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Carlos Granados Podcast
Welcome to the Carlos Granados Podcast. In this podcast, I will discuss my health journey, news, updates, and educational content surrounding my life, and anything and everything that I enjoy. This is my introduction to my new podcast through "Youtube Podcast". I decided to expand my horizons and let you into my life outside my health journey. You can watch clips and full videos in 4k on my YouTube channel "Carlos Granados".
Carlos Granados Podcast
Reflections on Latino Heritage, Mental Health, and Embracing El Salvador's Culture With Karyna
Karyna joined me for a heartfelt stroll down memory lane, sparking conversations that navigate the intricacies of Latino heritage and its impact on mental health and identity. As we shared tales of simpler times, when playing outside until dusk shaped our characters, we couldn't help but compare these formative adventures to the tech-centric world that envelopes today's youth. Our dialogue took an intimate turn, examining the pressures of career choices and education, where the echoes of unexpected transitions from sociology degrees to the construction sites resonate with many. We extended an empathetic hand to those young adults feeling the weight of forging their paths, emphasizing that guidance and patience are the lanterns lighting the way through the maze of life's decisions.
The fabric of our discussion weaved through the generational shifts in communication and the often-silent battles with mental health within Hispanic communities. We opened up about our family dynamics, revealing how the complexities of expressing emotions and the silent treatment shape our adult relationships. Moving into the realm of friendships, the conversation highlighted the essence of accountability, selflessness, and the profound influence our closest allies have on our personal development. Karina and I didn't shy away from the topic of delivery either; understanding that how we convey our messages can be as crucial as the words we choose.
Ending on a note of cultural celebration, we reveled in the rediscovery of El Salvador's vibrant transformation and progress. Stories of newfound patriotism for our homeland danced alongside praises for its growing global recognition, from hosting Miss Universe to welcoming celebrities. We extended an open invitation for listeners to join us in future episodes as we unveil El Salvador's hidden gems. With a promise of more insider tips and tales of travel to come, we wrapped up the episode in a warm embrace of gratitude for the shared experiences, looking forward to continuing the conversation with peace and love as our guideposts.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to my channel and welcome back into another video. Before we begin the video, I want to thank everybody for supporting my channel, whoever has been subscribing to my YouTube channel. We keep growing. Thank you guys for everyone who has been listening and all the platforms, which I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Also, this week, I don't know if you guys have seen, but I dropped some merch. It was a little soft lunch, nothing crazy, but I'm proud of being able to show you guys and finally bringing some merch to the channel. I've been thinking for about like three to four months about doing this, but I finally found, like, the sources to do it and, I guess, something that's a little bit easier. Uh, so you guys can buy it. So in this video you'll be able to see the merch down below and if not, I'll leave the link on the comment section. So you guys can you know if you want to support the channel that's another way you can and support your boy. But without further ado, I'm gonna guest Karina. Welcome to my podcast. How are you doing, my girl?
Speaker 2:Hey, I'm good. Thank you for having me. I know we've been planning this for like ever, and just a lot of things have always like come up yeah. I was never able to do it. But you know, this week I'm finally here. I love it. I'm so excited.
Speaker 1:I I'm so excited, I'm so glad that you're here and look, we're matching. I know right, I don't think it's a coincidence. This is dope.
Speaker 2:I don't even my nails match even the nails.
Speaker 1:I love that. I love that we should do this for like a like cancer awareness or something you know what I mean, like wear the pink and stuff like that. But I'm glad that you're finally here. Like you said, I've been wanting to have you on for for a minute now, but we finally able to make it happen. We have couple of topics that we want to discuss today, but the first one that we were talking about it was, you know, being a first generation I guess Latino or just student, whatever you name it here in the United States and the experience that we had going through certain things because you were born here.
Speaker 1:Right, I was born here, yes, Okay, I had a little bit of a different experience because I was born in El Salvador but I still moved here and I still have to go through a lot of things that you had gone through.
Speaker 2:So, if you want to share your experience with that and you know how was that like and maybe a couple of thoughts, uh, in regards to that, yeah, first of all, I remember we used to live like right on the same block, like literally on the same strip, like we were like so young and I don't know like. I just always remember like you being with like your little group of friends and I vividly remember carlos and all his friends just playing basketball and you know, dancing to that one soja boy song yo, oh, my god, do you remember?
Speaker 1:yo, you're about to put me in the spot right now, oh my god, just vividly remember it.
Speaker 2:And I was just like a child, just like watching you guys, just you know that's so crazy.
Speaker 1:You mentioned that because I reminisce about those days with my friends all the time. I'm like man, the way we used to play basketball all the time, like we would come home from school I would drop my book pad off and if I had to eat, I'll eat and then play until, like, basically, the sun went down. Yeah, the sun went down I don't know.
Speaker 2:Like sometimes I get a little bit sad because you know you don't see kids doing things like that anymore. I'm just like why don't kids play? They're like on their ipads and stuff right, just like I plan. When I plan for the future, I'm always like my future kids are gonna play. You know like fall, get scraped um, like scratches whatever like live, you know, not just be in the house with an ipad like it's just that's so lame, you know, I just I think it's lame, you know I think it's because we experience a little bit different.
Speaker 1:And you know what's crazy I hear, especially here in this neighborhood you don't see a lot of like kids playing outside. And my brother and I I think it was about a year or two ago I told him let's go throw the football outside, you know. And we were throwing the football for a couple of minutes and this car pulled up and he was like I want to thank you guys. And I was like I was like thank us, what do you mean? I have not seen kids play outside in a very long time, especially here in this neighborhood, and it just brings me joy that I get to see. You know, people play outside like you know we used to, and I'm like, damn, that's how bad it's gotten, you know, to the point where somebody that's older has appreciated the fact that we play outside, and I'm like that's all we used to do when we were growing up. You know what I mean? That was like the vibe.
Speaker 2:So that brings me back just to yeah, it's a little bit sad, it's a little bit like I just remember, like putting on like my roller skates and just going down that hill and just like falling, just like I remember that having like just bruises everywhere and I'm just like kids need to do that again, like it just. It builds character too I think so too.
Speaker 1:I think so too, if definitely falling definitely immunity bussy. Yo, that's so cool down that hill that we used to live in. I used to also go on my skateboard just flying down in my bike.
Speaker 2:Man memories bro your mom would just be like get up, like stop crying. What are you crying about?
Speaker 1:yeah, you were, you were built different, you know. Talking about that, though, I think even our parents, you know, make us in that aspect. We're going to get to the subject of like, even mental health when it comes to like latino parents eventually, but what do you feel like were some of the struggles, uh, or some of the difficulties that you, you experience as a first generation, uh, latino, um person here in the states?
Speaker 2:I just feel like, um, well, yeah, basically it all has to circle back to you know, like mental health and you know how. You know our parents. You know they were just not, they're not, they don't, they're not knowledgeable about.
Speaker 2:You know like mental health and things like that, um, they'd see, like I remember like me telling my parents, um, well, my mom, you know, when I was like a teenager, I'd say, when I was like 16, 17, that you know I kind of felt like anxious or had some type of like anxiety or depression, and she's, and she'd be like why you know? Like they'd be like oh, you know, you have everything, you know, like things I didn't have when I was like you know your age and they, they think you just like kind of make this stuff up, you know you think they're.
Speaker 1:They think you're soft.
