From sad – to inspired – to hungry

April 11, 2012 - 2 Responses

Hey gorgeous,

All my life I’ve consistently been doing something cool. Did OK in school and then went on to get into a competitive Uni course. I managed to travel in both summer holidays of my degree (to Brazil and South East Asia) and in the last six months I planned to have a great Australian summer holiday; tick. My next interesting endeavour was to leave for my Latin American adventure last month; fail. I’m still in Melbourne, my summer job just finished up and I’m a tad down in the dumps.

As you may be across, I haven’t been writing my blog which is stupid because this blog is what keeps the dream alive. Without blogging I’m essentially doing internet research. Myspanishsmileproject records set backs and my mental state over the past three weeks has been a massive set back.

I need to reset and enact a new plan;
Step 1. Start blogging again
Step 2. Find six months work in Melbourne
Step 3. Start looking for jobs opportunities in Latin America starting in the summer of 2012
Step 4. Save money for trip
Step 5. Leave

Easy as cake! Having said that, I don’t recall actually ever baking a cake, but this plan sounds good all the same. Your eyes flittering across these words suggest Step 1 is in full flight. For me it’s time to start the job hunt, again…

I know you’re right. It was silly to let myself feel defeated or overcome by my Mexico job falling through. Sometimes I wish I had your strength, your resolve. You wouldn’t have let this set back get you down. From today, neither will I.

Surprise Step 6. Eat cake. Maybe it’s just me, but all this planning and inspiration has got me hungry.

Love

Categorized in The restart
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I could literally not be more sad

March 21, 2012 - Leave a Response

Remember how in the last post I said I should be upset but I’m not – I was wrong. The title of this blog was the mantra bouncing around my brain last Sunday. The worst thing is it’s not even grammatically correct! It should be ‘sadder.’ I don’t get sad a lot and I can only remember a handful of days when I was as down as I was Sunday.

I felt sorry for myself. I reminded myself I live an incredibly privileged and lucky life. Then, I felt guilty because I was still sad despite thinking I didn’t deserve to be. I did some yelling, some hitting (boxing bag assisted), some talking, some hugging, and some planning; I now feel noticeably better.

This day brought me to a single conclusion; keep blogging.

As mentioned in D-day you deserve better than sporadic blogging.  I had D-day written up for weeks but didn’t post it. All the people who asked me when the next blog is coming out reminded me that some people read, follow and enjoy my blog. Reading my writing is a massive compliment coupled with the responsibility to keep producing writing worth reading. I want to keep practising my writing and I hope I’ve not put too many offside with my inconsistent blogging. Like a troublesome toddler I’m happy to claim – it will be the last time.

Selfishly, writing this blog is how I keep my Latin American dream alive. Without a weekly post reminding me I’m working towards a goal. I can be caught finding myself feeling pointless. The 300 words I try to write every week is (as I put in my first blog) my promise to myself to see out my Latin American dream. It keeps me going.

Somewhere in my posts I usually write how awesome you are. Although it might seem like I’m sucking up, writing those words reminds me that there are amazing people throughout the world who are worthy of such compliments. You are one of them – because even if all you do today is read these words, your support has helped me through another monotonous day. And that makes you awesome.

Love

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D-day

March 14, 2012 - 2 Responses

Hi sexiest,

There’s some news I need to share; two weeks ago(ish) during a conversation with my Mexico contact we agreed on a ‘D-day’ date. ‘D-day’ (drink because I used the title of the post in the post) was the last date I could receive the contract before we would both agree my Mexico trip was a case of wrong place, wrong time.  That date was the 24th of February. That date has passed. I’m not going to Mexico. Fuck.*

I should be upset but instead this news has brought me relief. I’ve had the weight of the ‘stay or go’ decision hanging over my head for weeks. In the end, the decision not being mine to make could be a blessing. For better or worse, it’s done. The decision is made. I’m not going. I’m hoping taking the decision out of my hands will alleviate guilt or regret because I never rejected the offer, it just didn’t happen.

