As I start to write this I am currently on the plane overlooking the green surrounds of Paraguay’s capital city Asuncion, my home for the last 3 months. I’m bound for Buenos Aires where I have an overnight 14 hour stopover before embarking on my Ushuaia flight. (The photo below is of my accommodation in Buenos Aries airport – pretty luxurious with my mattress and blue sleeping bag and power outlet for my laptop).
My thoughts, the reason I wanted to write this post is because my blog also acts as a journal for me, a place I document my feelings and thoughts for future reference. This is one of those times that I will look back on. I have just said good bye to Mandy (twice actually as I said good bye, then when I was at immigration having passport troubles – I was hoping the Paraguayans would overlook the fact I had overstayed a couple of days- I realised Mandy’s wallet was in my pocket, so I had to call her to come back and get it)
It’s never easy saying good bye to a loved one, but in saying that it’s seems easier than last time when we were in Vancouver, Canada where we ended up being a part for 10 months! Certain visa problems and myself falling out of a tree and being bed ridden didn’t help that situation. We were also lucky enough that before I left we had one last weekend together in San Bernadino, a weekend spot for Asuncionites one hour out of the city (thanks to everyone that made it possible).
At least this time round, I’m on my mission to try and get to Antarctica, and Mandy is on her mission to learn Portuguese, go to Brazil with her friends and then she is taking exchange students to Colorado which just happens to be where her family is. Then we meet back up in Asuncion when she gets back from Colorado in nearly 4 months.
My feelings at present, I’m actually feeling pretty good. I left my goodbye sadness in the airport, at the departure door. The feelings of loneliness are not there, that space is filled with excitement, well not really excitement, it’s a different feeling, it’s more like the unknown, no I think it’s the feeling of doing something that I have always wanted to do, or doing something that I know I have to do or I will regret it for the rest of my life. Or just that feeling that comes from being on a plane heading to a new place. From my working the world experience I know that the hardest time always comes 1-2 weeks into a chapter when the excitement of a new adventure and new place has worn off and you realise you’re by yourself in a town for the next 3-4 months, or however long I plan to be here, who knows it may not be worth my while. Or maybe you’re on a boat headed for Antarctica, living the dream! They are the odds you play with.
As stupid as it sounds, the words “it’s game time” keep coming into my head, yeah don’t worry I also think it’s cheesy too, but that’s what keeps popping up in the space between my ears (yes “game time” is written in big bold block letters as there is a lot of space to fill!).
But it is game time, as I write this I’m sitting in my airplane seat with my t-shirt I got printed which says “I will do ANYTHING to work in Antarctica” (pictured above), I have my freshly printed hapworkingtheworld business cards (wow, I’m a professional now! or just a dreadlocked vagabond with a business card!) and I have my jacket in my overhead cabin locker that I got printed in Spanish also saying I will do anything to get work in Antarctica.
So yeah, its game time, this is my one shot. Still I am under no illusions, if I’m lucky I have a 5% chance of getting work, that’s probably being optimistic. All week I have been contacting people in Ushuaia about the likely hood of finding Antarctic work or a passage to Antarctica, and all respond the familiar tunes “it will be very very hard”, “there’s not much chance”, “there’s very little possibilities”. I know all this, but all I can do is do everything in my power, so I’m going to hit the ground running, get it sorted quick, get all my feelers out there, keep sending emails and keep waiting for swine flu to come back with vengeance and hit the Antarctic cruise ship industry (I don’t want it to kill anyone, just to make them sick so they get paid sick leave and enough time for to make at least one journey to that illusive continent)! Then I will be in a position as to what I will do.
That’s where my thoughts are at present, I am glad I’m not sad, I’m glad I’m excited, as if I was sad I would be feeling rather lonely right about now and the unknown unfamiliar road is not a friendly road for a sad man .
What lays ahead in the coming chapter, is it Antarctica? Is it working in Ushuaia? Is it an unknown mission? Is it meeting up with Mandy and friends in Brazil for Christmas and New Year? Is it living in a tent freezing my butt off? Is it being adopted by a Penguin family and living the rest of my life thinking I’m a penguin? Who knows, not me, all I know is that I’m going to give it my best shot! Thanks to everybody for the kind words.
Nuthin but love Hap
PS, I have to start making these posts a bit shorter.
