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Another day.. another dollar. The standard classic in living. Though sometimes it takes something more in life to really find yourself. Take for instance, my life. Look at me. Normal American man trying to make a dollar here or there to make ends meet... I bust my hump so hard some days, that I wonder if my high-salary is even worth it. Then I sit back and focus back on Slovakia.....

Taking Maria's advice, I did apply for some jobs at Dell in Slovakia. They offer full sponsorship *if* you are qualified. But at the same time, they offer a *low* wage pulling in 100-200SK/hour ($3-$6 USD). At first, I was shocked. I asked myself, how someone could live on such a low wage. But I never really see anyone complain in Slovakia. Yes, there's a downward spiral of unemployment there as there is anywhere these days. But I never see anyone hurting or complaining.

Something has drawn me to Slovakia. Why? Only God knows that answer. Especially after this past weekend with the 'Team', I've come to realize that it's truly my calling. Sure, think of me as crazy. Most people do. Why would I give up everything in the US and move to a small unknown country? ..... the culture.

There is no place I have ever seen where tradition always takes first toll. The villages in Slovakia all have their own traditions, and they are closely followed every year. Personally, I'm one who enjoys living in the country. I look at Slovakia, however, and I want to be right in the middle of the action. I'd love to find a nice home in a village.

Why Slovakia? What makes it so great? What makes me want to bind myself to such a place? To me. It's like a small piece of paradise. It's an unclaimed place that has so much to offer, and yet, is so unknown.

The 'Team' worked as a great example of Slovak culture. Either they were really good actresses, or they really did care about the people around them. It wasn't all glamour and gloss. They didn't care if you were rich or poor. They cared for you, because of you. Maybe they're all one-of-a-kind. Maybe no one in Slovakia acts in the same manner. I don't believe it though.

This is an uphill battle. Do people seriously think that I'm going to put all my time and effort into a place, and just go *poof* "I don't want to go to Slovakia now"? For people who have known me in the past, they know that once I put my mind to something, I do it.

Finally, I've made some friends in Slovakia. The 'Team' has been absolutely wonderful to me. I'm chatting with some expats living there now, and I'm hoping they can help me progress into Slovakia.

I've made good decisions, and bad decisions in my lifetime. In fact, that's exactly what life is all about. While I wish I could go back and change some items from my life, I know it's also in the past. Sometimes I'm blind to something sitting right in front of my face. Anyone I've hurt unintentionally, I apologize for. I hope they realize that.

Who am I? .. I'm no one special. Just a guy trying to get in on a little piece of paradise.

---

Going over the events in my mind, I have to admit that this past weekend had to be one of my greatest times ever spent. With my drive home yesterday, and speaking with friends today, it has given me a time to analyze my adventures with the 'Team.' I must admit, that I will deeply miss them, but I'm happy to note that I have every intention of visiting them next month. That being said, here's how everything went down on the last day..............

Once again, I tossed and turned. Even now, I still don't know if it was the bed in my hotel, or my mind trying to sort out everything from the previous days. Regardless, I was once again sleep deprived. Considering I did everything in my power to fall asleep once I got back from the SUNY party, I couldn't get more than about 20 minutes of sleep at a time without waking up abruptly. Finally around 8am, I couldn't take the uncomfortableness I was feeling, and I got up and got back on my computer again.

I had promised Maria the night before that once I checked out of the hotel, I would head over to the apartment directly. I had informed her my original plan was to sleep until 10:30AM (to make sure I would be okay to drive), throw my stuff in my car, and check out of the hotel at 11AM. Unfortunately, I felt I was going crazy in the confined space of my hotel room.

I think I felt depression kicking in. Mixing depression and sleep deprivation together before a 10-hour drive wasn't the best, but I knew I wanted to spend my last few hours with the 'Team'
to the fullest. Around 9:30AM, I finally couldn't take anymore, and decided to try and call Maria to see if/when she would want me to come over. If I wasn't able to reach her, I was still going to leave the hotel. I felt confined. I hate to feel that way.

Thankfully, she answered the phone and told me to come on over. So quickly, I got the heck out of the hotel, and started on my way over.

Slowly, I began to start coming to the realization that this would be the end of my adventure this time. The short distance between the hotel and the apartment felt like hours slowly creeping by.

I got to the apartment, and Maria opened the door. Poor Jana had to work so early that morning, that she had already left. Eva had stayed at the SUNY party with the Team's friend and roommate, Courtney, and hadn't come home yet.

