Latest / The Group Chat / Ep. 5 Around the World (feat. JC)

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Ep. 5 Around the World (feat. JC) · The Group Chat

• Carson: Hey everybody, welcome to the group chat. I'm Carson. Brandon: I'm Brandon. Carson: And today we're joined by my friend, JC, who is also an expat. JC: Bye everybody. Brandon: What's going on, JC? Carson: How you doing, JC: Just a, just an expert in a different country. Now. Carson: Yes, yes. But you've been an expat in many countries. I don't even know how many at this point. Brandon: Okay. JC: Poland is my seventh overall. Yeah. And not my... Carson: Seventh. Seventh. So can you tell us like how this all started? Like what gave you this overwhelming desire to travel the world indefinitely? JC: Well, after I finished high school, my dad told me, well, son, you've got a choice. Either you go to the army or you go to Europe. I'm like, I'll go to Europe. So, yeah. But the last thing my dad told me when they said goodbye at the airport, I was on my way to England. England was my first foreign country. Carson: That's a pretty easy choice. From where? I mean, I don't think anybody knows where you're from. JC: South Africa. South Africa. Anyway, so the last thing my dad told me at the airport was, you in two weeks. He thought I wasn't gonna make it. And ⁓ you know what? It was almost two weeks when my money ran out and I... And I needed... And I needed to find a job. Carson: South Africa. it's well calculated. JC: really fast. So the first job that I got was at living position as a waiter a small hotel in Loch Leven ⁓ Scotland. Incidentally, ⁓ lake is because Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned on a little castle ⁓ in the lake. Carson: shit. Okay. Wild. JC: in the Loch. Anyway, so I was there for a couple of weeks. I didn't take to waitering at first. But I think the biggest problem was I had no idea what those people were saying. People think Scottish people sound like Sean Connery. They don't. No, no, no, no. Carson: Nah. I was gonna say. Brandon: That's what I was gonna ask. How was the accent? Carson: You JC: I had this, there's an Australian guy who also worked at this hotel and I'll always remember guy came up to me he's like, fancy a fag? And I'm like, excuse me? ⁓ ⁓ the Australian guy starts laughing he's like, ⁓ he's asking if you want to go have a cigarette. ⁓ ⁓ Carson: So that's where you pick that up. Brandon: You JC: Yes, that's where I picked that up. No, so it's the... that was the first time that I really experienced sort of a cultural, like a culture shock, I was sitting around a table with all of these people and... might as well have been speaking Greek. I had no idea what anybody was saying. Everybody always had to ⁓ speak slow. ⁓ So think I was more of an annoyance than anything. ⁓ yeah, I got really sick after about two weeks. I don't know what was wrong. And then I had to go to ⁓ Birmingham ⁓ to exotic disease unit. because my parents phoned and my a couple of weeks before I left for England, I went on safari with my mum my uncle and cousin and stuff ⁓ and Kruger National Park where where they still have malaria. You have to have these ⁓ these take pills and stuff. But I didn't because ⁓ we only there for like ⁓ a like a long weekend or something. Carson: Mm-hmm. JC: ⁓ And my cousin went to the hospital with malaria. So my parents were very concerned that that I might actually have the disease because malaria only shows up I think if you have a headache and then they draw blood then they can pick up the virus. Otherwise, it's dormant. think I would like fact check me on this. ⁓ Carson: Boom. Yeah, yeah. Now we have a disclaimer at the beginning of the show, Yeah, yeah, don't worry. You're covered. Brandon: You're good, you're good, you're good. JC: Please fact check everything what our guests say. Anyway, so yeah, that was the start of my trip. ⁓ Carson: you So you came back after two weeks, you went back to South Africa after two weeks. Where'd you go next? JC: No, no, no, no, I had to go to the exotic disease unit in Birmingham in England. Yeah, so I stayed with my uncle and my aunt and my cousins in Solihull. Solihull is a small sort of town, well, it's not a small town really, but it's a nice town outside Birmingham, which is in the Midlands, it's in the middle of England. So I stayed with them for a little bit and then I... Brandon: to England. Carson: ⁓ yeah yeah. JC: ⁓ I don't know how much detail you want me to go into. Carson: Nah, no, whatever you want, man. I think it's just interesting that you've lived in so many places. I think just, what led you to the next place? Why leave? Where to next? What was your process? JC: and helping to I actually worked out that after I finished school and I first left my house, I've lived in 34 locations in my life, like moved to move my stuff from place to place. mean, here in Warsaw, I've lived in four different apartments and I've only lived here for three and half years. I move around a lot for some reason, which is probably why I don't own much because every time I move, I get rid of all the stuff so I don't have to trek it along with me. ⁓ Carson: You too. That's good. makes you like, it's not possible to be, yeah, efficient and not materialistic. So. JC: It's different. I'm not, I actually, I feel like I own too much now. Like next time I move, I'm gonna have to get rid of all this stuff that I've surrounded myself with the last couple of years. And I don't like that. But I also don't wanna pay storage. I wanna like put it somewhere in storage and then forget about it. Anyway. Carson: Yeah, no. That's an extra bill and then, yeah. JC: But after the UK, moved around in the UK a couple more times. ⁓ And then I wasn't quite ready to go back to South Africa yet. So I saw this ad ⁓ in the newspaper for camp counselors in the US. So I applied and went to the US. I was a camp counselor in Maine. It's about probably around an hour's drive from Portland, Maine in the woods. Absolutely fantastic experience. Loved it. That was in 2000. And then after that, I went back to South Africa. Carson: Thanks. Yeah, awesome. Brandon: Yeah. JC: lived with my dad for a little bit and then went back to the US. I did that same program again. Worked for the company that does the placements and stuff. And this was 2001. And I left the US. on the 9th of September from Boston Logan Airport two days before September 11th. I'll always remember going back home and I just got to my grandmother's in Pretoria. Carson: Wow, yeah, now I remember you telling me that. Brandon: That's wild. Carson: you JC: And I was heavily jet lagged, I was like sleeping. And I'll always remember my grand bursting into the room. He's like, come have a look, come look, America's on fire. I'm like, what? And this was just when the first plane hit the Twin Towers. So nobody really knew what it was. Everybody was just speculating. It's like, was it a malfunction? Was there some kind of navigational error? Brandon: No. JC: And then just then, think I was probably sitting watching the new CNN or something for about an hour or maybe less. I don't know how long between there. But then the second plane hit and everybody, because I know my grandmother and I think some of my cousins were also, we were all there just watching TV and everybody just went quiet because now everyone knew this was not an accident. Yeah. Carson: This is... Brandon: It's an attack. Carson: Yeah. JC: So I'll always remember that specific time. can remember where they were when those planes hit. Because it meant something. Not just for the US, I think for most people around the world. ⁓ Obviously more so for the US and for Americans in general. But I think the world sort of took a breath. Carson: Never forget. Brandon: Definitely. of for everyone. Carson: Yeah. JC: like wow, this really happened. This is going to lead to something. And I think a lot of what we're going through today still in the world is a cause, is an after effect of that day. ⁓ Carson: Totally. Brandon: Definitely. JC: some level. But anyway, so I went back. Then ⁓ started studying. ⁓ ⁓ a multimedia course. I my first job in Joberg, ⁓ started career, blah blah blah. ⁓ And I got a little restless. I lived in Johannesburg at the time. ⁓ And I really wanted to to move again. I wanted to travel. then I just for chits and giggles, I put my CV out on some some international job listings and stuff. Or I applied it to some agencies. And then that very next Monday, I got a call from an agent in London. And he's like, Listen, I've got this multimedia position for you in Malta. I'm like Malta is a Mediterranean small little island south of Italy Malta. And they're like, yeah, that's the very same. Would you be interested? And