About a week into my first leg of (f)unemployment travels, I've learned the following:
1. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, while conveniently in one Lonely Planet book, are each fairly different. If anyone does this trip at some point, I'd recommend going in the order above rather than the reverse as listed in the book. Pros: people seem to get friendlier in this order. Cons: things definitely get more expensive.
2. When traveling alone, all I do is eat, wander, drink, wander, eat, wander... And if I start too early in the morning, by noon I'll be on my third cup of coffee and my hands start getting shaky. It's now 12:41 and I'm wondering if I should control my coffee intake and wait for the shaky hands to go away or start counter-acting it with beer.
3. It takes me about a week of traveling alone before I'm bored enough to start talking to strangers.
Some 10 and a half years after starting my current job, I'm now in the final 3 weeks of it. Must say, feels a bit like the last couple of weeks of the school year. Now if only I can get everyone to sign my yearbook.
Just over three and a half years after returning to the San Francisco Bay, I've uprooted and relocated to London. The downside of the move are the friends who are now an 8 hour timezone away (5 hours for those on the East Coast...and 6 hours for the random friends in Houston.)
The upside is that this new adventure will hopefully come with some blog fodder. Stay tuned!
I have to admit, I've heard of these phishing scams. I've seen the e-mails through newspaper articles and blogs. I've even just recently listened to an NPR podcast where they featured guys who spent hours scamming these scammers (in really cruel ways I might say). But, I myself had never received an e-mail notifying me of the wealth that awaits just a simple reply from me to my Nigerian friends...until today!
From: Mr.Micheal Elton
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 6:42:29 AM
Subject: Fund Release Order!!!
Attention,
Get back to me immediately for necessary steps concerning your inheritance, Sequel to your none - reply of my earlier email to you last three (3) weeks. On behalf of the Trustees and Executors to the Will of your deceased relation,
I wish to notify you that your name appeared in the codicil and last statement of the deceased and you entitled to his fund US$10,000,000.00 deposited with a Bank here and the bank here has made me know that the US$10,000,000.00 will be release to you through their paying centre Access Bank of Nigeria,Also you are advised to reconfirm to me your details as required below to enable the Access Bank of Nigeria release of your funds worth of US$10,000,000.00 to your account.
Below information are required to provide for the proceed and process with your payment file.
Your full name
Your address
Your sex
Your age
Telephone number
Fax number
Your occupation:
Regards,
Barrister Micheal Elton
Tel: +234-702 768 2606
michealelton007@googlemail.com
I was beginning to feel a bit left out. Glad I can now say I relate to those people who have been the victim of a Nigerian bank scam. I can see why so many people fall for this. I mean, the mastery of grammar alone makes this so convincing!
Started on the West Coast, spent time on the East Coast, now back on the West Coast. Seen some of the stuff in between and trying to work on the stuff on the outside.
