweat
4. Crystal Waters-Making Happy
5. Lisa, Lisa & CultJam-Let the beat hit’em

*SUMMER 1994, PORTUGAL
LISBOA, CAPITAL DA CULTURA EUROPÉIA

• 23 years old
• Lisbon was given the Capital of European Culture of the year
• Worked 9 hours a day, 6 days a week, I needed a vacation
• I shared an apartment with my best friend, Marcus and another guy
• My trip to Portugal was going to be four weeks long
• I got my time off approved and left responsibilities with friend and roommate
• Re-visited Nuno and his family
• Roommates called me when I arrived in Portugal to inform me of their mishaps
• Ignored roommates’s problems and focused on my vacation in my favorite place in the world
• Spent one week around the Lisbon area
• The following weeks, spent more time in the small village of Manhouce in the North of Portugal
• I made new friends from different places of Europe
• This trip I became friends with António Tavares, Portuguese descent but lives in France
• My French as well as my Portuguese skills were more improved than ever
• During my three stay in Manhouce, I enjoyed simple living

Summary of this journey:

This was the strangest time in my life. I was living in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles and I was having many roommate problems. Former as well as current roommates (at the time) were unable to pay rent or offer share of responsibilities. I became more of an adult and taking on the position as a parent to my friends and roommates. At the sametime, I worked nine hours a day and six days a week. I was working for a PO Box store, much like Mail Boxes, etc. I was given full independence and responsibilities of the store and other managerial functions. This was my first job, where I was given freedom to come up with ideas, promotions, sales pitches, negociations, basically making a name for the store and myself as a person.

Even with the independence, I still thought about traveling. My request for four weeks was granted and I bought my airline ticket and left the responbilities with my friend Marcus and the other roommate. I hoped that they would be able to manage without my presence and unforuntately things didn’t even work out when the day I left that day of Summer of 94. Though, I could have taken a quick return flight and take care of their problems, I felt this was my time to be away and I already knew that upon returning things would go back in order.

However, while in Portugal, I spent one week with Nuno and his friends, hanging out at the local bars in the city of Almada. Fliritng with girls, drinking beer, sipping on wine, having good-friendly conversations, I forgot about my problems back home. I became more Portuguese than American at this point and Nuno and his friends granted me Nacionalidade Portuguesa (Portuguese nationality) unofficially of course. The following week, I along with Nuno’s family went to the small village of Manhouce, situated in the north of Portugal near the city of Viseu.

I’ve been to this village back in 1990 and still until this journey, I was the only black person these village people have ever seen. But, since many of the village have seen me before, my skin color was not as shocking like the first time. Nuno and I did our usual, hung out with old friends, drinking beer, hanging in old bars and going out to local village parties, dancing with girls, exchanging ideas and travel destionations. To me, Portugal was life and it was safe for me to call this place, home!

Expriences and skills:

Cannot leave certain responsibilities with some people, even with certain friends. Better yet, trusting and belieiving in my ideas and who I am as a person.


SOUNDTRACK

1. Kris Kross-Jump
2. George Michael-Too funky
3. Keith Sweat-Keep It Comin'
4. Right Said Fred-Too Sexy
5. U2-One
   

The Drifter Diaries

VOLUME I

ROAD TRIP, Oklahoma!

OR TO THE UNKNOWN?

JANUARY 1995

• 24 years of age
• Drove an old 1981 Volkswagen Jetta (diesel)
• Visited a friend in Phoenix, Arizona for two days
• Drove through New Mexico and Texas1st time driving through snow
• Remained in Oklahoma for a few months
• While heading back west, I fell in love with New Mexico
• Passed through Indian pueblos, 1st time seeing Native Americans
• Passed by the infamous Space Satellite Receivers in the middle of nowhere
• Took the deserted Highway 60 to get to Phoenix, Arizona
• Got a speeding ticket along the way
• Car broke down near Superior, Arizona in the mountains
• I had about $700 dollars for a new start in Phoenix
• The cost of towing my car to Phoenix cost about $300 dollars
• Spent two nights in a motel, cost me about $140 dollars
• Found a room for rent from two college students for $200 dollars
• I was left with only $60 dollars and ate only canned beans for two weeks

Summary of this journey:

I took a heavy risk by driving an old 1981 Volkswagen jetta, which turned out to be a good economical vehicle, considering the diesel fuel didn’t burn as fast like regular fuel. I am unsure why I chose to move to Oklahoma, maybe this could be justified by the fact that I lost my apartment in Sherman Oaks (aka, The Valley) in Southern California and there were no jobs for me to maintain my lifestyle and being able to continue to live away from my parents. It also could be that I couldn’t stop thinking or wondering about different states, different landscapes, weather and the people. While in Oklahoma, I noticed that there were more churches than grocery stores and bookstores covered the front covers of Playboy Magazines and Hustlers.

While working in Oklahoma, people had a good sense of working together as a family and trusting one another. I barely made any friends; most of my time was spent with my cousin and her two kids. The family life back home was getting the best of me while in Oklahoma; it was time for me to head back west. I decided to go to Arizona. Arizona has this appeal to the terrain, the landscape, the weather and me. The average summer temperature was 116 Fahrenheit. Three days after arriving in Arizona, Timothy McVey blow up the Federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. Some of my former co-worker’s families died and one friend feared going to work, because he was a native of Pakistan and the world believe that Middle-Eastern terrorist were the blame for the bombing.



