Get To Know Earl Part 3

Welcome to the third installment of my series. This is not the original version somehow it got deleted. Nevertheless I am going to try to recapture it who knows this version could be better. This post is about me so here we go. My personality is very complex. I'm generally a cool laid back person normally calmed manner. I like to keep my personal life private. However I can get very irritated  and I like to be by myself. I like to have my space to think brainstorm and just enjoy myself. I really don't care what other people think of me never have never will. I know some people like me some don't oh well. I know people talk about me because I stutter but it is what it is I try to have better speech. What those people probably don't know is that I can talk about them worse. I grew up an only child so that plays a part being alone. I'm a nice guy when you get to know me or when I decide to let you in to my life. Some people would say I am shy which at times I am, but it is more me learning you and seeing if I want to let you in to my life. I hate show offs people that like to brag. I believe we are all one big mistake away from being broke or homeless. Why boast about your possessions? I really want to help the less fortunate in my life. I'd rather someone else be happy than me. I've had a good life so far and I would love to see another person have one.  I prefer to be in the back round out of the spotlight. If I could I would graduate college with nobody there. I don't need people to tell me things about me or congratulate me. I'm a go getter I will not hesitate nor let anything get in the way of my goal to be successful in my terms. I'm a risk taker. The other day I had a conversation with one of my good friends it went something like this. I told him that he is afraid to fail, over think to much , and you don't take risk. He said you are right I do over think to much and I would do something even if I knew it was wrong with a 50 % chance. I said you are right. If it's a 2 % chance and it sounds good to me I will take a chance. I believe you will always miss the shots you don't take. So I'm taking all of mine. I guess this might be a reason Kobe Bryant is my favorite basketball player. Sometimes I succeed but sometimes I fail, but I am willing to live with the results knowing that whatever is the obstacle I can achieve my goal. My trip here to Lima I had my doubts because it was my 4th time trying to study abroad and something always came up. I am happy I got the scholarships because I would have not been able to go. For those who makes think so I am not rich more closer to broke. I try to stay in my financial lane but it's hard sometimes because I am a risk taker. Some may know but I have a shoe collection nobody knows everything in the collection. My mom is a shoe collection so lets say it runs in the family.
So I grew up in the church. I love my church family. There use to be a point in time when I went to church all week. Tuesday night, Friday nights, and all day Sunday. Yes all day from 9am-10:30pm. We did have a break from like 3-6 to eat dinner, but we normally ate in the church gym. I really need to strengthen my relationship with God. I know what I have to do to turn my life around and I want to do it. I just pray that God continues to have mercy on me.....

Ica, Paracas, and Huacachina

Well I was super pumped to go to Ica and sand board. So the first day we get to go sand boarding and ride the dune buggies. Sand boarding was awesome my first trip I did good. My second trip didn't turn out the best but I didn't wipe out completely I just didn't ride the dune all the way down. The dune buggies was fun I just wished that we rode have rode larger dunes but nevertheless it was fun. I'm a big action junkie. I love doing different things that comes with excitement. So after that we go to the hotel which is nice. One of the better ones we've been to while in South America and go swimming in the pool and played volleyball. So after that we decided to go out for dinner and maybe find a bar or club to go to but that didn't turn out. I ate once again anticuchos which were delicious. After dinner a few of us decided to climb one of the dunes which was a gripping experience. YOLO. We couldn't see to well and I was drinking wine and holding the bottle and my glass. You know me didn't drop a single drop of wine. That would be against my religion lol.. While on top of the dune we get spotted by a security guard (aka flashlight cop) so we had to leave. After getting back to the hotel a few of us decide to go skinny dippin. I'll admit it was my first time doing it but I was kinda feeling myself at the time so I was on it. One of the guys gets out of the pool and gets caught by a guard but he tells us we can swim in another pool just put some clothes on. So we go against his rules and just jump into the other pool nude.  I like doing things which I shouldn't be doing adds more excitement to things. Being good all the time is boring. After that its like 4 o'clock in the morning so its time to sleep. Next morning we have one of the better breakfasts I've had here. They had bacon which I haven't had in a while. They also had eggs, toast and other foods. Next day we go to Paracas to see some of the wild life. I though the wild life was cool. I enjoyed seeing the sea lions and the different birds. The water was beautiful. Did some more shopping after that and we then went home... Here above are some pictures I took if you want to see more check out my Facebook photo album under Ica, Paracas, and Huacachina.

Get To Know Earl Part 2

So on the my mother side of the family. I have a good relationship with my aunts and uncles. Not to much I can say about them in a negative way they've always been there. I wish we spent more time together but when we do see each other we enjoy everyone company. As far as my cousins. I enjoy the time we spent together and I look forward to spending more time with them. My grandparents for the most part looked out for me. My mom did everything for me being a single mom raising me wasn't an easy job but she did it. Took care of all my needs and more. I thank her for what she did and what she still does. I also have have an extended family. I am so grateful that they are apart of my life. Sometimes you friends treat you better than your own blood. Also I have a church family which play a role keeping me focus on what is important in life.

