Reflection

19/9 - Today was my final day with the Recorder. I ended it on a high note by apologizing for my actions and behavior over the past year. Through my reflection I've realized how much of a jerk I've been to some people, and I feel awful. Now is the time to make things right.

I'll move out on Wednesday. This neighborhood has been a great place to live. It's now time to leave. In fact, these final few days kind of feel like my final few days in Poole; it's bittersweet.

20/9 - It turns out I had to make amends with my roommates as well. They had been upset with me because I'm such a messy person who doesn't clean up after himself, and they had been looking forward to my exit before we cleared the air. Tonight we ate dinner together and enjoyed each other's company. Though this isn't an excuse, I could blame the fact I'm an inconsiderate roommate on the fact I'm an only child. I never had to share anything, and I always had my own room. Could it be that I can't read people as well as I think I can because of this?

Today was another day of reflection about myself, as well as making amends to other people I've wronged. As a result I feel much more calm and happier. The year should have turned out differently but it ends on a high note. And the biggest lesson from today is that I need to take all of the mistakes I've made and turn them into lessons to be used later.

23/9 - After reflecting on the interactions I've had with women in the past 6 months, I shocked myself by realizing how much of an ass I've been in almost all of them. How had I not noticed it until now? Several apologies resulted from this revelation; whether I hear a response is up in the air.

24/9 - I visited the French Consulate again on Thursday, but after giving them a letter from my parents, they now want financial information from them as well. It was annoying at first, but how will that help? Let's just get moving and get this new information.

Thankfully, to make up for the consulate disappointment,  all of my stresses vanished with an hour-long ride on a Ducati Monster on Highway 1. I hadn't felt ecstasy and pure, high-inducing joy like that since February on my old Ducati. It was incredible, a ride that left me feeling emotionally drained.

25/9 - With those apologies came positive results, which was quite pleasantly surprising. The ego must be shelved in order to move forward. There's a part of me that is disappointed this whole transformation and enlightenment didn't happen six months ago, but it's happening now for a reason. I have to accept that and embrace it.

With just a couple more days in Porterville, I'm ending this on a high note. It's the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one in which I am more aware of myself and my faults, and what I need to do to fix them. The transition for Europe will also be smoother because I already know what to expect.

Visa process, stolen information and California hiking

27/7 - I failed the test I took in Los Angeles.

The passing mark was 70, and I scored 65. Eleven out of the 26 people who took it passed. I'm not disappointed though, because I do not want to live in Los Angeles.

On to France. I need to visit the French consulate in person to apply for the visa, and it has to be at the one in San Francisco because I live in that jurisdiction. However, I live closer to the one in Los Angeles. My appointment is set for Sept. 16. This was disappointing because I want to get this process over with, and it probably means I won't take the Foreign Services test in Paris. But no worries, because airline tickets are still cheap in October, should I be issued the visa by then.

2/8 - The visa process is painfully complex. I need some 13 items required for the in-person application in San Francisco, including copies of everything. The consulate wants to see two months of bank statements, a promise that I won't engage in commercial activity during my stay (get a French job?), a letter of invitation from Marie-Amance as well as proof of lease agreement, the cost of the visa, some other application forms, my passport and the actual thumb from my right hand, among other things.

So between now and Sept. 16, I'm stuck in limbo. There is plenty for me to do to prepare for both France and the upcoming Foreign Services Officer test, such as learning some basics of French and reading books on the recommended reading list, but all of this is taking away from other aspects of my life. Something needs to give. If I'm not putting in my full attention and effort into something, I should just walk away from it. But, that innate fear of walking away is present. It's a huge commitment to step away, one that takes courage.

As for the FSO test, I cannot register for it until Aug. 23. On one hand, I'm glad I know all of these dates and ahead of everything, but I'm restless. I want to register and see where I take it. I want to get this process started! It could be the beginning of an amazing time in my life.

6/8 - I grew up camping among Redwood trees. I now live close to Giant Sequoia trees. Even though I know the immense size of these trees and enjoy showing them to other people, the sight of them never gets old. Sequoias are like those larger-than-life landmarks found throughout the world that are so immense they look fake. They are as impressive after they fall over because you can see the massive-yet-shallow root system. And when they fall over a trail and crash, it's an amazing scene. Chaotic and messy, yet awe-inspiring and beautiful.

