What's Up Doc
I’m back in Valencia after a couple days visiting Andrew in Seattle. It’s been so long since I’ve written but I think writing these memories down help me remember them far more vividly so here I am once more. Also love the idea of keeping my streak going. I think occasionally of this sardine blog (https://mouth-full-of-sardines.blogspot.com/) and how the writer’s managed to keep it up since 2014 (although he seems to have last written in December 2024… a bit concerning). Hopefully I can keep this blog updated until I die.
I don’t remember exactly where I left off, but since the last post I’ve
Sprained my ankle
… and was somewhat depressed living at home for about a month. Between being stuck inside most of the time, staying home alone while Mom and Dad went to work, adjusting to California, and missing my friends—this was not a happy period in my life.
VIsited Vietnam
And loved it. After my month of depression, this was a good reminder that there was a lot to enjoy in life. I remember feeling pretty angsty (and frustrated and kind of angry and butting heads with almost everyone) during this time but also remember feeling excitement again.
There were a couple incidents (kind of a strong word) where I felt strongly out of my element but tried to question / understand why I felt so narrow-minded (also a strong word) in these situations. I know it’s so vague but I’m pretty sure I’ll remember when I read back. Anyways, I walked away wondering why I had held such a narrow, tight view on life. Why hadn’t I been more open-minded?
Left NYC and visited again
Right after Vietnam, I went back for core week. Packed a lot of events. Primarily remember going to Millie’s birthday and ending up at a warehouse rave in LIC. Met up with some work friends—Jess, Mansoor, Evan. Met up with my teammates for the first time and actually had an unexpectedly great time. I also invited a ton of people to go to karaoke and we ended up at Maru afterwards. Pretty fun overall.
Took some Buhsut
Genuinely a trip. I read How to Change Your Mind in Vietnam and also had heard some rave reviews (esp from Mansoor — “I met God”). I originally wanted to try it with Mansoor but ended up doing it at Harry’s apartment while he babysat.
I took a bit and then some more thinking the dosage was too low but eventually everything hit at once. I felt so light. I poured my heart out like I had rarely done before. I marveled at the world and all of its miracles and tragedies. I felt like such a burden had been lifted. I lightly hallucinated—the walls were moving.
I wrote some notes towards the end. I don’t remember verbatim but something about understanding that at the end of the day I was just a simple love monkey. We made life so complicated but at the end of the day that was all we could offer and all that mattered.
Part of me is skeptical—did I feel that way just because I’d been primed to expect that (from Mansoor, from the book?). Part of me is happy I got to experience that. I’m not eager to jump back into that experience but it felt like I knocked a few pieces into their right places. I was able to cut through a lot of bullshit and walls I’d put up and felt emotionally free.
Lived out of Buenos Aires for a month
I’d wanted to live abroad for a short period and this kinda scratched that itch. Harry pushed me to pull the trigger right before I left for NYC.
My feelings are mixed. Luckily, I met a bunch of people.
Emin
Perpetually womanizing Christian German guy who I still hold respect for due to how disciplined he is
Was working pretty hard on a Christian themed app blocker app. Had also run a couple businesses before. Leaning hard into the digital nomad life.
Peter
Korean guy living out of Argentina who I ran into at a Mundo Lingo language exchange at a bar.
Is an accountant and funnily almost every convo he had with either me or a new friend eventually revolved around money—living expenses, salary, etc.
Was very kind to me. Showed me around a bunch. Took me to an “underground” money exchange place where you’d bring USD and walk away with a fat stack of Argentinian Pesos.
I came at a weird time where everything shot up in price. It wasn’t as expensive as NYC but definitely more than I expected.
Abbey
Pretty Australian girl that I met at a Timeleft. Had just broken up with her boyfriend of multiple years and seemed to be finding herself through her travels. Also seemed very into mindfulness
Ben
Also met at Timeleft. Australian studying at a pastry school in BA. Chill, nice Australian guy.
Kris
Expat who’d been living in Colombia. We met at my apt’s sauna. He actually convinced me to look more into crypto / bitcoin and because of him and the different resources he sent, I decided to start buying some.
Jordan
Half japanese / half white guy who I met at a different Timeleft dinner. Was very chill and kind of goofy. I hung out with him and his brother a couple times and he always had a happy-go-lucky vibe. Also from LA.
In terms of an actual city, BA was good but not great. I wish there had been slightly more Asian people. There was never any overt racism but I heard differing accounts on how much racism occurred in the city. I never felt ostracized but also not super integrated into the society. I met an Argentinian woman at a dinner who was actually very forthcoming about her own racial biases as well as the general biases in culture.
The meat was amazing (but you kind of get tired of eating meat so often).
Another notable cultural difference was the daily schedule. People regularly ate around 9pm and would stay out until 4/5am. Things wouldn’t open too early. Lots of boliches (clubs. I went to one and it was ok…)
Dating culture was also weird. I heard differing accounts but the general story I heard—men used to be super aggressive (overly aggressive) but there was a big MeToo movement so they became significantly more timid but because of that women had to be more aggressive in the dating scene. And everyone was constantly hooking up. Hook up culture was very top of mind. Another friend (Trini) mentioned that one of her friends was in a grieving process due to his dad dying but he still felt obligated(?) to keep hooking up because he felt awkward/fomo if he stopped. Not sure how true this is because I told some other Argentinians and they were adamant that it wasn’t that bad…
Don’t think I’d have a reason to go back soon but there were other parts of Argentina that seemed cool. Like Iguazu falls and Ushuaia.
And though I didn’t feel particularly integrated into the society there, the Argentinians I met and talked to were actually very friendly.
Officially moved over to California
In recent weeks, I’ve been trying to be more active. To that end, I started acting classes again! And though it wasn’t easy (two 5 hour sessions every week going from 6-11pm), it was pretty rewarding.
The class was a reminder in letting go. Not trying to control everything. Learning how to trust yourself and trust the outcomes. A reminder that sometimes judgement and putting up walls is also a form of trying to control the outcome, but often time that does nothing.
I also bought a new car! Ioniq 5. Love it so far.
Started and stopped taking trumpet lessons because it was tooooooo hard and I was tooooooo busy.
Visited Andrew + friends in Seattle
This past week I visited Andrew and others in Seattle. Stayed in Andrew’s big ass house (3 beds all to himself).
Explored Capitol Hill (just ok). Had chowder at pike place chowder (good but salty).
Hung out with Jessie. Pizza at My Friend Derek’s (guilty pleasure really tasty). Walked around Green Lake after
Explore Bainbridge Island and some of the towns around there (Poulsbo). Got AYCE sushi at Sumo Buffet and that was unexpectedly great. Went to Round 1 after
Went clam + oyster harvesting. Cooked them all and it was delicious
Saw Vidush for the first time in years. Ballard Seafood fest + pickleball.
Well, good catch up. Maybe pictures to come but that’s it for now. Tired and have to work early tmrw. Pretty happy with life lately and excited for what’s to come.