♫ Just another manic Thursday ♫

On Monday, I began attending the Partial Program at Arbour Counseling. I enjoy talking about my state of mind and past history, but I do not enjoy other aspects of group therapy. I feel it is not time-efficient for me, and it often induces boredom. I am attending the program because it is one of my parents’ wishes that I need to comply to in order to continue living in their home. 

So how do I feel? Mixed emotions. I am not enjoying my time currently as much as I enjoyed my time in distant lands.

I have reflected on my past, and I have come to certain conclusions. I have a history of erratic, impulsive behavior. I keep juggling my soccer ball in various locations for the thrill of it, and I have a history of traveling to foreign lands (Havana, Mexico City, Montreal, and Washington D.C.) for similar reasons. I also blab about my blog a lot (https://jeffreytfarrell.blogspot.com). Since I have been able to travel alone off of the money I made independently, I can conclude that I was high-functioning before the hospital stay (except for the day of the incident). I was able to stay in Mexico City and function independently for 3 months (the longest I have stayed in one foreign country), and this was without being on any medication. I was also sociable and made friends, and I have kept in touch with them via Facebook and Instagram. 

A counselor at Arbour Counseling indicated I may very well be manic. Do I object? Not really haha. I do not know how severe something has to be to qualify as meeting the criteria for a particular condition. 

In addition to (mild?) mania, I think I am currently experiencing dissociative identity disorder. During the hearing at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, I brought up the possibility that I might have multiple personality disorder (the old term for dissociative identity disorder), since my current symptoms (which are subject to change) currently seem more in line with mania and dissociative identity disorder rather than schizophrenia. I’m no psychiatrist, but I am skeptical of the diagnosis placed on me during the hearing. I will bring this up to my counselors tomorrow. 

I was told by a fellow patient during my hospital stay that the records related to my hearing would be at Newton District Court, so I contacted them for copies of the records. I used this site to request them: https://newtonma.nextrequest.com/. If you want to know what happened during my hearing, I suggest you make a request yourself. Details related to my hearing and hospitalization are here: https://jeffreytfarrell.blogspot.com/2018/11/hospital-souvenirs.html

Recently, I created a book from my blog (it’s autobiographical). I figured it would be useful for constructing a proper diagnosis for my current state of mind, so I printed out a copy and gave it to one of the counselors at the Partial Program. I would like all the counselors to see it, as it provides insight to my mind and a more complete picture of who I am and what I’ve been up to lately. There is a Kindle version of my book and you are welcome to read it if you’d like. https://www.amazon.com/Jeffrey-Thomas-Farrell-Man-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07KRN1K56/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1542908520&sr=1-1&keywords=Jeffrey+Thomas+Farrell

Some Documents (Photos)

Hospital Souvenirs (Photos)

My Recent Trip - Mexico, Cuba, and Canada (Photos)

My Recent Trip. Chronicled with photos of ticket stubs, receipts, and my soccer balls.

Mexico City, Mexico -> Havana, Cuba -> Montreal, Canada -> Boston, MA -> Dedham, MA (home)

Back Home

On Friday, I was discharged from Newton-Wellesley Hospital after a month of being confined against my will. I certainly enjoy the greater freedom I have on the outside, along with the increased computer usage.

So how do I feel? Actually a tad worse than the days leading up to the incident. I was cranky on the day of the incident, but before that, I was blissfully content juggling in D.C. and eating their overpriced pizza. Maybe I need to juggle a soccer ball again to get back into a good mood.

I don't really experience depression...ever (well, nearly ever). In general, I'm more likely to be anxious than depressed and more likely to be bored than anxious. I get bored very easily, and I need to be entertained almost constantly. I have been like this since I was a child, and I have coping mechanisms for it; when hospitalized, my coping mechanisms are removed.

And I am currently not hearing voices in my head. I keep repeating this, because people ask me a lot. I heard voices in my head a year ago, but they suddenly stopped. It actually confuses some people when I tell them this. Perhaps other symptoms I've been experiencing are co-morbid with hearing voices?