9/8 - It appears I'm the victim of a form of identity fraud. Someone has somehow gotten my debit card information and gone on a spending spree. Luckily, they only spent $80 at a TJMaxx. I have taken care of the situation by notifying the bank and changing my card information. It's a minor inconvenience. However, I'm still annoyed for one simple fact. If you're going to steal card information, at least treat yourself to something nice. Don't go to TJMaxx!

15/8 - In total, someone stole more than $300 from my account. I got the money back, but I no longer have a debit card. This has been a minor inconvenience and something to learn from. From now on I will be wary of gas stations, and I'll definitely use more cash.

I've been going on difficult hikes for the past three weeks. This past weekend Spencer and I went to Los Padres National Forest along Highway 1 and hiked the Salmon Creek Trail. There was a total of 2,400 feet of elevation, most of which was in the first mile. That 8-mile hike was brutal, but beautiful. I find it funny how I loathed hiking as a kid when my parents dragged me along on day trips. I hated it! But now as an adult, I love it. I relish the challenge. They're also beautiful!

Saturday was also my first time in San Luis Obispo. This is the home of Cal Poly, a university several of my high school friends went to. I heard plenty about SLO, but had not been there. On Saturday I found out what all the fuss is about. The weather is cool, there are stores that aren't chains and the woman are drop dead gorgeous! I lost count of how many tall, slender, fit, beautiful women I saw in those few hours, and none of them had four or five children running around everywhere! It was yet another reminder of how shocking it is I still live in Porterville. I'm physically still here; my body can be found in Porterville. But my mind and my heart are long gone in different locations.

It was also another reminder how invigorating it is to not only travel, but to leave the Central Valley, if only for a day. I felt refreshed! What might have been a totally normal day in SLO, was culture shock to Spencer and I. We're not used to eating good food in cool, comfortable weather, appreciating the form and the curves of the female body. Porterville just doesn't have any of that!

Future career prospects, leading up to France and a former Ducati owner

9/7 - This is the twilight of my time in Porterville.

Subconsciously, I'm already planning on living in Cherbourg. I'm keeping my options open by sending out resumes, but the prospect of living in France seems to be the most real idea right now. Along with another career possibility, the way forward is clear. It will cost $110 for a long-stay visa in France (stays more than 90 days).

I want to chase a career as a Foreign Services Officer (FSO) with the State Department. This essentially means being a diplomat who represents the United States all over the world. I watched a video last week about the career, and I was in awe for a full 12 minutes. I saw myself in each of those people, and I very much want to chase that path. I was inspired.

The first step is to register for a FSO test. The next window to take this test is in October, so that gives me three months to study. I took the practice test last week, and with zero preparation I scored a 92; a passing mark was 100. Knowing this made me a bit more confident, but I still want to give myself the best chance possible of passing it.

This all fits in with moving to France as well. During the next testing window, I can take the test in Paris. The move would not interfere with this process, which will be long. The test is the first step, and there are nine in all. It'll be a long road for sure, but the most important thing that matters is that I finally know what I want to do with my life. It's too bad I didn't realize this when I was still in school, but it's better late than never.

17/9 - Goodbye, Ducati.

I sold the Ducati today, finally. While I took a huge hit on it, I still got a good chunk of money that will help with future plans, most notably France. That bike gave me some excellent fun, but it was time to move on. The lesson learned from being a Ducati owner is to do more extensive research on a make and model, including making sure I will be able to afford to maintain it. No regrets! I'll even have another motorcycle video in the next few weeks for you all to feast your eyes upon.

On Wednesday I will make another trek to Los Angeles, this time for a test that could lead to an interview if I pass. This is with the LA Community College District for the Public Information Officer position. I'd like to see where this goes because it's a good career opportunity, but the list of positive reasons to move to France keeps growing. But, if all goes well I will have a choice between Los Angeles and France.