Speaker 1:It's yeah, they think you're soft yeah, and apparently that's bad to them yeah, so I I get what you're saying, um, because I didn't really think that like mental health at one point and like anxiety or depression was actually like real. Yeah, or at least that I acknowledge it. Like you mentioned, you know, like a part of it is because of the way I was raised and um, but eventually, when I actually started suffering from like a lot of health issues, I started like yo, like my mental is kind of taking a toll, like it's actually something that's real, you know, and I feel like our parents, because of the way they were raised, they had to put so much of that behind and never kind of paid attention that they were struggling, they just like pent it all up, you know Right.
Speaker 2:But yeah, you know, as I got older and stuff, you know, sometimes I did see mental like problems like mental health problems, like depression, things like an American thing, you know. Okay, gotcha, I was just like oh, they're just like being whiny and you know yeah it's just not like a real thing. But you know, now in my age, you know I get anxious about some things or like I'll have my times where I feel emo.
Speaker 2:That's what I call it okay but I'm just like you know, it's just something that I need to like kind of pay attention to, you know because, it really does take a toll on you. And you know, yeah, when I was younger, like you know, I felt like some like that. You know, I would try to tell my parents you know, I don't know about, I know your parents are religious, right, yep, um, so my, my mom was, you know, religious for a while, so she'd just be like, oh well, you just like need to pray to God, or you just need to be more thankful, or you know.
Speaker 2:So I just, yeah, that was like the main reason, and I just never like really told my parents afterwards like how I felt like depressed or anxious, you know, because I went to college too. And you know, I was like really going through it and I was just like oh well, it's just, I need to struggle, you know.
Speaker 2:I need to struggle so you feel like you needed to struggle I like, I'm just like it, just, it's just life. Like I need to struggle, like my parents struggle, I need to struggle. You know it's part of the process.
Speaker 1:It's part of the process, yeah yeah, I mean to some point, like if, when, like the parents of our parents, right, the way they were raised, they had to put a lot of that behind them and not kind of pay attention to the signs of what is anxiety and depression. I'm sure they all have felt it, they all have you know, but they don't know how to communicate, they don't know how to express it. It's always keep it pushing, keep it pushing, keep it pushing. They never took time to even just go back and talk about it, right, because, again, some to some parents it looks like it's a weakness.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, and you know you're being soft and whatnot, and this is a. This is why you mentioned that you looked at you know america as being soft when you were growing up, because your parents taught you to be stronger but they never literally had to communicate. I feel like that takes also a toll on us, because we do go through certain struggles that they don't go through, even though their life was tough. We go through struggles that they haven't experienced either, and it's just a little bit different, even when going to school, going to college, the pressure that you have because your parents have done so much for you and you know that and you watch it and you witness it and when you go to school're like I have to graduate because they've done so much for me. Now this pressure builds up on you and like you have to accomplish it.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean and it's just like when I was like in school, like I just like in the back of my mind was it was my parents, my parents my parents. I need to make them proud, I need to, you know, like graduate, I need to, you know, get a job after graduation.
Speaker 1:It was just like so rushed and it was just like so much pressure and I just never felt like I could just like sit down and just be like like breathe and you know, like and that and that's just like you know, built up anxiety, you know yeah I feel you on that and part of it it's not their fault, because they don't know what it takes to do that, because they never have. They just see other people's kids like, oh, they've graduated or they've done this. Like you can do it too. You know you have all the resources. Nothing is missing for you to accomplish that.
Speaker 1:But even school, the hassle of going through school, it's tough man, it's a lot. And for me, even you know the pain for school was a struggle. I was like because I didn't get any scholarships. I'm over here like I know, I know I was one of them. I was one of them. So even that, even that in itself. And then on top of that, graduation, like you know, when are you graduating? You know the job and this and that is just like it builds up.
Speaker 2:I know it's like what are you going to do now that you graduated?
Speaker 1:And I'm just like I don't know, man, I just graduated Like I need experience, and I need experience to get experience.
Speaker 2:It's a lot. But the funny thing that I was talking to you earlier, before we started filming this podcast, is I didn't even want to go to college, I just wanted to work, right.
Speaker 1:So did you feel like you had to go to college because that's what your parents wanted?
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I wonder how many kids people do that nowadays. I feel like it's a lot.
Speaker 2:My sister, she doesn't go to college right now and you know, my parents don't pressure her because they felt like I feel like I've also just been in the middle now that I'm, like, you know, growing up and stuff, and I'm like just you know, like let her take her time. Because you know, I told them an example for me, like okay, like I got a degree in sociology with a minor in poli sci and I wanted to work first and now I work in the construction industry.
Speaker 1:Um, complete one 180 completely out of.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm just, and I told my parents I was like you know what, if I would have worked first and you know would have been just like scapegoated into the um construction industry, because you know I worked for my uncle for a while yeah so that's how I got into it and I was like I would have probably gotten a degree in, like you know, construction management or you know something along that line right because I actually enjoy it.
Speaker 2:You know, so I just felt like I'm not saying that, you know like, I think my degree is, you know, like useless or whatever, but I feel like I could have done something else that I actually liked, you know, I just wouldn't yeah I do like sociology and poli sci, but I it was like kind of like a quick thought, you know right, it wasn't something that you really planned for and getting into.
Speaker 1:Um, I mean, then again, though, if you think about it, it's hard to make a decision at 18 years old yeah to see what you want to do for the rest of your life. This is why I think the average like major switches that happen in college are like I don't know, like five or so, maybe even more, Because you're trying to go back and forth on what you want to do for the rest of your life.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Right, because if you're getting a career, hopefully you're going to try to use that eventually, but if you don't like in your case, then you switch to another career. That now you find out that you enjoy more and you could have gotten a degree in that.
Speaker 2:And maybe the journey would have been a little bit easier. Yeah, and see, that's what my sister is going through. She's like you know, she graduated last may and she's like taking. She's like I'm gonna take like two to three years like a gap, because she's like I don't even know what I like or what I want to do. My parents were like, okay, like, but you eventually have to go to school or something. Like you're, we're gonna help you or whatever. She's like I need to find what I like first. And I'm just like I I was behind her, you know. I was like, yeah, just like, let her figure it out first.
Speaker 2:Like right she's young, she doesn't know what she wants to do, like there's not really a time limit of like going to school and graduating, you know right yeah, it's, it's, it's uh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not, it's never had.
Speaker 1:I know this sounds, you know basic, but like it's never how you really start, it's how you end up finishing like especially if, for example, like if you went to school, you graduated, but then you know you never like what you did, then it's like now it's kind of like time wasted for you.
Speaker 1:But if you took your time and hopefully your sister actually goes back to school if she really wants to, but then again, who knows where life gonna take her. I think that's part of life too, because I mean you take like a year, a gap or two. People usually don't want to go back to school and I'm just like that's interesting too, because I took a semester off from when I went to when I graduated from my undergrad. Going into my master's took about a semester off and I was like even going back to getting your master's a little bit tough because you thought you were done, you know, and then you actually have to go back through like the struggles of school and I was like a pain in the behind. Um, but going back to the parent situation, I don't think I mean they don't understand that all that, like the little struggles, they just don't.
Speaker 2:It's too hard right I just always used to tell them I was like you think it's easy? Like yeah it's not easy, like you have no idea, like how hard this is and what I'm going through you know just inside but. I can't really express it, you know. And now that I'm older I tell them like it's really hard and I try to defend my sister. I'm like you know, like she's more of a softer person, so I'm just just like she needs to, you know, like she needs more love.