Experience/Skills:

Determination, self-reliance, bravery, negotiation, appreciation for nature and geography, inter-personal skills, communications, vision, being a member of a community in my new setting and inspiration to pursue a college education back in California.



SOUNDTRACK

1. The Pretenders-Back on the Chain Gang
2. The Police-Walking on the Moon
3. The Fix-Saved by Zero
4. TCL-Red Light Special
5. Boston-Peace of Mind
   

*PORTUGAL, SUMMER 1998

• World Expo in Lisbon
• 1st time traveling with my sister, Sherri overseas
• Met new friends Yvette & Sandra Van der Klught from the Netherlands
• Sister’s boyfriend [at the time] Bronko got deported upon arrival.
• 6 strangers in a Portuguese style of “Real World”

Summary of events while in Portugal:

I give my sister, Sherri credit for having the patience with me and with my zany directions and walking upon miles and miles of hills, streets and avenues. This was our first time together overseas and we also had a falling out, but with all the positive vibes, we offered each other an apology. We stayed with Manu Rodrigues’ small apartment in the city of Almada. With only two bedrooms and a large living room, we made this small place into one of the greatest experiences any of us imagined. We cooked meals for each other, we shared our lives with one another and overall we became friends and remain so until this day. Manu and I talked about politics and racial matters; Sandra, Yvette and Sherri either went shopping or talked about guys.

In any case, my sister spent less than two weeks in this country, while I had to stay an additional week. The idea of going back home always sucked. Sherri had to get back for personal reasons as well as professional. I didn’t check out much of the typical sites, castles, etc. I mostly remained around the small town of Almada, meeting up with old friends and going out to the local bars and having a few drinks. Sandra and Yvette also stayed the additional week, we mostly went to the beach and hung out as much as possible. These were the first girls I met on many of my journeys, until this day, I can still call them my friends. Sherri also kept in contact with them, maybe one day they will meet up again.


Experience/Skills:

Patience, scheduling, imagination, and cultural diversity, learning new language: Dutch, tolerance and love for family.



SOUNDTRACK

1. Hav Plenty Soundtrack-Keep it Real
2. Mousse T.-Horny Horny, Horny
3. Saia Rodada-Da me um beijo
4. On and On-Erykah Badu
5. Busta Rhymes-Woo Hah! Got you all in Check
   

Volume II: Entering The New Century

ROAD TRIP, SUMMER 2000
ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

• 30 years of age
• Crew members on this journey: Al Kwon, myself (Sidney), Justin, Radu and Nick Chang.
• I graduated that same summer June 2000 from UC Santa Barbara
• Rented a mini-van for the trip
• Nick was the guide around Zion national park and only one with a tent
• The rest of us with except of Justin slept inside the van
• Justin slept on top of the van, I still don’t know why
• Went hiking around the mountains and almost got stuck as the sun was going down and we were without flashlights
• While driving back to Santa Barbara, we decided to spend a night in Las Vegas
• We crashed in a motel 8, pretty cheap room, but we had fun regardless of our condition
• While driving from Vegas, we discussed the most personal/private revealing conversation and open dialogues.
• Probably be the last time we will ever take a trip together

Summary of this journey:

I just graduated that summer; I was unsure where my life would lead me. I had a somewhat of a good paying job, but I still lacked direction and career objective. I guess those 3 years in the university setting gave an additional youthful outlook on life during my late 20’s and starting into my new age of 30. I also was feeling the pressure to either get married, have a child or both, settle down and cease the friendship I made while in school. It was also apparent that my friends were adopting certain misunderstandings about me, to them, I guess, I was to be an example of what they were suppose to be when they reach my age of 30. Somehow, I was not living up to even their ideas of what type of man I should be. Many friends were lost and many new ones were discovered. I remain the same person.

Experience/Skills:

Honesty, friendship and leadership

SOUNDTRACK

1. Bassement Jaxx-Red Alert
2. Queen-We are the champions
3. Dj Supreme-The Wildside
4. Westside Connection-West up
5. Mariah Carey-Heartbreaker

ROAD TRIP, FALL 2000
BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA

• 31 years of age
• Vehicle provided: 1993 Plymouth Acclaim
• Took this road trip with my new friend and roommate, Nathan Tweed
• This was a complete un-planned journey with a possible storm ruining this trip.
• We invited Nate’s cousin Blake who was 16 years at the time, we brought along some goodies (marijuana).
• Nate’s infamous proverb “sometimes, you gotta break the rules”
• I felt much younger more than ever in my life
• The clouds were moving away fast, blue and clear skies ahead of the storm
• Stopped by San Simeon, re-visited my childhood memories
• We camped out at the perfect spot: Kirk Creek Campsite
• Hiked around Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer and other spots around Los Padres National Park region.

Summary of events during this journey:

This is where Nate and I became friends, the birth of La Legione di Resistenza. Though he was 20 years old, he taught me how to go out and experience life through nature. We met during my last semester in school. He moved into my dorm apartment. I was unsure who he was as a person or an individual and let the story be told, I probably went out of my way by not trying to get to know him personally. Maybe, I was feeling out of touch with people, because of my age. Nate helped me to feel secure about my surroundings and myself. Our friendship was not suppose to be, if you go by societal standards: I’m black, he’s white, ten years of age difference, grew up in different decades, lived in complete different areas of California, different privileges, different prejudices and different experiences in life. But, even with all of these obstacles, it somehow didn’t really affect us. In fact, this was more of a reason for us to be friends.