My friends play a large role in my life because I spend more time with them than I do my own family. My best friend is Ro I remember the one Christmas I was 15 and I came over to his house and that was where the friendship began even though I knew him years before that. Ant and Vic are my main kickn it crew we've had a lot of funny memories and I hope we have plenty more. Sedaric good friend of mine glad I met you. There are several more good friends of mine but I don't want to make this post about me shouting out my friends. My friends put up with a lot being friends with me. Growing up the only child I am spoiled and I want things to go my way all the time. I believe I have gotten better with that over the years to be more sharing. I try to be the best friend I know how and sometimes I come up short with that. I'm down for them and whenever they need me I'll be there..The next few post in the series will get more deep into me, my personality, some trials and tribulations. 

Toussaint Louverture

Couple days ago in my Latin America History class I learned about Toussaint Loverture who was an ox... What he did for his country and the way he did it. He didn't stand for slavery. He learned how to read and write so he had an advantage over most slaves. Toussaint was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. During the late 1700 Saint Domingo  a colony in Haiti was a major producer of Sugarcane and other crops and other heavyweight countries wanted to take over the country. Toussaint not having any military experience defeated the Spanish and the British armies with the help off the French because they agreed to free all slaves. When Napoleon came to office he had tricked Toussaint to coming to France only to put him in jail and he eventually died in prison. That is just a bried synopsis of Loverture life everyone should google and YouTube him and learn. I enjoyed learning about him I just wished that in the states they discussed him because he was an important figure. He is very inspirational to fight for what he believed in and it makes me strive to be the difference and it proves the old saying right " one man can make a difference". I believe he should be mentioned in history with Martin Luther the King" reference to the movie Coming To America the barbershop conversation lol" but with Martin Luther King, Malcom X. I remember a conversation in one of my psychology classes and a Caucasian person said in school they only learned about MLK not Malcolm X I wonder why?? I'll let you tell it...

I think people with African decent  in South America or anywhere is different from African Americans in the states. We all come from that African background but they have more of a different background not coming from the states. Not saying that is good or bad but we are different people. I don't know about the way they lived or their culture. One day I would like to learn but as of now I don't know a lot about them. I believe that Afro-Latinos are a different breed than African Americans meaning we share the African influence but they have the Latino influence as well and we have American influence. This reference of breed doesn't mean we are different people and I don't agree or condone their actions totally not the meaning of breed. As far as anyone else that has a darker skin tone some of them are not African. I've seen some dark Indian people to where I have had to take a double look because I thought they were African American.

Get To Know Earl Part 1

Sometimes people wonder why I act the way I do or people say why do certain things here is an inside view of me for  those who think they know a few may but most don't. Give you a quick background of my life. Grew up being the only child which has a lot to do with who I am today and why. Growing up as the only child has its good and bad points all the attention and sometimes spoiled my childhood was a good one even though I grew up in East Cleveland I didn't have the average childhood I was privilege my mom got me everything and more never wanted for nothing. Didn't have a father growing up so the relationship we have not is ok it has gotten better over the years. Wonder why I am kinda distant and I like being alone sometimes here is why. Let's take my father side of the family. I have a half brother and a half sister. They have had several family reunions how many have I been to ?? Zero, Didn't see my brother for the first time until I was 16 I enjoyed every moment just wished it didn't take so long. My sister love her we live in the same city only see her a handful of times a year ever since I can remember. Not saying who fault it is but both of my siblings are much older than me so when I was younger how come they didn't reach out to me?? I don't know I am sure they have their reasons. To me its kinda too late that sibling friendly love because the relationships are built already. As far as my aunts and uncles on my father side go. Some are cool. One aunt of mine asked me a few years back how come you don't call me?? My response was idk. I was thinking growing up you never called me as a kid so why would I wanna call you know???? I have some uncles when they come around its all love but to me its fake you don't mess with me once you leave I won't hear from you till the next time its always been that way really found out you was my uncle in my teenage years so you are irrelevant to me. Also the way they did my mom wasn't cool and I hear and remember everything. My father situation growing up I couldn't call him I had to page him and then I would wait for him to call me from a private number. I believe his wife had him like that which to me is stupid. What type of man allows his wife not to have a relationship with his children?? or What type of woman doesn't want her husband to talk to his child. He has made every graduation which is great and whenever I ask him for anything he helps me, but sometimes I would rather have memories over money. When some of my friends tell me stories about their father growing up I really can't relate because my memories are so few. I am grateful that I do have some memories and that my father is around because some people have worse situations than mine. I enjoy my cousins and the time we spend together I just wished we were closer and I hung around them more besides on just holidays. I sometimes feel I am the step child or I don't belong in the family but it is what it is.... The picture above is the only picture ever taking of my father, my brother and my sister and I. All of my father's children. Wonder how do I view my mother side of the family and friends stay tuned???.......