Speaker 2:She needs more love and she needs to chill out for a little bit.
Speaker 1:So I feel you on that. I feel you on that. And again, they just don't know, like, the whole process that it takes you to to get from one point to the next. They just want you to do it just because and I'm just like yo I'm gonna need you to calm down. This is the first time we do. You know what it is. This is a good word. Guidance. It's hard. We don't have guidance. I didn't know what a gpa was until I was like 10th grade. That's crazy, right. My mom mentioned something about the gpa. I was like, what are you talking about? Well, what do you mean? There's a we get. We get points now for it. Because when I was in middle school, all a's and b's and I never saw like a grade point average. But when I go to you know, high school, I'm like, oh, you need that gpa to get into college.
Speaker 1:And I had already done oh man I already done bad my first year and second year um of high school. So I did I. I was good enough, you know, to get into college. But even you know my mom, I just my. I guess my mom tried to explain it to me, but she couldn't. How.
Speaker 1:There's no way to and I feel like we did a lot with that with like anxiety and depression. Is there, like any other examples that you feel like you've dealt with, or with your parents, even when it comes to, like you know, anxiety and depression, like what have they thought about it? Or do you think at least when you spoke to them, have they changed their mindset a little?
Speaker 2:bit. Yeah, I wanted to get to that. I feel like my parents now kind of understand more what depression is, because I feel like my dad went through it Because, you know, he had like a health scare right before COVID, like during the COVID time, and so he had to be at home, you know, um, because he had just gotten surgery right and um.
Speaker 2:So he had like a therapist because you know he was going through loneliness okay, it's just at home and you know, I mean I was there but my sister was at school and like high school and stuff right, and my mom was like at work and you know they were like, you know like uh, we're just kind of scared that you're going to get depressed because you know he's also taking like meds and he's going through like a health problem and stuff.
Speaker 2:So I feel like my dad got like a little bit of depression for a little bit Um, and so I feel like he was kind of able to grasp. You know what a crappy feeling that is, you know, cause he was like like I felt like also like you know how you say, like you know, your parents built all that stuff in. Yeah, I think he finally like. I think like he finally like sat down and was able like to process, you know what he was going through like internally especially for men, though I think for men, especially for men like yeah you because society doesn't want men to you.
Speaker 2:Know like show.
Speaker 1:I've discussed that in my podcast before. Like you know, showing your emotions as a man, like it, doesn't make you weak. If anything, it makes you a better father, better brother. You know, whatever uncle, whatever you want to name it, it's learning how to communicate. I think that's like really important Learning how to express your emotions.
Speaker 1:Emotions because for men, you know, sharing feelings or sharing emotions, again, it's a sign of weakness, especially to society, but in reality, it could actually help you in your marriage. It can help you with your kids. Like, imagine if your dad was able to communicate with you growing up and saying look, listen, I'm here to listen, I understand you and this is how this is what I can do for you to guide you in certain ways. You know what I mean. But because they don't, they never, they were never taught that and I'm like, that doesn't make you any less of a man because you know, if anything, you don't know how to communicate and that's also, like you know, just really old school mentality, that machismo, you know that comes from you know our parents home countries.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, the machismo is actually that's. That's another, that's another situation, because even expressing emotions is not a it's not a real thing. Yeah, I wonder, like that's how? I wonder we're not with parents, man, like, how do you guys communicate, bro? You just let it go. You know what I mean? Oh, is this the reason why you always argue all the freaking time? I know my parents.
Speaker 2:I've seen that, like a lot of hispanic parents, use the silent treatment.
Speaker 1:Oh my, god, that's so wild, that's crazy. What do you think about that?
Speaker 2:I hate the silent treatment, um, and you know I think it has affected me because you know, when I would do something wrong and stuff, my mom would just like not talk to me for days. You know, and I was just like man, like just the suspense made me feel so bad and like I think, like that has, you know, just translated into me now, like if somebody gets mad at me or something, I kind of want to make up with them really fast or something, because I'm like I don't know, just it builds up anxiety in me.
Speaker 2:You know, like that's how I feel now. I'm just like the first to apologize now, or like I just, I just hate having like that, you know, like feeling of, you know like um what do you call it? Um animosity okay I hate it so much so hmm, interesting, I got a.
Speaker 1:I got a little bit of deep question. How much do you think that the trauma because to some extent it becomes trauma, um would it play of what happened to you, you growing up and with your parents, the lack of communication, the machismo? You know the um, the always. You know not acknowledging the mental anxiety, you know the depression. How much do you think that will play or is playing a role into your future life? Uh, even when it comes to your relationships now, whether it's, you know, um with a partner or maybe with your friendships that you have, how much do you think of the role that plays in you?
Speaker 2:I think it kind of plays a big role because, you know, I look at the way you know things I dealt with when I was younger and you know I'm just going to. I try to say that I'm trying to be better than that and not saying that my parents made a mistake, or you know like and it's not only your parents, it's also like your grandmother and everybody you know in your Hispanic family, um the elders, the elders.
Speaker 2:So you know, I try to learn from what they did, that I didn't like, that I thought was wrong, and I try not to translate that into my you know my relationships, you know. So, I try to have open communication, Like if I don't like something that you did, like I'm going to tell you you know, but I'm going to try to, like you know, work it out and figure it out instead of you know there being like the silent treatment, or you know like me not talking to them, or you know that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2:That's actually really good, because what you're saying is that you're learning through what and also like apologizing you know that's big though apologizing humility, apologizing like that's huge I'm 25 years old and I don't think one time in my life neither of my parents have had has said sorry to me. That's so big though, oh my god like you know how good it would feel like for your parents to say sorry to you just at least once. You know, so yeah, it's, it's he.
Speaker 1:But this is the thing, though, and the reason I even use that word before I ask the question the trauma because of bill's trauma, because you don't know what it looks like. You don't know what apologizing looks like from your parents, because, even though you appreciate everything that they've done for you and it means the world to you, right but they don't even know how to say like I'm sorry or like, listen, I didn't mean to, that was my bad. They don't know like it's and it's.
Speaker 2:That's kind of bad, and I feel like now that I'm 25, I realize how important apologizing is. You know if I did do something wrong because you know, when I was younger I let, like a lot of you know, relationships you know go not just like. You know like with a partner, you know with friendships and my cousins and everything, because you know relationships you know, go not just like.
Speaker 2:You know, like with a partner, you know with friendships and my cousins and everything, because you know I couldn't apologize or neither they could and it's just like they're probably going through the same thing as me, like they don't know how to apologize because their parents never apologized to them, you know and how much is.
Speaker 1:That is also pride, you know, because yeah, pride is so big in the latino community.
Speaker 2:Yeah, pride is huge bro, pride is huge.
Speaker 1:I think that's what. So pride, I think that's what makes us how strong we are too, like as latinos, but also like, by the same token.
Speaker 1:It's like a double-edged sword oh yeah where the other side is also just as bad. Yeah, all that pride that you have, um. But yeah, I know, I think I think with the sorry, the apology, I mean being having humility, being humble, learning to say I'm sorry is huge. We talked about that with um. I had a friend I think you know I mean, jamie lives in it but we talked about that in like our second podcast. Maybe you don't remember him and maybe you were younger, but he used to live in your neighborhood, I think. No, he doesn't live anymore, but we I grew up with him and he talked about how like apologizing was, like apologizing was so big to him and learning how to apologize, learning how to.