One aspect of France that is so enticing is the fact I'll live by myself for the first time in my life. I have never not had a roommate. Add to that the fact I will live within walking distance of the train station and ferry terminal, and this is something that just seems right. I'm a traveler, and Cherbourg is the perfect base to do that. This is the way forward. It feels right, especially because of the fact I can fly to Paris from Oakland, CA for $265 on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

I have been in a much better mood lately and can tolerate Porterville. In fact I'm looking at the positives about the city again, which is of course the location. There are some good hikes just on the edge of the city and great people here. All of this stems from the fact I can now see a way out of Porterville; I will leave this place soon. Also, there are new people starting at work, so the stressful chapter is likely behind me, likely to be looked back upon and laughed at.

Finally, my parents visited this weekend; it's always great to see them. They even got the chance to see the ranch in Springville and meet Mr. Boo, Spirit and the rest of the cattle and horses that call it home. But most importantly, they brought me a handful of bottles of wine. Cheers!

18/7 - The first day at work knowing one person in particular was gone forever was excellent. The mood in the office was so relaxed and our spirits were higher. It goes to show how much the atmosphere and chemistry of a workplace can be improved by removing a cancer.

Back to England, more Japanese students and issues at Heathrow

15/6 - Hello from London.

There was no feeling of eager, giddy excitement for me while waiting at the gate in LAX. This is just another familiar place; I know it well. London is like my other home. After arriving at Heathrow, taking the tube to Kings Cross and walking to my hostel, I feel completely at home here. I'm comfortable. The accents, the signs, the different language, cars that drive on the left side of the road, the ancient buildings...none of it present the unknown.

I first visited London in 2010 for a month. This is the first international city I visited in my life. While riding the tube from Heathrow, I reflected on the past six years and how my life has shaped up. London has obviously been a heavy influence on my life because I seem to find myself here quite frequently. This city has a special place in my being, and I'm thankful to be here again. In fact, it doesn't even feel like I'm traveling because I know this place too well. London is like that old friend you embrace and interact with as if the two of you never left, but in fact you haven't seen each other for years. I'm happy to be reunited with my old friend.

As for the journey here, there were of course some bumps along the way. My day started with my debit card being flagged down for fraud after I tried to buy a Eurostar ticket (the train that connects London to Paris) before notifying my bank. That meant I couldn't fill my car with fuel before leaving Porterville. I was getting stressed out and eventually had to laugh. No adventure is complete without a snag like that.

After landing at Heathrow, I waited an hour at border security. While talking to the customs agent, she got suspicious of me and retained my passport and made me sit in a small area out of the way with a couple of other people. She was gone with my passport for about 15 minutes. I think she got suspicious when I misunderstood one of her questions. She asked if I had been back to the United Kingdom or Ireland since I left England last September. I said no, not hearing the part about Ireland. That confused her because of the stamp from Ireland in my passport.

I flew with Air New Zealand because that was the cheapest ticket I could find, but it might be my new favorite airline. There were absolutely no issues at any point in the process. Customer service was friendly, the food was surprisingly fresh and tasty and the seats comfortable. To top it off, the airline produced a Men In Black spoof to present the safety spiel at the beginning of the flight. It was so creative it made me smile; no other airline has managed to make me enjoy the safety information video, so credit to Air New Zealand. This is difficult to do because that information becomes so repetitive the more you fly. You eventually know it by heart.

16/6 - I realized today I'm a Londoner. I do not get chills from the sites of Big Ben, Parliament or the London Eye anymore. They are simply features of the city. My friend Chris said this is how people who actually live in the city feel. But despite the lack of a chill down my spine, I'm still very much happy to be in London, a city that holds a special meaning to me. It was also great to stroll the city with Chris for a few hours.

I met my group from Kaichi High School today after arriving at Brunel University. There are seven kids in my group, each with a different level of English. Luckily, the group is more talkative than the one last year. It was also great to see friends from last year's program as well, including Jess, the woman who introduced me to it. I can already see how this year is much more different than last year. This is because I feel more confident and I already know people.

And this year, excuse me for sounding arrogant, but it seems I'm much more interesting just for the simple fact I flew from California to be here. The people who I have told that too were all surprised, and it's great fun to see Japanese students react to that kind of information. Additionally, the photo I sent the program several months ago features the huge beard I used to sport. I've already been told several times it looked great!