I'm like, are you kidding? Would you be interested in a high paying job in the Mediterranean on a party island? Yeah. ⁓ So I moved to Malta. Yeah, exactly. Carson: Yeah. You Brandon: You Carson: Absolutely. Sign me up yesterday. Brandon: Come on, I'm on my way. Carson: Yeah. JC: Exactly. Well, I had to go for a couple of interviews ⁓ I always remember my ⁓ the woman that I would then work for. ⁓ One of the questions during the interview was ⁓ she asked me, are you intimidated ⁓ by women in What? ⁓ ⁓ she asked me, are you intimidated ⁓ by women in What? ⁓ Carson: Hmm. He said, yes, of course, who isn't? Hmm. He said, yes, of course, who isn't? ⁓ JC: No, said, I said, well, I come from a family with very strong women. Like my grandmother's like the matriarch of the family. I'm, I'm, I'm okay with taking orders from women. And she's like, all right, good answer. Well, luckily I didn't have to lie because it's true. Like I still like, I was very close with my grandmother, but she was a, she was a force of nature. She, she's Brandon: See you on Monday. Carson: It's the truth. Yeah. JC: ⁓ She, in her own words, I'm the best person in the world, just don't mess with me. She's that kind of person. But anyway, so I moved to Malta. I lived in Malta for a while. Absolutely loved it. Went to Italy quite a few times. Yeah, yeah, it's very, very easy to go. I traveled around a lot. I went to Germany a couple of times. ⁓ Carson: Nice. Yeah, Yeah, it's a hop, skip and a jump, right? JC: during my stay in Malta. But Malta ⁓ like the summer was just excruciating and I had no air conditioning ⁓ there was constant dust storms flying like ⁓ ⁓ over the ⁓ the sea from Africa, ⁓ the Sahara. So it's always dust, ⁓ hot. ⁓ Carson: Huh. Yep, we got that here too. JC: ⁓ Yeah, you what mean. Anyway, so I didn't last for more than a year and a half. I had very good time there, but I thought it was just a little bit, the heat was just getting to me after a while. ⁓ So. Carson: ⁓ yeah. Yeah, you don't like hot climates. You don't do well with hot climates. That's kind of what happened in Spain as well. JC: Funnily enough, most of the places that I choose to go to is just very hot. I think the hottest place that I've been to, well, Mercia is pretty hot, but ⁓ I think that the hottest place or the hottest day in my life was, I this friend of mine, went to... This was when I was living in China. This was years later. went back to South Africa. started a career. was multimedia and then went into development and then studied software engineering. I was very much involved in the gaming industry. ⁓ But ⁓ anyway, so I... I went to China. This was when I gave up my career of 13, 14 years. I sold my house and my car and my furniture and everything and did an English teaching course. did a TESOL course. ⁓ I went to China. And I had a fantastic time in China. ⁓ I think it's... Carson: Yep. Yeah, I did, tuffle. Jaina, Jaina. JC: one of the most fascinating places that I've ever been to. I don't think you'd be hard-pressed to find a more generous population. The Chinese people are just absolutely beautiful, beautiful people. So I had a very, very good time in China, but like to my point, mean, this friend of mine, we went to Beijing and we were walking from... I think was the Sun Temple or something. And we walked across this bridge, but it's this concrete bridge. But it was just concrete everywhere. And the sun is this white stone. So the sun was just beating down from above and it was reflected back. It was almost hotter from the bottom than it is from the top. And we walking across this bridge, but the bridge just wouldn't end. Brandon: You JC: It was like we're on a roller coaster, not a roller coaster, like a train mall, sorry. And it's just, it kept on going. The more we walked, the less we get to where we want to go to. We both almost collapsed on the other side of the bridge. We found a tree and we both just collapsed. ⁓ That was probably the hottest time or the hottest day in my life. I was completely... Carson: You Brandon: Keeps going. Carson: wild. Did you remember the temperature? You remember what the temperature was? Or was it more just like the sun and the heat combined and... Brandon: It was hot. JC: It was I think it was more like this the sun and the humidity because China believe it or not even though China's quite far north but China is excruciatingly hot. The humidity there is beyond belief. I'm like the environmentalists are not going to like it but I never turned my AC off in my room in China because I didn't pay for the electricity and ⁓ Carson: I have no idea. Hmm. JC: I... Dude, my room was freezing. All right? Like, I kept it... I kept it so low, like you step into my room and... Yeah. I always remember that the backside of my... Where my porch was... There was always a puddle of water by my sliding door. Carson: That's very American of you. Brandon: Hey ⁓ Carson: I bet. Brandon: from the air conditioning. JC: Yeah, because I never turned enough. But yeah, so after after China, I had to go back home. My my mum was getting much worse. my sister and I decided that I should be the one to to go home and look after her. ⁓ And then after my mum passed away, I Carson: Crazy. JC: I sort of felt like I wanted to go back to Europe. ⁓ I was tempted to go back to China because I could actually see myself living in China. China is wonderful place. ⁓ But I thought I wanted to move closer to my sister and she's in England. So initially, I applied for jobs in Russia. But my sister kind of convinced me that there's a lot more Carson: Mm. JC: connections between England and Spain because I got a job in St. Petersburg and I got the job in Murcia through Conversa Spain. And that's what convinced me to go to Spain instead. So that's what I did. And I make coffee. And yeah, we had a good time. I had some good roommates, some questionable ones as well. Carson: Bye. You got the two jobs at once. Probably a good decision. We did. Yeah. Yeah, you never know what you're to get. It's true. JC: them. But they kept it interesting. Although apparently one of them wants to be dead. ⁓ Brandon: That always happens. Carson: ⁓ have they expressed such finite terms? JC: Yeah, they flew home with Emma once and Emma told me that, no, this guy's not forgiven me for not inviting him to the Christmas party or something. Okay. And it's just because everyone else said they will not come to the party if he's there because he's just messed his relationships up with absolutely everybody. So everybody was like, Brandon: serious. Carson: Christmas party. Brandon: It's a big deal, a big deal. JC: If he's gonna be there, I'm not coming. So of course he's not gonna be there and he didn't get that anyway. So apparently that's my fault. Yeah, if he ever sees this, that's why I should probably move from Warsaw, just in case. Brandon: Of course. Carson: It's all your fault, man. It's all your fault. Sorry, man. or cells to cover, you don't really live there, so. JC: I know. It's... It's... It's... It's... It's... It's... Brandon: Hey, or so. Carson: You Yes. JC: Belarus. Anyway, so yeah, after Spain, thought I might give a cooler country, cooler in terms of temperature. Love Spain, love Spain. Don't like the government much, but love Spain. Carson: No offense, Spain. No offense. Spain's pretty cool. Yeah. JC: ⁓ and yes I moved to Poland and it's been great. ⁓ I actually really like Poland and I love Polish people. ⁓ You have to just give them a while. They need to... Here at the university where I taught, a lot of my students were foreign and they kept on saying how... Carson: You Yeah, you seem to like it. Brandon: to warm up to you. JC: how rude Polish people are. Polish people are very rude and they don't like foreigners and I'm like, I don't think that's true. ⁓ No, Polish people, they need to decide whether you're a psycho first before they smile at you. They take their time, but they warm up really fast. They're not... Carson: No, you didn't get that vibe. What can you blame him, my man? JC: They're not overly friendly when you first meet them. ⁓ It takes a little work to get them to smile, but once they do, they're lovely. They really are. But it's a cultural thing, whereas in Spain, I found people are friendly and open from the get-go, but then closed off the longer you're with them. Carson: Later on. JC: Whereas here in Poland, it's the complete opposite. People tend to open up more the more they interact with you. And so I absolutely love Polish people. But yeah. Carson: Yeah, we. Mm. Sure. Nice. You think you'll stay there? You think you'll stay in Poland much longer? JC: Probably not. ⁓ Carson: What's next? JC: The biggest problem with Poland is the language. Polish is extremely difficult. Like I