Speaker 1:This is part of communication, though, karina. This is part of, like, the growth process. You know what I mean, um, that like life kind of takes you in. I have a lot of examples of that situation too, but becoming humble, having that humility, is really important, um. Is there anything else that you felt like your parents um went through? Or I had a question for you, but now, because we got into more into the topic I I forgot it, but it'll get, it'll come back to me, but do you have anything along the lines of, um, like the trauma that you have from, like your parents, uh, your friends in your friendships, um, but you know what? I got a good question for you. So how are you becoming like the person that you know you saw from your parents or your friends when it comes to like growing, like what? What are some steps that you're taking into doing that?
Speaker 1:um besides acknowledging it right, because you acknowledge it and you're like, okay, that's not correct, that's not right, but what is some steps that you feel like you've done um in your relationships in general?
Speaker 2:Well, I'm not going to say that. You know like I haven't had pride to. You know like I've done something wrong or my friend has to and I'd be like, well, I'm not talking to them, you know, know, like, or I'm not apologizing first. You know um, but I think um. Actually I recently went through like a friend breakup oh how long was a? Friendship for uh, we were friends since um junior year of high school high school.
Speaker 2:So it's and she's and it's funny because she's also like, just like me, first gen, you know okay but she is from. She is from somewhere in asia okay okay, I'm so sorry, I don't I don't remember that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's, that's cool um but you know, I just feel like you know also, like why we couldn't, you know, like, be friends again, or maybe eventually we will, um, because we have talked before, but it's just like I haven't apologized for what I did and she hasn't apologized either. You know, it's just like we're like oh, you did this, but you did that, you know, and it's just like because before, when we would fight, we would like, just like you know, bicker at each other and not apologize.
Speaker 2:You know, so I just feel like now, like if we were to sit together, both of us have to say I'm sorry, you know I'm sorry, I was being a crappy friend, or I'm sorry I did this that hurt your feeling, um, because when we did sit down, we were just, you know, going over what each of us has done wrong, you know so have you ever had a friend that you felt like used apology too much, though where, like they would apologize so much and they wouldn't grow from it though? Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I hate that. I couldn't stand that. I had to. I had a good friend too that I had to get away from because you know he would apologize and he was very good at actually apologizing, but shit wouldn't change and I hated that because I'm like bro, like you know you got to have you that because I'm like bro, like you know you gotta have. You know I'm holding you accountable, but you gotta hold yourself accountable too to certain things that you do and I'm like you gotta be a, you know, a better friend and eventually those friends fade away because you don't want that I hate. I don't like people who are selfish. I can't stand that. Like that's not for me, you know, and I, as I get older, I try to get away from those people because it's all about them and it's. I've never been like that.
Speaker 1:At least I'm glad I was raised, you know, to always learn how to give back or how to put people you know in front of of you. And you mentioned earlier, right, I'm religious, I'm Christian, but even like Jesus came to serve us, when you know he came, and I'm like if he came to serve us, who am? He came, and I'm like if he came to service. Who am I not to? You know, show some love to, to other people. That's why I'm always like when you see me, it's always like I love giving back, like I'm more comfortable with giving than receiving. Yeah, you know what I mean. That's great. And I have a friend. Ever, you know, we know, ever, ever is the same way he loves giving and he's more comfortable giving than receiving. I don't know what it is.
Speaker 2:I don't know what that is yeah, ever is a very selfless person. Yeah, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:But see, when you surround yourself with good people in life, though, um, that's what happens, right? Like you know, you heard that saying show me who your front, you know, your five friends are, and I'll show you like your future or I'll show you who you are. That's what it's all about.
Speaker 2:Like wait, have you ever seen that thing where it's like your friends really define who you are?
Speaker 1:yeah, well, I've heard of something similar, but what are you like?
Speaker 2:birds of a feather flock together like well, like that like you can really. You can really tell how a person is based on the people that hang out okay, I like that too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that's facts, though I I've. Yeah, show me your five closest friends and I'll show you who you are. Or show me your five closest friends and I'll show you who you are. Or show me your five closest friend and I'll show you your future. But it's right, though I think that that mentality and you know what comes with all that humility it comes. You got to be humble. You got to learn from each other.
Speaker 1:Whenever they come back and they actually gave you some type of criticism, not get butthurt about it, but learning that they're coming from a place of love, but even I coming from a place of love, but even I got another thing that I was going to get to. So what about the way you say things? How do you think delivering things like delivering things plays a role into friendships or relationships? Have you ever thought about that? Think about when you talk to somebody right, and you're like either apologize or you want to like correct. You like if you're going to correct me or correct you like the way you come and deliver things oh yeah isn't.
Speaker 1:How important is that?
Speaker 2:it's really important, but I don't know if it's just because, like, I don't really look into things that that hard. You know, sometimes people have, like you know, really bad deliverance, and I, I know I have a lot of bad deliverance too um, in what way, you know, the other day, um, some co-worker told me, like I was, doing something for her and I was like hey, you know this isn day um.
Speaker 2:Some co-worker told me like I was doing something for her and I was like, hey, you know this isn't in the system, or whatever. And she was like, well, I don't know what to tell you because I put it in there and I was like, okay, cool, you know, like let me look for it again, or, you know, I'm gonna try refreshing and then my other co-worker heard and he was kind of like well, well, she came off real, you know, bitchy.
Speaker 1:What a bitch. And I was like you know what?
Speaker 2:That's something I would say too, you know. I don't know what to tell you. I put it in there, you know. Oh, ok, maybe try to find it so I can see where you know like the deliverance of something that you say is really important.
Speaker 2:Because not everybody you know, takes important, because not everybody you know takes it the same you know correct and uh, I want to say is because you know, like I'm a more headstrong person, you know, I was like, well, it makes sense it should be there, since you put it there, you know, and I was just like hmm, where is this file, or whatever?
Speaker 1:you know right, so I didn't really.
Speaker 2:You know, I look too much into it, like my co-worker did so yeah, you felt like you felt like you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, at least you acknowledged, though, that it was something that you probably would have said and probably not the best way of saying it, but I had to learn that too. Growing up, though, like I guess, as you get older, learning how to deliver things I've always learned. Now, one of the good things that actually helps is, like you'll listen, like, if I'm talking to somebody about anything serious, right, and it's like, whatever the reason may be, I'm like look, I'm gonna tell you this, but I promise you I'm saying this out of love, because I love you. Like starting. Starting with that, just even that simple statement makes everything of a difference when you move forward with a conversation like I'm coming from a good place of love.
Speaker 1:I'm saying out of love. I just hope you you realize that and if they actually do know that you love them.
Speaker 2:But you know what, sorry to cut you off, go ahead I feel like friends who do that kind of stuff like you know, like even though if it's a little bit harsh, but they need to like kind of reality check you or you know, tell you like you did this wrong or you know like this is really wrong about you, like about what you're going through in a situation, what you're doing with something people who are like that are your real friends, I feel like, because they'll like let you know, you know right. Other people would just like let it slide or just like accountability is what you're saying, yeah yeah, they hold you accountable.
Speaker 2:Your real friends hold you accountable, right? So?
