I'm blogging today from George Bush International Airport as I await my final trip home to Tulsa! This is the first of several postings that I will attempt to recreate my thoughts from my recent trip. This is more of a "summary" posting, with more details, pics to come later.
Neuvos amigos, escriban par favor!
Travel Destination: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (www.villadelpalmarvallarta.com)
Travel Objective: to learn and absorb the culture of latinos so that I can be better prepared to talk, work with those in US. Also, to encourage those in my business.
Things I took with me that I didnt need to take:
Workbooks and things to "work on". Too busy!
Things I took with me that I would take again:
Notebook/pen - to record notes/thoughts and names of new friends.
More than one swim suit!
Laptop -- although I had to access internet from nearby cyber cafe - a big pain and very expensive. Muy caro!!
My fluent spanish speaking amiga, Carolyn!
My own "global cellular" phone. Inexpensive and really helpful and it really worked! www.cellularabroad.com. The global village is alive and well. This provided me a local phone number that could be used and best of all, receive, great reception and calls. It was easy to just load up on minutes by purchasing cards ($10 or so each) and that way, I kept a handle on international calling. A great solution!
Things that I wish I had brought along with me --
More patience with myself as I learned so many new things. Got very frustrated with my lack of spanish language.
Curling iron! My poor hair is so frizzy from all the humidity.
Biggest surprise -- the reality of how some others in the global world live...and how little I know/knew about it.
Biggest disappointment -- observing the limitations of others in mexico, including economic advancement.
Best sunset -- Caught this at "Burros" a great beach bar in "Romance District". The sign on the door says, "Enter if you Dare" so I knew a good time was to be had ...it was, with an added advantage of the funniest guy in PV -- check it out "Luis" with his stand up and one liners as he deftly served drinks and grub. Great fun! Wish I had gone there earlier in week.
Biggest disappointment for eating -- "Blue Shrimp". Good food, but terribly overpriced.
Best breakfast - "Freddy Tucans" which is kind of like the "latino IHOP". Even has its own version of the "grand slam".
Best wait staff -- or should I say, "best looking" cuz the service was kind of slow..."Mauricio's" in small town of Ixtapa north of PV. I think every member of the staff must be some kind of mexican male model...all very handsome and friendly. Best thing on the menu -- "shrimp soup" which tasted wonderful to me.
Best quiet bar - "Catcus" - in "romance district". I don't drink much at all, but do enjoy a "kuhla and cream" after dinner...like a hot fudge sundae on ice!
Best dancing -- "J&B" for older crowd...lots of things for the teeanager and those wearing size 6 or size 8...learned the spanish version of line dancing and tried my hand (feet) at salsa. I'll stick to line dancing.
Best "All you can eat" - "Asaderos", also in Romance District.
Most Relaxing -- Massages with Roberto..I'm working on an essay with more details about the three sessions I had, including Shiatzu massage. Wonderful and certainly something I'd do again.
Biggest waste of time -- time share presentations. This industry is a blight on the PV experience and I have formed some pretty strong opinions on how big developers are prostituting the country and the people of PV.
Mas tardes!
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
looking towards home
today it is raining again...it is, after all the rainy season. i have time to reflect on some things so i sit in this cyber cafe in a world so different from my own to think.
i have often been less than charitable to my american co-pats...i often think americans are ignorant and often arrogant. i often complain about taxes and government and all kinds of things that we in america often complain about.
while i won't promise that i won't be as verbose on these areas in the future, i can say that traveling even in beautiful locations provides one a chance to truly be grateful for what we have in the good old u s of a.
don't worry -- i'm not going to strike up the band with 'proud to be an american' and lee greenwood and such truck. but i am a bit more thankful for being an american after being in mexico for almost a week.
this time, i chose to do some things that the natives do -- including taking a bus, eating at off the road places and that sort of thing. i purposefully put myself in situations that i thought would help me better understand the culture of the growing latino population. i don't pretend to have the final answer on any of this but i can say for sure, i am damn lucky to have been born in america.
