The Dum Diaries

Reflection Eternal

Analyzing my life, I viewed my surroundings and people to the cause of many problems only to have realized that I was part of the problems I complained about and stirred away from. Living in such a small bubble concerning myself with my past- past relationships, work, resentments, thoughts, views, actions and outlook- shortened my vitality, patience and happiness. In sharing that, I take to heart many but specifically one thing- social responsibility.

I have a duty and responsibility to be the change I want to see. No more quick hustles, no more white lies (to others and to myself), no more bullshit. Aligning action with words and thoughts I wish to see is what I want to live by. It takes courage to do what you want, so I choose not to fear anymore what I wish to accomplish.

Today I take that first step. Walk with me.

What I learned from my travels about myself:
-Social Responsibility
-Live, Love and Laugh no matter who is around me
-No more wasting time
-Siesta everyday no matter how busy I am- 2 hours of nothingness.
-Live 1st, Work 2nd
-Im not going to live in the US much longer
-Not let my past affect my current and future plans and relationships
-Travel every year and not see it as a luxury, but rather as a necessity on learning about others as well as myself.
-Beauty is everywhere around us, we just need to open our eyes
-Slow Down

I traveled the last 3 weeks, and feel very lucky in what I have seen, who I met and what I have experienced. From traveling with a selfless and caring good friend (love you B- couldnt and wouldnt have been able to do it with out you) who I see as a brother, to drinking coffee on Sugar Loaf in Rio overseeing fog walk over the mountains and statue of Christ, to seeing the bullet hole and drug infested favelas, to paragliding with our new and beautiful friend (So Inspiring you are Tina!), to partying to Latin Funk with the coolest couple/hostel neighbors in Lapa, to holding hands and sambing all night with a beautiful Brazillian woman. I can wait to go back.

Thank you Camile and the whole Brazilian crew, Tina (sweetest person I ever met), Kat, Savah, John and Mike (you crazy son), Syl, Kyle, Shanna, Rufus, Alexia and the whole PC team, Sofia, Vicky, Sarah, Yihudeet and your Romanian friend, Adrianna (you crazy girl) and all the amazingly nice people we met along the way. Cant tell you all what it meant, I hope to only return the favor and show you.

As I roamed through South America the past few days- one thing was prevalent every where- public displays of affection. From the mid fifties couple making out in the middle of the sidewalk as they groped each other from the teenie boppers making out at the bus stop. S Americans know how to show their significant other how they feel- no matter where it is. This is something I agree with. We as a people, as americans- waste so much time not showing the ones we love how we feel in public because we think its “inappropriate” or not acceptable. Im not doing that anymore.

Note Taken :)

From the wonderful people, unimaginable city infrastructure brushed with a heavy influence of Spanish and Euro touch, to the unimaginable amount of alcohol abuse that would make Amy Whine house proud, walking out of the club at 7 am and stumbling over to local parks with old and new friends to catch the sunrise, to sipping cafe espressos in cups that could fit in my nephews palm, nibbling on bland empanadas at every cafe next to cafe, to the kindness and generosity of strangers-  this city and country are truly beautiful.

After waking up in the after noon, voices ruffled and head ringing from the night before, me and my persian friend got ready for the day. We strolled through the city- admiring the european influenced infrastructure, story boarded gorgeous parks, public affection of couples that would put the French to shame, and cafes every third shop and empanades in literally every location.

Argentina is a cafe culture. I never saw anyone out and on their cell phones- like how we are in california. people enjoy the day. they enjoy cafe with friends. sit in the park and admire their sourroundings. relax. siesta. no one is ever on a mac or a blackberry. No one is in a rush. We are tought to work and work and work. we are a 9 to 9, pay off debt, live to work society in which ampm coffee at 7 am and a cigerette during our 15 minute break is the highlight of our day before our anal retentive 20 year veteran of a manager gets on your ass for taking an extra 2 minutes to let your feet rest because your health insurance wont cover anything. where did we go wrong (qmark)

So after meeting two Argentines we befriended at the bar- we hopped in their car and headed some place. As the highly intoxicated chubby argentine got behind the wheel and told us to hop in- like the intelligent and logical people we are- we did.

We ended up in a huge wherehouse club party and jumped around for a few hours befriended two wonderful Argentine ladies- vicky and sofia (Ill come back to them later). Spitting game in broken spanglish is a bit difficult. 

We our smoke and sweat infested bodies walked out of the black wherehouse doors, we saw people heading to work on the 6 am bus.

both heavily intoxicated and wired as hell, me and Borna headed back to the apt to call it a day. or night. whatever.

After Dinner, Me and Borna walked down in the direction towards the Cemetary (where all the bars and clubs are) we kind of figured out through internet less GPS via his phone and broken spanglish that would embarrass a Spanglish Professor.

As we arrived in the area, as Borna gave me a tour- as if he had lived here- in a persian accent blended with spanish and English. We had a few Mojitos in the first bar. With a good buzz, we headed to the next bar.

As we walked around, surprisingly not too many people spoke English. The irony of it, the only people that spoke English were the promoters for the strip clubs.

We sat down at some bar, and realized quickly it was a whore house staged as a bar. Filled with women looking at us as if we were 10 year old boys from Penn State, we quickly got out of there.

We headed over to a pretty happening bar where we had Capineras (Brazil popular drink) and befriended to Argentinia guys. They told us to join them bc they were headed to a dope club to party. Because of the horror stories we heard about never joining locals in a country we never had been to before, we of course did.

We hopped into the car with the two-