Experience/Skills:

Tolerance to age differences, ideas and people. Stress reduction, hope, happiness, and leadership by letting others lead and direct their destiny, friend and a new love and respect for nature and the California Coast.


SOUNDTRACK

1. Incubus-How do you do it?
2. Led Zeppelin-Ramble On
3. Alice in Chains-Rooster
4. Eve & Ruff Ryders-Want ya Niggas want
5. Steve Miller’s Band-Space Cowboy
   
   

SPRING 2001
BRAZIL! BRAZIL! BRAZIL!

• The American dream was dead and all jobs were going nowhere
• Still at 31 years of age
• A self-journey to far away land, full of exotic people and mystery
• Sought adventure and found it
• Taught English in two schools in the metropolitan São Paulo area
• Arrived with three times the local currency value of U.S. dollars
• Became broke soon after and had to depend on Brazilian currency and wages: Real Brasileiro
• Lived like a poor North American in South America, but enjoyed life at my fullest
• Experienced Carnival in its traditional way in the Northeastern Region of Bahia in the city of Arraial d’Ajuda and Pôrto Seguro.
• Lived with a friend for a few months and then later moved with another North American from Canada
• Canadian friend returned home, had to move to another stranger’s place, I was lucky
• Visited cities like Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis
• Knock on wood, I never got robbed even in dangerous places around Brazil
• Discovered good friends, good foods, drinks, the best of Brazilian women and music.

Summary of events and observations:

After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, most jobs or careers weren’t really give me any challenges or learning new ideas or trade. I was overall given shit jobs related to filing, making copies, answering phones, starring at paper-work eight hours a day and hiding in the bathroom to ask myself privately “what the hell am I doing here?” One day during early December 2000, an old friend named Denis from Brazil called me and told me that I should come down to Brazil and get a job teaching English. So, I took his offer of free accommodations and left my lame career life in the states. During this same time, Nate and I were unsure of our living situation, because of our other roommate, Nick. He kept giving us the run-around with the rent and bills. Though, we parted, but our friendship remained. I left for Brazil.

Experiences and skills:

Language skills in both teaching American English and assisting with British Business English with students. Learning new words and expressions in Brazilian Portuguese. Cultural diversity as well as regional, leadership, direction, environmental awareness, safety, communication development, meeting other travelers and ex-patriots, love for my family and friends.


SOUNDTRACK

1. Banda Eva-Carro Velho
2. Ivete Sangalo-Pererê
3. Gabriel O Pensador-Astronauta
4. O Tchan-A Lua
5. As Meninas-Nega Maluca
   

FALL 2001
DENMARK, SWEDEN AND NORWAY

• Skøj! Or cheers!
• 32 years of age
• The primary reason taking this trip: my job at the time felt that I was not ready for international travel.
• So, I left for a couple weeks to prove to my former employer that I didn’t need their support.
• Visited friends that I met in Brazil
• Also visited friends from my college years in their home countries of Sweden and Norway
• Visited the infamous “Hamlet’s Castle” north of Copenhagen
• Re-gained my confidence in traveling even though my flight was scheduled one week after the Terrorist Attacks of September 11
• While in Copenhagen, my friend, Henrik’s apartment was in a large Arab/Muslim community and from that experience; I met overall kind, friendly people in the local neighborhood.
• 1st time traveling with a large backpack
• I discovered a new meaning about life & travel. I learned a new proverb, “if you want to know a man, travel with him.”
  

Summary of events and observations:

After returning from Brazil, I found a job working as a labor consultant. The perquisite for this job was having knowledge of at least one foreign language, I knew several. I felt that I was an ideal candidate as well as my cell leaders. This job was my first experience of full on racism and religious intolerance in any workplace. Members of the Mormon faith and other racial groups were given first priorities on international travel and working independently. These were plagues in the upper-management department and somehow I was not chosen for international inspections. I not only re-assured my fellow co-workers that I didn’t need this company as the only way to travel, I also re-assured myself.

Life changed on September 11, 2001, The World Trade Center towers were destroyed by terrorists. All flights to and from and within the United States were either grounded or cancelled. I like many people waited to find out when flights will be resume. After one week of debating over the matter, the U.S. government allowed flights to return to their normal flight schedules and I left on the first day of the announcement. My family and several of my friends thought I have lost my mind, because I decided to continue with this journey. Despite the possible threats of someone hijacking another flight, I had to over-come my fear of death and danger.


Experience and skills:

Bravery, confronting racial and religious tolerance, learning about new cultures, particularly ethnic-Scandinavians, including different nationalities of Scandinavia. Financial record keeping and budgeting, learning to adapt traveling by backpack, improved photographic methods and journal writing styles, business ideas and discovered new forms of art.