think I might have mentioned this here before we started. it's the couple of words that I know ⁓ I still get corrected on. ⁓ Which is ⁓ a good feeling, it's been here almost five years. ⁓ Brandon: Hahaha Carson: I mean, I've only been there once and I remember being completely lost. Like, I did not understand anything I saw or heard. It was like, completely different planet. Here you are. ⁓ That and the sun going down so early, which I mentioned. And it was winter, it was cold, it was wet, and I didn't know anything. But I had a good time. Brandon: Bye. JC: Uh-huh. Yeah. Well, you should come back. The skiing here is... it be right up your alley. It's like snowboarding and stuff. They sell really big... I... Huh? I thought you snowboarded. Brandon: You're always going have a good time. Carson: Yeah, it's true. Yeah, snowboarding. Yeah, snowboarding. I don't ski. I don't ski. I'm cool. I snowboard. Yes. I just don't want you to offend me with calling me a skier. mean, them's fighting words. You're sledder. Nice. At first I thought you said slayer. I'm like, you know we're live, Brandon: Okay. JC: ⁓ okay. Okay, well, I'm a Slayder. Brandon: See you JC: You Brandon: You JC: Is that a word? Slayton. Brandon: You JC: Speaking of which, I'm ⁓ busy listening to the audiobook of Game of Thrones, Dances with Dragons, where Sam says that people call him Sam the Slayer. And I'm like, yeah, that would be me if I was to say that. People would laugh too. JC the Slayer, sure. Brandon: Yeah. So. JC: Sorry. Carson: Sure, buddy. Brandon: So, okay. JC: Anyway, so yeah, that's all the places that I've been. Carson: Man, Brandon you have a question for him? I've got questions. Brandon: Do you think you would ever come back to Spain? Or is that something that's for sure done with? It's like too many places in the world to see. JC: I would love to go back to Spain. plan ⁓ is actually to save up a little and buy some property in Spain and get one of those Tesla homes ⁓ and live off the grid. Although I don't know if the socialist government in Spain would allow you to live off the grid. Carson: Well, come on. That'll be sweet. JC: don't know if that's a thing. Carson: Dude, here in Lanzarote, here in Lanzarote, people build houses by the sea out of stones and I'm sure nobody bothers them. Like, I don't think they live there year round. Are they what? Are they hooked up? Brandon: I think it'll work. JC: but are they hooked up? Are they hooked up to the grid? Carson: I bet you some of them have some solar panels and it's got to be super basic, but hey. Brandon: I think it's possible. think you can do it. I think you can. JC: I don't know if socialist governments allow that though. I mean, I know in Sweden, people have a lot of trouble when they start. If they want to live off grid. I don't think it's a well, I don't think it's prohibited. it's like, in terms of the socialist ideology is like if you can't have anything that you can't share with others, you know, so it's you. If you have your own electricity supply, then you have to share it with Brandon: This. Carson: Sure. Brandon: They make it difficult. Carson: Right. JC: the community or something. don't know. I don't know how that works. ⁓ Carson: Yeah, it's a bit, yeah, I see your point. Like sometimes you'd be surprised at just how much they control and attempt to control, even when it's something that like you should have every right to or to do, but it's not always so easy. JC: Yeah. I think the US probably lends itself more to that kind of thing where people with properties in the mountains and stuff, you can create your own world. What are they called? ⁓ No, no. These people that foresee the end times and they're preparing for it. What are they called again? Doomsday Preppers. Carson: Lots of rules. Brandon: Go do whatever. Carson: Tiny homes. Doomsday Preppers. Brandon: Yeah. ⁓ JC: I would love to do that. I would love to be a dream state prepper. Carson: Well, just hopefully you never have to actually see the doomsday. Just prepping. Just the prepsh- yeah. Brandon: But he's gonna be prepared. JC: You know what? You'll all be phoning my number when they... Brandon: Especially if you're in Spain. Carson: It's true. I just... Yeah. Yeah, why don't you do that over here? Brandon: I can find some land for you. JC: Well, that's the plan. That's a plan either Spain or here in the mountains here in Poland. But have you guys seen I actually saw this documentary. These guys Yes Theory. It's a bunch of guys that I started watching them a couple of months ago. It's these guys that go to these odd locations around the world. ⁓ Brilliant. Carson: Yeah. Mm. Yes theory. Sounds familiar. JC: brilliant channel on YouTube, please go check them out. But they have this thing about all the bunkers and stuff in Switzerland. Switzerland has enough space in their bunkers for all their citizens. So if... Carson: Mm-hmm. I did watch that actually. Or they did. I don't know if they do now, but they did. JC: Well, everybody in the country, all the citizens have an allocated bunker or something that they could go to if the need arises. So these guys were touring all of these private, and those are government ones, there's private bunkers too. And this one guy has tanks and stuff in his bunker. He took over a World War II bunker. It's insane. Carson: I saw that. Yeah. ⁓ yeah, and they're insane. Yeah! Yeah! Brandon: He's right here. Carson: It's like, bring it on, motherfucker. Can I say that? That's too low of a... JC: It's absolutely insane. It's definitely worth a watch guys, so just type in YesSiri on YouTube. Brandon: You just did. It was done. Have to check it out. Carson: Yeah, I think, I think we watched the very same video. That sounds exactly. Yeah. They were just going around and some, think. Yeah. They were able to visit most of them or all of them or whatever, but yeah, it was just like two or three guys going around and they would see the private ones. And then they talked to people, the citizens who, who, like you said, have their card or whatever, and they're allocated in the event of a crazy ass emergency. You would go here and insane, insane. Yeah. JC: Yeah? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. But isn't that just the most Swiss thing? Brandon: Prepared for anything and everything. Carson: Yeah, well, they were prepared. mean, they're like, no, we're not choosing sides, but if they want to come through here as treacherous as that would it would be going through the mountains with all that infantry and whatnot and equipment, like they're not getting in. They're not. It would just not be worth their while to even try. So. JC: Yeah. And I'm kind of wondering what else is in those mountains because I mean, the Swiss, they don't have a lack of money. ⁓ And what do you do if you're an isolationist neutral country in the middle of war like Europe? I mean, there's one thing the Europeans like is fighting each other. Well, not anymore so much. I mean, they did. They did do it throughout their history. Carson: No. They're doing all right. Yeah, hopefully, hopefully we're. Brandon: Huh. JC: ⁓ So yeah, I'm sure there's a lot of other toys that the Swiss government got hidden in those mountains. Carson: Hopefully they got it out of their system. Brandon: There's something. Carson: Pretty wild situation over there. JC: Anyway... Carson: But I was just, yeah, I mean, my question was firstly, which place was the hardest to get used to? When you were going to all these different countries, spending a year, two years or longer, which place do you think was like the most different or the most challenging because of the culture or lifestyle? What do you remember? JC: And well, I remember from the US the first couple of times I was there, people didn't know what I said. Brandon: You Carson: They didn't like it when you asked them for a fag? Brandon: Hahaha JC: I cannot imagine I can't imagine going to like New York or Boston and asking somebody for a fag like I cannot even picture that like I'm afraid like I would be dead like Carson: They're like, we don't use that word here, actually. Brandon: or come down to the South. Carson: Yeah. Probably wouldn't go over so well. Nowadays, I think people know more about culture and vocabulary, but. JC: baby You think? it's still a very British thing. It's still a very British thing. I'll do it in England. Brandon: I don't know, I don't know. Carson: Maybe I'm just biased, yeah. Brandon: Like we're lucky because we've been over here, we've seen a lot culture wise with a lot of different countries, but I think in general, in most places in the US, probably not. Carson: Yeah. Well, if you like in context, right? If you pass me a fag, that's different. If you fancy a fag, that can open