Survival

Hey folks. Chucky here once again.

This post will be about a moment in my life which ill never forget and i dont regret!

I was in my early 20s, had a great job and had moved back to my native homeland Argentina. I was born in Argentina but at an early age my parents took a decision to move to the United States (Florida). So a few years had gone by since i moved back here, about 3 years, and i was at work, fed up with being an employee and living on a day to day basis.

Vacation time started at work and most of my co-workers where starting to see where to go on vacation, so i decided to do the same! One of my closest co-workers Nina sent me a facebook message showing me where she was currently at. She was in paradise! Paraty, Rio De Janeiro. She was telling me about all the places she went all the people she met and how there were plenty or Argentines there as well.

I thought to myself, hey that looks like a place i want to go on vacation! I still had a few months left until it was my turn. I talked to Nina, mostly out off curiosity if it would be a good place to live. When she told me she wasnt coming back. I was astonished. Nina stated "I quit man, i found a job over here and im staying". I couldnt believe it, she was one of the best at the office.

And that is when it all started.

I spoke to Nina and ranted about how i was sick and tired of my routine and that i needed a change. She said "Why dont you come here?". I didnt even think about it. I replied "Yeah nina fuck yeah i was thinking about going, do you think i can find a job?" She began explaining to me that for people like me (Native spanish and english speakers) it was really easy to find a job. "Im currently working in a hostel as a receptionist i make enough money to live and i even have a place to stay with the people who hired me". "Oh wow thats exactly what im looking for" i said, "What are the chances of me getting a job where your at?" She than said that she would talk to her boss and see if something could be done. I thanked her.

That night i went home and spoke to my girlfriend (now my ex-gf lol) and told her about this insane journey that was going through my mind. Nadia (My girfriend at that moment in time) wanted me to be free and to do what i felt like it. But i was extremely in love with her and i did not want to go alone, so if i got the chance (and the job) i wanted her to come with me. She said YES!!

YES?!? i couldnt believe it. All this i started creating in my mind was working out. If everything went right i was moving to brasil!!!

About a week and a half went by when Nina replied, She said "Sup man, i talked to my boss and he said theres a spot for you here as well". I didnt know what to do, my mind went to so many different places and i was already there in feeling. "OMG really Nina thats insane!! Im out on vacation in about 2 months will that job opening be available by than?" She didnt know. She doubted and i said to her "Ok forget that. Tell your boss that i will be there in 2 weeks."

That same day i got home to Nadia and told her that i would quit my job real soon and that we were moving to Brasil!! She was as excited as i was. She let me know that she was with me on this one. Morning rolled by and i didnt go to work. Nadia was gone by the time i woke up usually so i didnt get to see her. It was around 11 am and i left my house to go send my resignation letter. I did it. I sent it. I quit. I was free and ready to start this new chapter in my life.

When Nadia got back home i told her that i quit. To my surprise she wasnt very upbeat about the news. She said to me "You know i was thinking and its going to be hard and im going to miss my parents, i dont know if im ready for this love. It might not be the right moment". Once again astonished i looked at her and said "Nadia i quit my job, you told me you were on board with me. I dont want to leave you here you have to come with me.". After various hours of talking we had come to a decision.
I was to go alone to Brasil for a few weeks get settled with my new job and once everything was nice and settled she would than come with. Perfect!!

Days went by and i had my bus ticket ready to get going. The day came when it was my turn to leave. I was scared shaking and kind of sad to say goodbye to all my loved ones. My mom and Nadia came with to the bus Station. I got on the bus and cried a little as they waved goodbye and so did i from the bus.

Once on the bus i had a 36 hour long ride to Rio. Boy was it long! On the bus i met this Argentine who had family in brasil and was telling me how things were. Teaching me some basic portuguese. He was real cool and had a giving heart. A few looooong hours later i had hit the Rio de Janeiro "Rodoviaria" (The bus station). Wow everything was different and i had to communicate in portuguese for the first time.