17/6 - Tatsuki, Shunsuke, Nono, Arimas, Nazomi, Ryunosuke and Yuma have already warmed up to me, compared to last year when it didn't happen until the second to last day. They all spoiled me on the bus back from Hampton Court today with gifts of food and Japanese soaps, and they are actually talking to me rather than me having to initiate all conversation. It's quite enjoyable.

At Bourton on the Water, all of the kids had an order of fish and chips, complete with tartar sauce and vinegar. I did much of the same as last year, such as taking the kids to that 1/9-size model of the village. We also spent a lot of time searching for a place that was open to serve food before noon. But the best part of the day was Shunsuke, with my encouragement, marching up to a group of local kids, introducing himself, shaking hands and speaking with them. That's how you strengthen your language skills! The kid is a stud (he plays baseball at school).

From left: Arima, Tatsuki, Shunsuke, Ryunosuke, Nozomi, Yuma, Nono, Michael

We also visited Hampton Court today. It's always interesting to stroll the palace and read more about the shenanigans of King Henry VIII and King George I; maybe I'm just getting old...

But typical of England, it rained off and on today interspersed with bright sunlight. I broke out my sunglasses, which inspired Nono and Shunsuke to rock shades as well. My group has already shown some personality!

Tomorrow we'll do group presentations and see a Kyogen, which will be translated into English this year. I'm really looking forward to it!

The 100th post: humility, German Couchsurfers and a brilliant decision

20/4 - This is the 100th post of Adventure Time with Mike.

I've been waiting to write this post, to save it for an epic journey. But I need to keep writing, especially because my next big trip isn't for another month.

To think I've reached 100 posts on here...It's crazy. It started as a way to inform family and friends of how I was doing during my early days in England, but it turned into a fully fledged travel blog. I feel grateful for the advice from others to start a blog because now I can look back, read old posts and feel nostalgic.

This blog has documented a whole year in England and the many adventures of mine throughout Europe. It keeps records of several first-time experiences such as being in a nude photoshoot, playing American football, volunteering far away from home and discovering the unknown joys of meeting total strangers and sleeping on their couch for the night.

It would be fair to say some of my trips and adventures were done with the blog in mind, so I could show others my experiences and hopefully inspire them to do the same, to make their dreams come true as well. In the past year-and-a-half, I've been called a nutter, a real character and incredibly adventurous. I take those as genuine compliments because life just isn't that fun if you're not going to new places, experiencing new things and taking risks. After all, I'm all about collecting memories and fascinating stories.

The definition of an adventure for me has slowly evolved, even since I first arrived in England on Sept. 14, 2014. Then it was going on a trek into an unknown country, far away from home. These days, an adventure can be had right here in Porterville, but I still very much desire to travel far and wide.

With the help of another friend, I recently discovered an application called Geocaching. This is an app that is essentially a map for a huge scavenger hunt. You can find several areas in your own city where a Geocache is hidden, which is like a capsule one can hide in an area and leave notes inside. When another person finds it, they can sign their name, add a note or leave something in it for the next person to find. There are certain hints and directions on the app for finding each cache, and your phone can be used as a compass but it's only accurate to within 30 feet. At that point you're on your own, and that's when you have to really pay attention to everything you see on the ground.

I went to three sites yesterday around Porterville and Strathmore, and I only found one. It was in an alleyway off of Main Street stuck to the side of an electricity meter, but it took me several moments to realize what it actually was. This cache was an old twist cap to a plastic bottle with a magnet on the bottom. It was gray, and it perfectly blended in with the box on which it was stuck. Inside was a couple of little pieces of paper with the names and initials of all of the people who had found it.

These caches can be anything. My friend said she found one in an old chapstick cannister and a bullet casing. This reminds me of portkeys from the world of Harry Potter. I enjoy this because it's the simple pleasure of searching for a tiny trinket and being able to sign your name, though the search can be quite difficult and frustrating. It's cool to be a part of that community.

I've also just finished hosting Monika and Peter through Couchsurfing for two nights. They are from Bavaria in Germany and are traveling through California and Nevada for a couple of weeks. When they left my house, they started their journey towards Death Valley. They took a full day to go around the Sequoia National Park and see some of the things I saw on Sunday, such as Moro Rock. I gave them advice on what they could see on the way to Death Valley, such as Red Rock Canyon State Park.

