Post 8: part 2

Well.. what a week :)

In order to fly to Sint Maarten I had to go back up North. Skyler was a friend of Zizi's and lived in Baltimore. She agreed on hosting me for 2 nights since I had to catch my plane in Baltimore that Saturday. Boy what a great time I spent with that girl and her family. It was like a family reunion and we didn't see each other for 10 years. She showed me around, took me for breakfast, we had a local beer and at night I cooked dinner for her mom and sister (Skyler had to work). Haha what a woman! :D she was born and raised in the US but had Italian roots.. hahah man, from the second I got in a car with her there was no doubt you was Italian! The typical driving, swearing and yelling at everyone.. haha what an experience that was!

At 6 in the morning Skyler was so kind to drop me off at the airport. Ready for my new plan. Happy, a little scared but in a good way and hoping everything would go as planned. It didn't :). From the moment I set foot in Sint Maarten I knew something was wrong. I had Internet and called the guy (Maca, the friend of my friend) but he didn't pick up. After a while he replied by saying that he was too far out and couldn't pick me up (you literally cross the island in 30 minutes but anyways). I did not have money for a hotel so was pretty pissed and realised I had nowhere to go.

I calmed down and started thinking about my options. I started talking to this girl and explained my situation. She was Columbian, illegal on the island but decided to help me out. Then all of a sudden Maca texted me again and said he found a friend to come get me. Eventually he did, we went to a friend of his and told me not to have found  a house for me yet and that I could sleep with this guy for 1 night. Ok no problem. We all went out for a drink after, Maca left, and one of his friends started complaining. He said whatever the lady brings for drinks, you're gonna pay. I said no! Why would I do that.. well, he replied, you come to this island without warning us, wanting to stay here for free and without any money. It clicked.. that's why he couldn't give me an address or anything, he just didn't have one...

I explained the situation to his friend, he told me Maca did not even have a job himself so how in the hell would he be able to find me one.. man.. what a feeling :P. I could stay with him for 1 night and from there on I was on my own, said. The next day I called Maca, asked him what was going on and he said we would meet up at noon. Fine! I asked his friend to drop me off at the beach. I knew there had to be hotels with Wifi so I could start looking for solutions. I had to find a job and a place to stay so what better way for me then starting in a hotel! Doing what I do best. I refused to give up!

I explained the receptionist what happened and she felt sorry. She started calling a bunch of people, just wauw, but nobody wanted to take the risk of employing me since I did not have a permit. After a few hours the maintenance guy (Pablo) took me apart and said: I know how you feel. I was in the same situation with no money and no connections. It's a world with a lot a crazy people and therefore would like to hear your story and will decide to help you or not. This man. Boy.. a heart of gold does not even cover it. He took me in, gave me food and promised me "we" are gonna find you a job ;).

He kept his word. The next day he gave me some nice clothes and a watch, "cause you have to look professional my man", and drove me to every restaurant along the beach. Ending up with 3 interviews. He explained that the reason for that was because I was white. If he would even try and do the same before even opening his mouth, people would look at him like dude what are you doing here, just because of his color (he is from the Dominican Republic).. Incredible really.. oh yeah by the way, still hadn't heard anything from Maca..

Pablo took me all over the island. He worked as a maintenance guy during the day and fixed A/C, fridges, ... at night. I helped him of course and man we had a blast! We laughed our ass off every day..

The interviews did not go as expected and it made me realise there was nothing left for me to do there. I spent half a week there, by now it was already Wednesday and sure I had a lot of fun with Pablo, but I wasn't happy. After all it was my adventurous trip and I didn't want it to continue like this for another month. I checked my ticket and all of sudden the price for adapting the dates was dropped from 250 to 85 dollars. Hmm.. how convenient. Took the opportunity and changed it for that Saturday. So I spent 1 week in total in Sint Maarten, learned a lot of lessons and can now say for sure that living on an island would be nothing for me :). Going back to Fort Lauderdale (Miami) was my next plan. No clue what I was gonna do there.

After a long time texting a bunch of CS to host me I found 1. What a relieve. I lost my goals and I felt like I messed up. It was like my plans where gone. But it was ok. I was going to figure something out. I've always found a solution so no reason to think that now would be any different.

I must admit the last week I felt horrible. I'm not gonna lie about it. But I don't regret it. Man this had taught me a LOT!

