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Published: April 18th 2008
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Who makes decisions here? How do you make decisions?
How do you know what to choose?
I haven't got a clue what to write about as I sit at a sidewalk cafe' in Bondi Beach, sipping a deliciously aromatic black coffee and nibble at a brownie, savouring the decadent chocolate taste...almost too sweet, yet, the perfect accompaniment to the bitter liquid... bitter yet tasty, ever since a decision to stop adding sugar to anything I drink over six years ago, I notice tastes a lot more.
A decision, made on the basis of information gleaned from a book on the virtues of sugar (none) and the side-effects of this universal sweetener (the whole book). I guess it was a decision that was logical and had the added force of happening at a time when I had been drinking too many sweet things...
The temptation to add sugar has come and gone in the past years, each time I decided to resist, it became easier. A sort of will, if you will. Pardon the pun!
Still not knowing what to write about, as my latest city adventures have been interesting, but, nothing that exciting, apart from four fun-filled days in Singapore!
Bombay, Bangkok, Phnom
Penh... all cities with totally different vybes, foods, languages and landmarks, better written about by others.
My question is what to do once there?
Still not knowing what to write about, I decided, out of necessity and curiosity to ask the other people in the cafe' how they make their decisions... a spontaneous decision on my part to become a reporter, gave me the push to overcome my natural shyness and reticience to just walk up to somebody and start speaking to them... (seriously!!!)
Nathan, the Australian manager, said that I should specify what kind of decision.
Ok. Here goes:
How do you make decisions?
a. Choices on what to eat, drink, do with little long-term repercussions. b. Decisions that could be life changing, like where to live, what to study, to travel, etc... Here are the answers:
Nathan, Australia: a. Depends on the feeling in that moment
b. Moral judgement
Silvia, Italy: a. Past preferences, less open to try new, unknown things
b. Dreams and Goals. Was my dream to come to Australia, so everything else had to fit into that
Elena, Spain: a. Sensations and external pressure (friends' choices)
b.
Hands
Give me five! Long term consequences
Tere, Spain: a. Habit, basically without thinking, just always order the same, more or less
b. Dreams and Goals
Laura, Spain: a. Information (menu) and sensations
b. How it fits into my Vision for the future
Alberto, Spain: a. Habit and cusiosity, go through phases of black coffee, then white coffee, then tea, and so on
b. With confirmation and support from friends and family (those that are more open and progressive)
Eva, Spain: a. Whatever... maybe depending on what others are having and on what I have had before, so as not to repeat.
b. On the surface with my heart, underneath, probably more a self-preserving logic and calculation.
Cool!
How do I make decisions?
Well, this article was decided by necessity, but, I could have chosen something else to write about...
I think that I chose this topic, in part to just try something different, in part to go where my fear or nervousness was.
When I stood up and went over to ask the people I didn't know or have any other reason to talk to, I felt that fluttering in my stomach, you
Coral Crew
Geometria Natural know those butterflies that can make you forget what you are saying, say it in the wrong language or stutter and stammer, leaving you red-faced and flustered!
I guess my main motivating force is curiosity and going to the edge of my own fears.
That is how I have gotten to eat strange bugs and gotten myself into weird situations, like doing strip-tease for a hen-night (14 unknown women, my brother as bewildered bystander) in my local lounge-bar, diving off a mediterranean cliff into the turquoise sea with the all-too visible rocks looming up or giving everything up and traveling around the world.
Perhaps it is sheer silly male bravado, where a dare is a challenge is a mission or, just plain old curiosity and a desire to see more, do more, be more... quien sabe?
As for the choices, I find that the answers of all of my young, enthusiastic immigrant wanderers can apply: At times I choose out of habit, at others out of a sense of comraderie with my companions, at times I will close my eyes to try and visualise what the writing on the menu is trying to convey, then choose
Coral Capers
Where to now? according to the feelings an item has aroused, at others still, I will just take the special of the day.
The moment I decided to definitely go out and buy the ticket around the World was when I found out about Couchsurfing from my cousin Jen.
I knew then that, I would always find interesting people anywhere in this wonderful World.
Then came the tough part of choosing the itinerary!
Like many things in life, some choices automatically exclude others and some just lead you on to the next step.
There were only two important dates on my schedule:
My father's 65th Birthday in May in San Francisco and Christmas in Goa with my mother.
All the rest had to fit in somehow.
The rest being the World.
I was very clear on two things:
I wanted as much beach and sun as possible, normal, after 11 years in Switzerland!
I wanted to get a few Wonders of the World and magical places in.
With the rules, regulations and restrictions of the Round-the-World ticket, my itinerary basically set itself!
Two years after remembering my childhood prediction of playing until I was 35
Children
Playing or working and then going around the World to actually getting on that plane in November!
I had ticket, cards to get money out of the wall, passport and visa's as well as the necessary first aid kit and knowledge!
Another real surprise and help to my trip came from the most unlikely source: Facebook.
Yes, I signed up in November and started finding friends I had almost forgotten about!
Friends that were all over the world!
Family, Facebook, CouchSurfing and Skype were going to be my passport to the World, not as a tourist on the outside, as a privileged guest to everybody's normal life World!
My couchsurfing adventure in South Africa left such an impression that I couldn't wait to surf again...
In India it was my Family and friends that made life so much more fun and interesting!
In Thailand I wanted to surf again, but, found friends there and in Cambodia, still managing to find out about a CS meeting in Bangkok by chance at the same bar where we had spent the last couple of evenings!
Coincidence?
As with the rest of this trip...more like Serendipity!
So, it was
a Couchsurfing evening with over 15 nationalities represented and a number more spoken!
What an interesting and ecclectic group!
The vybe was so smooth that we even agreed to meet up the next night for drinks and to listen to Charly and Steven dj at a couple of clubs!
Famous night, complete with police raid that ended up at five in the morning on the Kausan Road strip...
A funny couch-story is that I ended up sitting next to Dunja, a Slovenian girl that I had contacted in November in Madagascar, we had never met up and here we were, on the other side of the world having a beer together!!!
All of a sudden I have a bunch of new and interesting friends!
Next is Couchsurfing in New Zealand!
How to choose who to stay with?
In this case, a quick glance at the profiles, looking for something that will click, a language, a country visited or planned visit, interests or psychological type!
I guess we still need to make educated choices and gather information for our decisions: a combination of head and heart!
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Ramon
non-member comment
???? Preguntas y Respuestas ????
La misma pregunta puede llegar a nuestras cabezas una y otra vez a lo largo de nuestras vidas y cada respuesta que le demos dependerá del momento, lugar y situación que estemos viviendo. Tratemos de ser sinceros en cada momento con la respuesta porque en definitiva eso demostrará fidelidad con uno mismo. Un abrazo, amigo.