I cooked them breakfast and was simply a friendly and welcoming host, something the two appreciated. I also told them to pay it forward whenever they have a guest at their place, whenever that may be. It feels good to help fellow travelers during their journey, as other people have done that for me. I guess this blog influenced that.

And speaking of the Sequoia National Park, it was great to explore my own state a little bit more this past weekend. I hiked to the top of Little Baldy and Big Baldy, and climbed the steps of Moro Rock as well. California is such a massive place, and there's no wonder why it's world famous. I should feel lucky to live here and call this state my home. I may call Porterville and the Central Valley a terrible place to live sometimes, but I really am fortunate.

So here's to the 100th post of Adventure Time with Mike (formerly known as American in Bournemouth). The decision to start the blog and fill it with my stories has been life-altering. But I say with hopeful humility that I feel grateful to have had all of these opportunities documented in the previous 99 posts. It didn't turn out quite the way I intended or expected, but this is how life is. I'll just embrace it and roll with it.

Here's to another 100 posts to this blog.

The eve of Chicago, a sunrise and a herd of cattle

22/3 - It has been a few weeks since I last wrote anything for the blog, but there hasn't been a shortage of funny and memorable stories.

These include hiking to the midpoint of a large hill that overlooks Porterville in the evening with the sun setting, and on the way down getting confronted by a herd of cattle just curious about a person in their pasture. But at the time I thought the cows were coming to attack, so you can imagine the adrenaline I felt.

I recently went to the wedding of Sara, one of my drinking buddies, above Springville. The location was on a ranch next to the Tule River and on the base of a large hill, just outside the Sequoia National Forest. She looked very happy to be getting married, and she and Wes skipped away (literally) after being declared husband and wife. Sara was then grateful to spend a couple of minutes with me, someone she's familiar with after meeting countless unknown relatives and friends of Wes' side of the family. I even had the responsibility of working the pinata thrust upon my shoulders.

On Friday after I finished a 5:30 a.m. CrossFit workout, I decided to hike Louis Hill before sunrise. This hill is on the edge of Porterville and just a few miles from my house. It's not a long hike, but it's straight up with no break. On a clear day, one can see the whole Valley, even the mountains that border Bakersfield.

When I reached the top I had about 15 minutes before the sun reached the summit of the mountains to the east. The rays of the approaching sun grew more and more pronounced. And when the sun finally did peak over the mountains, it was like the light of a subway train getting closer and closer to the platform. While getting a look at the day's first golden light, I felt a chill quite unrelated to the cool, gentle breeze on top of the hill. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera with me. This was one of those simple pleasures in life, and it made me giggle to myself because it was such an awesome experience. It's also one of those things we don't see very often, oddly enough, even though it happens every day.

But most importantly, I'm two days away from my trip to Chicago. Suddenly, the prospect of going seems a lot more real now than it did two days ago, but I'm very excited to go. You can't go wrong with traveling!

One of the biggest hurdles for me was figuring out how I'd get to Los Angeles for my flight, which leaves at 11 a.m. on Thursday. There are no buses at that time, and I couldn't find a friend who could watch my car and give me a ride to the airport. It will also cost $56 to park my car at the Hilton LAX for three days. But I solved my own problem this morning.

I will drive to Los Angeles on my own and leave the car with FlightCar, a company that offers me free parking if I list my own car to be rented out by other people during my trip. If it gets rented, I will get paid around $70, the car will be washed and its oil changed. The idea of someone else driving my car sounded blasphemous at first, but it seems like a good deal. It sounds cheap, stress-free and profitable on my part, so I'm going to give that a try.

23/3 - It's the eve of my trip to Chicago, and I'm getting excited again. That anxious, giddy feeling of embarking on a trip to a new place is in full effect, and I've been rushing around getting things prepared. The prospect of fresh travel has given me a burst of purpose.

This morning I hiked to the top of Louis Hill again, but this time with a GoPro camera. I made it up the hill in great time, only stopping once, but the sun rose over the mountains to the east before I had gotten to the very top. I did get video footage of it, and it was beautiful. It was a great way to wake up and start the day. I was disappointed, however, that the full moon had disappeared completely into the west before I had a chance to capture it on film. I will just have to wake up earlier in a month.

So ask yourself: When was the last time you watched a sunrise?

