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.