up, you know, Pandora's box. JC: Yeah, did I? If you... So who's passed you a fag, Carson? Carson: Well, I don't smoke those. smoke cigarettes. I don't smoke cigarettes. I don't smoke cigarettes. I smoked cigarettes ⁓ a million years ago. No, I do not smoke for the record. No smoking. Smoking kills. JC: I would hope not. You don't smoke fags either? Brandon: Carson is healthy. JC: you Kassad, did I ever tell you what happened in Washington when I was dating this girl from Texas? And we were going to go down to Texas. Did I ever tell you that? Carson: Perhaps it's possible. Continue. JC: ⁓ All throughout the summer I was dating this girl from Texas. After camp we went down with some of the other people that we made at camp and made friends with our little friend group and we all went to Washington where one of them, ⁓ a couple, a married couple lived. So we decided to take the bus. down to Texas because I wanted to see as much of the country as I could. The 31 hour bus ride was not something that I am. I wasn't too keen on it. But anyway, so we know we went to the we went to the bus station in Washington and she went up to the counter and she said, all right, just Brandon: Ouch. Ouch. Carson: Hopefully. JC: a single ticket to San Antonio, Texas, please. And the guy's like, here's your ticket. And then I went up and said, I'll have the same ticket. And the guy literally just stared at me. And I'm like, sorry, didn't you hear me? I said I would like the same ticket. And then he looks at my girlfriend and he's like, what did he say? And I'm like, no, seriously, can't. Carson: Ha ha! JC: can't possibly and she was laughing so loud and she says all he said was he wants the same ticket as me and then the guy goes why didn't you just say so Carson: Yeah Brandon: Yeah. JC: Alright, but okay, this was 20 years ago. Alright, so I think I think things might have changed now because the last time I was in the US was much better. ⁓ Carson: You told, yeah, I remember you told me this. Just to... He wasn't getting your accent. He wasn't getting that. His brain was just not processing. JC: Dude, I've had like, said, like, that's what I love about the US is people are very interested in you when they when they hear that you have an accent that they can't place. Yeah, no, I've heard that a lot. in Texas, in Texas, I actually, I learned how to say that. Okay, wait for around your area. I always Brandon: It's like you're not from around here. Carson: You ain't from around these parts. Brandon: Texas. Carson: Texas is pretty thick, yeah, that's in there. Brandon: Yeah. JC: I always remember the girl that I dated when we finally got to San Antonio, we went to her parents who lived on this small holding outside the city. her mom was very keen on me. She worked at the university or something. So I think she was more sort of familiar with foreign accents and stuff. But her dad, he just sort of sat on the corner, glowered at me the whole time I was there. And then I asked my girlfriend, listen, what's with your dad? She's like... Brandon: Thanks. Carson: Mm. JC: He has no idea what you're saying. That's why. He doesn't understand you. So that was funny. But that happened a lot. Brandon: He doesn't understand you. Carson: Do understand where is that coming out of my mouth? That's hilarious. Well, it's like when you and I first met, I didn't understand a lick of what you were saying. Ah, I'm just kidding man. Just kidding. JC: our BS. No, this one girl, ⁓ she was in the beginning, she was very rude to me at camp. And then after a couple of weeks, we sort of put on a work team together and we sort of, and then I asked her straightforward, like, listen, why don't you like me? And she's like, no, no, no, it's not that it's just, I haven't been able to understand you at all. Only recently your accent started making sense to me. that's why. So yeah, that was my one thing in the US. ⁓ people generally, some of the conversations that I've had with people on buses and trains in the US, nowhere else in the world would you have these conversations with people. I remember on a train from Baltimore to Washington, Carson: think I can attest to that phenomenon. JC: I sat close to this one chick. was big. She was a girl. A lot of women. Yeah, big, big bones. And what she chose to share with me was something that I couldn't repeat over a public forum like this, but she was very descriptive in her nocturnal activities. Carson: Big Bump. JC: And I just thought this was probably the most American experience that I've had. Carson: just this oversharing, this like, ⁓ don't even know your name. ⁓ my God. She's like. JC: Yeah. Brandon: Sitting on a bus JC: Yeah, but you know what, if you you can't tell your life story to a complete stranger that you will never see again, there's nothing more objective than that, you know. Carson: No, it's like, it's in the end, no harm, no foul. But in the moment, you're just thinking like, I would never be sharing my life story. I don't care if I'm never gonna see you again. Like, this is a little too much, don't you think? Brandon: You You JC: Yeah, yeah, but for some people sharing boundaries is just not a thing. Carson: It's funny, but it's fascinating that does happen in the States a lot. I've it on my last trip even. My mom was confronted, not confronted, somebody approached her in the store. We were just checking out. And I was just like, I don't know, my personality has changed, but I was just trying to avoid the whole thing. I was just side eyeing it, like using my peripherals, like use your peripherals. I was like, don't make eye contact with this lady. She's going to ask you everything about your life. Brandon: You JC: Yeah? Brandon: END JC: I feel like I'm not Carson: but she was a sweetheart at the same time. Like my mom was not offended. And even I was not offended. I just, I see it as like major oversharing. Like, and it makes me wonder, like maybe this person's going through something. Maybe they're not getting enough love, or maybe they're just really happy to share all the personal details with strangers. It's a weird phenomenon, but it happens. Brandon? Yeah, yeah. JC: Mm-hmm. Brandon: Exactly. Especially when you're traveling. JC: Especially. Brandon: It happened when we were in last Easter when we were in the US. I think it was on the flight from, I think it was from Dallas to Knoxville. And these guys were waiting for the flight. I'm there with my wife, my niece, and my sister-in-law. And all of a sudden this guy just starts talking to me. And then after a Nudri is like, you know him? I was like, no. He's like, what do mean you don't know him? I say, no, I don't know him. He just told you his entire life. I was like, yeah, but I don't know. Welcome to the South. JC: you Carson: Seems like it. Brandon: That's how it is. Carson: Southern hospitality. How funny. JC: Yeah, I didn't spend a lot of time on this. I would like to though. Carson: Yeah, order. JC: I haven't I've seen the northern states quite a bit, but I haven't I haven't spent a lot of time in the south I mean, I I went to I went to Texas but Texas was not a good experience for me. I had a I had a fight with my my girlfriend's roommate the very first night I got there she was She was very religious and at that time I wasn't religious at all Carson: Yes. Mm. JC: And I think I might have been a little too insensitive to her. Well, to her brand of religious fervor, I suppose. So that was a little awkward because I was there for 10 days. was there a little bit longer. And my girlfriend had to work. So I was stuck in the apartment with this girl who did not like me at all. So I was just stuck in the bedroom for. Carson: Whoa, set the tone. Wow. JC: half the time when they're like outside was too hot you can't you can't move outside Carson: Yeah, I was speaking of hot places. JC: Yeah, and Florida. When I went to Florida... Carson: Texas. Brandon: The humidity. Carson: Yeah, Georgia's not too far off. Brandon: George is there too, JC: I went to SeaWorld and I remember it was so hot I was sweating but I taste my sweat and it would just be water there's no salt left in my skin it was just pure water that was coming out of my skin so I go to this go-kazoo in SeaWorld you buy this cup or something for like $11 and then the rest of the day your drinks are all free you can just go to one of these Carson: Yeah. ⁓ my gosh. unlimited refills. JC: refills right anyways and I was standing there waiting for this girl to to fill up my cup and I was like is this is it always this hot here and she's like honey this is a lovely day and I'm like what do mean by lovely like the Sun always says she's like no this is cool today's today's actually nice and cool and I'm like you've got to be kidding me Carson: