June 2021
It is truly curious how life happens and opportunity presents itself sometimes in ways that initially appear unwelcome, or is it? Surprise arises when unforeseen events occur. Naturally, there is no way to prepare for surprises. While crafting expectations, it may be wise to keep in mind surprises happen. About a month ago, just as I was finalizing (or so I thought) putting together my application for the visa I was counting on to continue working in the US, I learnt I did not even qualify for said visa. Based on conversations I had had with lawyers my family had worked with, I believed continuing to work on a TN visa was a safe assumption. The news that I would not be able to obtain said visa halted my building of a life in Los Angeles. I was shocked and disappointed for two days. Just two months after having moved to California, I faced an imminent relocation. First thing I did was dig deeper and see if there was a way for me to stay in LA. I contacted several lawyers in the area. Due to the late timing of me realizing the other visa would not work out, the only viable solution was to enroll in a graduate program and work part time, but I did not want to rush into a program just to stay in the country. Staying was not an option. One of my very first ideas was to apply for a job at a consulting firm in Mexico. However, while it would look nice on my resume, salaries are much lower in Mexico than in the US and I have to pay back my loans in dollars… I kept an open mind and began to ponder: What am I going to do? And what do I want to do? The second question is critical and I was surprised to realize I had not seriously asked myself that question for a long time. What do I need to do? Had taken center stage. My mind was wandering freely, if I had to go back to Mexico, why not go live by the beach? I could join one of my cousins in Puerto Escondido, keep living costs at bay, surf, do some online courses to prepare for a masters and maybe do some crypto trading too. Some people do pretty well with that after all. But it did not take long for me to remember a conversation I had back in February during a dive outing while getting my advanced scuba diver certification. Small talk with the guy sitting next to me eventually led to the question: “What do you do?” I told him about my 9 to 6 (home) office job and he told me he worked as a deckhand on a yacht traveling around the world. Casual. I could not help but ask more questions. He was open to answering all I asked and I thought: “If, for some crazy reason my visa were not to work out, I should keep this in the back of my mind…” Fast forward two months and the idea of working as a deckhand in a yacht is no longer a distant backup plan, but my main goal.
As I already mentioned, for two days I was a bit sad and disappointed to learn I would not be able to continue living in LA. However, I would be lying if I said my disappointment lasted any longer than that. Realizing this is the job I am after now, I am excited and eager to see how things play out! Manhattan Beach is certainly a great place to live (being able to surf in the mornings before work is a privilege only a few enjoy) and eventually working at the office alongside coworkers would have been nice; but pursuing a job such as deckhand for a superyacht... WOW that is a adventure! Moreover, it’s an adventure I would not be pursuing were it not for the situation I find myself in right now.
Once I decided this is the opportunity I would be pursuing, I started to think about ways in which I could improve my resume and gain sea experience to be hired, based on my acquaintance’s advice. I first started thinking about how I was going to further my scuba diving experience and obtain the next certification. Becoming a divemaster became my goal. I looked for divemaster internships anywhere from Mexico to Thailand. After having secured a spot with a dive shop in Mykonos, I ultimately decided to turn it down to take a shot at finding work as a deckhand this summer in Antibes or Palma. At this point, I feel like I am dreaming… I cannot believe what my plan is shaping up to be for the upcoming months. Hearing myself talk to people about my plans sounds surreal.
There are still some challenges to overcome. Sorting out visas (again), defining where to look for work and, of course, finding work. Part of me is certainly worried about the risks I am taking and expenses incurred, but the uncertainty associated with this pursuit also fuels my excitement. After all, as it is often pointed out to me, with little to no strings attached in my twenties, now is the time to take these risks. I would have to be a fortune teller to know how things will ultimately play out for me, but I have faith they will eventually work out, it is a matter of hard work and time.
This is the first narration of my adventures as a prospective seafarer. I hope to write frequently in the coming months. I write for three purposes: First, I write to document this unexpected, uncertain and exciting time of my life. This is a life scenario I never anticipated and I feel lucky to be facing it, finally able to strengthen my relationship with the ocean. Secondly, I hope that these narrations will serve as sources of information, perhaps even inspiration for those who come across them. My contact information can be found in this page and I will be happy to speak to anyone who reaches out seeking information or a conversation. Lastly, given the adventurous nature of my situation, I hope these stories will also serve as a source of entertainment for readers, particularly people dear to me who wish to stay in tune with my comings and goings.
A flock of birds spotted at sunset in San Francisco on my last trip in California.