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