Speaker 1:no, that's right, though I I 100 agree with that. Not just accountability itself, but also even the way you take it. Like, like again. If you know somebody that loves you and you love them, why are they gonna take that wrong? You know like. They know like again. If you know somebody that loves you and you love them, why are they going to take that wrong? You know like, they know they're trying to help you. That's the reason you've got to plan your friends, man, keep your circle small, cause a lot of things, especially now, going on in the world. I feel like it's it's a little crazy. Is there anything that's going on in? I'm gonna do you're a very old spoken mind I want and I, I want to. I wanted to save this question. Yeah, I know, and I I wanted to save this question for you because I know you have opinions on what's going on oh my god, like I want to get us canceled send it um, let me see um, what do I think is crazy right now?
Speaker 2:well, a lot of stuff is crazy like there's just been so much stuff on the news like I just, I don't even want to keep up with anything anymore. Um where?
Speaker 1:do you get your news from social media? I'm assuming right uh, tiktok tiktok. Oh, that's, that's also a dangerous place. I mean, you can get a lot of shit from tiktok. Yeah, they're trying to. Uh, you heard that bill that's trying to pass right from tiktok. We're like, oh yeah, they're trying to cancel. Yeah, that's crazy. What do you think about that?
Speaker 2:I think it's like a really bad thing because I feel like tiktok has been a platform that has, you know kind of united people like it's better to like. A lot of information has been streamlined through, you know, like tiktok you know, like and just feel like they're trying to. The government is trying to like, disband that. So you know we're not all on the same page.
Speaker 1:You know, because with tiktok, because with tiktok I like this conspiracy theory with tiktok.
Speaker 2:We all, like you know, like, are like, oh no, like the government's on some bullshit you know, like and if we didn't have tiktok like or we're able to make like a 15 second clip like yeah, so. So I mean you can't on instagram, but it's just like tiktok, it's just tiktok it's taking over, yeah so you, so you, actually so you, you don't think that?
Speaker 1:you know, I guess china in this case is taking, because, like they're, like, oh my god, china is trying to spy on us and I'm like, you don't think that's china?
Speaker 2:makes every little thing inside your house, your car, your every part that's facts, you don't think they could find another way to spy on us? Yeah they're the government, the united states government's already spying on on us. So I'm just like I'm pretty sure you know like, china will find some way. That's not tiktok. I don't think they're spying on us through tiktok, you know like at what point?
Speaker 1:I mean, would you think, think, think about it though, you we're, we're on our phones a lot of times, laptops, I mean, you name it. I think the government itself, they already have enough information, you know, on me, on us, that they can just do as they please, yeah, I don't.
Speaker 1:I don't get scared of that very much. Very people get scared of like, oh, what if the government, you know, is watching? And I'm like, bro, if they wanted to watch you, they would have been watched you, you see that tv in front of you right there, they could have been watched. You know what I mean? Like I don't, I don't get. I'm like, if they're gonna watch me, then let them be bro, at least let them enjoy the show, right, I'm like it's like a reality tv type shit. Um, but what do you think? So, talking about social media and like platforms like that, what has been your favorite social media platform that you've ever used? There's some good ones. Did you ever get into the Vine era or were you too young?
Speaker 1:Into the what the Vine?
Speaker 2:The Vine. Yeah, I used it a little bit, so like when TikTok came back. I mean, when TikTok first started, I was just like, it's just like Vine.
Speaker 1:Musically was it called right.
Speaker 2:Musically.
Speaker 1:I don't remember what a tiktok was called. I think it was like musically or something like that. But it was a minute. I think my sister introduced me to that, jacqueline introduced me to that and I was like what the what is this?
Speaker 2:oh, I remember I used to use tumblr a lot when I was oh, tumblr was a thing.
Speaker 1:What happened to tumblr yo?
Speaker 2:I think it's just you know just died just like myspace, you know like nobody usesSpace anymore.
Speaker 1:Damn, you know what. I'm wondering, though why is it that MySpace didn't last and Facebook is lasting? I know they're making a lot of differences in what they do through their app, but I was like MySpace was literally something similar to what Facebook was you can request friends, send messages. I don't know why Facebook took over and then myspace didn't I never used.
Speaker 2:I still didn't get that. I was too young for that damn I wonder why.
Speaker 1:But myspace was that era, man, you could post things like music on your that was. That was so interesting.
Speaker 2:I mean the only reason why I am on facebook, is you know, for my family?
Speaker 1:you know, like the elders, you know because there are a lot of them on facebook yeah, like my mom, my dad, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then instagram for for the friends for the friends, and then tech talk, just, you know, to get my news but yeah, what about x? You use x uh, I'll use it here and there um I just I don't like how dark it looks now, you know like x is crazy though x is crazy the content they have on x is wild man yeah, like every time I open it like, I'll just like scroll for like 15 minutes, I'm like, okay, this is enough internet for today this is enough of the internet for today dang nah.
Speaker 1:X is wild. I've seen some crazy stuff on x. You can see everything like I don't think they have a because elon musk bought it now, and like censorship shit. I don't know what that is. Yeah, I look at things and I'm like yo sometimes and I got I like the news from like x because a lot of people you know speak their mind, which I enjoy very much, but damn, not even on youtube you can't do that.
Speaker 2:Youtube will like you know, you know I don't understand why, like things are getting flags, like okay, like I know sometimes people say like hurtful things or but like tiktok, like they're also. You know like flagging stuff down. You know, if you like talk about, you know like um presidential stuff, or you know like say like something about like the whole palestine, palestine and israel stuff and I'm just like yeah, that's also another topic.
Speaker 2:I'm just like I thought this was a place where people, you know, speak their mind, you know yeah, but that's what they and I like hearing freedom of speech I like hearing stuff from both sides, you know, like I, I like getting my information from both sides, you know yeah, because you, I mean, I think that's.
Speaker 1:I think that's our job, though our job is to do the research, and then one side will feed you some b BS and the other side will feed you some BS too. Which, bro, this year? I ain't going to lie, listen, I love you family and stuff, but I don't think I don't know, bro, even the elections, all that shit, it's a headache.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, it's a lot when people tell me about the election that's happening this year. I am not voting, I'm praying, I'm praying.
Speaker 1:I'm not voting, I'm praying even that. Yo, we're going eeny meeny, miny moe, you know, on the ballot. You know what's funny? I, I don't. I like I meet people that like, well, I don't have a lot of friends that are really into politics, like that like we'll listen and we'll have our opinions, but like someone who's like really into politics I don't know if it's my fan group or like we just are tired of like all the bs and we just don't care people, I feel like saying no, I totally understand like there are some people who are like really like all about politics and stuff and that's all they talk about and I'm just like, shut up, you're with your friends, like talk about the weather, like, or go outside and touch some grass, like I don't want to hear about this right now, Like it's going to add into my anxiety?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, even more stuff. I don't think it makes a difference. If I'm being honest, my honest opinion, I don't think it makes. Four-year term there's a certain amount, both presidents, by the way, who are running, they're only going to have a four-year term anyways. Yeah, right, so it's not like they're gonna make a huge difference, like it's not gonna be anything crazy. I don't think so. Um, because it always sways back and forth, right, like you only see, like the matting, maybe a max one that you'll see is like like a certain party, like a democrat or republican, eight years, you know, and then it'll probably switch back.
Speaker 1:I've always like noticed that it always goes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I think it's a way of like it. Naturally everything balances all the ideas that people have and all the beliefs. Sometimes you get tired of one part of you or for the other one. Sometimes you get tired of this one, you go for the other one. It's like to me it doesn't. I feel like it's a, it's like a game. If you think about it like in the, like the big picture, like politics is just a big ass game. They all say the things they want to do so you can vote for them, and that's why it's not even interesting, bro.
