My lastest exchange with Noam, today:

 Hi Linh, 

Thanks for your encouraging words! Interestingly, I have a friend who recently moved to Mexico. He was worried about encroaching vaccine mandates in the US (specifically New York), but I think he really just wanted to get out and experience something different. And practice his Spanish. He’s now teaching English at a private school in Chiapas, where they provide him with an apartment and 600 USD a month. He has invited me to come down there and visit him, and I may just take him up on it! First I need to save some money, and find out what I’m doing here. 

Another thing is that my friend K. is planning on visiting Vietnam in the near future. He’s a very interesting dude who works six months out of the year and travels the rest. Would it be okay if I shared your contact info with him? Or his with you? I’m sure he would appreciate having a connection while he’s there. 

I also hear what you’re saying about New York. I keep returning to it in my mind (and twice in person since I’ve moved here), but something is off, intuitively. Recent events confirm my fears, if only anecdotally. 

I’ve been to Marfa, last summer—I loved it. I love the desert, the emptiness, the nature, the sense of isolation and unbroken wilderness. I remember you telling me, way back when, that the desert in Texas is magnificent. I have yet to visit Big Bend, but I really want to go soon. 

And I’ve been meeting people! Going out, playing pool, talking with strangers—I’m getting kinda good at it. Right now money is my biggest and most immediate concern, since Uber has been very quiet lately and I’ve been having trouble breaking even. 

Oh and my roommate D., with whom I’ve grown quite chummy, has floated the idea of moving to Portland. He lived there for a while and is considering moving back in August. He says he can find me a place to stay. I’m toying with the idea, trying to see how serious he is, and how serious I am. What’s important is that I’m making moves, or realizing that I can make them. 

Actively,

Noam

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Hi Noam,

If Kyle needs tips about Vietnam, I'll be glad to provide them.

Don't move to Portland! It's a horrible idea. It's beautiful up there, but the people have gone mad!

Do try Mexico. Even with limited Spanish, you'll have a great social life there.

I suggested Mexico because it's very accessible, and very easy to get in. If you don't like it, you can return to Texas.

Marfa is very cool, but so are all those little towns around there, such as Alpine. The problem is how to make money in those places.

Sounds like you're becoming saner and saner, and also more confident and savvy, so that's good.


Linh

 

 

 

[Noam is mentioned in my "Vietnam's Favorite Lev, My Hasidic Son and An Old Man Smelling His Fingers "]

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