I left the rodoviaria to go to another terminal where i would take the bus to my destination Paraty! Another 6 hour long bus ride and i had made it. i was there. I had the balls to actually do what my heart told me to. First thing i did was find a place that i could leave my stuff, found a nice little hostel that charged me 20 reals the night and i was like yeah lets do it for today.

I left my stuff and started walking through this amazing colonial style place known as paraty.

It was simply amazing i would stare at all the architechture. The street was made of stones!!!

It was gorgeous wherever i looked!! People were awesome and so happy and upbeat.

Later that same night i went to the Hostel i was going to work at so i could talk to my new boss. The Misti hotels was the name of the place. (Nina had moved to another place. She met an australian and decided to travel a bit with him). I showed up and talked to reception. "Good evening im Ninas friend she told me to come here for a job" all in English. "Hi" Claudio the receptionist stated, "Give me a second let me talk to oscar" He left for roughly 2 mins and came back and said "Hes not here atm can you come back later or tomorrow?", "sure no problem" i answered. And went back to my hostel and had a beer.

The next day came along and it was around mid-day when i decided to go back. I caught Oscar at the hostel and told him that Nina sent me and that i needed a job. "Oh, Well exactly right now i cant offer you anything were loaded, we dont even have room to set you up with a place to stay, but in a week its "carnaval" here and we will need your help". I was frustrated, this was my get out of jail free pass. "Oh damn Oscar, Nina said that you would hire me asap" i stated. "unfortunately right now i cannot but i will as soon as i can im sorry." Damn... I was kind of lost.

That night i had a few drinks in the bars they had set up in the beach.

Got home to my hostel and sent Nadia a few texts telling her i was ok and what had happened. I was a bit tipsy and i talked to her for a few hours. At one point in the conversation she told me that she didnt want to leave her family and that shes not sure if shes coming. That killed me!! I didnt get the job i expected. My girlfriend said shes not coming pretty much. I dont have that much money. FUCK!

A few weeks went by and i was low on cash already (I didnt go with alot thinking id be working asap) Carnaval came in. Wow it was wonderful, so festive, everyone on the streets drinking and having a good time. That night i got home to the hostel and the receptionist said "Due to carnaval the Hostel rates go up." Shit. "For this week the rate is 70 reals the night." OH boy was i in some big trouble. I had roughly 250 reals to my name and thats 3 nights and a bit for food (THank God i ate for under 3 reals)

My 3 nights were up. I was broke. No cash to my name. Oscar from the hostel never called me to work. i was lost broke and in a different country. I grabbed my stuff from the hostel and started walking. I didnt know where to go or where to stop. I had decided that i was going to sleep on the beach that night.

On my way to the beach, I was practically in tears when i see Ben (An american i had met a few nights back in the bar). He walked passed me and turned around and said hey! as he reached his hand out to shake mine. "Whats up buddy?" he stared at me and asked. "Nah man, im broke and i dont have a place to stay im going to sleep on the beach tonight". To which he answered "no your not, theres plenty of space at my place if you dont mind sharing with others" I happily accepted and felt like i was finding my way again.

Turns out ben had a hostel of his own (It was just a house with a few bunk beds). They had bought the beds for carnaval since there were alot of tourists and there was not enough space for everyone. He took advantage of that and decided to make some money by letting tourists sleep at his place. So for the next week i was living with them. Broke but i ate. I worked and cleaned at this "Hostel" and got by real well!!

Carnaval was coming to an end, i had met this really cool Basque guy. We chilled everyday and went to different places.

Praia do sono was my favorite!



Yup thats me in all the pictures. Awesome time

So carnaval was over and i didnt know what to do. I couldnt stay at Bens because there no longer was work. I was at a crossroad once again. i talked to my pal and he said he wanted to visit the Iguazu Falls in Argentina. I asked how he was planning to get there to which he answered ill hitch a ride there. I asked if i could tag along with him. He gladly said yes.