SOUNDTRACK

1. Ian Pooley-Since Then
2. Beck-Midnight Vultures
3. Coldplay-Parachutes
4. Incubus-Make Yourself
5. Pulp Fiction-Soundtrack

New Adventures

ROAD TRIP, NEW YEAR, 2002
LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA

• 32 years of age
• Vehicle provided: Jeep Cherokee
• Took some days off from work, as the company kept sending out their favorite employees on trips.
• I had about $700 dollars in my bank account and Nate had something like $300 dollars, a grand totally of a $1,000 dollars.
• Drove along the coast of California
• Re-visited our old college town of Isla Vista
• North of Santa Barbara, we checked out the surf
• During the journey, we discussed almost every issue imagined, secrets, and ventures with other women, our hatred for other people and who we were as friends.
• We probably spent too much money on food and beer!
• Visited our college roommate, Gavin Wilson in San Carlos
• I received a call from work, they informed me that I was laid-off, “holy shit!”
• We got stuck in a rain/snow storm; we crashed in the town of Auburn.
• Ate at the all american diner, we tried to score some marijuana from our waiter, no luck!
• Next morning, headed out to Heavenly Valley, Nevada to go snow-boarding
• I fell almost the entire time on the sloops
• All monies spent, until this day, unsure where it all went. No Joke!
  

Summary of events:

Nate has this way of influencing me to get away and check out life on the road and nature. So, with the bullshit at work, I requested to take some days off to take this snowboarding trip. This was going to be my second time trying to take on Snowboarding and I already knew that I was going to suck at it. I was unsure where my life was going; I had a good paying job, but no chances of moving up or going anywhere with the company. I could quit, but to work where. The truth is, when you find a job, its natural for you to become comfortable with not the only the people you work with, but also with the pay, the working conditions and you expect things to operate normally like any other day. I just wanted to find another reason to say, “fuck you” to the man.

Experiences and skills:

Snow-Boarding, travel with or without a job, visions for future adventures and travels, finding new meaning of being free and optimism by landing a new job.



SOUNDTRACK

1. Jimi Hendrix-The best of
2. Incubus-Wish you were here
3. The Beatles, The Greatest hits
4. The Clash-I’m so bored with the U.S.A.
5. Weezer-my girlfriend has a big mouth
   
   

FALL 2002
EUROPE & NORTH AFRICA

• 33 years of age
• Visited old friends across Western Europe and met new ones
• Invited to rest and stay in both friends and stranger’s homes
• E-mail was the best form of direct communication and information
• Stayed in various youth hostels, learned to live and settle with complete strangers
• Slept at parks and beaches
• Met a lot of Australians and Canadians
• I met Simon Chantal in Marseille and accidentally met him again in Carcassonne, France
• From that point, Simon and I decided to become traveling buddies.
• The best view of the French coast was between Narbonne and North-Eastern Spain.
• 2nd time hitching for a ride, a driver stops and offered us a ride and a free place to stay.
• Change of plans: a new destination, Morocco!
• Upon arriving in our last stop in Spain, we met Stephanie, Elisha, Ryan, Justin, Steve, Lidel and some girl from England and another guy from Austria. How..what, we all became friends?
• In Morocco, in the city of Rabat, where I met Attila.
• The longest time I went without showering was about a month. Peer pressure made me finally take one.
• My first experience traveling with another person and a large group. I loved these people.
• This trip totally changed my life.

Summary of Event:

The theme of taking this journey was purely based on an unending dream of traveling with a backpack for months or even years. I only wished that my friends back at home, like Nate, Ken and Marcus would have joined me. Several years ago, my old college roommate, Gavin Wilson, was impressed with the all the travels and journeys I’ve done. He offered me a book, which he believed would change my life in a positive way. This book by Jack Kerouac “On the Road” was about a guy who just vagabonded around the country, with barely enough money to get from place to another. Though, I never opened the first page of this book, I just kept it as a symbolic kind gesture. It was until I had some free time to relax and think clearly, when I read the book in its entirety and I wanted more in traveling. Before embarking on this five-month journey, I followed an advice from my friend, Chris Johnson on how to pack my backpack and what he would recommend bringing for such trip. He suggested: 5 t-shirts, 2 pair of pants, 10 things of underwear, 10 pairs of socks, 3 regular shirts, 2 pairs of shoes, deodorant, and other travel necessities. Near the end of my five month journey, I learned to throw away all my clothes and finding new ones and throwing them away as well.

Places visited:

The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Spain, Morocco and *Portugal


Experience and skills:

Believing and following my dreams, vision, senses of community even with complete strangers, trust and honesty, and new ideas.



SOUNDTRACK

1. Nelly & Kelly Rowland-Dilemma
2. Sophie Ellis Bextor-Murder on the Dance floor
3. Manu chao-Que horas mi corazon?
4. Daft Punk-Discovery
5. Preston Reed-Metal
   
   

ROAD TRIP, SPRING 2003
QUEBEC & ONTARIO, CANADA

• 33 years of age
• Attila invited me to come out to his home in Maryland
• While in Maryland, we decided to take a visit to our Canadian travel mates: Simon Chantal in Quebec and Elisha & Stephanie in the province of Ontario
• This was my first visit to Maryland and Washington D.C. area
• My first experience with snowy weather
• We drove through New York City and most of New England
• Visited a friend in Amherst, Mass.
• The state of Vermont was probably the most scenic in the region
• Arrived at the Canadian border and had to endure repeated questions from immigration officials
• Got green light to go, finally crossed over the border all signs were in French
• Arrived in the town of Victoriaville the hometown of Simon
• Visited other cities like Montréal and Quebec City
• Got stuck in a blizzard in Quebec City, had to remain the apartment for three days
• During a phone call, I was asked when I will be coming back home-though I almost lost the sense of what “home” really meant.
• Simon, Attila and I left for the province of Ontario to visit the girls
• Not as scenic as the province of Quebec, Ontario was more English than French
• Stopped for donuts at a local shop with advertised “ouchless cups”
• The girls took us out to a stripe club and paid for lap dances “awesome!”
• We crashed at both Elisha’s and Stephanie’s homes
• During a drive outside of town, Attila’s car got stuck in a snow bank, it was really cold!
• A kind old man got his tracker and pulled the car out of the snow bank
• We also visited the large city of Toronto, great night life and food
• Said our good-byes to the girls, left for Niagara Falls
• Crossed the border back in the U.S. returned to Maryland
  
