My Recent Trip - Pt. 4: Postlude

Part 1 - Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-1-mexico/700444917008613

Part 2 - Cuba: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-2-cuba/700475937005511/

Part 3 - Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-3-canada/700499207003184/

All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos

and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80

There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater

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So what did I learn on my trip? Mainly Spanish haha. Reading and writing are quite easy for me in this language. Listening and speaking are more difficult. I can understand most of what people on the street say in Spanish, but I struggle in understanding television in this language (demasiado rapido/too fast). My accent is weird, and depending on the situation, I have problems. The words that I do know are based on only the situations I’ve been in. For example, I don’t know how to say “twelfth” in Spanish, but I know many chess terms in Spanish because I played chess during my trip. I actually taught the basics of chess to a few people in Spanish, and I still can’t say certain words that Spanish-speaking kindergartners use routinely.

Another question I’ve been asked: how did I fund my trip? Using the money I had saved from my last job. To me, this seems like it would be an obvious answer, but people ask.

If you want to see my work history, here is my LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-thomas-farrell/

I also have a GitHub page:

https://github.com/linksapprentice1

Now I’m back home at 22 East Riverside Drive, Dedham, MA. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.700132667039838&type=1&l=b590df2bd2

A few days after returning home to Dedham, for the first time in my life, I’m noticing some gray hairs, which is quite unusual given my age (26) and heredity. The people here also don’t appreciate my soccer playing as much as in other countries. Some people are quite nice though, and they take videos when I request them:

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/682347435485028/

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/688443068208798/

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/702062746846830/

My plans? I’m looking for quick cash. I could get a formal job, but that takes more time. So I’m considering these options (in order of preference):

1. panhandling while juggling my soccer ball in downtown Boston, Chinatown, or Harvard Square. I was told I need a permit for this and that it can be obtained in a day.

2. playing chess for money in Harvard Square. The people in Harvard Square often make very small wagers over games they play ($5 or less).

3. freelance programming work on Craigslist or a similar site. I’ve done this a couple times, but the gigs are hard to come by.

4. teaching Spanish. The problem with this is that my Spanish is quite bad compared to native speakers, and I feel uncomfortable teaching something I’m bad at.