Good morning! Usually, today’s the day for a recap of my life in Guatemala, so I’m sharing a post I wrote when I first arrived about why I ended up here. Hope you enjoy it!
Cancún, Mexico. I’ve just landed, and my dream house—on a little piece of land by a big lake in Northern Guatemala—is a 12-hour bus ride away. Sigh. Trying to stay positive: I’m saving $900 by not flying directly, I get to enjoy delicious tacos in Cancún, and I get to see a new part of Mexico. Little did I know, the highlight of it all would be the bus driver.
A young guy, around 30 years old, greets me with a big smile. He treats everyone the same—men, women, young or old. He ensures everyone is comfortable, jokes that I’ll be on the bus until the last stop, and advises me to sleep three times, saying, “When you wake up, we’ll be arriving.” Apart from his typical fast-paced, brake-heavy driving style, he’s an absolute delight for the entire 12 hours.
While we sleep, he drives. When we stop, he checks if we’re okay, cracks a few jokes, and does his job excellently. He reminds me of myself 15 years ago, working at McDonald’s during college. I was thrilled to have a simple job that I could do well, then go home and forget about. No responsibilities, no worries—just a few hours of work, and a paycheck at the end of the month. Back in high school, being a piano teacher and a tutor was rewarding but dealing with reluctant students and disgruntled parents was tough.
As the bus travels through the Yucatán Peninsula, I think about my professional journey. After my bachelor’s degree, I went straight to Business School for my master’s. I never really questioned what I wanted to do with my life; I just followed the path that pleased my family and peers. During my degree, I held various student jobs that kept me content, even if it meant late nights and early mornings. But everything changed in business school. An IT company that funded my tuition required me to work three days a week and attend classes two days a week. While the 9-5 routine was a welcome change from my double shifts, I just didn’t fit in.
My job was somewhat technical and involved some sales—something I’m not cut out for as an introvert. Helping customers at McDonald’s was fine because they came to me, but convincing someone to buy a computer? Not my thing. Watching that cheerful Mexican bus driver, I wondered if it was the simplicity of the task I was missing or if I just hadn’t found my calling yet. Was I destined to serve burgers forever?
After my master’s, I traveled the world for a year, then worked for a law firm in Guatemala, a green energy company in Barcelona, and an IT company in the UK. Every time I encountered corporate life, I hated my job. I stuck with the last one in the UK just to buy a flat, then quit at the end of 2009. Those last miserable months gave me the clarity to figure out what I really wanted: freedom, independence, no boss, no rat race. I started writing travel articles for various websites and have been living off my writing for the past three years. While my investments can more than cover my expenses, I like staying busy.
I’ve lived in Morocco for a year and traveled around Europe and North America on a motorcycle for two years. I’m free and have no boss or set schedule, but I miss social interaction. I envy what that bus driver has—he’s useful, helps people, and they appreciate him. Helping others is ultimately a bit selfish; we do it to feel good, to feel part of a community, to know we are needed.
I started thinking about combining the best of both worlds: being my own boss with a flexible schedule while still interacting with people and providing a service they’d be happy to pay for. I’ve long dreamt of running a small guest house. A simple life of maintaining and managing my own place, cooking for guests, and meeting people from around the globe sounds perfect.
This dream is about to come true. I bought a piece of land in Guatemala, near fascinating Mayan ruins. Finally, I have a project that gives me purpose. It’s going to be a long journey until I can open my doors to tourists, but it’ll be one I navigate with a smile.
What’s your dream? How has your idea of a dream life changed over time?