  
  
  

Summary of Events:

Some journeys were just not meant to end. I met Simon and Attila while traveling and from meeting them, we decided to really keep in touch and we promised to travel with one another again. And we did! Attila was probably the first person that I met who truly meant what he said and what he wanted in life as a traveler. Though, I have traveled independently for many years, he was the first person to ask me to keep the adventure alive. Before leaving for Canada, Attila came down with a bad cold and he remained so for five days. During those five days, I read more books than ever before. His house and family were very accommodating, almost to the point that I forgot how long I’ve been in their home. Simon returned to the states with us, he landed a job down in Myrtle Beach, in South Carolina and Attila and I were unsure where this adventure could go next. I left the following day back to California.

SOUNDTRACK

1. Manu Chao-Esperanza
2. Björk-Debut
3. The Clash-I fought the law
4. Beef Wellington-Feel Fantabulous
5. No Doubt-Tragic Kingdom
   
   

SPRING 2003
GOOD LIVING IN ISLA VISTA, CA

• Unlike taking a road trip or traveling internationally, living back in my old college community was a great way to regain my thoughts and creating new ideas
• I lived with between 7 and 8 housemates, I already knew a few of them and met new ones
• My room was in the garage and it was full of space
• My rent consisted of house cleaning, cooking and helping out with house parties: beer kegs, fights, arguments and occasionally found ways to relax
• I learned how to live on little bit of money, but ate very healthy
  
  

Summary of events:

When I returned from traveling with Attila, I had nowhere to go and not really having any idea where my life was going to take me. I stayed with my mother for a few days and I also stayed some nights at Nate’s apartment in Long Beach, CA. I didn’t feel that I belong anywhere or with anybody. That is when I decided to just take off and visit some old friends back in Isla Vista, or better known as Santa Barbara. I took a commuter train from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. It was the great ride, the beautiful coastline and the great weather. I walked to Isla Vista on foot with my backpack, I ran into my old friend, Malcolm, he said that I should stay at his place on Fortuna Lane. I took his offer and saw some other old friends and without establishing my reasons for visiting, I just crashed on the couch and remained there for five months. Without having any job or money to pay rent, I offered my services of cleaning, cooking and helping out as much I could in order to keep my stay as long as possible. This was probably my first time enjoying the labor of cleaning and providing good meals, while at the same time, maintaining a connection to university life.


SOUNDTRACK

1. OGB & Woo-Tang clan-Shame on a nigga
2. Pink Floyd-Money
3. Beyoncé-Dangerously in Love
4. Jimi Hendrix-Voodoo Child
5. Erika Badu-Tyrone
   
   

ROAD TRIP, MARCH 2003

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA

• Travis, Nate and I took three days off to check out the infamous Humboldt County, Northern California.
• A complete unplanned trip, but we packed enough for two days of camping
• Travis drove the entire trip going up and back
• We crashed in a motel 6 north of San Francisco in Marin County
• A very scenic drive up the California Northern coastline
• Camped near the coast, not too many campers around
• We were without any proper night lighting, the area was without any light pollution and we relied on the light from the stars ~
• Night and day walks to the beach, empty of people, but full of nature, washed up branches of trees, bark and unique rocks along the shore
• Visited Humboldt State University and hiked around the Redwood Forest
  

Summary of this journey:

Though I just recently traveled around Canada, New England and around Western Europe and meeting new friends while in Morocco; there is nothing more valuable than taking a camping trip with my friends, Nate and Travis. Though, Nate and Travis would disagree about who knew more about camping. For me, just being in Humboldt county with these guys was the up most experience of a lifetime. I only wished we had more time to see more of this beautiful region of California. This place is a symbol of our friendship and this place will also be a part of our dreams. We promised that one-day, we would return to Humboldt.

SOUNDTRACK

Random music was played, from country, classic rock to hip-hop. There was no highlight song to remind me of this trip. I guess the long silence and minimal conversation didn’t weight as much as the picturesque views of Humboldt. That was the soundtrack of our journey, the pictures and our friendship.

ROAD TRIP, MAY 2003
JAMALA BEACH, CA

Thesis of events:

Nate called me up and told me to be free on particular weekend to go camping with him, Travis and his roommate, Matt. Jamala Beach was just a not like most campsite, but it offers an empty coastline with beautiful sunsets, hidden caves and some sand dunes. We spent more time talking shit, eating good camping food and smoking a lot of marijuana. I think that Nate arranged this trip to get away from his crowded environment of Long Beach and also to show his roommate/friend, Matt the good life of camping and taking Road Trips. I was overall glad to be a part of this camping trip. The great part of this trip, besides being with good friends, there was a full moon to light the nights, as we walked the nightly coast. The mystery of the ocean was not as haunting as before.


SOUNDTRACK

Any R.E.M. song would fit for this camping trip. The soft melodies and poetic songs give a sense of change and belonging.

