Money, Power and Harassment

The measure of a man is what he does with power. ― Plato

People can do the most amazing things with money because as we all know - money is power. These people can also do the most amazing compromises. Nowadays you can read all these news about power and harassment, they may be Hollywood people but things like this also happen to ordinary people. I have my own experiences to share but probably not as worse as some other women have experienced.

As much as I love men, having spent most of my years with male friends or a boyfriend, there are just some nasty things that a lot of money can do to them, fine, to women too. But there are just more men accused of harassment than women these days. I'm not a feminist and I don't like that label. I don't really like those who are fighting openly about this gender inequality thing because these groups are just promoting and perpetuating victimhood in a way. I do believe that us women have as much power as men that some men would do anything to bring us down.

I have spent some years traveling alone and I have never felt what it's like to travel with friends or a boyfriend, it is just the way it is because I really have no choice. People in my life don't really like this nomadic lifestyle, and I have nothing to lose anymore. However, if I can find anyone who can travel like me or move around the world with me, then that would be nice because being alone in a foreign country has taken its toll at some point in my life.

I remember when I was traveling in Peru, I found a job in a travel agency in Cusco city. Those times the boss just gave me the job straight away because they needed people who could speak Spanish and English, who could respond to those emails about the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Some of the staff there couldn't really answer enquiries in professional English, and English-speaking expats or foreigners are hard to come by.

My Peruvian boss - with his wife and kid both in the US, invited me to a meeting, to have coffee with him one cold night in Cusco. But in the end, it turned out really uncomfortable because the meeting was not all about my tasks. He was telling me that he would guide me to Machu Picchu himself (he used to be a guide), take my pictures and everything - just us. I asked him about his wife, and he said she is not really my wife, we are not married. He continued telling me about her even if I was not really interested. His wife works remotely and helps him with the emails, so she knows me. His travel agency is the top in Cusco, #1 in trip advisor and he makes a lot of money, like a lot.

He began promising me a lot of things in his company - job, work permit, money, stay in Cusco forever and all those things he knew I needed. That time I was a nomad and had no place in this world. The problem with me is that I don't easily fall for these things, money will not make me feel trapped in a place or in any situation because I am detached to it. The 'have nothing' is not something new to me so it's not really a big deal anymore. I have self-respect that I'd rather go hungry with it. Mind you, that feeling sucks and predators are everywhere. Now I can't judge those famous and high-class prostitutes who do not want to be hungry right? That was the first and last time we had a meeting.

I have experiences like this in another country because there's just something about a woman traveling alone, becoming a vulnerable prey. Whenever I would tell this to anyone like a close friend in that country, I was still to be blamed as if this issue did not matter. And of course, they would not turn against the boss as they believe don't bite the hand that feeds you. Which sucks right? I had already experienced like a lot of crap in the past and I choose not to experience and not to remember anymore.

And of course, I expected my boss' wrath which was obvious during work, the mood swings and the way he acted. That's how rejection works. That time, I was not too desperate for work and given his reputation, I just quit the job and moved on. I just don't really take shit from people.

From that time on I realized that I would not like to work for anyone anymore - any industry, it's like I'm a slave to someone's power. It's not that I am too good for any kind of job, it's just the nature of humans I couldn't trust. I couldn't even trust myself with how to handle these crazy situations. Money has the power to make people shut up, stick to a job and put up with people. I would rather build an empire and have my own power to help those who suffered and give chance to people to have better lives. Perhaps I would not know until I have a lot of money right? However, I already know how it is to be there you know - have nothing, to be hungry, and be a target. I know how it feels and it sucks.

The worst thing in this world is that everyone knew.

If someone puts their hands on you make sure they never put their hands on anybody else again.
― Malcolm X