New plan! :D haha! I will go to Key West (check it out on Google, it's beautiful) and will see from there. A friend is coming over in December, he decided to join me on my adventure and why not :). My budget is now cut in half to $ 5 dollars a day. But I don't care :) I'll survive!

I am feeling happy, and all of this just made me grow. Haha man what a story I'm gonna tell my kids one day! :D haha! I had 2 options. Feel sorry for myself or suck it up. I choose option 2 and will enjoy every second I have left in the States.  And remember,
because you can,
because you will,
and because you're gonna :)

Thanks for all your support!! Really great to see all your requests for updating my blog.

Wish me luck with a smile! ;)

Greets,
Lenn

Post 7: Plan B - C or D

Well it's been a while :) Thank you all for keep on asking me to update, it's really cool to have followers :D haha!

Well here we go..

I did not take the ride. I thanked Graham for the opportunity but let him go. It took me a while to get to that point I must admit :). Why? Hmm good question. I can't really tell you or give you 1 reason. The only thing I can tell you is that I followed my feeling. Every small detail, hidden in the stupidest things pointed me in the "do not take the ride" direction. Et voila..

So after an exhausting week I felt like taking off.. Zizi (host in Williamsburg) traded her new mountainbike for my Mary Poppins one. This bike did have gears and brakes :D a big improvement. But I didn't.. I didn't want to leave. I was sitting on my bike, ready to go, and got back off. I said "no! I do not want to leave this place yet". I called Zizi to ask whether it would be OK to stay a few more nights. She wanted me to and started smiling :) gave me a nice feeling. These 4 witches (Zizi + friends) are like family. I simply can't discribe it better. I know I am going way to much in detail now but I don't care. This connection, Wauw!

While I was thinking about what I would want to do once I get back to Belgium, I started talking to an old friend I did my internship with. Cassandra guided me in the direction of the Carribian. Her husbands cousin lives there and would be able to get me a job + accommodation.  Great but want to look up more options, was my first feeling.

That same night I went to my first pumpkin cutting party :D haha! I felt as happy like a baby :D at the party my friend introduced me to these great people. I immediately felt a great connection with one of them and am pretty sure it's not the last time we would be talking to each other. Incredibly beautiful human being.

Williamsburg is a town I will never forget. I have learned so much about myself here. Met a lot of wise people and saw the most beautiful sunsets (pictures on FB).

Zizi hooked me up with a friend of hers who had a small job for me. I had to take care of the falling leaves on his lawn. Haha! Easy money.. Steve is a 69 year old guy who took me to a college bar the next night and explained (finally) the rules of American football or at least tried. Frankly, I still don't have a clue what is going on, haha!
But the night was young and we took it to he next level! He started talking about a submarine drink (or whatever you wanna call it). Drop a shot of tequila in your pint of beer and drink it. Man that stuff is strong! Also the first time I had a disgusting jello shot made from blueberry juice and wodka. In fact it was that bad they made me drink 3 :D haha! They said the 2 first ones are bad, the 3rd one is.. Man! Believe me.. worse :D haha!

Very nice evening. Never would have guessed that going to a college club with a 69 year old was that amusing.. you have no clue of what these experienced dogs can teach a young puppy like me :D hahaha! Even my grandma and her gang could never compete with him..

Anyway my friends, I have to tell you something. As Cassandra and I were talking about this opportunity in the Carribian I started getting really excited. I had this urge to "start my life" ever since I saw my 4 witches living together. She had put me in contact with this guy in Saint Martin and he could indeed fix me a job and a house. I would make 50/ day by working in construction, sales, tourism, ... The next day I booked my flight to Saint Martin and this Saturday (14th) I will leave the USA to go check it out. I do not need a visa either which made everything very easy.

Why? Hmm again fair question. Why stopping this and accepting another challenge? Hm again a very good question. Impulsive as I am, I followed the opportunity. It's cheaper to go from the states, if I like it I might apply for a job on another Island in a hotel (I don't know). Just saying that it is a great chance and I really did not want to let it slip away. I will miss this adventure, since it was a lot of fun but I am sure that the fun will continue no matter where I go.

I do not have any security that his guy is trustable. That he actually can give me a job + house. I have his phone number and his word. The only thing I do have and at the same time I need is: trust. I trust my path and have faith in myself. It just all feels so incredibly fantastic! :)

Wish me luck with a smile, have fun, lot's of sex (oops) and talk to you all very soon!

Greets,
Lenn