Stories From A Backpacking Addict
As I am working on my Central America Project. I realized why my mother wanted me to come home. I nearly died laughing reading some of them. There I was freshly graduated 23 year old, girl, by myself, bumming around a third world country. These are probably the worse of the three (and one of them wasn’t even anything to do with me. I wrote it to sooth someone else’s mom. ha ha)
Jan 21st 1998
Dear Mrs. Schwarz,
I am a friend of Evans and wanted to tell you that he left Utila about a week ago. He is healthy and well. But like all of us was caught up in the holiday spirit during Christmas and New Years.
He is no longer travelling by himself. During his stay here he met up with two German travelers and is on the way to Costa Rica, then eventually to Columbia for Feburary to witness the full sun Eclispe.
He will be in Costa Rica for a few weeks and is supposed to fax us here and tell us his plans. When he does, or when I meet up with him later I shall relay your concern and tell him to write you more often so you don’t have to chase credit card bills and fax the last place he was at!!
Please don’t be too worried, sometimes when we travel it’s difficult to get in touch. My own mom was quite upset about my lack of correspondence during the last few weeks. I hope this fax alleviate your concerns.
With Regards,
Yan
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Dear Everyone,
Febuary 9th 1998
This is the last fax I will be writing from Utila. I will be leaving Tomorrow, spend a few days in Honduras and heading to Costa Rica.
I won’t be travelling alone as Mat, Mick and Karl are doing that way together and we will be meeting up with people we met here, there.
It’s been a hectic few weeks. I finished my divemaster (YAY!).
One of our friends had US$1500 stolen from him half an hour before he was supposed to leave and return to the states. Some woman we met fell out of a two storey window and fractured her foot right after I left the party. The electricity mught have been shut off and she took the wrong turn down the stairs.
Furthermore the atmosphere in the shop has been pretty tense because people have been talking too much. It’s strange how quickly things change. We’re all leaving with a very different impression of most of the people than we had a week ago.
However I have no regrets. I did stay here a little longer than I had planned, partly to be with Matty. Partly because I really liked the friends I made here.
It’s time to leave though.
I am really glad for the experience of having the responsibility of teaching and helping people to dive.
Matt and I have been together for a month now. It’s been interesting to see how our relationship has changed. I will miss him a lot when we part in a few weeks. But it was nice o have a boyfriend and someone that really looks our for me after all this time being alone.
Anyway that’s about it. I wish I was there to receive your phone call. I waited for half an hour but I suppose you went to sleep. I will talk to you soon okay. I love you all, hope all is good on your side. Can’t wait to see you and talk about everything.
Take care. Loads and Loads of Love.
Yan
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Dear Mom and Dad.
We FOUND A FAX PLACE!!
Sorry to wake you up and all that. Should have faxed you the info.
I am fine DO NOT WORRY!!
I am well looked after by Karl, he won’t run off with the money.
I have had a lot of fun. Sorry I started crying because I was under a load of stress when my credit card expired and I realized there was no way to get to any money. I MISS YOU.
Mat wants to say “Hi” Actually so does Karl and Mick. I will pay you back when I get home.
Loads of Love. YAN XXXX Hearts Hearts!
KARL VAN ROY
GEMEENTENKREDIET
Bank account: 063-XXX_XXXXXX
Address
Mier 18
2000 Anwerp Belgium
Phone number XXXXX
Yan Sham-Shackleton Online 