Sunday, September 18, 2016

Couchsurfing, San Francisco and an epiphany about Self

14/9 - One life chapter is slowly but surely coming to an end, while another begins. One passion has been extinguished, but a new one has been given life and is growing. While it was a mistake to return to Porterville, it certainly wasn't a waste of time. I'm constantly learning new things, both about the world and about myself.

One such method for this is through Couchsurfing. Over the past two nights I have hosted two sets of people. The first was Isabelle and Bruno, a married French couple in their late 50s. They're a pair or cyclists who have ridden through 55 countries and 75,000 miles since 2006. Both are weather-beaten and dark skinned, with their feet showcasing deep tan lines from their sandals while on the bikes. Bruno, a thin man who is shorter than I am, has long, gray hair which reaches down to below his shoulders. He wore short running shorts and a sleeveless shirt when I opened the door, and his glasses are unlike any I've seen before because the lenses are big enough to cover his eye sockets; they reminded me of Harry Potter's glasses.

Both Bruno and Isabelle have strong French accents and give off a strong hippy vibe, but they were a pleasure to talk to. They made coffee for me in the morning, and I shared some of the jam some of the other French Couchsurfers left me.

Last night I hosted Alex, a Russian who lives in Las Vegas. This was his first CS experience and highly enjoyed it. As he walked out of the door this morning to leave he said he felt like he had stayed much longer and knew us for a long time. He was a very talkative man, which I certainly appreciate. He was the perfect CS guest, one who understands the "spirit" of CS. He shared lots of his stories, such as helping organizing the ski and snowboard events for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and he cooked breakfast, cleaned the dishes and brought me a six-pack of beer, even though he doesn't drink. Hopefully I cross paths with him again.

By hosting such random travelers, you can see how different everyone's story is. Everyone is doing something different, has a different background. Everyone, no matter where they're from, has something to offer and something meaningful to say.

As for the French visa application, the only hurdle left is to buy a return shipping label so the consulate can return my passport to me. The appointment is one Friday, and it feels like that appointment in time has been building up for more than a month. It has been a point which has been growing larger and larger on the horizon, something I've known is coming for a long time. So I'm looking forward to the drive into Daly City and then the BART ride into the city.

18/9 - Over the past week, I've come to the conclusion that I need to correct several personal flaws, some of which won't be easy. I'm highly undisciplined, I lack self-control, I'm not patient, I'm cynical and the way I carry and present myself to other people has to change. I must change the way I treat people, especially those who are older, much more experienced and clever than I am and who are willing and eager to pass off their knowledge to me. Over the past couple of years, I've become a disrespectful, trolling, sarcastic, selfish asshole. I've moved away from and forgotten the simple concept of respect. I haven't used the words "Sir" or "Ma'am" in a while, or even use "Mr." or Mrs." I really do dislike what I've become. So, I'll make sure Monday ends on a high note with the newspaper, and the year in France will be treated as an opportunity to look myself in the mirror in an effort to correct these issues. I will focus on finding ways to make myself a better, more respectful, and more disciplined, human being.

Anyway, I made it to the French Consulate in San Francisco after waiting for more than a month on Friday. I paid my fee for the visa and gave them fingerprints. They also still have my passport. But there is a hangup regarding specifics about my pay with Bleacher Report. The consulate wants to know whether I can support myself with that job, so I need to return next week with that information from B/R.

The most convenient thing about this snag was the fact I was able to walk exactly one block away from the French Consulate and enter the Bleacher Report office to get the necessary email and phone numbers for me to correct this issue and get the ball rolling.

San Francisco itself is an amazing city. I made sure to wear a sportcoat to the Consulate, and I felt I belonged. This was one of my first attempts to better myself, as I made an effort to dress myself in order to look presentable while not only at the Consulate, but in public. It made me feel great!

 

But since the city is so expensive, I chose to take care of my business there and then get on BART back to Daly City where I parked. The rest of the day on Friday was spent with a couple of friends in Pacifica eating Mexican and Thai food. It was during dinner when I caught myself being disrespectful towards my friends. As I was giving them a bad time, I found myself wondering why I kept going! No one was offended (as evidenced from all of the laughter), but I sent a note of apology later.



I took a seat on a boulder on the beach in Pacifica Saturday morning after my buddy left for work. It was here where I focused on how the waves broke along the shoreline, following the top of the water eventually tumble over itself which creates that roar of rushing water. It was relaxing, but also enlightening. As I breathed in the clean, fresh, ocean air, I was inspired, finally, to really change. Life is all about treating people as people first and foremost, carrying yourself well and, most importantly, respect.