We're big on that. JC: This is like I've never experienced this kind of heat in my life. This is not cool. But it's still the best holiday that I've ever had was in Florida. I treated myself to Universal Studios. I was there for a whole week and I got myself a VIP pass for every day. ⁓ I got up because I go up, ⁓ like I wake up early and ⁓ Carson: too. Dude. No. Not cool and not cool. Damn. JC: If you stay in one of the resort hotels, you get to enter the park a whole hour before it opens to the general public. And this was right after the World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Studios. So you can go on all the Potter rides and stuff for an hour before the park opens. That was awesome. It was my best holiday ever. Carson: Hey, that's pretty good. Brandon: VIP. Carson: Have y'all been seeing the AI Harry Potter drip, drip warts? Like, have you seen that? I'm going to send it to you later. No, it's like super Gen Z lingo and it's all about drip. And it's like, they just always saying it's just too much, man. It's hilarious. It's just like, I don't know how I feel about it, but AI. AI. JC: I've seen a lot of Harry Potter stuff on the internet. The whole world is abuzz with this new HBO series. Have you got the new HBO series that's launching in December? Carson: Which one? It's a Harry Potter series. I think I heard about that. Brandon: Okay, I thought it was a movie, but it's a series. Okay. JC: No, it's a whole series, but it's got a lot of pro... It's already been ratioed on YouTube. I think it's 250,000 upvotes and 280,000 downvotes for the trailer. That was released like two weeks ago. Or a week and a half ago or something. So lots and lots of Harry Potter memes out there. I don't know if you guys have seen some. Carson: That must be why. Must be why. The last AI one I saw was at ⁓ Hogwarts was like a bodybuilding multiverse and everybody was a swole and ⁓ Voldemort, sorry, Swoldemort could not grow his calves. And so it ended with Harry Potter winning the competition because Voldemort had the tiniest calves imaginable. Brandon: Oof, I haven't seen much. JC: Yeah. Brandon: Hahaha JC: you Carson: I was like, that was a good use of five minutes. ⁓ my god. Things you look at when you're on the toilet. JC: If you Brandon: and it's folder mort. JC: Thanks you, um... guys are Harry Potter fans, are you? Brandon: Alright. Carson: Not huge fans. I mean, I watched the movies. I read at least half of the books, but I wouldn't say it. Ooh. You're not hardcore unless you live hardcore. Brandon: I'm not into, no. JC: So no, you're not a fan. That doesn't count, That doesn't count. If you don't have a strong opinion about the HBO series, you are not a fan. Brandon: Haha Carson: Alright, well, fuck me. Well, I'm not a fan. How about that? Stick that your pipe and smoke it. Brandon: Not a fan. You JC: Hey, you're lost. Carson: Hey, Haze for Horses. JC: You were lost. Hasteful horses. Bill, I haven't heard this in a while. Probably since I was 10. Carson: Yeah, I know I'm 10 years old. ⁓ Well. Yeah, thank you very much. Here to bring you back in time. Brandon: And that's what Carton is here for. JC: But, mm-hmm, trip down memory lane. I think to answer your question, I think they're the place that, ⁓ Brandon: Yeah Carson: Yeah. That was my question. So what question? Dude, you're a computer. Brandon: That's what I'm thinking. was like, what was the question? JC: The question that you asked half an hour ago that I haven't answered yet I was kind of getting to that but then my US stories kind of got in the way, but ⁓ I think China would probably be ⁓ Simply because it's you kind of you can't compare it to anywhere else. It's a It's a very very odd place It took me a while to get used to it, especially because it Carson: Yeah, that one. Okay. Hmm. JC: you tend to feel like you're a celebrity because everybody wants to take pictures with you. And that's very odd, especially if you go to more rural cities, smaller cities that don't have the sort of the connection with the outside world as much. So people don't see people that's not Chinese. To them, are a complete oddity. ⁓ Carson: Wow. Wow. Yeah. JC: They're fascinated and they want to talk to you and stuff. But mostly they just want a picture with you. So I'm immortalized and a lot of people... Brandon: in rural China. Carson: You're on a poster in somebody's room like, who is that? Like, I don't know. Brandon: Okay. JC: Dude, dude, I, we went to the, to the forbidden city in Beijing and probably five families asked me to take a picture with them. And I'm like, we are here at one of the greatest sites on earth. And I want a picture with me. Like, it's kind of hard to not feel weird about that. You know? Brandon: JC! With me. Carson: That makes you feel good. Sure. Yeah, it's a little bizarre. JC: Plus I'm twice as tall as all the Chinese people. although I have to say, have to say in Beijing, there's some really tall Chinese people. You would not say that, but yeah, in Beijing, I think northern Chinese people are much taller than the people in the South maybe. ⁓ But anyway, so ⁓ China. Yeah. Carson: Crazy. So China, so China, it's just like the culture in general made it like so different from anything you're used to. JC: Yeah, I just in my experience a lot like a lot of the times ⁓ like we would go to a restaurant and then when we would ask for the bill, the waiter would inform us, now somebody already paid for you. Why? Why would they do these things? And it didn't just happen once or twice. It happened quite frequently. So I asked one of my assistants at the school where I worked and she said, no, it's because people want you to have a positive experience in China. People want you to like your time here. So that's why they do it. And I'm like, well, why don't they just come say hi so I can thank them? And she's like, that's not a Chinese thing. They don't need your gratitude. They just wanted to do it. So I'm like, that is not a Western thing. That's like we kind of... Brandon: cool JC: We do good things for other people, but we kind of expect them to have gratitude. Whereas in China, gratitude is not a currency, kind of like it is in the West, I feel. ⁓ I remember the first night that me and a bunch of people that ⁓ was also at the same agency that I went with to China, we went out to dinner. Brandon: Yeah. Carson: Interesting point. JC: and we wanted to tip the waitress and she would not take the tip and we tried to explain to her that where we come from this is how we show our appreciation is by giving money and she says in China that's an insult because you are saying that the owner of the restaurant is not paying their staff enough so you are actually insulting Brandon: you JC: the ⁓ employer. ⁓ And she actually got quite rude about it. She threw the money down the stairs and she's like, I will not take this. Like you cannot. Because the British guy, he was very insistent. He's like, no, we'll just leave it here and then leave. You can do with the money whatever you like. And she's like, no, take your money. I don't want it. Okay. It's a little... ⁓ Carson: Huh. JC: It's a little weird, but there's multiple... Brandon: Yeah. Carson: But yeah, but you can see the perspective, you can see their perspective. You can kind of understand, know, well, we come from, especially in the United States, where tipping is just like, I think we've even mentioned this on another episode. Yeah. But it's also rooted in the fact that the wages are so low for servers, bartenders, that they make a large portion of their overall wages in tips. But then you go to Europe, Spain, other places. Brandon: ⁓ definitely. JC: one of the culture. Brandon: It's obligatory. You have to do it. Carson: where tipping is purely optional. And if you do leave something, you're leaving just a few euros at most. It's not at all expected. Of course, it's appreciated. It's not taken as it is in China as rude, but it's also kind of like almost roll your eyes. Like we pay our employees what they deserve to be paid. So it's crazy going, the extremes from the West to the East and then like a little bit in the middle. It's crazy. Brandon: It's minimal. JC: Yeah. But in Europe, don't know if waiters are entitled to minimum wage. I have not asked the waiters actually, if they get paid minimum Carson: I have no idea. Brandon: Here in Spain and other countries I don't know but here in Spain as long as you're working full-time. Yes Yeah, but if you're working a part-time was a percentage or or whatever you were how many hours you're working where you can get paid that but if you're working full-time Full-time sorry. Yes in Spain the rest of Europe. I'm not sure JC: Is it? Okay. Yeah, I Poland is not so well, culturally it's very different