It was too early in the morning for us to really have a discussion with one another. Neither of us has gotten much sleep. She did offer me a delicious bowl of cereal (though I didn't find out if it was a Slovak cereal or not). Finally she decided that we should go back over to SUNY to see if we could pick up Eva. So she got ready, and we headed out the door.... to see Courtney pulling up with Eva.

Glad to see everyone made it home okay from the night before, we all went back up the apartment to talk about the previous night. Eva offered me a cup of Slovak coffee (which, like every single freaking thing they gave treated me to, was great!), and we just tried to kick back and relax while trying to figure out what to do in the few hours we had remaining.

Weeks before my trip, Maria had promised me a copy of a Slovak music CD. I've always been a fan of 'foreign' music, as it has always helped me in the past with learning key words, and sometimes key phrases. We had left the party so late the night before, that we didn't grab everything that was brought......Including the Slovak CD. So the three of us all took off back to SUNY to pick up what stuff that was forgotten.

We walked back into the dorm (Which, by the way, was truly one of the best dorms I had ever been in. Complete with a full kitchen, separate bedrooms, a living room, and two bathrooms, this 'dorm' was HUGE), and the girls collected their things. Everyone that had stayed the previous night was still asleep (including the infamous Derrek who still didn't want to give a good picture!).

We then decided to go visit Jana at work, since she wouldn't have another chance to say goodbye to me. We headed back over to the mall for my last time, and headed into Jana's workplace. She came out, and gave me a big hug, and said she couldn't wait for me to come back next month.

Eva, Maria, and myself then walked around aimlessly in the mall. I was so quiet at that point. I beat myself up now, because I truly did want to make the best of our last few hours; however, I just kept thinking about me having to leave. .. .. .. ..

They suggested since they weren't able to burn me a copy of the Slovak CD, that we head back to the apartment, and I copy it to my laptop. Parking in front of their place for the last time, I grabbed my laptop bag and headed back upstairs. We talked a little while longer while my little computer copied the CD.

Finally, it was time to leave......... I surely didn't want to go, but I knew I had to. Maria kept hinting that I didn't really need to go, and Eva kept telling me that the only thing that anyone HAS to do in life is die. .. .. .. I really wish I didn't have to leave.

We walked back downstairs to my car. I threw my laptop into the backseat, and turned towards them. I tried to hold my emotions back, but I was truly sad I was leaving. I was amazed at myself for even being so emotional knowing these girls for only a short time. I gave them both big hugs and told them that I would miss them so very much. I was told that I need to view it from a different perspective. I was told not to think of it as me leaving. Instead, I was to think of it as taking a looooong nap, and waking up 'tomorrow' on August 11th (next time I'm going back to Albany) to see them again. The last words I heard was, 'I'll see you tomorrow!'..........

I wasn't looking forward to the drive home. Such a long drive. With no sleep. Maria told me that the drive would go quickly, and before I knew it I would be home. I didn't believe her, but the whole weekend, she was always right. Before I knew it, I was almost home.

Finally, I realize that my lack of sleep caught up to me. As the day turned to night, my eyes began feeling heavy. I was within 45 minutes of being home, and I contacted my buddy Mark. I asked him to keep a conversation with me until I got home to make sure I'd be okay.

The drive home gave me a chance to study in my mind everything that happened. I sorted out the good and the bad. My whole drive home, I kept replaying everything. I was so surprised with these three girls. Even thinking about the weekend prior to my visit, I never imagined that they would be as great as they were. They were the shining sign that I needed to inspire me never to give up on Slovakia, or my plans of moving there. No matter what the future holds, I hope that these three girls will always be very close friends of mine, and my saving grace in a country unknown.

---

Wow. Day 2 has already come and gone, and already I miss the fun that is, or that could be. Today was completely off the wall. I have to admit, my lack of sleep is killing me. I'm not sure if it's the hotel itself, or if it's my mind wandering a million miles a minute, but I only got a measly two hours worth of sleep the previous night... and I was looking at a loooooooong day ahead.

I know the team and I were out late the night before, so I know it had to be a killer since they all had to work today. The plan was simple. Jana went in early, and Maria worked a mid-shift. Both of whom were getting off the same time. Eva was to work a late shift. And then we were all going to meet up at night to go to a party at SUNY.