I am however experiencing other mental and bodily changes. My memory has been in decline...at the age of 26. Perhaps this is due to the meds? My speech might have been affected by the meds too; I experienced an increase in the usage of malapropisms during my hospital stay (this didn't occur at all before the stay...). Luckily, now that I'm out, I haven't noticed myself saying any blatant verbal mistakes in the past couple days. People also tell me I look different, and that my appearance fluctuates greatly. I did gain weight at Newton-Wellesley Hospital...

Do I regret traveling? Absolutely not. I had the time of my life in Mexico, Cuba, Canada, and D.C. Perhaps coming back was a bad idea...Massachusetts police might be a tad stricter than in other places, but I don't really know. Maybe Cuban police would have done the same; I do not know their policy and how it differentiates from that of where I'm from. Since I wasn't actually going to attempt suicide, I would have preferred that the police chilled with me and then departed after I indicated I wouldn't actually kill myself. But instead, I was brought to a hospital against my will, where I faced approximately-one-month detainment and afterward received a bill in the mail. It was an 842-dollar Facebook post haha. At least I was introduced to Lactaid in the hospital. That stuff tastes great.

Oh, and here’s the video I promised everyone:

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/733306797055758/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpP6GtRKtL0

Here’s to sitting on the couch eating pizza haha

Another Day At Newton-Wellesley...

My health insurance is all squared away now. Everything related to it will take effect Tuesday next week. When I wake up Tuesday (Nov. 13) , the Partial Program will be funded for me.

My meds were just increased. Before, I took meds only at nights, but now I have morning meds too. I’m not quite sure why this change was brought about, as I do not know what symptoms are being exhibited to cause such a shift.

What have I been up to? I’ve mostly been chilling here, chatting to everyone in English and Spanish. Me gusta practicar mi espanol. Some of the people who speak Spanish here don’t like talking to me in Spanish, and they ignore me. Some of them talk to me in Spanish though, like a female custodian I recently met. Ella es muy simpatica.

I also printed out a PDF on Esperanto, in the hopes of learning this language. I’m starting to have second thoughts though. I might prefer learning a language like French, which is more actively used.

My mom told me she’d bring in an iPod (I’ve never actually used one), which will help pass the time. I might be able to put learning resources on the device, so I can study and walk about.

I’m not sad or nervous here currently (people keep asking). Just really bored haha

The next step in my journey...

Right now, I am currently at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I am not permitted to leave, and I was brought here against my will Oct. 19, 2018.

When I am released, I plan on going home. I want to take a picture or video of myself eating pizza on the couch by the window in the living room.

I want to attend the Partial Program at Arbour Counseling in Jamaica Plain, the same place as last time. I intend to attend the program for its 2 week duration. One of the counselors speaks Spanish. And unlike last year, I will be able to converse with her in Spanish. I already left Betsy (my favorite counselor) a voicemail detailing my current situation and my desire to continue the Partial Program in the near future (as soon as I depart from Newton-Wellesley Hospital). I already contacted my social worker about my current lack of health insurance, and she has stated that she pinged my financial counselor about the matter.

If I had it my way, I’d be out of Newton-Wellesley Hospital today (obviously...to anyone who has spoken with me or read my Facebook statuses) and in the Partial Program. I like freedom very much.

How I Learned Spanish

Spanish was not spoken in my house as a child; my father’s side of the family is of Irish ancestry, and my mother’s side of the family is of Scottish and British ancestry.

Growing up, I took basic classes in middle school and high school. I learned only enough to barely survive in a Spanish-speaking country.

Then, May 11 this year, I actually flew to Mexico City and lived there for a few months. I used AirBnb for lodging, at first living on Calle 174 in Venustiano Carranza with a girl my age named Astrid and her mother. The house was within walking distance from the international airport.

Immersion was key to my success in learning Spanish. To basically function, I had to use this foreign tongue. I read signs on the street and labels on products in stores. Also, in the action of merely purchasing an item, I got to practice Spanish. Going to the local Walmart for the first time was quite the experience...