Speaker 2:I don't even yeah I like I mentioned I have a minor in poli sci because I actually used to be really into politics. You know like keep up with the things that were happening and stuff yeah but I feel like if I were to pay attention to every little thing that's going on with like politics, I would have no hair you'll be a politician. I would have no hair like just because it's just too much you know, like I just I'd rather just you know like not even listen.
Speaker 1:So I feel you. That's why I'm praying, not voting I think that's the right thing we should all do, if I'm being honest with you, and all right, we're gonna transition to the topic we were talking here, um, about your well you're. You said you were 25. Right, you are young, you're beautiful and we're talking. We're talking about like the relationship, life and stuff and like how things are going, and you wanted to speak about that. What do you think that's going on with? Like the dating scene nowadays, um, that you have seen or witnessed?
Speaker 2:um I don't think it's just only me. Like I like, you know, like my friend groups and stuff, like they've like even older people, you know I mean because I have like older friends you know who are like in their 30s, you know I hang out with their whole entire graduation class. Your boy, the kid 30 yeah, um, like they just say, like dating is just like not what it kind of used to be, like it's just really hard to meet somebody like organically.
Speaker 1:Now, you know yeah, no, I feel you on that. That's, that's very true. I was gonna ask you um, even with the topics of that, I feel like what is it that now, everybody in our age, especially whether it's like, let's say, like the span of a decade, it's a lot of people just, I think, want to be, either want to be single or they're okay with being single. Like the pressure of you just getting married is not enough for you to be convinced to get married. Does that make sense? Yeah, like not just getting into the relationship talk itself, but like a lot of people just want to be single. And I feel, I feel like I meet more people that are my age, that are single, and what is it? Is it because we're learning from our parents experiences? Because, even though you love your parents, I'm sure there has, like there had to be some turmoil that you saw and you were like, why are you guys together sometimes, like it's not even healthy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely also. Because, like back then, like you know, they would get married so young, like when my mom was my age, she already had me and my sister, you know yeah and she had a house and you know. So I think it also has wild and you know I also think like relationships, relationships and married also have to do with, like the state of our economy, because everything is so freaking expensive, you know you can't really plan for the future right, that's a good topic, though even the economy.
Speaker 1:I think the economy plays a big role into marriage yeah, I had this conversation and let me know what you think about this. But, um, getting married with somebody like, like you've seen where I live, right, it's really nice. I pay rent here, um, I live very comfortable, I have a good job. But I'm like, if I were to get married and I buy a house that's like 400, 500, 000 house and why do I give you that number? Because, like that, the average household, I think, is like 400 and I like nice things. So if I'm gonna move out of something, I don't want to move to something that I'm not proud of. I want something that's nice and something that's decent and something that's nice.
Speaker 1:It's expensive now. So I'm like, do I want to get into a relationship, married and go live somewhere where I'm like almost house broke, like I don't know if that's attractive man? You know what I'm saying? That's tough. Like what would your rent be? Three thousand dollars or some shit like that? And I'm like, bro, that that is hard. Like, if you're, if you have a good job, your wife has a good job, you're chilling, like I get it, but damn, that's still a lot of money. Yet there has to play some type of role, especially as a man that we like to be providers. That's a little, it's a little difficult. You know it's a tough pill to swallow. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah um, definitely has to be like the area and I know, like our area, like georgia, like the metro area is so expensive.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like I. Just I don't understand how people like live in Atlanta.
Speaker 1:I don't like the city. I don't like the city. I'm going to be honest I don't like the city.
Speaker 2:I could not live there. Like I don't know how they're just paying like $2,000 like a rent for a tiny ass place.
Speaker 1:Not even a place, sometimes even like a bedroom, and some some change. It's not even all that. I feel you, yeah, atlanta, but I don't think I live in yeah, it's nice, like okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean I do enjoy the city view, like there's a lot to do in the city and stuff, but I just I could not live there because it's expensive, there's way too many people right and it's just really loud too you know traffic.
Speaker 1:Don't forget traffic.
Speaker 2:Don't forget traffic yeah, I worked in buckhead for like a month or whatever, but I used to travel to buckhead back and forth and I would cry going to buckhead and coming back from buckhead because I just hate traffic so much like traffic is so bad.
Speaker 1:I was telling you, like I was telling you earlier, I don't know how I went to school for six years at georgia state and commuted.
Speaker 1:Maybe I was like locked in and you know I was just used to it, but I don't understand how I did that for about six years. That's crazy to me now, Like now I drive and I'm just like this traffic is so bad. I don't know how I would do this nowadays, Like maybe I'm spoiled because I work from home now. Oh, and the best part of Atlanta finding parking. I don't know how I would do this nowadays, like maybe I'm spoiled because I work from home now.
Speaker 2:But oh, and the best part of atlanta finding parking oh my and making sure hoping to god that some homeless guy didn't steal your rims or whatever it is yeah, that's.
Speaker 1:That's a bad situation too, though you know I was trying to go to miami, whatever, and every time we try to look at like, where will we stay, we have to pay for parking. I'm like you guys own the property technically. Why am I paying for what that? What is going on? I don't know if it's like a Florida thing, but I don't understand that. You know, like, when you go to a hotel and I guess hotels maybe are like some of them are like on the street, road or stuff like that, they don't have, but I'm like yo, you still gotta pay for that I was like what are we what? What are we doing? I don't like that. Energy. Um, everything is money. Yeah, everything is money. Man, money, money is crazy. Right now it's a tough situation. I wonder if I'm sure things will get better. But right now, dude, moving now, getting buying house, the house that I want by myself, it's not a good idea.
Speaker 2:And back in the day 10, you know, not even 10 years ago, five years ago if I make what I make now, I will have a really, really nice house, but because everything has gone down to shit, I'm like I'm staying, I'm staying, I'm leaving the home I know I saw this meme one time and it was like I hate myself so much because, instead of buying a house and like what?
Speaker 1:like 20 in 08 or when was the house? Yeah, the the crash happened in 08, but, like the house market was good in 2020, 2019, 20 all these years, like before the pandemic well, I saw something and I was like you man F my life because I was in the third grade. Instead of buying, my first house and I'm like, yeah, I've seen that yo.
Speaker 2:And it's just like, like I also think about it. I'm just like am I ever going to have a house? Like, because everything is so expensive? And just crazy you know, like but yeah, I remember, you know before the pandemic, remember, you know before the pandemic happened, even during the pandemic. A lot of people moved because you know the house is the house market was so good and like in the last like what, four or five years? It just got really bad. It got really bad.
Speaker 1:It got really bad, and you're right, though you think about that like well, I ever own like a really, really nice house because it's too expensive and not just a, not not just a payment, right, like the mortgage, but like the things you know if things break you gotta pay for, like the mortgage, but like the things you know if things break you got to pay for that.
Speaker 1:Imagine the AC goes out like you're screwed. That's a lot of money, man. That's why pride, like we were talking about earlier, karina Pride is so important, because some people, like you, know they like. For example, for me, I don't have any pride staying with my parents paying rent here and living. I fuck that. I prefer people.
