Convert several old posts to markdown.

1 files changed, 77 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/_posts/2008-06-26-the-balance-of-my-trip-to-the-usa.markdown b/_posts/2008-06-26-the-balance-of-my-trip-to-the-usa.markdown
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5177ab7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_posts/2008-06-26-the-balance-of-my-trip-to-the-usa.markdown
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: The balance of my trip to the USA
+tags: [ personal improvement ]
+published: true
+---
+
+Tomorrow will be a week since I left Portugal on my first attempt to live alone
+and begin a new life on my own at the United States. Apparently it went wrong
+and for all of you guys that actually think that, _this is my final statement_
+on this week full of adventure, risk and emotions.
+
+I got in the plain Saturday, July 19th 2008, 9h30am. Everything was still an
+exciting mistery. Arrived at Newark, New Jersey at 3pm. [Jim
+Starace](http://agencyaccess.com) picked me up to show me the town of
+Hauppauge, New York. He showed me my office, my home and some parts of town.
+For two days we drove to various spots like some stores for me to get some
+stuff to eat, sleep and fill the house. It was an interesting weekend, we could
+actually chat a little and hang out so me and Jim could get along as friends
+and colleagues at work.
+
+Monday came. Jim picked me from the hotel on our way to start my first day of
+work. A wonderful day that was. I met the boss, Keith, a wonderful guy indeed.
+Everyone at [Agency Access](http://agencyaccess.com) is just lovely! I started
+my role as the in-house PHP developer in order to start the project I applied
+to. The whole day went just great. I had the perfect work day. I wish these
+days could exist where I live.
+
+Then another major event came upon: my moving in. When I first saw the house
+and said to me: "I won't be staying here too long, I can tell...". The house
+«looked» kinda nice but it was only that. The house smelled funny and it had no
+lights in the living room nor the bedroom. The floor was carpeted - I am not
+used to it - and the couch was dirty. I would get a new couch cover and the
+problem would be settled. I was so excited with all the adventure that I didn't
+even think about that whole mess. I just wanted to experience all of it;
+unfortunately it turned out the other way around.
+
+The first night at the place was ... peaceful. Until... the landlord turned the
+TV out loud till after bed time. I had the whole bedroom lit up by the
+moonlight so I just couldn't get no sleep because of these two incidents. I
+managed to get some sleep.
+
+Next day I wake up with pain in my back from the lousy night I had. I get up, I
+have breakfast and go to work. A lovely 20 minute walk in the midst of the
+trees that fill New York's suburbs. The whole work day was very pleasant and
+productive. I was actually enjoying working there very much, no doubt on that.
+
+When I came home, I felt this deep voidness inside. I was looking at my still
+unpacked case, my dirty couch, my TV set and decided to chill out a little bit.
+I laid on the couch with my laptop trying to chat with my friends in Portugal.
+A nice time that was. When all of them were off I decided to get something to
+eat. I had previously got those add-water meals so I could easily start off
+with something rather than milk & cereals. So I put turn the oven on and it
+didn't last 5 minutes until the fire alarm went off...! I had to turn it off so
+the house wouldn't go nuts because of that. So milk & cereals it was for
+dinner.
+
+I tried to listen to some of my music to see if I could relax but the moment I
+turned the music on I felt like I wanted to dance it with some girl. Guess
+what? There were no girls! Turn it off so I won't be crying. What could I
+possibly do at that time (it was like 9pm) ? Nothing but go to bed. And so I
+did. What happened? Landlord's TV out loud. Moonlight. I was trembling for so
+much disaster. I started crying in despair. That's where I found I was having
+no peace. The next morning I got the tickets and went back home.
+
+Life lesson: never face something _that_ unknown. I lost a lot of money on this
+adventure and I must get them back no matter what. If you are reading this and
+want to do something alike this, be careful! I learned a lot in this week
+concerning risk taking, investing and inner joy, peace and happiness.
+
+I appreciate everyone's help and support. But there are three people I want to
+thank with kind attention: Jim Starace, for all the incomparable support during
+this week, my deepest _thank you_ goes to you; _my mother_ because she is my
+mother and there is no one like her, period; [Tony
+Chester](http://onwired.com), leader of the OnWired team that first offered me
+a job but it didn't work. However, his concern has always meant a lot to me. My
+regards to you, Tony.