I frequented the market close to where I resided, and I offered free English lessons to workers in the market (also those in surrounding stores). English is highly valued in Mexico City, as it increases earning potential there. I improved my Spanish through teaching English; it was mutually beneficial.

In this same market, I purchased books full of Condorito comic strips. Reading Condorito was an excellent means of learning Spanish, as there are pictures and the strips’ text consists mainly of dialogue.

I learned most of my Spanish in Mexico, as I was there for a substantial amount of time (3 months).

I was in Havana, Cuba for 3 weeks, and I practiced my Spanish further. No new technique was adopted in Cuba that I hadn’t used in Mexico.

Since I returned home, I’ve practiced with Latinos on the bus and train. I greet them and ask them if they want to converse in Spanish with me. East Boston in particular is an area of Boston with many Latinos. It seems that nearly half the people there speak Spanish. I’ve gone there to practice my Spanish, buying items in stores out of politeness.

So far, I’m merely conversational in Spanish; I am by no means fluent. But I’m improving bit by bit haha. Poco a poco jaja

My Character Profile Pt. 2 (Subject to Change)

• likes having a cluttered bedroom although insists on organization in other areas of life
• fast typist. Used AIM a lot as a kid.
• willing to take risks in the face of great uncertainty
• oftentimes does not realize the consequence of certain actions, whether the consequence is positive or negative.
• attracted to women and sometimes men who look like women.
• has a huge range of women he is attracted to. Specifications: 18-40, any ethnicity, but recently Latina and African. Tastes fluctuate.
• has only had one long-term relationship (~1 year) with a woman a few years younger than him. Usually has trouble getting dates due to fear of initiation, trouble with social cues, and whatever his current life situation happens to be at the time (this fluctuates)
• is very good at making friends and acquaintances but struggles in getting a female companion. Amuses women by creating humorous situations, but he has no idea how to proceed from there. God only knows how he managed to have that relationship haha.
• had other sexual encounters that occurred only due to his other more desirable traits. Failed to continue due to a combination of his persona and a lack of picking up on “hints” on what to do or how to further proceed.
• music is an important part of his life. Taste in music: classic rock mostly. Favorite bands: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, NY Dolls, The Clash, Genesis (Peter Gabriel era), The Kinks. Reads about music thoroughly yet plays no instrument.
• continues to maintain living at his parents’ house as a permanent residence despite often (and often not) having adequate resources to move out. Prefers cutting costs and likes his childhood home. Realizes it is a tad weird to still be at his parents’ place at his age (26). Has definitely considered moving out, but doesn’t foresee it in the immediate future.

D.C. Adventure

I acquired a permit for street performances in the city of Cambridge, MA. https://www.instagram.com/p/BogpNpZnEdQ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
I busked (did street performances for cash) in Harvard Square and outside the student center of MIT. I barely made any money (only enough to buy pizza each time), but I enjoyed it quite thoroughly.

In a conversation with one of my Mexican friends via Facebook Messenger, it was recommended that I try busking in NYC or D.C., as there are more people in these locations. Hence, I said goodbye to some Dedham acquaintances (workers at the library, 7-Eleven, Dunkin Donuts, etc.) and set off for D.C. I took a Greyhound bus from South Station to Union Station. In South Station, I got bored, and a kind stranger took a video of me juggling. https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/715810115472093/?l=3630352978807989837

I was in D.C. from Oct. 10, 2018 to Oct. 18, 2018 (roughly? I don’t recall exactly. You can check the dates of my YouTube videos or FB posts to confirm).

I juggled my soccer ball while in Union Station, and I befriended some of the Latino staff by speaking Spanish. Here is a video of me playing at Union Station:
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/714170035636101/?l=7859024851627680739

I later played at Dupont Circle. I have two videos of me juggling my soccer ball there, on different days.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/714500192269752/?l=563594934775327379
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/715656242154147/?l=52505063809180427


Later, I played in front of the White House. I wanted to play in front of a notable landmark and what better choice than the White House?