SUMMER 2003
GOING TO BOISE, IDAHO? WHY?

Thesis of events:

Going on 34 years of age, I was unsure why I decided to come to Idaho; maybe I just wanted to reunite with my traveling buddy and good friend, Attila. Idaho was not my ideal place for relocation, but Attila told me about the great advantages and the beautiful nature and the progressive people within the Boise area. So, I gave it a shot. Though, there were plenty of times when I wanted to leave, but to where? I had no other place to return or go to. Idaho was also the most physical workout I endured; I rode my bike to and from work daily, about 10 miles a day. We hiked almost everyday of week, or we headed north of Boise to head to the “Skinny Dipper’s” hot springs. Idaho gave me even more of a great appreciation for the great outdoors and nature. However, even with the positive advantages of nature and progressive thoughts within the Boise city area, finding a job was going my way. It seemed that I applied to every job available and I was simply not getting any return calls for interviews or even a job. I had to settle for less of working conditions and pay. I stayed in Idaho for only seven months, I didn’t know where I would go, but I knew I couldn’t stay there any longer. It was the saddest day when I left for Portland, Oregon.

*FALL 2003
FLORIANÓPOLIS-BRAZIL!

Summary of events:

My sister, Sherri wanted that I picked out a trip, in which she would experience something exotic and unique. I took a 26-hour bus ride from Boise, Idaho to Los Angeles only to inform her that the best choice I found was Brazil! Though, the weather in Brazil was not yet summer and it was not going to as warm like many people would perceive. In any case, we bought our tickets, which were paid for my dearest sister and I personally want the world to know I am beyond appreciative of her generosity. However, our trip had some setbacks. One particular, our flight on the taxiway at Los Angeles was delayed for about an hour, due some weather problems to our transfer destination, Houston, Texas. I asked several flight attendants if they could find out if our connecting flight to São Paulo would be held for our late arrival or not. No one had any answers, which really pissed me off. My sister, however, said that it was all to the best and told me not to worry. I followed her advice. As we landed in Houston, we found out that our flight had left and the airline was kind enough to change our departure dates and return dates as well. Still, we had to find a place to spend the night. We found a Quality Inn hotel down from the airport and there was no quality in that Inn. As soon as we got installed in our hotel room, we went out for a walk and from what we seen; there was nothing worth checking out. We slept until the twelve noon the next day.

We headed back to the airport and we had to wait for about 4 hours until our flight depart to Brazil. We were both full of anxiety, considering that my sister and I haven’t traveled together since 1998, when we went to Portugal. However, she has taken several independent trips on her own to France, Switzerland, Hawaii and one trip with my mother to the Bahamas. So, with her independent travel experience, I knew that she could handle my version of getting away.

Hours passed, we boarded the plane and sat through a long nine-hour flight, which was very uncomfortable, the seats on these airplanes are not as comfortable as they used to be. Or, maybe there were never comfortable, I’m getting older…. “Senhores passengeiros, Bem-vindo a São Paulo. . . . “ We exited the airplane and fortunately, we didn’t have to wait to get our bags from baggage claim, considering that we were traveling light; we had our daypack as our travel pack. This was our first time trying to fit a trip with such small packs, but it was worth it. We immediately caught the airport bus, which took us to the city center. During the ride from the airport, my sister looked out the window with amazement and yet with sadness, as she saw the beautiful scenery from the airport going from nice rolling green hills and billboard ads with advertisements of credit cards, bank accounts, hotels and other information, which didn’t reflect the reality of poverty in this beautiful country. In any case, she was excited to have traveled to such an unique place in the world.

Our plans were the following: spend a night in the city and walk around and return to our hotel room before the jet-lag and the time difference didn’t get the best of us. Second, buy our bus tickets to go to return to my dream world of the Brazilian southern region of Santa Catarina in the beautiful beach island city of Florianópolis. The ride was about 8 hours long, but it was a good way to see Brazil from a different perspective, in regards to nature, taking in the community of people from all walks of life on this ride. My sister fell asleep for most of the ride, probably the jet lag and the time difference got the best of her. For me, this trip was a return to my previous journey to this region of Brazil. Hours passed, we were somewhere around the southern Brazilian coast areas of Santa Catarina. I pointed out to my sister how more this region was more European than actual common Brazilian landscape, enriched with agriculture, mountains and people, by the fact that there were more farm lands, German and other Nordic European descents in this area.

Upon arriving in Florianópolis, my sister was taken by the beauty of this city, with the city skyline in the front and the hills in the background, and yet being so close to the shore. We first stopped by a local outdoor café, snacking on some popular Brazilian dishes like Bifhas de carne, Coixinhas, or sipping on some exotic Brazilian drinks like blended sugar cane, guaraná and my favorite Brazilian beer, Brahma. My sister, Sherri, however, was more opened to the idea of eating at a restaurant to get another perspective of Brazilian cuisine. Considering that we arrived in the late evening, it was not going to easy to find a restaurant, so we lucked out by eating in a four star hotel near by. The meals were decent and very full of flavor. My sister finally started speaking more Portuguese, especially to our handsome waiter. I know she was checking him out!