yes, i work hard and yes i have had many good things in my life. but most of what i have been given is truly a luck of the draw..that i was born in prosperous country with a good brain and strong back.
although there are many opportunities that may never be mine, these are mine and it must bring up the question to a thinking person, how do i give back?
that's the question i am starting to ask myself more and more...but the first step must be in simplying realizing that i am the beneificary of so much...that's where all things must start. we go from there...
i have often been less than charitable to my american co-pats...i often think americans are ignorant and often arrogant. i often complain about taxes and government and all kinds of things that we in america often complain about.
while i won't promise that i won't be as verbose on these areas in the future, i can say that traveling even in beautiful locations provides one a chance to truly be grateful for what we have in the good old u s of a.
don't worry -- i'm not going to strike up the band with 'proud to be an american' and lee greenwood and such truck. but i am a bit more thankful for being an american after being in mexico for almost a week.
this time, i chose to do some things that the natives do -- including taking a bus, eating at off the road places and that sort of thing. i purposefully put myself in situations that i thought would help me better understand the culture of the growing latino population. i don't pretend to have the final answer on any of this but i can say for sure, i am damn lucky to have been born in america.
yes, i work hard and yes i have had many good things in my life. but most of what i have been given is truly a luck of the draw..that i was born in prosperous country with a good brain and strong back.
although there are many opportunities that may never be mine, these are mine and it must bring up the question to a thinking person, how do i give back?
that's the question i am starting to ask myself more and more...but the first step must be in simplying realizing that i am the beneificary of so much...that's where all things must start. we go from there...
Sunday, July 10, 2005
From Sunny Mexico...not really
It's not that sunny but it's wonderful. Today we toured some businesses and met a ton of new people...and so far, my spanish is still terrible. Lucky for me, my business partner/friend speaks fluent Spanish so hopefully I will keep out of jail and not offend the natives too much.
I will never, ever hear the words "pushy saleman" in the same light after today. We toured some time-share properties because there is so much new growth in the area...and they were truly beautiful..but an intelligent look into that industry can teach you that you can find great travel deals for a fraction of the cost..you just have to say "no, thank you, gracias" with conviction. I have been offered a free meals, cash, free taxi rides and a whole lot more just to sit in on a presentation, which I have done...and said "no, thank you," and still made friends. Most of the guys making their money are very good at what they do and most know when to stop. One guy today did not but I kept saying no, and he kept pushing. Finally, I just stopped and stared at him and said nothing and I think he got the message. It was a blast being on the other side of the table and seeing what passes for professionalism...and how most of it is just cheap manipulation. I not only believe this doesn't work, I believe such tactics harm most of those of us who do work with integrity in the sales profession.
But there were several real pro's and I appreciated them and their courtesy. I can say, "no" with the best of them and faithfully execute my right to do so.
I'm on my way to a shiatsu massage and some rest before another busy day tomorrow...am trying to get some creative thinking, writing done and am having a wonderful experience so far.
I will never, ever hear the words "pushy saleman" in the same light after today. We toured some time-share properties because there is so much new growth in the area...and they were truly beautiful..but an intelligent look into that industry can teach you that you can find great travel deals for a fraction of the cost..you just have to say "no, thank you, gracias" with conviction. I have been offered a free meals, cash, free taxi rides and a whole lot more just to sit in on a presentation, which I have done...and said "no, thank you," and still made friends. Most of the guys making their money are very good at what they do and most know when to stop. One guy today did not but I kept saying no, and he kept pushing. Finally, I just stopped and stared at him and said nothing and I think he got the message. It was a blast being on the other side of the table and seeing what passes for professionalism...and how most of it is just cheap manipulation. I not only believe this doesn't work, I believe such tactics harm most of those of us who do work with integrity in the sales profession.
But there were several real pro's and I appreciated them and their courtesy. I can say, "no" with the best of them and faithfully execute my right to do so.
I'm on my way to a shiatsu massage and some rest before another busy day tomorrow...am trying to get some creative thinking, writing done and am having a wonderful experience so far.
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