Mandysue
Nov 11, 2009 -
Good to know that you were sitting in the lap of luxury in the B.A. airport. All this good energy you´re putting out has to come back to you somehow–stay open and something will come your way. Does that sound like a fortune teller? What a hippie jajaja xx
Ellen
Nov 11, 2009 -
Happy Birthday Hap!
The Tshirts look great 🙂
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
Cheers Ellen for the Bday wishes, I hope its not too hot in Woodie! I just celebrated my birthday down here in Ushuaia, it was snowing! a bit different to last years birthday.
Alright, thanks again, give my love to everybody, and i hope you’re finding heaps of black stuff.
Hap
Sandy harvey
Nov 11, 2009 -
Hi Hap
Hows it going Hap? I really enjoyed reading your blogg and find it always inspiring.
I really just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday. So close your eyes and pretend I am singing to you the following. Happy Bithday to you, happy birthday to you ,happy birthday dear happpp happy birthday day to youuuuuuu. have a fabulous day, kick back relax and have fun..
hugs
Sandy & Bruce Harvey
Jennifer Wilson
Nov 11, 2009 -
Hi Mark , thinking of you today when you turn 28, gosh doesn’t seem that long ago that you were the boy that got the nick name Hap ( I am sure you know why!!!). I enjoy your notes and try to read them often. Ian and I are just back from time in Piahia with Jill, also caught up with Jania just back from being with you. Had a great time as we all do in her company. Were buying up the wine for Dad over Christmas. also did some other interesting things and Ian and Jill caught some great king fish, absolutely huge (not a fish story either). Hope you had a great day, looking forward to catching up when you have done your Antartic thing and good luck.
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
G’day Jennifer,
Good to hear that you had a great time up in Piahia, no doubt you are looking forward to summer and xmas ahead.
I had a great birthday, it was snowing down here in the bottom of the world, I had a great day, although my head didn’t agree with me this morning when I woke up, a little bit too much Argentinian red wine!
Love Hap
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
G’day Sandy and Bruiser,
Cheers for the birthday song and kind words, as I keep saying to everyone, they really do help. And speaking of inspirational, you’re inspirational, I hope your health is going well, but no doubt you’re still got a smile on your dial.
OK, best be off, love to Brusier, thank you again for the bday wishes, I had a great day, I will be writing a post on it.
Nuthin but love Hap
Jo
Nov 11, 2009 -
My standard birthday card greeting has never seemed more appropriate …. ‘May all your wildest dreams come true’….
I hope you have a fantastic day and you can feel all the positive vibes from those of us around the world who admire your spirit and ambition.
Big Love
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
Cheers Jo,
Thank you so much for your abundance of kind words. I had a great day here, bloody cold, its not looking too good for camping, my cheap Paraguayan tent and blizzardy snow I don’t think will go too well together!
Nuthin but love Hap
Mike
Nov 11, 2009 -
Hap, in response to your “what will I do next?” part…. I know it’s awful to make fun of the window washers in Asunción, but that night when you offered to wash Marcio’s windshield as we were leaving and we had to ward you off by giving you a coin, I really saw potential.
But in all seriousness, best of luck to ya my friend. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope that you are able to fulfill your journey by working in Antarctica.
Take care bro,
Mike
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
Captain Shotgun!
hahaha, cheers mate, I don’t have as much faith in my window washing ability, I don’t think my arms are up for it.
Cheers for the support, I hope your settling back into life in the states.
Nuthin but love Hap
Paul Matthews
Nov 12, 2009 -
Hey bro, happy birthday! Would love a chat sometime soon. Take care mate and good luck!
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
Sup bro,
Cher for the bday wishes. Heard you guys heading over these ways next year?
Yeah I’m going to be on my computer a lot the coming week, just emailing Antarctica people, so let me know what times you can chat and will hook it up.
NBL Hap
Ngaire
Nov 12, 2009 -
Hap I love your energy, enthusiasm and zest for life….it is inspiring and straight out awsome! I know you will go to Antartica, with that much drive how could you not! Heard you guys might be heading to Melbs next year? will def cme over for a visit! Best of luck bro, big hugs from WA!!!!!
Love Niza xoxox
Hap
Nov 13, 2009 -
Sup Niza love
Cheers mate, it’s good to hear that, at times I definitely don’t feel like that, but keep on pushing, some barstard has to give into me, just going to do everything in my power and will see what happens. I just met up with Sich today, do you know him?
Anyway, big hugs back to you and catch up for sure next year, yeeoowww.