from Spain. one thing that's very common in Europe, I found in general is people still maintain very close connections to the people they knew when they were growing up. ⁓ Like friendship, friendship groups are very tight knit. Carson: in Poland. JC: because people surround themselves with people they knew when they were younger. ⁓ And it was the same. Well, in Spain, too, but it's the same in Poland as yes, people like after school, they go and they travel, but then eventually they don't move too far away from their families or their friends and they still hang out the same people that they've known their whole lives. ⁓ Carson: What are you talking about in Poland or in Spain? JC: So it's most of my friends, I mean, I know a couple of Polish people that I'm very fond of and very close. ⁓ But most of my friends are experts. Most of my friends come from from other countries that. You can't bring those connections with you. And I don't know about you guys or your experience, but it was the same in Spain. had a couple of Spanish friends that I love dearly, that I still have contact with today. But the bulk of my friends were foreign because it's just easier to make friends. Yeah, exactly. Carson: You have that common thread. Yeah. Makes sense. Kind of know what the other is going through. You can have a beer or gin and tonic over it and get down to the real stuff, the real feelings. JC: Yeah, that's it's mainly from the anglosphere really ⁓ that you... ⁓ So our cultures must be much closer. ⁓ We think we're very different, but I think the values are very similar. It's easier. Carson: Yeah. Sure, sure, we can see eye to eye a little bit more. ⁓ Just a few more things in common, it's true. JC: Yeah. Anyway. Carson: Well, if you could, well, Brandon, you have any other questions about his ex-pat life? Brandon: No, go ahead with your question because I know what you're going to say. Go ahead with that and I'll come back with one later. Carson: Do it, do it. Okay, if you could move anywhere, like your next move doesn't have to be tomorrow, but if you could move anywhere to try it out to see like, where would it be? you move. JC: I was considering moving to Thailand late last year. I had a... I had a... Carson: Another hot place. Brandon: You don't like the heat, but... JC: Another hot plate. But, no, had a friend of mine from from from Krakow, actually, he's well, I met him in Krakow, but he's actually from Texas. ⁓ He moved back to Thailand. He lived in Thailand for a number of years. And then he he's ⁓ His family is Eastern European or roots in Eastern Europe or something so he wanted to come check it out. That's why I moved to Poland. He only lived in Poland for like a year and a half and then he's like no I'm moving back to Thailand. The life was just much easier there. He lives in Phuket and he kind of talked me into moving to Phuket. Carson: Okay. It's not pronounced, fuck it. JC: Yes, actually. Carson: You're just trying to not be a naughty boy on camera, is that what it is? ⁓ JC: No, it's not pronounced that way, it's pronounced crook-ate. But you can... Brandon: Alright, it's been a... Carson: The name of the naughty boy. Fuck it. Fuck it. JC: Yeah, it's not pronounced. But anyway, so he he kind of convinced me to to see that as a as an option. ⁓ I don't know. I would I would like to stay in Europe. But ⁓ don't know. It's. ⁓ it's cheaper to live a high standard of living in Thailand. ⁓ So it's something to consider and I there's a lot of experts there. Ideally, I would like to to move back to South Africa at some point, but I don't know if that's if that will be feasible. But if if it was a choice, then that would probably be where I'd go. Brandon: Yeah. Carson: Money's pretty important, yeah. South Africa. South Africa. JC: Mmm. South Africa. But yeah, it's like I would love to go back home. I would love to go back home. Carson: what's keeping you from moving back. what's keeping you from moving back. JC: Politics. Yeah. Politics. Yeah. Carson: Makes you nervous. Makes you nervous. JC: And with good reason. And with good reason. ⁓ it's a lot of going on. ⁓ Carson: If anybody were to know, it would be you. If anybody knew, then it would be you. ⁓ JC: Yeah, I told my dad that I'd go visit this year. ⁓ So maybe I'll forget my residency here in Poland again, because I'm in the process of renewing. And whilst you're in the process of renewing, you can't leave Poland. ⁓ So at this moment, I'm just waiting for it to come through. And then I'll probably... I'll wait for summer to finish because this has been a very long winter. So I need I need my summer months here in Poland. And then maybe when it starts getting cold again, I'll go down to South Africa because then it starts getting warm down there. yeah, so then I'll go stay with my dad for a couple of months. But yeah, Thailand is definitely on my on my list. Carson: Mm. You deserve it. You've earned it. Brandon: Yeah, every summer. Carson: True. JC: But there's a number of countries out there that are eclectic. Maybe not move to, but see. There's too much to see. Brandon: go through and visit. JC: Yeah, yeah. But I'm not dead yet. I still got a couple of moves in me. Carson: Right on. Right on. There you go. It's amazing after so many moves, you still have energy and the desire to try something else. That's cool, Brandon: It's always good. Keep going. JC: Yeah, I wanted to move to Norway, but as the most expensive country in the world, ⁓ I don't see that that's feasible. I don't think I'll be able to maintain my standard of living ⁓ in Norway. Unless you... Carson: It's awesome. Phew. Yeah, which is important. one thing to be in a new place, another to be able to. JC: Unless you're making Norwegian... They use Krone, right? I think so. Yeah. Krone was... Unless... Unless... Unless you make some decent Krone... Brandon: Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's crowns here Carson: Think that sounds right. JC: Yeah, that's that's ⁓ maybe I shouldn't say that on a public forum like this, but Norway is actually my retirement plan. Carson: Mm-hmm. So what? Nice. JC: Well, no. have it. I've seen that thing on I think it's on Netflix. Prisons around the world. You guys seen the episode where they go to a Norwegian jail? Carson: Do it. Brandon: I haven't seen that. JC: Okay, go watch it. All right, and then ⁓ that's that's my retirement plan. Go to norway rob a bank and spend the rest of my life in the norwegian jail Yeah, they have they have like a little little supermarket, ⁓ Yeah, it's it's it's literally like a resort Carson: thing. it's pretty swanky then. Brandon: Like a resort. Carson: Yo, let's go get arrested, come on. Sign me up. Goodbye. Brandon: You JC: No, I can't, after I retire, when I'm done traveling and I don't want to go anywhere else, then yes, Norway is my final Carson: hahaha JC: stop. they don't extradition because they can't guarantee that have the ⁓ level of care in other countries. ⁓ Carson: Hmm JC: I know they had this interview with a British guy who's in a Norwegian jail and he's like, hell no, I don't want to go to English jail. It's like, I'm staying right here. I'm not going to England. Carson: It's like we got Funyuns, we got Fun Dip, all the good stuff here. Like White Castle Burger, frozen White Castle Burgers. Like, why would I want to leave this place? It's so sweet. Brandon: For you. This is all fun. ⁓ JC: Yeah. But yeah, this is is is one guy in the jail. He only needs to sleep there during the day. He's free to leave. He just needs sleep in the jail. So he has to work. He has a he has a job. He's a mechanic or something. So he he drives into town, works during the day and then drives to the prison outside the city every night to go sleep. Carson: What? Brandon: What is this place? Carson: you JC: I ⁓ I That wasn't really explained ⁓ But it's I think it's on Netflix go check it out I Think it's cool. It's actually Carson: So he's got a free place to stay. Brandon: Exactly. He gets fed. Carson: How does that, how is that punishment? What kind of punishment is that? Punish me, please. I've been a bad boy. Okay. JC: called the worst in the world or something, but the guy goes off script goes to this Norwegian ⁓ Norwegian jail as well, but some of the other prisons that's You don't want to be an Asian jail or like South Africa's jails probably some of the worst Last place where you want to go to jail Carson: Jalen, Mexico or Columbia. JC: Yeah. Brandon: anywhere in South America. Carson: Y'know. Yeah, no. What's up? JC: Where are all those guys going? Those MS13 guys? El Salvador. Yeah, because they built these brand new fancy jails where everybody... Yeah, I've seen some videos. Although, the country is looking great. Brandon: It's Saturday, Carson: I'll