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/715986398787798/?l=1865552809714146480

My Mexican friend Jonas made a request, and I followed through with this: video: 

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/716451858741252/?l=989143890522974827


My Bostonian friend Diane requested a postcard, but I didn’t feel like getting one, so I dedicated this video to her:

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/716902108696227/?l=8130386701706310397


I made a brief one-day sojourn in NYC. I busked in Times Square and used the money to return to D.C. Here is a video of me juggling in Times Square (not for money at the time):

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/714866885566416/?l=7358217783590135677

Where did I stay during my trip to D.C.? I slept during the bus rides to and from D.C. and spent my final night at Central Union Mission, a homeless shelter close to Union Station. The people there remember me for my soccer juggling.

My Character Profile (Subject to Change)

• Enjoys making light of dire situations as a coping mechanism 
• Does not think through many actions; other actions, he thinks things through quite thoroughly 
• Erratic 
• Has a need to fixate on a task and see it through to completion before moving on to another task, unless another task pops into his head this is of greater importance 
• Does not like authority, especially corrupt or incompetent figureheads 
• Stalls when conflicted with a troublesome situation with no clear resolution 
• Emulates many of his father’s mannerisms, including hand and arm gestures 
• Lies when trying to protect himself, but is otherwise more honest and open than average 
• Prefers friends to family members currently; this was different in the past 
• Easily makes friends and acquaintances utilizing his desire for socialization 
• Acquired his social skills from his father 
• Above average intelligence, but lately, intelligence fluctuates greatly 
• Declining memory 
• Memory for names is terrible, but memory for events and details persists 
• Likes dark and snarky humor 
• Currently fluent in English and highly conversational in Spanish. Likes showing off his newly-acquired Spanish skills 
• Resents captivity especially when initiated by force, and even more especially when initiated by an authority rather than a peer 
• Likes and forms affection with peers in contrast to his feelings toward authority 
• Dislikes generalizations when applied to himself but makes them regardless to readily make sense of the world 
• His appearance fluctuates greatly. He prefers consistancy in appearance, except when it applies to haircuts 
• Hates being chubby 
• Wishes the world would be honest and forthright, since the truth should speak for itself and allow for a commonly-agreed upon outcome. People lie out of convenience, tradition, etc. He feels it is sometimes justified but usually isn’t 
• 26 years old. His age explains much of his behavior. For instance, since he is single and without children, he can more readily travel. He is also at a more sensible age to “play the field” and still merely consider settling down. Many people presume he is older and are baffled by his behavior. 
• Does not like being called “sir”. He believes it should be reserved for older persons. 
• Is nonviolent, even in situations when it is practical to do so. 
• Likes walking. Used to jog. Also likes soccer and chess. 
• Is losing consistency in personality and other behaviorial patterns; they seem to adjust depending on the environmental circumstance 
• Is very analytic 
• Does not like tradition or rigid thinking; believes society should be flexible and readily adapt to change. More greatly venerates societies with more “rebelious” people, such as the Cubans 
• Can readily overlook flaws in others if they have redeeming qualities 
• Adapts well to change; outlook on life quickly flexes to accommodate his newly-acquired situation 
• Thinks temporary chaos is justified for long-term improvement of the world; chaos is sometimes necessary to correct an injustice 
• Thinks certain cherished and grave institutions should be opted for casualization 
• Atheist 
• Thinks the poor should be provided for somehow, and certain public programs are necessary for providing a baseline standard of living and improving the lives others by indirectly correcting some of society’s ills 
• Feels his behavioral patterns and intentions are often different from others which leads to great confusion and misunderstanding. You can’t think “what would I do in Jeffrey’s shoes?” You must think “what would Jeffrey do in Jeffrey’s shoes?” 
• Prefers being called Jeff rather than Jeffrey generally. In some contexts, Jeffrey is acceptable: from parents, close friends, or out of humor. His own usage of Jeffrey is in a jocular manner. 
• Bites nails not out of nervousness but rather out of habit (developed as a kid)

My Recent Trip - Pt. 4: Postlude

Part 1 - Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-1-mexico/700444917008613

Part 2 - Cuba: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-2-cuba/700475937005511/

Part 3 - Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-3-canada/700499207003184/

All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos

and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80

There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater

================================================================

So what did I learn on my trip? Mainly Spanish haha. Reading and writing are quite easy for me in this language. Listening and speaking are more difficult. I can understand most of what people on the street say in Spanish, but I struggle in understanding television in this language (demasiado rapido/too fast). My accent is weird, and depending on the situation, I have problems. The words that I do know are based on only the situations I’ve been in. For example, I don’t know how to say “twelfth” in Spanish, but I know many chess terms in Spanish because I played chess during my trip. I actually taught the basics of chess to a few people in Spanish, and I still can’t say certain words that Spanish-speaking kindergartners use routinely.