My short time in the Bay Area was an invaluable one because motivation has been ignited within myself once again. I'll use that motivation to better myself over the next 10 months to a year, and it's an exciting thought. If all goes well, France will help me go through an evolution into someone much more likable, more disciplined and one who understands how people really should be treated.

Until next time.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Couchsurfers, swimming and Needles Lookout

27/8 - I'm officially in another transition phase of my life. I'm physically still here in Porterville, but my mind and heart have been long gone and can be found elsewhere, far away.

My time at the newspaper is coming to a close, as Sept. 19 will be my final day. I also registered for the Foreign Services Officer test, which will be Oct. 3 in Sacramento. And of course, I will apply for the French visa in San Francisco on Sept. 16. Luckily, Marie-Amance gave me everything I need from her for that process.

Like during my final two weeks in England, I'm thinking ahead. I know my time here in Porterville is closing out, and it's a little bittersweet. While I will say it was a mistake to return to the Valley, I will never say it was a waste of time. My time in Porterville has definitely been productive, and I have grown as a person. Like that dead-of-night thunderstorm over the Isle of Wight a year ago, I feel like the past year is already fading away into a memory. But since there is no weather here besides heat, a more appropriate comparison would be the cloud of smoke from a wildfire slowly disappearing throughout a week.

28/8 - I hosted Evgeny via Couchsurfing last night. He is bald with a beard, and his accent is thick. He lives in Los Angeles but is originally from Moscow, Russia. He's been in California for the past four months and said everything is much different to Russia, including how many oranges there are compared to apples. It's funny how a traveler makes you appreciate things in the states more, like driving habits here. Apparently people drive much safer here compared to Moscow, and the traffic in LA is better than Moscow. Ok then!

I only hosted him for one night. This morning Evgeny was back on his motorcycle on his way to Sequoia National Park, Yosemite and eventually Burning Man. I'm glad I had the chance to give him some advice as to where to go and what to see; after all, I'm a traveler helping a fellow traveler. I'm also happy to be his first Couchsurfing host.

One more aspect of my life that is going through a transformation is the fact I joined a health club which houses an indoor swimming pool. It's time to treat my body right and get fit again. Swimming as a workout is tough! It's easier on your body in terms of impact, but there's the fact you can't breathe freely like you can when running. I feel it's more fun than running as well.

One other benefit of the gym is the fact it's the perfect release of frustration that builds up as a result of living in Porterville and the Central Valley...

1/9 - The flight to Paris is booked for Oct. 17. There are only a few more things I need for the visa application and then I'm ready to head off to San Francisco in a couple of weeks for the appointment at the French consulate. I still need travel insurance and a couple of application forms. I got passport photos taken a couple of days ago, but they look more like mugshots.

7/9 - I've had a pair of French couples Couchsurf with me over the past three days. While it was a pleasure to host Emma and her husband because we exchanged stories discussed language and they helped me with my French pronunciation, Cieline and her friend arrived late at night and were shy. It wasn't nearly as fun talking to Cieline and her friend because they were so shy and quiet, whereas Emma and Antoine were outgoing and talkative. They also brought homemade crepes and jams and shared them.

Both couples were around my age and were traveling through the Sequoia National Park, Yosemite and around California. I'm happy to give a little bit of advice to travelers regarding what to do around here.

As for my own hiking adventures, I went to Needles Lookout this past weekend in the Sequoia National Forest. It was a short hike (4.5 miles) but it was at high elevation, above 7,000 feet. The draw of this hike was the fire lookout perched precariously on a tall group of rock spires which provides an awe-inspiring view of the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, the lookout burned down some years ago but the stairwell up to the concrete base still remains. There is a gate which blocks the stairwell, but it's not locked. So, while carefully climbing the steps, I opened the gate and proceeded to the top.

The walkway felt sturdy for the most part, but it had that rust color on the metal, and I felt a small amount of vertigo at the very top, as if I'd lose my balance based on the sheer drop on either side of me.

 

With all of the swimming and hiking I'm doing, I feel refreshed. It's a throwback to when I was in Spain and Finland, because of the fact I'm using a sauna several times a week as well. I feel better, I have more energy, hikes are easier and I can swim farther. I also look better! So, here's to the transition phase of my life.