Mr. Cox, who was the principal of my high school during freshman year (and several years before that), used to end his morning announcements with that sentence.
Today, I can definitely say that I feel like a champion. I was able to truly see the things I've learned in Mexico at work, and I was proud of the changes I've made in my life.
Before I continue, let me apologize for taking an extended absence from blogging. I have worked too much. I've been fighting and lost vision.
The story picks back up today with my trip to the immigration office here in Mexico. I'm still fighting with them for a visa, and yesterday I received a notification stating that I should present myself this morning.
Last night was spent mostly in worry. This morning, I took a taxi to get there as quickly as possible. It's been nearly a year since I took another memorable taxi ride.
Back then, I was going to a job interview for a German teaching position. I took the train to a station near Sor Juana avenue, and, not knowing the way exactly, I took a taxi. I gave him 50 pesos in advance and asked if he'd have change. He told me to relax and not to worry about it.
First of all, I was struck by his extremely unprofessional attitude. Sor Juana is a well-known street, and he played it dumb. He stopped to ask police officers for directions and between those stops whistled at women passing by. He boasted to me about his sexual adventures and how much money he made every day. At one point, I told him I would be fine on my own, but he said that he could not let a customer just walk to his destination. As I tried to open the door, he hit the gas.
He asked me to call the interviewer, and I replied to him that I had no credit on my phone. He asked to look at it and dialed a number, explaining that it was a customer service line. I was an idiot. I took the bait. As it turned out, he was trying to rob my phone credit by making a transfer. Luckily, I had nothing.
When we finally found the place, the receptionist was in the street waiting for me. The taxi driver threatened me and wanted me to pay him double what I had paid originally. I said that he was being ridiculous, and he threatened to beat me. Not wanting to be seriously injured, I paid up.
Fast-forward one year. I'm going down the street and notice the taxi meter is not counting the trip, so I asked the driver to check it. The traffic was horrible, but luckily, I know a few side roads to get around most of it.
We arrived fairly quickly at my destination, and he tried to charge me more than the taxi meter read. He said it was because it had not counted the first kilometer, and I said that he was ridiculous. I took my money and threw it into the front passenger seat and got out, while he cursed at me and told me I was an idiot. I simply replied, "Likewise," and closed the door.
Arriving at the immigration office also brought a new adventure. My visa was denied. I looked over the document, asked three different people what I had done wrong, and they asked me to go to the department head.
She insisted that the problem was that my translation wasn't signed, but I asked her how she expected me to have my translation signed by the Secretary of State of Kentucky. She then took a different approach, and I showed her all the paperwork that was necessary.
She looked uncomfortable. She was the one who had signed the rejection, and I insisted that this be dealt with without me having to restart the immigration process.
After 30 minutes, I walked out with an appointment on Monday morning as soon as the door opens. Victory for me.
I am tired. I have dealt with problem after problem, but I've come much further than most would have tried to come in doing these things. I've learned a lot.
I've mentioned in this blog a difficulty for me in developing self-confidence, but every day it grows. Sometimes it lags, but today I feel like a very competent and accomplished person, and I am proud of the lessons I have learned by choosing my own path in life and sticking with it.
Perhaps this can inspire you. Don't give up. Do right by others, and don't let them do wrong by you.
Love, always,
-Buster
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