Travel Lesson #5

Now I can focus on what's really important in life...

Beside letting my inner Bond girl out adventure traveling, this is also the chance to finally focus on the things in life that truly matter. You know, the things that if you weren't emotionally and mentally suck dry from a job you hate, you'd be out doing right now. But instead, its all you can do to unload the dishwasher, find something without mold in the fridge, and keep up with the residents of Seattle Grace before passing out on the couch each night. Like our former 42nd president, I feel your pain... Now back to the things in life which truly matter.

Which is huh...?? Um. I'm attempted to go online and do a Google search on "important things in life."

With the prison break from the rat race behind me, or at least until the money runs out, and no excuses like a mortgage, child-rearing or losing enough weight for skinny jeans holding me back, enlightenment is a sugar-free soy vanilla latte away.



Except there's not a Starbucks to be found, as a matter of fact, looking around, there's not much of anything to be found. Obnoxious malls, shopping centers, car dealerships, spa's, fou-fou restaurants.. Zip Zero Nada... Where are the billboards to sell people the things they don't know they don't need?




The first evidence of human settlers in Guatemala goes back to at least 12,000 BC and yet the lovely people of this country have yet to experience the ecstasy of an Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion, much less the holiest of holy an H&M...



When asked to explain themselves in between the city-wide two hour lunch break, so get this, families can eat together, no one understood the question. Are you kidding?? Two hours off the clock? How are you suppose to get ahead or find the time to back-stab and sabotage your co-workers and then all go out to happy hour? What kind of rat race is this if you actually stop running and place the well-being of your family and friends ahead of, well, everything. That Apple iPad is not going to pay for itself. This shouldn't come as a surprise from a country which rated playing with their kids and enjoying family as their most favorite activity.



And to the kiddies I'm here to teach the American dream, respecting your parents, being kind and tender to your siblings and friends??? Sharing with each other?? What sitcoms are you watching? It sure ain't Hannah Montana. Where's the spite, the malice, the hyper-consumption? If you don't own something your friends can't afford how will they know to respect you?



Rest assured, soon as I can get these kids to stop hugging me and each other, I'll youtube the latest Lady Gaga video and show them what's really important in life...