Finally, a shoutout to Sara, my drinking buddy who got married over the weekend. As a wedding gift, she and her husband were given flights to Lucern, Switzerland. Since she has never seriously been out of the state of California, this will be the biggest adventure of her life. I am stoked for her! While we had a drink yesterday, she had that cute, childlike grin on her face; I could tell she was bursting with excitement. I'm excited for her because she'll get to do something she wanted to do in the first place: travel. And Lucern is in an incredible area. It's a city that borders a lake which is surrounded by the Swiss Alps. 

Couchsurfing, inspired drinking and self-examination

15/2 - Friday was yet another chapter in my Couchsurfing story. I hosted Jan, a German traveling through California Friday night after I got off work. He's just like me in that he doesn't plan where he's going to stay long in advance; he figures it out when the time comes.

I hosted him on just a few hours of notice, so before I went home I picked up some beer to share with him. As a traveler myself, I understand how it feels not being able to find a place to sleep for the night. That's why I hosted him, as a fellow traveler and human being. If not for me, he would have slept in his car. The time he was there we just had a few beers and traded travel stories, and I gave him a sleeping bag, pillows and blankets and he slept next to the electric fireplace.

The best thing about it was the fact he was grateful for my hosting him on such short notice. The encounter wasn't long at all, but it still feels great to meet new people and help a fellow human.

My weekend, while not as epic and memorable as the previous one, wasn't bad at all. I rode the Ducati up to Springville, but the smog and haze was so bad it dampened the ride a bit. Considering that, it was great to drive north to Sacramento and out of the smog. It was there in midtown Sacramento where I discovered a German beer garden and met up with my coworker and his girlfriend. It was the first time we had properly hung out outside of work and had a few drinks. It's great to have someone there who's my age.

Continuing my exploration of California, my family and I hiked Rockville Hill in Fairfield on Sunday. Dad and I both used GoPros on our foreheads, and we hiked about five miles. It was fantastic to be outside in the warmth and clear air. It's not often it's as clear as that was in the Central Valley.

Finally, I did some day drinking with an old friend of mine in Davis before making the trek back to Porterville. It was here where I did my best to inspire my friend to do something big with his life, such as travel, to get out of his funk that has bogged him down since he broke up with his girlfriend. He's been very cynical of everything lately, so I told him to shut the f**k up, stop thinking about everything that could go wrong and just do it. Sometimes, inspiration comes in the form of flat-out bluntness.

22/2 - Life in Porterville these days has been enjoyable because I'm spending a lot of time analyzing why I am the way I am. I'm trying to figure out what I really want, both from a woman and with life, and it has been enlightening. This examination of myself has made me more self-confident, and I've noticed I have been sticking up for myself more. Maybe this is just all part of maturing, but I like where it's going.

My latest adventure was a short-and-sweet trek to Lower Coffee Camp in the Sequoia National Forest. There I messed around on the edge of the Tule River with a GoPro on my forehead, scrambling over granite boulders and slowly navigating the brush beside the river. The best part was finding a comfortable spot on top of some granite and lying down on the opposite end of a waterfall that spilled into a large pool. It was there I faced the sky, focused on my breathing while listening to the rush of water and let the time melt away, with everything turned off and me being disconnected, if only for an hour or two.

A new GoPro, library card and future travel plans

25/1 - I need to thank my parents for gifting me the ultimate sidekick to adventure: a GoPro camera.

Today was the first day I took it out and tested it. There's a large hill on the northeast part of Porterville where cell towers are located. It's tall enough to overlook the whole Valley and show parts of the mountains, so I stuck the GoPro to my forehead, hiked, took some video and snapped some pictures.

Just like over the summer on the motorcycle trip, using the GoPro was a blast. While playing around with it, I learned I could download the app on my iPhone and control the camera from there and look at the pictures and videos on the screen using the wifi signal. It's a trip to do that and the angle of the camera lens was especially cool.

The last time I hiked this hill in 2014, it and the surrounding area was brown from the drought. This time, it was a deep, luscious green will tall, healthy grass. It's beautiful! I had never seen this area so green before the rains came. Thank you, El Nino.