Speaker 1:You can talk all you want, but I'm like I'm making a really good income, I'm living at home, I live with my family and if the house market is not good, I am not moving. I am staying my ass home 100. And it's because I'm not prideful, like I don't care that people see me living here. I'm 31, I'm like nah, bro you. So you want me to what? You want me to live? To move to a house so you can be happy for me and you know I can be house broke. No, stay in my ass here. It's pride, bro, telling you, a lot of people are very proudful. Is that the right word? Prideful, prideful. They're very proud and just because they want to say they will own the home, I'm like and what? Where your savings are going now all to the house. No, no, no, that just tickles me, man. That fucks with me it's so bad I need to marry. I don't know. I just sugar mama or something. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Anything is about time for green sugar, mama, sugar daddy yeah, um, I know there's like this one club and like a like bar or something where, like you can meet a whole bunch of check mamas that's a that's a thing yeah no somebody was telling me about it. Somebody was telling me about it because I was like, oh my god, you know what I just need to. You know, like, marry, uh, you know like a 60 year old guy, and just you know like wait for him to go yep, be like hey yo no, there's no way, that's a thing no, yeah, it's, it's not.
Speaker 2:It's a bar where, like a lot of, older people come I just forgot what the name was damn I'll text it to you when I find out I don't know if I'll go.
Speaker 1:I'm scared. I'll be scared to show up to one of those places.
Speaker 2:You don't think so oh, I'd be scared too yeah, shit.
Speaker 1:No, I know there was an app back in the day, though did you already hear about that an app? Yeah, well, you can meet sugar mamas and sugar daddies does this still exist? I don't know. We we can find out, we can't find out yo I don't know. Well, we have the ipad right here, we can check, but I don't know. I don't remember there used to be one, but I don't know what happened to it. Things are an app for everything, karina, nowadays.
Speaker 2:There is an app for everything, yeah.
Speaker 1:Is there anything that else you want to share? That's something that's important to you, Like anything that you feel, like it's like you know in your heart, or anything, or you're good.
Speaker 2:I just feel like women. I just feel like women should take more construction jobs, not just in the office but, you know, also in the field of project management. I feel like women probably do a better job because we're more detail-oriented.
Speaker 1:Ooh Damn. So what do you think that is?
Speaker 2:What do you think that women need to be more in construction or the construction field?
Speaker 2:I just feel like you know it's a very male heavy industry, very, very male heavy. Um, that's why, like it never crossed my mind that I ever wanted to do like construction. You know, when I was younger, like you know, I told you like I wish I would have, you know, like been in that field first and then maybe probably got like a degree in like construction management or something. But yeah, I just feel like you know, women probably do a better job. You know, with all the budgeting and you know anything that entails project management or yeah whatever, because they're more detail orientated.
Speaker 2:And men, I just feel like not as much and it's.
Speaker 1:It's also like you know, like women like just are getting underpaid in this industry I got a question how much of it do you think it's because you guys have to prove yourself more than men, that you guys sometimes are even better at doing things? Does that make sense? Like, how much of it it's because, for example, because you are a woman and you're going into this industry and just and the workforce in general right when it comes to high level jobs, how much of it is it the fact that you have to prove or or even over perform so so they can think you're qualified or like that you can do the job right? Does that make sense?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah like, how much of that do you think? That is because I personally let me tell you my experience when I felt that when I've talked to women in like high level positions or a job or anything of that nature, I've always felt like a woman is always so prepared and and like they're so I feel like more, like you said, maybe they might be more detail oriented, maybe they had to know the in and outs of everything because of the fact that they're women. And I ask myself that sometimes, because I interviewed with NASA one day and there was two women interviewed me. But let me tell you, karina, that was one of the hardest interviews I've ever had to do in my life. Like, but these women were so good, bro, they just knew their shit.
Speaker 1:And like I'm not saying that it was an intimidation factor for me, because, you know, I was just nervous in general because it was an interview. But I was like yo, I I'm catching this trend like women that have interviewed me. They're just so good, you know, maybe they notice a little bit more of somebody when they, when you get hired, um, or something that it takes for that person to work here, and I was like I'm glad, you know I got the job offer but like damn, something about that is just you guys. You know what I say is you know your shit. You know what I mean and I don't I wonder how much of that's because you have to prove yourself even a little bit more in the workforce.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean, yeah, well, I'm not really in like projects or whatever, and, like you know, dealing with the construction, I'm more like on the accounting side. But you know from, you know like me seeing, like the experience of these other women, yeah, a lot of it is having to prove yourself and you know like just you know like not even getting an acknowledgement or anything.
Speaker 2:You know like just yeah yeah like I know this, this woman who I used to work with, and you know she like, I feel like she outperformed a lot of the men and you know, nobody would really like recognize her, or you know, compensate her the way she should be compensated and stuff.
Speaker 2:I remember, like me seeing, you know, like this guy getting paid more than a girl who used to work with me like a long time ago, getting paid a bigger salary than her when she already had experience and stuff Been with the company for a while, salary than her when she already had experience and stuff been with the company for a while. And you know, this guy just came out because he was a guy and got paid more than her with no experience and I was just like that's crazy I was just like how is that happening?
Speaker 2:why is that happening, right, you know? And I think the assumption is because obviously he's a man and she's a woman yeah, I was like I can't come up with no other explanation than you know, it being because, you know, for gender how you felt like you've been underpaid sometimes because of when, like when you've interviewed for like positions, roles, or you feel like you've been doing well in that sense. Um I could definitely say I've been underpaid before you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:By somebody you know that's older than me too. You know, I also feel like there's a lot of age discrimination. It's not even happening to the old people, it's happening to the younger people.
Speaker 1:That's interesting though.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's really interesting Because the age you don't think about that sometimes either. Yeah, Shay, sometimes.
Speaker 2:And I just think it's also because you know, like everywhere, that I've worked, like most places, I've always been the youngest one there. So I just feel like you know, because I'm young, they just think I'm stupid. You know Like I mean I've done dumb stuff. You know Like I'm sorry, sorry, I don't know how to send snail mail, like I'm gen z like I don't know how to send snail mail like right so I had asked. I was like hey, like, how do you mail something you know?
Speaker 1:oh, that's wild, you know, and I know this sounds crazy, but even writing a check for me sometimes it's hard really that I know how to write checks well, I don't. I don't know how to do that very well, because everything like when I pay for something, it gets taken out of my account what?
Speaker 2:but okay, like I've when I've written checks before, like doesn't it just make you feel like so anxious, like oh my god, I'm probably like oh, if you mess up like did I spell this right? Does this really go here? And you know?
Speaker 1:think about how spoiled we are, because I even. The reason I get nervous sometimes is because when you spell a big number out, when you're texting, that autocorrect would yeah, correct it, correct it but here you're like oh shit, thousand t-h-o-u you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:That's why I feel like a lot of people nowadays are like so bad at spelling oh, that's probably me.
Speaker 1:I feel you on that, though a hundred percent, like you can ask me you like, spell necessarily I'll be like oh, that's so tough though only spell, necessarily. I'll be like what, oh, that's so tough, though Only spell necessarily, carlos, I need to add the yo.
Speaker 2:I would have to like, look at my phone and see how that's spelled.
Speaker 1:I'm about to look at my iPad. Necessarily Hold on. How do you spell that? Okay, I know how to start.
Speaker 2:Necessarily N-E-S-S. Okay, here we go.
Speaker 1:N-E-C-E-S-S-A-R-I-L-Y? Damn no, I would have used 100% autocorrect for that.
Speaker 2:Or that like a speech-to-text thing. You know, that's on the phones, oh the phones, yeah, yeah, yeah, because when I'm like I don't know how to spell this, well, I will just be like, necessarily, you know so you know, you, I don't, I didn't think about that.