Another question I’ve been asked: how did I fund my trip? Using the money I had saved from my last job. To me, this seems like it would be an obvious answer, but people ask.

If you want to see my work history, here is my LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-thomas-farrell/

I also have a GitHub page:

https://github.com/linksapprentice1

Now I’m back home at 22 East Riverside Drive, Dedham, MA. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.700132667039838&type=1&l=b590df2bd2

A few days after returning home to Dedham, for the first time in my life, I’m noticing some gray hairs, which is quite unusual given my age (26) and heredity. The people here also don’t appreciate my soccer playing as much as in other countries. Some people are quite nice though, and they take videos when I request them:

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/682347435485028/

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/688443068208798/

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/702062746846830/

My plans? I’m looking for quick cash. I could get a formal job, but that takes more time. So I’m considering these options (in order of preference):

1. panhandling while juggling my soccer ball in downtown Boston, Chinatown, or Harvard Square. I was told I need a permit for this and that it can be obtained in a day.

2. playing chess for money in Harvard Square. The people in Harvard Square often make very small wagers over games they play ($5 or less).

3. freelance programming work on Craigslist or a similar site. I’ve done this a couple times, but the gigs are hard to come by.

4. teaching Spanish. The problem with this is that my Spanish is quite bad compared to native speakers, and I feel uncomfortable teaching something I’m bad at.

My Recent Trip - Pt. 3: Canada

Part 1 - Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-1-mexico/700444917008613

Part 2 - Cuba: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-2-cuba/700475937005511/

Postlude: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-postlude/700500773669694/

All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos

and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80

There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater

================================================================

On Sep 1, 2018, I took a flight from Havana to Montreal, Canada. Why Canada? The flight was rather cheap, and I had never been to Canada before. I spent the day in Canada, and the first thing I did was buy a new soccer ball (my red one). Soon later, one of the Canadians kindly took a video of me juggling the soccer ball outside a McDonalds.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/677530259300079/

The ball, although decent, is not quite as good as the ball I used in Cuba. It’s noticeably smaller. It said it was a size 5 when I bought it...

Afterwards, I did some sight-seeing, and I juggled the ball in front of some Canadians who were curious as to why I was carrying a soccer ball around. That night, every hotel I visited was fully-booked (like 10 of them), so I ending up staying up all night in Battle Cyber Cafe (for 25 dollars I could use one of their computers from midnight to, if I recall correctly, 10 am). The next afternoon, I boarded a Greyhound bus headed to Boston. I arrived in Boston that night and took a taxi to my family’s house in Dedham.

My Recent Trip - Pt. 2: Cuba

Part 1 - Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-1-mexico/700444917008613

Part 3 - Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-3-canada/700499207003184/

Postlude: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-postlude/700500773669694/

All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos

and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80

There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater

================================================================

I left Mexico City for Havana, Cuba on August 8, 2018. Yet again I used Airbnb. I lived in Vedado my whole stay, but I lived in two different houses. The first house was near Fabrica de Arte and Parque Lennon. I used the park near Hotel Cohiba for internet. The Cubans were quite nice, and they showed me the ropes. They taught me how to use Zapya for bluetooth file sharing, and in addition, they assisted me in making videos. The second house was near Hotel Presidente and Habana Libre. I played soccer in the local parks. I befriended a group of kids through soccer, and they assisted me in finding my own soccer ball in Havana. I paid them some money, and in exchange, they, in a group, led me to what appeared to be a tiny mall attached to Habana Libre. There, I purchased my green soccer ball, which was of pretty high quality (much better than the red ball I would later purchase in Canada, but we’ll touch upon that in Pt. 3). Hotel Presidente was my go-to internet spot. I befriended the staff there, and I juggled my soccer ball to entertain them. Using internet here cost 2 dollars an hour, but unlike the park ($1 an hour) where I could only use my phone, here, I could use their computers. Mucho más fácil jaja.

