In the month of September alone, I’ve had both a horse’s muzzle and the barrel of a gun starring down my face. Makes for an impressionable 5 weeks. Prior to arriving to Sofia, Bulgaria, I intentionally internalized this month to be more instinctual and less over thinking (sort of ironic since I thought Bulgaria would be the most debatable place I visit this year). It’s a mentality that can be summed up quite easily...
I’ve partied on remote islands in Asia, fortresses in Serbia, and celebrity VIP sections in Miami Beach. But nothing holds a candle to turning up in the middle of a deep, pitch black forest, somewhere near Prague, Czech Republic. *Disclaimer, my momma called me and asked that I tone down the lewd language in my blogging, so I will keep the profanity to a minimum. Not making any promises though. ;)*
6 months into traveling non-stop and ish gets real. People are dropping out, you are comparing experiences in one country/continent to another, and the people, culture, and living conditions from one place to the next are drastically different. At first you love the stark contrast and then, for some unknown reason, you are overwhelmed with strong disdain for all things *insert preferred country here*. From there, internal conflict sets in as a spiraling train of runaway thoughts floods your mind. Do I even like it here? Do I keep going? Should I just go back to Asia? I know fasho I ain’t going back to the States. Where do I belong?
Parks, European architecture, cafes, and a motherf***ing fortress bruh. The shift from Asia to Europe has been nothing short of mind-boggling, and to put icing on the cake, my first stop is Belgrade, Serbia. Prior to touching down in the city of trees and stones, I knew nothing about the culture, people, or geography, and therefore could neither form opinion or expectation. I quickly found solace...
In the span of three weeks, I have kicked it with the homies Mac and Ant in Japan, partied to the hypnotic spinning of fellow remoter DJ Tina T in Cambodia, and trained with professional head bussas in Thailand in the Science of Eight Limbs. All of this while helping to lead and build a startup up from scratch — shoutout to the 10xU team, love y’all. Plus, my credit score just increased…
Despite local contestation, this wave of transformation seems inevitable; therefore, leaving people to resort to a survivalist mode — or what I like to call a “hustle hard” mentality. You kind of have no choice given the disproportionate high cost of living for a very impoverished population in comparison to other Southeast Asian countries. Despite the growing pains, I think this country is dope af and hope y’all do too after reading this blog post...
From chaotic traffic to browbeating negotiations, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam serves as a whirlwind of hustle and bustle. The city leaves no room for indecisiveness, and I have developed a strong appreciation for the blurred lines faintly scribbled between work and life. Much of that appreciation stems from a reflective perspective. My life is evolving into an ambiguous blob of activities consisting of work, social gatherings, adventure, and personal space. As a result, I realize that rigid schedules that compartmentalize different aspects of my life are no longer welcomed. In fact, a routine lifestyle can’t even get a knock at the door let alone a seat at the table. Yet, experiencing those ‘normal’ day-to-day events, both the good and the bad, is what I have grown to admire most. And thus, my experience in HCMC so far begins...
First off, I’d like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support and encouraging words after my previous post Strawberry Jelly, No More Grape, and to the individual who offered to ship me some grape jelly…you the real MVP shawty. However, shoutout to the homie A-A-Ron for actually getting me that purple stuff on my birthday. One skip, one hop, a $10 upgrade to first class, and a few celebrity pregnancies later; boom, young Baba is in Bali, Indonesia...
Currently, the company that I work for, Rokk3r Labs, has sent me on an entrepreneurial pilgrimage for 1 year around the world in partnership with Remote Year. Every month, I’ll be in a different country hearing entrepreneurs’ stories, understanding what investors are looking for, and working to connect what we call the global collective genius. Yes it’s a dope ass job, so give it up one time for Remote Year and two times for the Rokk3r fam. First stop, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
Many things in life seem much easier while you are a student. You have minimal bills, deferred debt, easy access to social circles, and generally one responsibility...to do well in school. But when it comes to building a company or startup, this seems to take the opposite effect. We are always told that it is much more difficult to build a company and juggle school simultaneously. Much harder than if you were a former employee who just quit his or her job to build that dream company, even though bills, loans, and familial issues suffocate your life savings and will power to keep pushing forward...
What motivates anyone to make any decision in his or her lifetime? For me, it’s simple. Self-improvement. What is the best way for me to achieve my goals and become a better person along the way? This is the question I pose to myself daily, almost incessantly. As of late, Venture for America has equipped me on where to begin in answering this question...
As I sat in the United Nations’ regional headquarters in Bangkok during the Global Peace Youth Exchange (GPYE) Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I began to reflect on some of the problems in my home country that demand immediate attention. Miami Beach, a slice of paradise and palm trees drizzled amidst the backdrop of a city built on travel, tourism, and real estate. However, despite the sunshine and great weather, whispers cast a shadow of a dark future for the city. Property values are projected to fall as sea levels rise over the next few years. Within this century alone, the city of Miami Beach is forecasted to be completely underwater. What does this mean for residents like myself? What does this mean for the economy of Miami...