The future is filling up with travel plans again. At the end of March there are zero sports in Porterville for about four days. I see that as a perfect opportunity to go somewhere I've never been to in the United States. And right now, I'm most interested in visiting Chicago because of the many opportunities to engage in art and culture, eat some great food and visit some famous stadiums such as Soldier Field and Wrigley field. It'll also be another opportunity to Couchsurf.

In May, I'll visit my 17th country: Mexico. I have a friend who will meet me in Mexico City and drive me to his family's home in Tampico, a beach town on the east coast. He informed his family and they're totally cool with it. In fact, it sounds like his family welcomes his visiting friends with open arms. So spending my birthday on a Mexican beach and using Spanish for a week sounds damn good to me. The dates are finalized, but I have not bought a ticket yet.

I have nothing in the works for June, but I received an email from Kaichi High School in Japan today, inviting me to work with their students for a week in London again. Luckily, this happens late in June when there are few sports happening in Porterville, so getting time off should't be a problem.

And of course, my paid vacation begins in the middle of September. While that's the middle of football season, I'll still take time off to go visit friends in Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. Either that, or go visit a friend in Taiwan or Japan. The possibilities are endless here as there are so many places to visit and not enough time.

Before living in England, I never thought of seeking out opportunities for short traveling adventures. My mindset has shifted; looking for opportunities and small blocks of time to travel has now become regular practice. Probably the best thing about 2015 is how I now have a reason to go abroad every year, like to speak English with Japanese high school kids in London.

I like this new lifestyle that will plague me forever.

On a more mundane note, I have a library card for the first time in many, many years. I'm using the resources in the Porterville Library to study for the ASVAB, the test on which I need to score highly for the Coast Guard application.

On the eve of Ireland and a different perception of Porterville

16/12 - My new adventure has taken shape incredibly quickly.

In the time span of less than a week, I've changed my flight and found a host in Ireland through WorkAway. It turns out you're not allowed to stay in your layover country and get back on the plane on its return trip through that country, so I changed my flight to just be a round trip to Dublin. I was this close  to visiting Kenya, but it wasn't in the stars.

If I'm honest, I was a little bit surprised I wasn't more disappointed about that adventure falling through and how fast I was able to change my plans. Kenya and Ireland probably couldn't be more different; Kenya is hot right now, while Ireland is seeing rain for days on end. The No. 1 key to this whole situation is staying positive and seeing the silver lining in that there's another opportunity there; I just had to be a little bit creative and act quickly. In fact, I don't think I've heard of this kind of thing happening to anyone else. As far as I know, this is unique.

During my time in Ireland, I'll work on a farm that raises large animals such as sheep, goats, pigs, horses and cows. The mother and daughter that run the farm have nothing but positive reviews on their WorkAway page, and there is a picture of them milking some of the animals by hand. I've wanted to learn how to do that for years now. Apparently the mother is an amazing cook and the work isn't too stressful, so I'm really looking forward to this trip.

As you all know by now, the draw of traveling for me is meeting new people in their own countries and creating unique stories. I'd much rather go work on this farm than go wander aimlessly through Dublin, staying in hotels and doing the tourist thing. A friend asked me today the simple-yet-complex question of "what makes you happy?" I told her doing things not many others can say they've done and then inspiring others to do the same makes me happy. This is a trip not many others can say they've pulled off. It's been done with the intention of one thing: chasing memories.

19/12 - I'm done with work. My trip to Los Angeles is tomorrow, and I fly to Ireland Monday night. But I'm not quite done in Porterville. My remaining time here for this year has been quite amazing, especially on Saturday. It was filled with meeting fascinating people that have connections to family and a successful date that ended with a kiss, however awkward and screwed up it was. Saturday was one of those truly excellent days, one that puts you on Cloud 9.

But most of all, and perhaps more importantly, Saturday made me enjoy and appreciate Porterville and the Central Valley just a little bit more. That doesn't come from the city itself, but the people. I do like being here, and it's been much better than my first stint.

So I'll get a ride by car to Corcoran, where I'll catch the train to Bakersfield, where I'll ride the bus over the Grapevine and into Los Angeles, where my friend will give me a ride by car to LAX, where I'll fly to Ireland. So before I travel, I'll travel. Here's to cramming one more adventure into 2015 and visiting my 16th country of the year. Just like old times, expect a few more blogs documenting Ireland.