Oh yeah, using internet in Cuba generally costs money. People pay money to buy cards that specify login credentials to use internet for a specified amount of time. I would buy card after card haha.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/655622051490900/

I quickly developed a reputation for my soccer-playing in the area. Neighborhood kids would ask me to juggle in front of them. One day, very close to the end of my stay, I had my umbrella (in case of rain), and I juggled with the umbrella in front of a bus full of people. Multiple people on the bus whipped out their phones and took videos. About 10 minutes later, a pedestrian took a video with my phone of me doing the same, and I uploaded it to Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/672660563120382/

One difference I noticed in Cuba compared to the U.S. (and a lesser degree Mexico) is the people’s excitement whenever I played soccer. They REALLY liked it when I played soccer in Cuba. After seeing me play, people would treat me like their best buddy. Americans just don’t care or at times even get annoyed with me. And Americans NEVER take videos unless I explicitly request for them. Cubans took videos without asking for their own personal usage.

In Havana, I have a larger reputation for soccer than chess. In Boston, I have a larger reputation for chess than soccer. I did however play some chess during my stay in Havana. At first, I only played people in the street.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/648528982200207/

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/648542085532230/ 

Soon later, I went to Club Capablanca and played a strong player there (2157). We played a few matches. I won the first and lost the rest. The videos on Facebook are of the second match.


https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/654622764924162/

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/654900718229700


I lost a bit more weight in Cuba, especially during the period I was sick (gastroenteritis).


On my way out of Cuba, airport security took my green ball from me. I was told I was not allowed to bring the ball on the plane. I took a picture for my Facebook of the last time I saw my ball.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=673909612995477&set=pb.100011293339179.-2207520000.1536680411.&type=3&theater

My Recent Trip - Pt. 1: Mexico

Part 2 - Cuba: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-2-cuba/700475937005511/

Part 3 - Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-3-canada/700499207003184/

Postlude: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-postlude/700500773669694/

All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos

and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80

There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater

================================================================

First, I went to Mexico, Mexico City specifically. My flight from Boston was on May 11, 2018. There was a layover in Dallas. I used Airbnb for lodging. I got a room for about $10 a night in Venustiano Carranza right near the airport. Some of the places I frequented were: the park on Calle Oriente 172 and Calle Oriente 168, Mercado Moctezuma, White and Black Coffee, and Herbalife club Nutricional on Nte 33.

What did I do in Mexico?

Well, first I concentrated on learning Spanish. I taught English for free to various people in Mercado Moctezuma (workers and their children) and surrounding stores. I found that teaching English in Spanish was an excellent way to learn Spanish and at the same time help others out. English is much more useful to people in Mexico City than Spanish is to people in the Boston area.

Later on, I started playing soccer in the local park. I would mostly play with teenagers, but sometimes I would play with kids and adults. They would often cheer me on and call me “gringo” (what they call white people from the U.S.). Near the end of my stay in Mexico City, a friend took a video of me playing in the street with a newly-made friend:

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/644883345898104/

I played chess with people in Mexico, but I played soccer more often. It was easier and more convenient to hop into soccer games than try to convince people to play me in chess. I did however play some chess in the airport and with people in some of the stores.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=636694753383630&set=t.100011293339179

Toward the end of my stay in Mexico, I moved into a $5 a night room in a different house. This house was very close to the other house I had stayed at. Unlike the first location, I was allowed to invite guests to my room at will here. I brought Mexican women back to my room and played them in chess haha.

Speaking of women, on average, the women in Mexico City are more flirtatious than women in Boston. I suspect it is because gringos are highly sought-after there. A lot of women I hung out with were clearly just friends. The thing was, I was clearly getting much more attention in Mexico City than Boston. Now, here I am, sitting in the Boston area, 26 and single haha.