Later that same night, we found a cheap place to stay, the same place I stayed last time I was in Florianópolis, Hotel Sumaré. This hotel, if you will, was not much to write home about, but for me it brought back some good memories when I first came to this city. My sister, however gave it a shot, but she recommended finding another place the following day. I even agreed with her, with the lack of other travelers and it was winter, there was no reason to be all on our own. The next day, we found an HI Hostel in the other side of town. This hostel was great, it reminded of the many hostels I stayed around Europe. Though, the rooms were separated between the male and female dorms. In any case, this was a good way to introduce my sister to Hostel living. Sharing experiences, rooms, and stories, making friends, and sharing a room with other strangers. After, we dropped our things off in our lockers, we walked around the city and checked other parts of the island, and we enjoyed the ambience of it all. Though, I could have shown my sister the typical travel destination city of Rio de Janeiro and the entire city has to show only to tourist, I guess I have become a different traveler. I enjoy small towns and other non-tourist destinations to get the full cultural experience. We agreed next time to check out more this country.

Destiny Unknown: Portland, Oregon

JANUARY 2004
FRESH AIR, FRIENDS AND NO FRIENDS, IN PORTLAND

Thesis of events:
At 34 years of age . . . Nate and his girlfriend, Wendy moved to Portland, Oregon to either try something new or to experience a different side of life not that of southern California. It seemed that we were conquering new lands and with new and unique people, we all were suffering the lost of warm weather and our new surroundings in the Northwest. During this period, Nate was not getting the experience of the Northwest as he expected. Portland was unlike most cities I have seen along the coast, it had somewhat of an appeal like that of San Francisco, but with cheaper rents and no so crowded streets. However, finding a job was an almost impossible reality. Nevertheless, Nate, Wendy and I tried our best by enjoying whatever we can: taking long walks even in the rain, taking hikes, checking out Multnomah falls and we also hung out with our old college friend, Tyler. We lucked out, Tyler’s parents had a beach vacation home south of Seaside and we spent two days there, listening to music, making great food, drinking wine, beer and smoking who knows what. We went insofar as playing hide n’ go seek during the night hours.

Weeks went by and still no job to find, plenty of interviews and filling out useless applications, observing work-ethic related posters and flyers and left without any idea of how I was going to able to take care of myself or even feed myself. Nate’s job was also getting the best of him, he didn’t know how much longer he will be able to survive on his wages and hours provided. One day, he decided to quit his job and say, “fuck it!” to the Northwest experience. Wendy thought he was making a bad mistake, but she then realized that things were much better back in California. They decided to pack their things and head back to the Golden State. I on the other hand, had nowhere in California to call home or a place to stay.

They left and thanks to Tyler, I was able to stay with his parents in the city of Lake Oswego, a suburban town ten minutes away from downtown Portland. At this time, Tyler had already moved to L.A. to be with his Aussie girlfriend. While, I was not able to pay rent to the Smiths, instead, I offered my services of being honest, trustworthy, loyal, providing with cleaning duties, housesitting, walking and feeding the dog, the cat and the house talking bird, Pepper. A week later, I found a job, working in Eastern Portland, about twenty miles away. It was a good commute, not much traffic. The job was brainless, but it paid! I even made some friends while working there. I worked from 3pm to 11pm and when I returned home, I made a small sandwich and did a few exercises before going to bed. Usually I would stretch for about a half-hour.

I found comfort going to bars, restaurants, or anywhere alone. This was a good thing, because it helped me to imagine what a good friend should be and also knowing who my friends really are. Though, I was hoping to see a familiar face or encounter a familiar situation to remind myself that I was not alone in the world. Attila contacted me to tell me that he and his friend, Mark will be coming to Portland to visit me. During their visit, we stayed in a youth hostel in downtown Portland. It was good to be back in the traveler’s environment of smelling shoes, backpacks, guide books, maps, internet browsing, cameras flashing, different languages, accents and meeting new strangers. We took drives along the Oregon coast and passed through some beautiful areas around. Attila and Mark were planning to save up money to take a long journey around Europe and they wanted to come along. But, with the cost of such trip they planned would cost about $3,000 dollars and I was also unsure how long my current job would last, considering it was through a temp agency. In any case, the ideas of going back to Europe was enticing, but I had to realistic, even if I were able to save up money like that, where will I end up after the money or the even the journey was over?

Lane and Dana (Tyler's parents) told me a few days after Attila and Mark’s visit that one of their relative was selling an old 1976 Volvo station wagon for $600 dollars. When I saw that car, I fell in love; it was a funky yellow color wagon, red rims, with Oregon license plates, hearts in the rear view mirror and that funky 70’s style of leather seats. I took it! This was my first time buying my own car and it felt great.

Around the same time, while at work, a new guy was hired on, named Marques. He was a quiet guy who just did his work with his headphones on. He later told the company that he would be leaving by early April. He landed a job working overseas in Germany working behalf of U.S. department of defense as a security. When he told about his new career overseas, I had almost dropped everything. “This was my chance,” I thought. He told me that it was easy even for me or anyone for that matter to get hired on. Marques gave me all the contact information and web address to inquiry about the positions and other advantages with this company. This company known as, AFRC-Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. “Wow! This is a good thing,” I thought, as I was thinking of all the travel possibilities and the amount of money I could save and spend while abroad. But, that would also mean that I would not be able to meet with Attila and Mark. And, do I want to take upon such a career all alone? These were the many struggles going through my head. I had thought about several friends of mine who would be interest, but in the end, I was sure that these certain individuals would not be good traveling partners. Attila would the perfect candidate but he already made plans with Mark. In addition, Mark has piercing. “No Dice!” Then it just occurred to me, and I should have thought about it in the first place, “hmm, Nate?” I then called him up and told him about this job and the travel advantages that he and I could share and experience. Around this time, Nate’s job was going nowhere and he was unsure where his life was going. We agreed that we must meet up again in California and talk a bit more about this sort of move.