My contact told me the contract’s tardiness was due to the CEO (for whatever reason) not giving my placement the go-ahead. Not because he didn’t want me to be there, but he’s a very busy man and this decisions wasn’t high on his list. I thanked my Mexican contact for the extensive time and work she’s put into making this opportunity a reality. I didn’t do my gratitude justice, I couldn’t be more thankful to all the people whose work gave me the option (if only briefly) to work over there.

I have been blogging sporadically this year and you deserve better. If my best friend was the world’s most beautiful, funny, intelligent, kind and happy person, I wouldn’t stop communicating with them for weeks on end because I was ‘busy’. It’s the same with you guys – you’re each the most beautiful, funny, intelligent, nice and happy person I know – you deserve better, I’ll strive for better.

*I don’t like swearing, but twenty minutes of brainstorming produced no more appropriate word.

Love

This blog was hand written on the first of March and I’m sorry I didn’t post it until now. I’ve experienced a temporary setback and I just had to get my head back in the right place.

Categorized in The falter
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I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers

February 14, 2012 - One Response

You are a stranger. Whether we’ve indeed never met or you are a stranger I spent enough time with to call my friend, you are (or were at some stage) a stranger. You are also, a particularly beautiful and wise stranger and it’s for those traits I now thank you.

Thank you – for the comments I’ve received online (from fellow bloggers) and the invaluable advice I’ve received from my friends and family after reading my blog and hearing about my potential Mexican job. With your comments (combined with my research) I’ve now enough information to make a well measured and informed decision on whether to go.

Comments that had an impact for not going:

Uni mate – “bit of a career set-back if you get killed by a drug cartel.”
Blogger – “don’t take your first offer thinking it will be your last, your life will be full of such offers.”
Friend – “seriously mate, why are you even still considering going?”

Comments that did the opposite:

Friend – “would you regret it if you didn’t give it a shot?”
Friend – “you’ve always been a sink or swim kind of guy, it’s not until you get over there that you’ll know whether it’s where you want to be.”
Blogger – “the news reports you’ve read will be exaggerated.”
Person offering me the job – “I’ve had no issues in the last twenty-two months.”

I’ve said from the start that I would wait to receive the contract before making my final decision. I still haven’t received the contract which is now over a week late.

As soon as I’ve the contract in my hand I’ll make my decision. As soon as I know, they’ll know, and then you’ll know. Won’t it be wonderful when we all know.

If you’re a touch tech savvy feel free to add my new twitter account by searching @spanish_smile and adding Luke. I’ve almost no idea how to use twitter but I assume having one can’t hurt.

Can’t wait until we all know,

Love

Categorized in The falter
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Please help me know, if I should go to Mexico

February 1, 2012 - 7 Responses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey adorable,

I’ve invited you here for advice on my first life-changing decision. This blog is a tribute to how badly I want to start working and living in a Spanish speaking country. In December last year I was offered a one year paid position working in quality management in Mexico, starting in March. The contract for the position has been drawn up and the company is waiting for my signature. I’ve spent the last two weeks toing-and-froing over the decision. The only factor holding me back is the safety issues for foreigners living in Mexico because I’d be living in one of the more dangerous states.

I’ve been researching safety and the information I’ve come across has been scarce and concerning. The safety situation for expats living in Mexico is fight clubesque –   you don’t talk about it. Shedding light on the conflict in Mexico can make you a target and these are not the type of people you want aware of your existence, let alone upset with you.

I know it seems a cop out saying I’ve got information I’m not going to tell you, but please know that if I’m heeding the warning by keeping my mouth shut then the threat is (in my best judgement) legit.

I talked with my contact and confided my fears. I’d come to believe living there would be a lot like prison; don’t leave your room except for a single exercise session – except instead of exercise I’d have work. She assured me as long as you’re aware and follow a few basic rules, life is normal.

I’ve promised those closest to me that if I do go and upon arrival my better judgement demands I leave – I will.