Que más? The food is VERY cheap in this area. And high quality too. There are various venders in the street selling tacos, pambazos, and various other Mexican food. The pambazos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pambazo#/media/File:PambazosDF.JPG) only cost about 20 pesos or 1 USD! If you stick to eating street vender food, you basically get small restaurant quality food in the U.S. for about a dollar or two in Mexico City haha. Oh, and the tacos are way better here than in the U.S. They put lime in their tacos, and the ingredients are just higher quality. Oh, and lime is huge here. They put lime in practically everything: soup, meat, smoothies, etc. They also put ketchup on pizza, and they eat different cheeses. Oaxaca and chihuahua (my favorite!) are very popular here.

One cultural difference is that smoking is much more popular here than the Boston area. For example, no one in my family smokes.

I was in Mexico City for about 3 months, and I learned the bulk of my Spanish there. By the end of my stay, I could say much more than “Quieres jugar ajedrez conmigo?”

There were other changes. I lost weight quite rapidly in Mexico, even though I was eating the same amount I was at home. I bought a few shirts in Mexico City, like the Mario shirt and Duff one. I also made a ton of friends there, to the degree it felt necessary to write many of my Facebook posts in Spanish. My Facebook page is now bilingual haha.

My Background Summary

Age: 26. 22 East Riverside Drive, Dedham, MA. YouTube playlist (~33 videos): https://bit.ly/2R01J89

I was born on April 6, 1992 to Jeffrey Farrell and Darlene (Thomas) Farrell. My father’s side is of Irish ancestry, and my mother’s side is of Scottish and British ancestry. I have two siblings: an older sister Madison and a younger brother Mackenzie (Mack for short).

I grew up on 22 East Riverside Drive, Dedham, MA in a middle class home.

I was a late talker. I was told that, at a young age, my older sister would often speak on my behalf.

I started playing soccer at about age 5. I also played hockey at a young age, but I quit it early on in life. I was more interested in progressing in soccer. I picked up chess a tad later in life, probably around third or fourth grade.

I attended Riverdale for elementary school. My favorite teachers were the male teachers (male teachers understood me better). Mr Capone was my fourth grade teacher. Mr Hazel was my fifth grade teacher. I also held my gym teacher Paul Pedolski in high regard. He was later my coach for high school soccer.

My middle school (junior high) was a tad unusual in that it only housed sixth and seventh grade. After my time there, a new middle school was built, and it houses sixth through eighth grade.

In high school, I did soccer, chess, and track. Although in adulthood I don’t run often, I do walk a lot in place of jogging. I attended Dedham High School from 2006 to 2010.

For college, I attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I majored in Computer Science. Originally, I intended to dual major in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, but I dropped the latter major to graduate earlier. Bram van Heuveln was a professor of mine for multiple classes, and I hold him especially in high regard for his skepticism, above-average intelligence, and overall attitude on life. Students there generally call him by his first name Bram. I made many friends and acquaintances in college, and I have kept in touch with more friends from college than high school. I graduated in 2014 and entered my next stage of life. I opted not to attend the graduation ceremony, so received the diploma in the mail. Here is a photo of my diploma: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=688520448201060&l=f837fd0f5d

I became quite the job hopper, holding a series of programming-related jobs for a few years. The most recent jobs were at CABEM Technologies in Newton, MA and Jassby in Waltham, MA. A more thorough look at my job history is on my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-thomas-farrell/

Here's a souvenir from my last job:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTDkIOFURf/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

I also worked at Whole Foods briefly in between jobs. I was a dishwasher. The people there were quite nice to me, but the job was not for me. I am better suited to coding...and soccer juggling, for that matter.

Recently, I’ve traveled a bit, which isn’t too surprising considering my age and adventurous personality. I visited Mexico, Cuba, and Canada recently, and I also made a short trip to D.C. I’ve settled back home in the Boston area, and right now, I am writing this at Newton Wellesley Hospital. I am frequently bored here, and writing is one of the few means I have to entertain myself.