see you later. JC: What's the president's... bukele? Brandon: I don't remember, something with a B, yeah. JC: Yeah, Bukele, but he's I think he's doing a great job. Although people are giving him a little flak because the prisoners are pretty much working like slaves. But they are they are working. I think somebody explained how it works. But they if they do a day's labor, they can work off their their sentences. So their sentences get Carson: customers. ⁓ Brandon: time. Carson: Mm. JC: less and less than I work. They actually want to work. ⁓ I think it's a fantastic thing because the public projects and stuff that they've done, the stuff that I've seen about El Salvador looks absolutely fantastic. It is now the safest country in the Western Hemisphere. Brandon: Reduced. Carson: Okay, so that's incentive. Yeah, it's not forced labor, it's incentivized labor. JC: but and it went from the most dangerous country in the world. within a matter of a couple of years, this guy has just completely turned the country around. ⁓ Carson: ship. Nice. Good for him. Good for the country. Brandon: He changed the currency to Bitcoin, he? He did some... I think... I'm not sure. Carson: What? JC: Was it El Solvent? I don't know. Could be. I'm not too sure about that. Brandon: He adopted it, they adopted it. I think it was a saboteur. see if I can find it real quick. JC: I've seen a couple of videos on how he's changed the country, how he's cleaned the cities up. safe, like there's no graffiti or anything and the public spaces and stuff that's been cleaned up and they look fantastic. It looks really really good. So it is actually maybe a country that I would like to go check out because I've always wanted to go to like Latin America or South America. Love to go to Argentina. Carson: Same. Yeah, I wanna go to Chile. JC: Peru and Chile. So there's a couple of places I would love to go check out. So definitely El Salvador is now on my list of places that I'd love to go see. Carson: There you go. Brandon, you had another question. Wait, what? What? What'd say? JC: Let's go. Brandon: Yeah Carson: What's not new? That I'm being full of shrimp? Is this now when you call me an idiot? Is this the moment you've been waiting for? I'm waiting to put it in there. ⁓ there it is. I love you too, Yeah. Brandon, you had a question for him about expat life? JC: You're such an idiot. Brandon: Lots of love, lots of love. Yeah, actually, well, not so much as been an expat, just more of like traveling in the US because this is question I get a lot from people here in Spain or from other countries as well. thanks to like the TV series, movies, the news, where people are often feel that they don't want to go to the United States because they don't feel that safe. Did you ever have that feeling while you were there and while you were traveling around that, hey, this place isn't safe, I really shouldn't be here? Alright, what do you think? ⁓ it's okay. JC: I've had people in the US, they will always warn you. like, it's if you take this tram line, it's safe up to this point, but all the stops after that is considered not safe. Or if you go to this part of the city, just beware. ⁓ So people generally are quite free with the information as to as to where is safe and where isn't and it's It's kind of something that I'm used to because in South Africa, it's the same thing that the cities in South Africa are vast, they have bad reputations in terms of being dangerous. But if you stick to safer areas, the chances of you getting into trouble is much less enough. I feel it's kind of similar in the US. Brandon: Mm-hmm. JC: Because US cities are also really big. So yes, there's dangerous areas But most of the city or the other places that you want to see are in relative safe areas ⁓ So yeah, just Just be careful really, but I haven't nothing bad happened to me. Well, so I'm actually in New York ⁓ I Almost got mugged in New York Brandon: Yeah. JC: but the security guard outside, ⁓ the, the port authority in New York, he, he grabbed my bag and I was like, what the hell, dude? He's like, I grabbed your bag so that that guy running there couldn't grab your bag. I'm ⁓ like, so he's like, yeah. He's like, dude, if you get rockable. Carson: Mm-hmm. Brandon: He's like, ⁓ thank you, sorry. Carson: Yeah, he was looking out for it. Damn. JC: It was very late. I think it was like two or three o'clock at night and we were waiting for our for our bus. ⁓ And I needed to go have a smoke. So I went all the way out and I was standing on the street. So it is my own fault. ⁓ But I was like, Carson: Just a loli-gagging and then... What the fuck, man? Brandon: Hehehehe. Hehehehe. JC: But apart from that, really. can't think. In Florida also, some people told me not to go into Orlando itself. They said it was quite dangerous to go downtown. And then I should probably stick to the parks. I'm like, well, I don't really know Orlando. I don't know if there's anything else to see except the parks. Yeah, I wasn't too bothered by that. was just around Universal and then I took the... There's a shuttle in between all the different parks. So I took that shuttle to Sea World one day. So I didn't really see much. ⁓ Carson: No idea. Brandon: Mm-hmm. Yeah. JC: In Denver, I was traveling with people who lived there. I didn't really go out on my own. I couldn't say if the city was dangerous or not. I didn't feel in danger. yeah. Yeah, I went to I went for a wedding in Grand Junction in Colorado. So we went to stay in Denver for a couple of nights. And then Carson: You said Denver. No, you're in Denver. Okay. JC: It's about five or six hour drive across the mountains. It was fantastic. It was really nice. Went to Austin. I only had half a beer there that cost me $15, I think, for half a beer. Yeah, it's the most expensive beer that I've ever had. And the only reason why I got it is so that I could say I had a beer in Austin. That's it. Carson: Half a beer. ⁓ like a half pint. Brandon: You JC: But apparently none of the people who work in the shops live anywhere close to Austin. So it is literally a town filled with rich people. I remember we were driving and there was in the middle of nowhere, there's all of these apartment blocks. And I'm like, what the hell? would build? Brandon: So expensive. Carson: Crazy. JC: Who would build buildings like that? then my friend said, this is where the people who work in Austin live. So that's a little weird. ⁓ and I went to the hotel where the teddy bear was invented. Carson: It's Heavy Bear. JC: Yes. ⁓ It was ⁓ the hotel is actually quite famous. ⁓ Al Capone also stayed there but ⁓ one of your person and Rose. No, no Roosevelt to somebody he used to go bear hunting in Colorado. So he used to stay at this hotel and one day they went out hunting and you couldn't kill the bear or something. Carson: The teddy bear was invented in a hotel. Brandon: Didn't know that. Carson: Al Capone invented the teddy bear? JC: And then the people who worked at the hotel made him a stuffed bear. ⁓ And that's where the teddy bear comes from. That's why it's called Teddy Bear. It's what's called Teddy Roosevelt. Carson: ⁓ consolation prize. Interesting. Brandon: There you go. You learn something every day. Carson: Hey man, you're full of useful knowledge. JC: I know, right? Teaching you about your own country. I'm a fountain if you use this knowledge. at least I've been to the home of the teddy bear. I've also been to the home of the gingerbread cookie. It's a small city not too far from Warsaw, it's called Turin, and that's where the gingerbread... Brandon: Okay Carson: Hey, hey, you watch what you say. Brandon: Hahaha JC: And you guys if you ever come to Poland, please go there if you like gingerbread It's so good I walked out I have that these gingerbread shops all over the place and I left with a big bag of Gingerbread cookies filled with everything under the Sun ⁓ That's awesome Brandon: Sounds good. Carson: Takes me back to elementary school when we made the gingerbread houses. Did y'all make those, Brandon? Yes, yes. And you just like build it for the moment and then just eat it all. Biggest stomach ache. Sugar rushes. Brandon: Definitely an art class. Eat it. It's just sugar, all types of sugar. JC: Did you also use icing sugar as the mortar? Carson: Yeah, exactly. Sugar, sugar for the sugar to stick to the sugar. Brandon: Definitely, definitely. JC: You Brandon: What a disaster. Carson: ⁓ man, America and its sugar. JC: That is... Sugar and corn syrup. Carson: ⁓ yeah, I can't forget about the corn syrup. That stuff's awesome. JC: I don't know if that's even legal here in Europe. Carson: What? I don't think it is. No, because high fructose corn syrup, definitely not. Maybe corn syrup, yes, but not high fructose