KFC In Lima Peru

So a couple of days ago me and my dude Nate decide to go to KFC. A brotha been craving some fried chicken. Being abroad you would be surprise about some of the things you will miss not being in America. So we go in their the menu is kinda expensive so you know me I'm tryna look for the cheapest and the best item on the menu. So the choice was hot wings with fries and a pop. Notice I said fries and not wedges so that's a drop off right there. So I get my Pepsi and its 3/4 filled. So you know I'm salty to make the situation worse the pop is flat I mean no bubbles what so ever you can't even hear the fizz. So I go to the cashier and complain and the manager right there I tell them the flavor is bad. So I'm thinking they are going to change the Co2 or fix the problem. They do neither they fill my cup up all the way with this flat Pepsi so I'm like WTF are they stupid??? So I go back to my seat and just eat my wings and fries with this flat pop. Nate tells me he thinks Latin America people don't really complain. I guess he is right but damn this pop is horrible how can anyone pay for this bad quality and not complain. So I plan on ordering juice the next time I go I have to stay away from the horrible pop. Besides from my horrible experience the KFC restaurant looks way better than they do in the states they even have a play pin for the kids on the second floor...

First Week of Class and Everything Else

Class is cool I'm taking three classes so far so good. They are long two classes are 3 hr classes which for me is a bit much. My attention span for a class is good for about an hour plus or minus. So you already know I do a lot of daydreaming in those two classes. I like the university for the most part except they have high school seniors on campus so you have to watch out for that jail bait. There are a few things I've noticed in Lima. One there are cops on the corners armed also with rottweilers as well. Two I eat a lot of rice everyday for the most part for lunch and dinner. Three I'm enjoying this time abroad not having to cleanup after myself it feels great. Lastly my speaking I feel like my hearing has improved and I've improved a little bit but by the end of May I want to see a big jump in my Spanish skills. I'm really looking forward to this weekend going to Ica and Paracas to sand board and much more can't wait.

Machu Picchu

One of the New 7 Wonders of the World... Well first a few of us hike all the way to Machu Picchu which was remarkable. This was the first time I ever hiked and I went through it like a champ. I was so hot that you could see the stem leaving my body. True Story... Once we get the the entrance we meet everyone there and I am beat. So I get selected to hike Machu Picchu Mountain which is 12,000 feet. Don't forget that I just hiked to get to the entrance while most people rode the bus which was several thousand feet. So I hike Machu Picchu mountain in around a 1hour and 25 minutes. Once I got to the top it was very satisfying. seeing the view of the ruins and Huayna Picchu was breath taking. Seeing something that was built around 1450 and to have most off the original landscape there was incredible. I was shocked that 90 percent of the rock stairway was the original stair the Incas took. Seeing their rock structure and the way they built things they were geniuses beyond their time. How they got those rocks up there is astonishing. Hearing that they would carve rocks and roll them and sometimes carry thousand pound rocks to some locations is crazy.... I am honored I had a chance to visit Machu Picchu I have to come back because I want to hike Huayna Picchu mountain so I can say I hiked both mountains. Above our some pictures I took if you want to see more just go to my facebook page and look in the album Machu Picchu. Seeing what they did is incredible but it makes me think I wonder what else could they have done if the Spanish wouldn't have came???????

First Couple Days in Cusco

Cusco was fun the first day I had got a wift of the high altitude and I was going through it. First thing I bought was some coco leaves which they were okay I still have a bag left that I have to finish. Saw a famous cathedral which was cool. Saw a picture of Saint Francis which was remarkable to me because I went to his school in junior high school. After spending hours the first day getting used to the altitude we went out to eat and ordered a pepperoni pizza which was good it was the first pepperoni pizza since I went abroad. The closest thing to pepperonni was ham. after that we went out to a club. I made a mistake and pre gamed with some cheap vodka next thing I know I had a stomach ache at the club so you know I wasn't happy at all.... The next day we had a free day so we did some shopping. Overall I thought I did good that day shopping picked up some good stuff. Went to a restaurant and ate some chicken on screwers which was good. One thing I noticed about Cusco is the amount of street vendors and the kids and people coming up to you asking you to buy something. One guy kept calling Jay-Z or 50 cent I suppose because I'm black cause I look nothing like them. I also noticed how the kids had llamas and alpacas as pets and walked around with them. If you took a picture holding their llama you had to give them a couple coins which wasn't bad. I though Cusco was more how I pictured South America being less developed than the bigger cities. If you want to see more pictures look on my album Inca Empire Captial on my Facebook page.