Part of the journey.

[Moiser]

Getting good with women is only part of the journey… not only should we be looking to improve our social skills, we should be looking to improve full stop, this is a lifetime commitment. Can you honestly say you're living to your maximum capability? Obviously we've got to be realistic, but, most guys will use whatever excuse they can to wander aimlessly.

How many things have you promised yourself you'd do, yet have made no efforts to achieve them? When was the last time you tried something new? You should always be looking to push your comfort zone, try new things, expand your mind and continually grow. You don't want to be the guy that looks back with regret.

I've always had the opinion that travel is one of the best ways to spend free time. Experiencing different places, values and cultures... I've just returned from The Gambia, it's a small country in West Africa.

The country survives via a 6 month tourist season, mostly populated by the European middle class. Most of the locals involved on the tourist trade are living hand to mouth and supporting large families. Most of the people I spoke to were earning less than $5 a day. Same old, same old. Most of us have experienced extreme poverty before, and, the boom in black market products that follow.

Prostitution is rife, but, not as I've known it before. I found it strange the majority of the sex trade is fueled by middle aged white women, they hire the locals as tour guides and sexual partners during the course of their stay, it also works the other way around, but, it's not as common place. Now the aim of the local is to get their sponsor so invested in them that they continue to support them after their mark leaves the country. Usually a guy will run several marks like this at anyone time, which to me begs the question, who is really fucking who?

Another strange thing I learned was that most of the women have had their clitoris removed, with a razor blade. Apparently it's a cultural tradition, allegedly it purifies the girl and makes her clean, yet, I was told it's actual purpose is to deprive the women of sexual pleasure and stop her straying from her future husband. Sometimes this is done without the parents permission, I heard a couple of stories of family members snatching the child after her parents had decided against the procedure. Pretty shocking.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is this; the world is a big place, there's so much out there to learn and experience, and, you owe it to yourself to pursue these things.

[johnjm22]

Good post Moiser. This sort of stuff is fascinating to me, and one of the reasons I'd like to eventually travel the world.

It really makes you appreciate living in the West also.

Did you ever decide whether or not to quit your job so you could live abroad for a while?

[Moiser]

I think I'm going to continue working for now, throwing in the towel would be amazing, but, I've realized I really love the financial flexibility my current job provides me. I feel like I'm getting the best of it, but, not exactly on my terms. To be honest I'm still undecided, I figure it's better to stick with the job I have until I'm sure.

I'm going to look into the possibility of working overseas on a 28 day rotation instead.