corn syrup. Brandon: It shouldn't be. I don't think it is. There's so many things. JC: What is that one line from Men in Black ⁓ where think Tommy Lee Jones asked Will Smith, what is the most destructive force in the universe? And Will goes, sugar. Brandon: Not far off. JC: Anyway, the great fall of Will Smith. Carson: Well. Grateful. JC: Although, I like this might might be controversial, but I I couldn't care less if he hit Chris Rock. I mean, if there's one guy that needed that slap, it's probably Chris Rock. So I was I was I was team Smith on that one. I'm sorry. Carson: Say it, say it, say it. Brandon: Smith. Carson: I mean, you just, I mean, you got to assume the risk when, that's your job. You, you know, that this could go south. You might have an emotional animal in the audience and you might just hit home a little too hard if it's the wrong person and the wrong moment. And he just got served. mean, on the wrong day, it was. Brandon: Exactly. ⁓ I did. On the wrong day. JC: ⁓ what is that? The slap that made the world stand still or something? Or the snap that was heard over the world? Yeah, around the world. Carson: Is that what they're saying? Around the world. Heard around the world. The slap heard around the world. I mean. Brandon: around the world. JC: ⁓ I think nobody was more shocked than Chris Rock. Brandon: Alright. ⁓ without a doubt. Carson: I the slap was funnier than the bit, to be honest with you. That shit was hilarious. Will Smith actually slapped him? If he punched him, that would have been a little scary. But the slap is just... Yeah, yeah. JC: And, Wolfsburg is a big dude. Wolfsburg is a big guy, right? Like, if he slaps you, you're gonna feel it. This isn't a skeetibite. Anyway. Brandon: That's the thing about slapping him. Open hand. Carson: Yeah. And just Chris Rock's face after that was just like, did y'all see that? Like, yes, sir, we did. Oh, Oh, man. I don't know. You what? JC: This really happened? Brandon: Everybody did. JC: Anyway, but I... He's not so popular in Hollywood anymore, ⁓ No, well... I don't know, I haven't seen him in anything for a while. Carson: Who's that, Chris or Will? ⁓ I feel like they reconciled. Brandon: He has something on, he's like on shows with National Geographic and he's like traveling all around the world or something. I saw that. JC: Really? Okay. He left his wife though, right? Finally. I hope. Carson: Sounds about right. Brandon: That, I don't know. Carson: You to what? JC: He left his wife though, right? Carson: I don't know. JC: I'm not too clued up with all the Hollywood stuff. That's not really the news I followed. But I've always liked Will Smith. think he's always one of my favorites. Carson: Yeah, we do. Pop culture. Brandon: Celebrity life. Carson: Yeah, I've always enjoyed his work. Brandon: Definitely. JC: Yeah. Anyway, any other questions? Carson: Well, I don't have any, Brandon, do you? Brandon: I'm good. I think we covered a lot. Carson: I think we covered a lot and JC, I was going to say we have, of course, millions of other things we can discuss like we wanted to, but maybe in a month, if you're willing and able to come back, I'm sure we'd love to have you again. So you think so? All right. Sweet. Right. Well, I guess we'll. Yeah, Let's thank you. Yeah, we had lot ⁓ of fun too. JC: Yeah? Yeah, why not? Brandon: Alright. Come hang out for a while. JC: Yeah, all right, now this was fun. Brandon: Different. JC: Well, next time maybe I can ask some questions. Carson: So. Dude, now's the time. Ask what questions you have for us. JC: No, no, no. ⁓ don't worry. Brandon: Of course. Go for it. Carson: ⁓ Brandon: Hit us with one question, one question. Carson: Give us one good question. JC: all right. So you guys are both anchored to Spain. Do you ever see yourself moving back to the US? Brandon: Go ahead Carson. Carson: I want to think longer. Brandon: Okay, I'll go. I don't see myself moving back. I just see myself going back to visit. the life that I've developed or made is here. JC: No? Why? Okay, okay. So it's not for ⁓ any other reasons other than you've created a life outside the US. Brandon: No, and honestly, you live here, mean, the life here is not bad at all. It's much different from the United States and once you get used to it and you get this different rhythm, the different flow that you have here, it's like, why change? Or why go back to what we had before when we know it's completely different world? JC: Why fix something if it's not broken? Brandon: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely not perfect here in Spain, but it's not bad. JC: It's not perfect anyway. Brandon: Exactly. JC: That's why I keep on moving. Carson: Yeah, on that... Take the good from every place you can find. Well... Brandon: So let's try here, try here. JC: you But it doesn't matter where I've gone to. It's always the same. People simply want to live in peace. That's it. They want enough food for themselves and for their families. They want to party a little bit, go home, sleep it off, go to work. That's it. It doesn't matter where you go. You can throw different cultures and stuff and different beliefs and different religion, but that's pretty much what most people want. They want to be left alone. They don't want to be limited by other people's beliefs. Carson: Right. Freedom in every sense, freedom, financial freedom, freedom from persecution, just being able to be yourself, feel comfortable enough to do the things you want to do on a daily basis and then maybe have a little extra money to travel a few times a year. And I guess to give my answer, it's the same as Brandon's, essentially, I don't see myself leaving. It took a lot of me. JC: Yeah, that's it. Carson: to assimilate, to acclimate to Spain's culture, to the language, still adapting to the work culture, the work situation. It's quite different. There aren't as many jobs available, so you do have to work at it and get a little creative. And that's a different conversation for a different day. I mean, it's a great place to live. Spain's awesome. My wife always says the perfect place doesn't exist. JC: Mm-hmm. Carson: And you can always compare one place to another, say how this place is better, this place is worse, or maybe this doesn't make any sense at all here, but you know, it is what it is and we're happy and we have the essentials and the way of life is nice. So for now, there's no rush to go back. I love my country. I love the United States. I visit several times a year, at least once, usually twice. And JC: Every time I speak to you, you're on your way there, Carson. ⁓ Carson: It's true. It's true. Seems like we coincide a lot when I'm traveling or about to travel. So I. JC: That's why I haven't seen you in so long this because every time I plan to travel there you plan to travel to the US Brandon: He's leaving. Carson: Blame it on me. All right. It's on me. I'll take it. I'll take it. You know what? It's my fault. But to be fair. JC: That is actually the reason. Brandon: Sure. JC: You know it. You know it. Carson: Now we intend to come out to Poland, even the wife he already said at some point she would like to visit as well. So I'm sure we'll make it over there in the next, yeah, pretty soon. JC: The summer here is gorgeous. It's beautiful here. Especially Warsaw in the summer. It's really great city. is. Plus, it's the safest city in Europe. So if you guys want a good time, come here. It's literally... Carson: We'll have to take you up on that. JC: People walk around, walk their dogs at three o'clock in the morning. It's not a... It's a major city. It's quite a modern city, but it doesn't have the danger elements. Like, yeah, you walk past like drug dealers and stuff, especially on the other side of the river. ⁓ But yeah, they're very funny. Take it for a spin. Carson: Amazing. but they're nice drug dealers. Brandon: Exactly. Drunkless with a smile. Carson: Look here, try a sample. Just take it for, know, you don't have to sign up for anything. No membership fees, nothing. Here's my number in case you wanna do this again sometime. Have a nice day. Something like that, something like that. Well. Brandon: You JC: Exactly, But yeah, Peace Come Theater, it's a great place. Carson: have to make it happen. Brandon: That's good. Carson: Well, I think that concludes today's show. If nobody else has anything to add. All right. Absolutely, JC. Thanks for joining us, man. It's been a pleasure. Thank you very much. JC: No? Thank you for having me on. Brandon: See you. Yeah man, good time, good time. JC: See you guys again soon. Carson: See you again soon. Thank you for watching guys. Please like, share and subscribe if you found this useful or entertaining and we'll see you on the next one. Bye. Brandon: Peace.