About Me

Hey! I'm Stefan and I’m in the process of trying to "get out of my own way". I'm learning to laugh at myself and not take myself - or life - so seriously.

I've lived most of my life in the South – Tennessee and Georgia  – and grew up with very strict, religious but loving parents. Yes, I appreciate them and what they stand for to this very day. However, I’m a late bloomer in a lot of ways.

I returned to college to finally get my Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at Georgia State University when I was …let’s just say I was quite a bit older than the traditional college student (LOL). After FINALLY graduating and being involved in an often tumultuous long-term relationship, I decided to move to New York City!  Yes, the Big Apple!  And this is where the birth of this blog begins.

New York City!!!  The BIG APPLE! Yes, New York opened me up. If it wasn’t for New York and the city’s millions of challenges and rewards, I wouldn’t be here now. NYC is/was THRILLING, BEAUTIFUL, EXHILIRATING but...CHALLENGING in so many ways - relationships, jobs, apartments, even washing your clothes and waiting for seemingly hours in line at the ATM.

Well, after getting laid off for the third (yes, third) time from yet another dead-end, clone drone job, I decided enough was enough.  The Higher Power was telling me, this wasn’t for me at this point in my life. So I went back to school to get my certificate to learn how to teach English as a Second Language.

After much, much stress of obtaining that, I packed up all by stuff, put it in a box and came to Quito, Ecuador to immerse myself in the Latin culture and take Spanish classes.  I decided I wanted to learn Spanish and teach English. I’ve been here now for three months and so far it has been an experience.

I haven’t started working yet as a teacher, as I’ve become so entrenched in trying to learn Spanish. It’s become like a challenge (an obsession maybe???) that I really want to conquer. I know it’s going to take time, but I at least want to have a good base. I’m not the most patient person though, and I’m sure you’ll often see my frustrations reflected in this blog.

After Quito, my next step is to go to Bogota Columbia in April to continue my Spanish studies, obtain an English-teaching job, and of course, share these experiences with you!  I'm going to see if I can make a go of this thing in Latin America for a whole year. Got it!  O.K. here we go!…………………………….