home again

I managed to make it out of South America without being raped, killed, beaten, held at knife-point, kidnapped, or any threats to my life or to my family. Getting robbed and sick however... now thats a different story, but its all over now and I made it back to the north country.
My parents, sister, and aunt somehow made it through security at the Minneapolis airport to see me come off my plane... a bit surprising, but OH so nice. Especially after being in Venezuela for 3 days. I really thought I would enjoy my time back in Caracas... and I did enjoy seeing my friends, but my eyes were opened to how entirely corrupt that country is after seeing so many of the other well-functioning countries that lie below VZ. They sucked all my money out of me before I left the airport for the final time and I was very happy to leave. Things changed immediately as I entered the aircraft. The staff was from Atlanta. They were amazing. The service from the states is hands down the best that I've ever seen. From eating at the airport "Chile's" in Atlanta to the gas station attendants, people are out to please and I love it... fake smiles and all.
My first week back has been... well, its been fabulous. I am re-introducing myself to my youngest nephews and nieces, I mowed my parents lawn today, went to happy hour with some girls from high school, got my hair cut, and starting working to pay for gasoline. You can fill up a big truck in Caracas for $0.50 and here its about $120. Thats crap. So I started right away cleaning my neighbors house. She said she would pay me of course, but so far I've gotten paid with a painted rock. Thats also crap.
Tomorrow I start bartending at a local liquor store. The "Biscay Liq" is the most well known place in my county to drink. It's in a town, if you can call it that, of 114 people. (there were more than 114 people in my building in Buenos Aires) I'll go tomorrow to get trained, but something tells me that rum and cokes and pouring beer won't take too much. Yes, I'm back in townieville. and for as much as I defended Americans for not being as fat as everyone says..... I'm wrong. We're pigs.
Over and out from the Glencoe Library, where its free to use the internet, but you can only use it for 30 minutes. chao.