Final Thoughts of the Jungle Chapter
Trip Start
Jan 06, 2008
1
7
Trip End
May 25, 2008
General, Wisconsin
Monday, July 21, 2008
large portion of the remainder of my trip was not noted, but not lost in translation...
Early April, my computer crashed, I lost my cell phone and I lost any formal communication I had with the good old United States. Things were happening, I was finally hooked up at the clubs, my crew was larger and life in Barcelona city was officially home. April 18th my father came into the Jungle. After a purchase of a new, smaller wallet and a newfound habitual placement of where he put his wallet he was ready to go. Minus the time his wallet ended up on the floor of Barcelona's metro only to be relinquished by a random young fellow, if that was my luck that wallet would be at best in the hands of NASA ready for take off- itd be so stolen but the big guy got lucky, I told him that the moment your not on you're A-game out here in the Jungle, that's when you become subject to the laws of Darwinism... meaning if your not smart out here, you will get fucked...sorry and sad but true.
Meanwhile, I'm finishing up my finals which was about as difficult as crossing the US borders. The plan was to spend a few days in the Jungle and then continue our adventure to Amsterdam onto Paris for a business meeting. BUT, during my last night with my friends in Barcelona, the Jungle got me, she got my cell phone... I figured no big deal until I got back from those trips with my Dad only to acquire 2 days of downtime. And when I say downtime I mean nothing to do, nobody to see and nowhere to go. Plus, no technology. I was at 1 with myself as I wait 2 full days for my plane to take off back to the US after my dad left the 30th of April. May 2nd couldn't come soon enough, all my friends were either traveling or back in the US, my American phone is now gone, so it was just my I-pod and I taking Barcelona by the horns. Just in case your technologically uninformed, the I-pod is a one minute man, a pre-mature peter-- the damn thing has like 2 hours of entertainment time, less if watching a video. So then there was one, goood old Jage, young and restless but ready for activity. So the first night I go and walk around my territory. I stop at Bar International and order a tall San Miguel- I am no lush but give me a break. Two older American men were talking and I sort of included myself in their conversation. I actually completely and utterly bombarded their conversation, but what the hell else was I suppose to do? Turns out they were annuity agents and we started talking business as usual. They were on an agent trip in the nicest hotel in Barcelona, they lost all of the luggage they initially checked as I related to that upon my arrival to Barca...
Europe..oh...Europe, so pure but so stained, so layed back but so inneficient and finally so clean but oh so g-d damn smelly. Anywho 25 mins into our Convo, they started asking where the barca hot spots are, I tell them and offer to show these 40 year olds a younger side of Barca. I go to there 1200 Euro per night hotel room with them while they freshen up, all comped and inclusive by Metlife. The best hotel I've ever seen really. I'm pretty sure I initially felt weird about going back to their hotel considering they were strangers, not my age and balding but my intuition did not raise any red flags and what was the worst that could have happened? They murder a 21 year old and take his I-pod, I was desperate and willing to take that risk. Kidding but seriously I knew these guys were harmless. We get into this packed club called opium, it was walking distance from the hotel but they only made it till' 3 am... Amateurs...kidding but I ended up findind some promoters I know and it was a good night.
Here's my point, this entire incredible opportunity of studying in Spain has taught me a lot. First, adapting and optimizing your situation no matter how far out of your comfort level you are in. From Morocco to the last lone soldier in the Jungle, I can now put my self in any situation and enforce a positive and strong outcome. Feels good to know that I'm ready to be fed to the wolves and more than able to handle it. Second, relationships with people, whether its business to women to your boys, honesty is the best policy. Lies dictate how strong a relationship is. I came to Barca not necessarily knowing that. But as long as I do the right thing even when no one is looking, I am fulfilling my morals while not compromising my dignity. Lastly, I learned to never settle for anything or anyone. The only entity I ultimately have complete control over is myself, all I can do is better myself everyday, every situation and every second. I came to Barca as a tiger shark and I left Barca a Great White shark. I am a shark that is a go-getter on all accounts, never will I settle or depreciate myself no matter what because afterall that's all I can really control...
Now that you all think I'm as cheesey as Junior High motivational speaker, that's the values I have instilled. As I wrap this up I think to myself the Barcelona chapter ended, but really with the values and maturity I have these days, this is not a simple ending to the Barca chapter, its more like the beginning of a new chapter, ladies, gentlemen, fam, friends and randoms... Its a whole new book.
TRACK OF THE WEEK- LET THE BEAT BUILD- WEEZY
MORE shit to come....