Since Jana and Maria were working, I got with Eva. She was curious to see my room at the Crowne (which really isn't all that lovely), so I went by to pick her up back at her place. We came back and sat in the room searching the Internet looking for something to do. Finally, we decided to hit up the observation deck in the Empire Plaza. We strolled down the streets of Albany having a very interesting conversation. Finally, when we arrived at Empire Plaza, we decided to enter 'The Egg'. It's a U.F.O. shaped half cut weird looking egg thing. It's where conventions (like the event that was taking place...I'm not sure what it was, but it reminded me of 100s of Shirley Temple wanna-be's all riverdancing.. *shiver* ..scary).

We made it up to the observation deck, which put us well above the city height. We could see nearly all around us. It was, 'ok'. I guess I had assumed there would be a bit more to it than that.

When we left the observation deck, we started having a good conversation again. We decided to walk over to the NY State Museum. While I'm sure the museum was interesting, I don't think either of us really paid any attention to any of the displays. We still walked aimlessly and carelessly around going over events in Slovakia, information regarding my move, and anything else that popped in our minds.

Once we were all done, we headed back over to her apartment. We decided to go visit Maria at Mild Wally's where she was working. *grin* Mild Wally's is such a weird name, but it's a typical New York-style pizzeria. After a quick chat, Eva grabbed a few slices of pizza for us to split, and we were on our way out the door.

We strolled on back to the apartment again to relax and watch some television. She decided to make me a bowl of 'instant' Slovakian Slovak tomato soup (Maria corrected me, there is no such work as 'Slovakian', it is 'Slovak'). She made me promise that if I didn't like it, I couldn't eat it. Again, a taste of things to come. It was unlike any other tomato soup I had ever eaten, and the texture wasn't consistent with tomato soup, but once again, it was surprisingly good.

As Jana and Maria's working shifts were about to end, Eva's was just getting started. I walked her down to Mild Wally's, and exchanged the people I was with. Jana had just gotten off at the bus stop as Eva and I approached her workplace.

Haha! So what did we do? Jana, Maria, and myself, all headed back to the apartment again to hang out (and so they could get ready for the party). We all had some interesting conversations, but just relaxed and kicked back. Maria and I were discussing my future in Slovakia, and how I was unable if I would find work there. Amazingly, Maria jumps right on the computer and starts researching ways around it. She even forced me to apply at Dell in Slovakia. I'm so amazed by her actions.

Fast-forward. 9:30PM comes, and I've *yet* to get ready for the party (that was starting at 10PM). Jana, Maria, and myself all decided to head back across town to the hotel, and pick up a cab to take us to SUNY (See, I'm being smart. Party = Drinking. Drinking = Bad Driving). We finally hop in the cab around 10:15PM with two Jamaican taxi drivers. They were fast, and interesting to say the least. But we made it to SUNY in one piece.

The first few hours of the party were completely awesome. Maria wanted me to try my hand at the drinking game 'Bullshit'. I had never played it before, but I caught on quick.....well, actually, I sucked at the game, and thats why within 10 minutes of being there, I already had a hell of a buzz. I met some very interesting people from SUNY and Albany at the party. Next up... a game of beer pong.

By the time my name was up on the list for beer pong, I was completely wasted. I couldn't toss the ping pong ball properly to save my life. Heck, I could barely stand. But I admit, I had a blast.

As the night went on, so did the party. And as with any party, they all have their highs and lows. I hooked up with Maria, and her and I had a long conversation. I couldn't help but to express my love for the team. I finally think I realized at that very moment in time why I was so determined to move to Slovakia. These girls hardly knew me, yet they treated me with the upmost respect. They make you feel comfortable in nearly any situation. I know 100% that I will be moving to Slovakia now. It may be hard, and I may stumble many times along the way, but I cannot give up.

These girls will forever be my friends, and I would help them any way I could.

The party began winding down around 3:00AM, and I knew I had to get back to the hotel soon, as I unfortunately had to leave for Virginia the following day. I kick myself now wishing I didn't drive as it is such a loooooooong trip, but it was completely worth it for these three new friends.

We had someone call us a cab, and we strolled out back towards home. Finally falling asleep by 4:30AM, I knew it would only be a few more short hours I'd be able to spend with the team. For this, I am so sad. But I know that through thick and thin, they will be there for me, and I can't help but get excited thinking of visiting them again.