I faxed my resume, application forms, and all necessary documentation in order to not only get that job in Germany. Around this time, I was feeling more confident than ever. I was having the best of all dreams and there wasn’t a day with sadness or sorrow. Usually before work or on my days off, I would hike around Tyron Creek and that is where I met Alex Meadows. He told me a story about how he rode his bike from Oregon to South America. It took him six months to complete this journey and originally his plan was to go to San Diego, California. He was my hero and I had to learn more about this guy. I told him about my stories of traveling and getting into trouble upon returning home, while reestablishing myself only to get away again. I wanted to see my family before I get accepted for this job overseas. Weeks later, I left for California

SOUNDTRACK

1. The Urge-Master of Styles
2. Coldplay-A Rush of Blood to the Head

VOLUME III: Germany & Deutschland

“Luxury then, is a way of being ignorant, comfortably."
Leroi Jones.

SUMMER 2004, AMERIKAN IN DEUTSCHLAND. . .

Thesis of events:

I finally a job working overseas in Garmisch, Germany. Garmisch, such a picturesque Bavarian town surrounded by the infamous Bavarian alps, not far from the Austrian border and only an hour train ride from Munich. This was the best! However, I feel stressed out, there are too many Americans around here. I am trapped with these people who only want to feed on our common culture, television and fearing other nationalities. I must separate myself from these people. Usually, I am more happy being in a foreign country and traveling around, than dealing with the boring life back home in the U.S.A. Somehow those boring feelings are here haunting me. The American virus is here and I am getting weak, because, they fail to see the big picture, Germany! Like I do with my close friends, I tried to encourage my new neighbors here in this American-Germanic community to get away and hit the road, or take a train, “go somewhere!” A few decided to take up my idea. Though, I had to ask myself what would have these people done if I weren’t here to encourage them to do something more outside of their small invasive living quarters?

New friends

I was lucky even with these discouraging situations; I made friends with Jagger Ferrando and Stephen Tillman. These guys kept me going on hikes, taking day trips to Munich and staying away from our dorm too. In fact, Stephen and I even took several days to travel to an historic Bavarian town of Rothernburg ob der Tauber, north west of Munich, which was a site to see. Plus, this was Stephen’s first experience with the world of youth hostels. I sent emails to Nate to tell him about these new friends of ours. I also got an email from Tom saying that he too got accepted and he will be coming to Germany as well. Things were looking good. Jagger also showed me the world of eating good food, sweating out toxins out in the hot saunas and not being bothered with the world of American Garmisch.

New world away from home

One month into being installed in this strange community, I’m trying to avoid screaming out loud. I can’t stand my fellow Americans. Europe! A place where I always come to learn new ideas, being challenged and get a new perspective on life. This time around is not the case. I stare out of the window daily looking at the Zupsitze Mountains, as I wait for the adventure to begin, maybe it has already started? I must find a new way to deal with this environment. I should focus more on resting and my state of mind than trying to find new Attila’s and Simon’. Or, maybe, I need to accept that that awesome journey I did back in 2002 was the best I ever had and ever will. Or the shit I am dealing with at this moment is an example of an adventure? But, I have to ask myself, “Who are these people?” My new neighbors “the patriot overseas Americans” are just the type of people would normally avoid, not talk to, or not willing to get to know when I am traveling around overseas. The American social problem has arrived to my long one-year sejour here in Garmisch, Germany. I found out sometime ago that Nate would be arriving sometime in August. If I can’t deal with this environment, how will my best friend, Nate be able to deal with this place? Much more to worry than experiencing life outside of our military residence. In any case, I will fight against anyone who will try to ruin this adventure. True friends will found after the war of the world.

The adventure begins

One day before Nate’s arrival has been an emotional overload. Rumors about him, her, them, me, us and everyone else. One’s race and sexuality seemed to dominate over the experience of being in Europe or in Germany. Nate sent me an e-mail some days before saying that my days of suffering will come to an end as soon as he gets here, I couldn’t wait any longer. Around this time, I felt the only thing I could do to shelter myself from these people was by being in my room all alone and without answering or acknowledging anyone knocking on the door. Even knowing that I will not have this room any longer to myself, I had to wonder where would my friendship will lead me or us. Here, I have a large room, with two big windows and a average size regfrigator, and was I ready to share this peaceful place with another even with my best friend? For years, our friendship has been based on honesty, brotherhood, being direct and overall love for life and adventure.

The Graveyard travelers

Nate arrived and to our luck, he landed a job in the same security department with me, though at first, our schedules were completely different. He worked graveyard and I worked mid-shifts and our days off were not the same. We somehow worked it out where not only did we get the same days off, but we worked the same graveyard shift. It was difficult at first, but if we were going to have this travel experience, we had to be on the same page, same level and the same work schedule in order to make this adventure possible. Working with Nate was awesome, we worked probably about two hours in our eight hour shift. We gave off the impression of working hard, by answering with confidence to complicated questions and other inquiries. We ate well, though no meal was provided during our late night shift, but we somehow lucked out by finding some beers to drink to pass the night by.