And so we went 7 days hitching rides from strangers and going through all different places in brasil. Simply an amazing experience! We had made it to the falls!!

Paradise. Everywhere. No words can describe my happyness. I was back in Argentina In my homeland met some amaing places!!!

At this point my buddy had to get back to Rio to catch a plane back to his country so we said goodbye. Exchanging contact details. I had asked my GF to sell my pc so she could send money and i could take a bus back to Buenos Aires. She did and that same day i went to the ATM to withdraw my ticket money.

Heres where the story really begins.

A few blocks from the ATM 2 fellas came up to me and said hey and they walked next to me. One to my left and one to my right. I felt a cold sensation in my back. I slighty turned my head to see a gun pointed at my back. one said "Dont move and give me the money or your gone". Omg i didnt know what to do so i said "I dont have any im just a traveling hippy". "Dont lie i just saw you walk out of the atm with money in your hands" he said. I was fucked. I handed over my wallet phone and other things of value i had on me (A pack of cigs and a bit of weed i had bought there)

Soo... Now i was stuck. No communication no ID no money no ticket and no way of getting back home. 25 pesos to my name and a few coins that wereat the hostel with my clothes. I had a decision to make. I had to get home..

I started walking. I knew that if i walked down Route 12 i would end up in zarate Which was about 4 hours from home on a train. And i walked and i walked and yup you guessed it i walked a bit more. Tired hungry and dirty i decided to stop. I laid in the middle of nowhere almost to the point of complete dehidration and sat there for hours until someone picked me up. Gave me some cookies and left me at a gas station where i got water and decided to sleep. I got destroyed by mosquitos and all sorts of bugs that night (And the rest of the nights to come). But i was closer to my house. 1700km left and i knew i could make it.

I continued my path home hungry and tired as the days before. Got picked up by a bunch of people and some looked at me in awe wondering wtf is this man doing here hes going to die.

This is what route 12 looks like

Theres nothing but trees and sun...

Without food or water i continued and was more than halfway there when a truck driver picked me up and said that hed take me to zarate! Yes!!! im almost home!! I got on the trucked and politely asked the driver if i could sleep a few hours since i had only been sleeping an hour or 2 a day. (Hard as fuck to sleep next to the street with all the bugs). He kindly answered yes.

When i woke up i was nearly at the Zarate bridge. I was soo happy to see something familiar (Even though ive never been there). I got off the truck thanking this man for his kindness and love and walked about 14km to the Train station. I was home. I was there. sooo close.

Finally the train came by. Hopped on that train and after a 2 hour train ride i had made it to Retiro (Where i had taken the bus to go to brasil in the first place). I was finally there. I knew where i was. Finally. People looked at me because i was dirty and wayyy skinny. When i got off the train i had 15 cents to my name. The bus ride to the next train i had to take was 1.15 pesos. Looked down and found that missing buck!!! So happy. I took the bus to "Constitucion" where i took the next train i could and got off about 10 blocks away from my house. I walked with a giant smile in my face. And there i was at my front door waiting to knock.

Nadia Came out and looked at me. "Omg what happened to you. Did you get raped?" Were her first words. "No hunny i got robbed." I stated. She started crying and let me in.. I told her just a little bit about what had happened. She asked me what i wanted to eat, i said "I dont even want to eat i want to sleep". And so i did. I went to sleep and slept for a whole day. 22 hours to be exact. woke up starved and ate like a monster. The next day i talked to my mom and the rest of my loved ones and told them what had happened. No one could believe what i had just gone through. But i know that i learned to apreciate everything in life at that point.

You dont know what you have til you dont have it. A plate of food. A glass to hold your water. A buck or 2 for cookies. I knew that i had been put through this challenge for a reason and i had learned. After all is that not what we are here for? to live to experience to learn and love?

Thank you for taking your time to read this. This was an amazing part of this adventure people call life. I hope you enjoyed it and learned something as well.

-Cheers