What I’m begging you for is advice. You’re a successful and intelligent person whose judgement I trust. Please leave a comment at the bottom of this post – anonymously if you’d prefer – on what you think I should do and any other thoughts or advice you have? Would you go in my position?

Love

Categorized in The falter
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How a Mexican stranger fearing for my life has scared me into research

January 25, 2012 - Leave a Response

Hey pretty,

I’m not complimenting you because I’m about to apologise, it’s because you’re truly the embodiment of human perfection; and I’ve let you down. I haven’t blogged for two weeks – I’m accountable and I’m sorry. Please find it in your heart to accept my apology and we’ll move on.

Everybody who hears about our grand plan advises that Mexico is dangerous. Then again, people say football is dangerous yet I’ve never had any series injuries. To be honest, the risk factor of Mexico seems (a little) exciting, it adds to the adventure. Or that’s what I thought…

My Mexican Spanish tutor has just returned from a two week holiday visiting her Mexican family. She mentioned my adventure in passing to her family and where I intended to live. She was met with unreserved fear for my life. Her family told her horror stories and statistics about the town I could be about to call home and she is now firmly of the belief that I shouldn’t go.

This belief is shared by my girlfriend and not just because she’ll miss me. Unbeknown to me she has been doing lots of research in to Mexico; looking at the stats and reading blogs of people who’ve travelled through the area I’d be working. Almost all the accounts were concerning.

At the beginning of the process I had a chat to my contact in Mexico about the safety of where she lived. She said that there is a heavy military presence but that she lives her day to day life relatively unaware of the drug war being fought between the cartels and the Mexican government. At the time it was all the reassurance I needed.

I briefly talked with my father today about his concerns for my safety and he told me that over 47,000 people have died in drug related violence in Mexico over the last five years. In hindsight it was probably inappropriate to have compared 47,000 deaths to playing football. Sorry.

It has become apparent –in the fear shown by everybody researching my safety in Mexico – that I cannot remain blissfully ignorant of the safety situation for foreigners in Mexico. It’s time for me to do some research. I’ll put my discoveries in to a post and ask for your thoughts and advice.

Love

 

Categorized in The falter
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My New Year’s news

January 8, 2012 - Leave a Response

Happy New Year! How was it? Did you find something incredible to do for the countdown? I was trying to find you all night! I knew you’d be having the most fun.

I’m hoping that by sharing with you my NYE experience and some news I can slightly improve your day.

Mathematically
NYE experience + news = your day brightened.

Let’s get started;
I brought in the New Year dressed as a six foot three giraffe wearing a bright red afro. From atop a hill I watched a crowd of seventeen thousand people lose their everything as they counted in the New Year. It was overpoweringly brilliant.

As I watched sparklers, fireworks and cheeky kisses light up the crowd I had a moment of pure contentment – life isn’t always tough.

One of the major contributing factors to my blissful contentment was my news – the scarily realistic proposition of Mexico this year. This is where that’s at;

Thanks to your advice the company granted me my pay rise. I’m waiting for the green light from my soon-to-be boss’s boss which should come before the end of this week. Then I book my flights… Theoretically, by mid-march I will be in Mexico commencing an internship that will finish in 2013.

They’re two things that have happened in my life recently that made me happy. I hope reading about them has brightened your day.  If it didn’t – and you’ve read to here – you deserve this fact;

You’re a superb person.

Love

Categorized in The opportunity
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Asking for advice on the awkward appeal for additional affluence

December 21, 2011 - One Response

In my life time I’ve done some travelling and I‘ve done some working but this trip is the first time I have (properly) combined the two. Unless you count the week I was selling surfboards to dumb foreigners in Florianopolis (Brazil), but that doesn’t count – because everyone’s done that… and it was only a week’s work.

Setting the conditions of work for the trip seem especially important to have finalised before I leave because there won’t be a chance to back out once I arrive in Mexico. I have researched the average wages in Mexico. I pluralised ‘wages’ because there are actually many different types. Geographically (for example), the average wage in Mexico changes depending on whether you live in a Zone A (city), Zone B (suburban) or Zone C (rural) area. People working in Zone A receive the highest minimum wage which affects most salaries because people are often paid in multiples of the minimum wage.

According to my research the original pay they’ve offered, although very generous, is not quite enough to live off. This leaves the extremely uncomfortable position of asking for more money despite not yet starting work. A position I’ve zero experience in.

What I was hoping my wonderfully brilliant friends is that you could help increase funding for our current expedition by providing some advice. How is the best way to ask for more money given this tricky position? I implore you to impart some words of wisdom at the bottom of this page (please leave a comment) because I know any words coming from you would indeed be wise!

It would be almost worst-case-scenario to miss this opportunity because of a perceived salary difference.

However, worst-case-scenario; is to get there and not have enough financial support while working – forcing all bonus travel money to be spent on simply existing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s clear that some pay-the-way will be necessary but losing money every month before basic needs are covered will make the adventure noticeably more difficult.

Please help!

Love

Categorized in The opportunity
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Babe wake up! I got news

December 16, 2011 - Leave a Response

Let me preface this by telling you I wrote it at 5:45am.

Have I told you your face is beautiful to wake up to? It is.

No that’s not why I woke you up. I want to tell you how my interview went! Babe, just wipe the sleep from your eye, there, yep you got it. Well, my beautiful, it went – drum roll please – sensationally. It seems like this opportunity that has been afforded to me is on track to come to fruition. In other words, this could actually freaking work!

The Skype conversation touched on what the business does, my role in the team for next year, the experience of living in the city and the safety of the area. The last count will probably interest you the most. The city is located in the most dangerous state of Mexico. Drug cartels have been fighting there for four year and have only recently been kicked out (in a two year bloody conflict) by the armed forces. Perhaps a smarter person (like you) would consider this a deterrent, not me. I have filed that information away in my brain under the section ‘adding to the adventure.’

Genuine fear, when I wake up at 5am and had my first ever interview with my potential new employer (wearinshi, blazer, trackies and no shoes) and she is talking about drug cartels and military offensives – got the sleep out of my eye, I’ll tell you that for free.

I’m sorry beautiful, of course you can go back to sleep. I just had to tell someone.

Love

Categorized in The opportunity
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You’re not going to effing believe this

December 11, 2011 - Leave a Response

Our project is taking shape!

Remember how I asked Pablo to email me with a job offer? He didn’t – no surprises there. Someone else did get in contact with me over the interwebs tho. She lives in Mexico and she wants to Skype about the possibility of an internship!

How unbelievably freaking mental is that! This is the most excited I’ve been in three years!

I’ve spent the day on cloud nine – I can’t believe someone got in contact with me and may actually have an offer.

How it came about: a friend of mine has a mate working and living in Mexico. Sound familiar? I showed my friend this blog. I can’t vouch for how the next part went down because I wasn’t there, but I assume she opened my blog – saw how serious I was about this ‘working and living in Latin America’ thing – and skyped her friend.

I got a message telling me to add her friend on facebook and ask her about an internship – which I did. Now we are trying to organise a time we can both sit down on skype and talk about the possibility of interning at the company where she works! There’s talk of starting very early in the new year!

I’ll say it again; how unbelievably freaking mental is that! I’m sooo happy. Even if this particular internship doesn’t work out– at least it shows the process is working. Let enough people know about what you are trying to do and eventually you’ll meet someone with the means and motivation to help.

From the beginning I said myspanishsmileproject would document our adventure to Latin America, the failures, the tribulations and the occasional wins. This week’s blog is out first example of the latter. We are winning! Great work us and thank you in particular. We wouldn’t have this potential opportunity without the work of you.

You are my everything.

¡Tu eres impresionante! = You are awesome!

Love

P.S if you want to find out how our Skype interview goes and if we may be on our way to sunnier shores click the ‘follow’ button on the bottom right of screen. I post a blog every Wednesday –except for this week – sorry this was late.

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