Speaker 1:We are becoming well, I am becoming less literally literal, lit, lit, lit, lit, literally you're becoming illiterate oh, there you go, that's what illiterate means like you can't like read and spell so what's? A literally, a literally a literate okay, so I'm becoming that. That's bad, though that's bad, I'm not. I'm not ashamed to say it. I mean it's it. I can't blame, I can't, you can't blame me. Everything I write on has autocorrect, and if not, I would just click right, click it what's the right word and click that yeah and uh.
Speaker 2:Also, like, have you ever like just taken the time to like you know pen and uh paper, something you know? And like when I'm like writing something, I'm like on the third line and my hand just starts? Hurting hurts so much and I'm just like, oh my god, like I remember I could just like write back and forth like pages at school and I could barely write because everything's like.
Speaker 1:Yeah, even kids now, though, like they all have their own tablets, they can type in and stuff like that, so they're so used to all that technology Like writing has just become a thing of the past now.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Everything has to be like in computer type. You know Word or something you know computer type. You know word or something you know. Can I tell you something? I don't know if you know this, but back in el salvador, when we were in school, the way they used to punish us is by writing a lot. Oh um, you remember that?
Speaker 2:so actually when I was young, like really young, my mom would send me every summer to el salvador for like a month with my like my little cousins so I used to go to the schools when I was there and because of that, because of me going to school in el salvador for like, here and there, when I wanted to, when I was, like you know, vacation visiting my grandma, I know how to write cursive oh, that's good.
Speaker 2:That's good because they would punish me for doing one little thing and they were like you have to write all this in cursive yeah so at my age now I know how to write cursive, because I went to school for like a day or whatnot in el salvador that's actually really cool.
Speaker 1:That's a cool story I I hear I don't think they ever learned to taught us how to write cursive, but in el salvador, when you used, they used to punish you with. This is a crazy. I don't know what this professor was thinking, but one day our professor gave us a homework from overnight homework, by the way from to write from one through ten thousand in number. So one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. I'm like what the fuck? I'm like you were up all night, weren't you?
Speaker 1:I didn't finish it. I got to like a thousand, I don't know a couple thousand or something like that, and I don't even think it was ten thousand, but I think it was more. I think it was like forty thousand, some crap. Because then the next day he was like doing in tens, nobody finished, yeah, it's a crazy ass number. And then the next day it's like do it in like a hundreds or something like that, and I was like what, what is the purpose of this?
Speaker 1:But even punishment, something simple as writing a number down and trying to finish it, come on One, two, three, four, five, that was ridiculous, that was crazy. But, like you said, even the cursive thing, sometimes they'll make you write, make you write, write cursive, just so you can learn it. And then as punishment too, which I get it, you know, sometimes you might need that. But this other time, with the 400, I was like you're ridiculous. I had like, uh, even you can see it on my finger. I have like a little bump here because of how much I used to write, because that was 10 and it was, it was bigger like I have this little I don't know if it's like a little bone or or something like, but I have it because I used to write so much, and this was up until I was 10. Not even here when I came to the states wait, pause.
Speaker 2:So have you been to the new and improved el salvador lately?
Speaker 1:yeah, I have I have have you I have.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, how do you feel about it?
Speaker 1:last year how do you? Let's talk about that. Our country, man. Yes, let's get into the mix, karina go. What do you like about our country right now? What's going on? Oh my God.
Speaker 2:So, like I just you know, I told you that my mom would send me to like El Salvador when I was younger for like months at a time in the summer, but you know, when I was in the house we couldn't wander around. Um, you know when we would go to like the city and stuff, um, it was like very dangerous, or yeah or the mall, you know, metro centro metro centro.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um what part did you live in el salvador? Where's your family from la unión?
Speaker 2:right, la unión or san miguel type vibes like san miguel, la unión okay around there, um, but it like there was always a sense of you know it being dangerous. You know, in the news it was like El Salvador has. You know the MS-13. You know, like people dying left and right my mom's, you know, former classmates dying yeah women going through horrendous, disgusting things.
Speaker 2:so you know, I had not been to El Salvador. You know, since I was a little kid, like I think the last time I went before I went last year was like 2009 or 8. Okay, so that was a wide gap between 2000 and 2023.
Speaker 1:Wait, so you went for the first time last year?
Speaker 2:Yeah, After a while.
Speaker 1:That's over a decade.
Speaker 2:And you know in Gwinnett County. I don't think there's many El Salvadoreños in Gwinnett County.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:There's a bigger population of like Mexicans and Mexicans.
Speaker 1:Mexicans probably number one.
Speaker 2:So you know, like I've never really had like a big sense of pride of I was just like, yeah, you know my parents from El Salvador but, I'm American or like. Yeah, like you know, like, like I didn't really talk about el salvador like that, but I swear to god, when I went back to the new and improved el salvador, I just have such a big sense of pride now that I'm salvadoreño because, like everything, changed for the better I feel like the people are happier, like I really was able to explore my roots.
Speaker 2:when I went back to El Salvador, I was like wow, this is El Salvador, you know yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, this is really cool and the reason I say that is because I experienced El Salvador before it became what you experienced when you were a kid. Yeah, and then I experienced it back again because obviously things are better. So before, when I was like eight or nine, I remember that I used to go out everywhere, wherever I wanted to, wherever I wanted to go. I was a kid man, I would go anywhere and no signs of danger, like every you know. But when the gang started getting worse and you know we were what the highest um murder rate per capita, I think in in the world yeah, for several years.
Speaker 2:There's always like travel advisories.
Speaker 1:You know, don't go to osawa, yeah, yeah and now it's getting back to what it used to be. Well, now we have something proud to be right we have the best president in the world.
Speaker 2:No bias, just saying, we just I'm sorry, you guys can't have naipu kele I know?
Speaker 1:no, we have the that. You know him changing everything and the thing. One of the most important things he did was understanding that we have so much to give with our culture yeah with our lands, with our beaches all that gorgeous, gorgeous beaches exactly all that exposure the world has not had, not seen it, and now that we're exposing, uh, tourism, which is a moneymaker left and right, because unfortunately El Salvador is expensive but still like, it's beautiful, it's booming, it's 100% man, there's construction going everywhere, you know yeah.
Speaker 2:Like, yeah, like you know, I never had experienced El Salvador like it was. I didn't really, to be honest, I didn't really care for El Salvador.
Speaker 1:You know, like I just you didn't feel no sense of pride.
Speaker 2:I had no sense of pride. I was just like you know I'm, my parents are Salvadorian, you know, and I sometimes, I now say I'm Salvadorian. You know like.
Speaker 1:I didn't really say that because I'm so proud, you know, I'm so proud like that.
Speaker 2:My parents came from such a beautiful country, and that because I I was never able to witness el salvador like it was you know, like I never really saw what it was, how beautiful it was, how much it had to give, like you said, you know a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:No, no, I agree with you, and I'm glad because we do have that sense of pride, because before the only thing that we could have been proud for was the gangs that we had. That's it. We didn't, there's nothing to be proud of.
Speaker 2:And now we have a president, we have a country, um everything is just so refreshing to see, like you know influencers and you know all these people going to el salvador like el salvador is getting mentioned now. Miss universe was there oh, that's right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, miss universe was there fun fact um. I miss jonah hill, seeing him by like a hair oh, because you went around the time he went to the beach, right I?
Speaker 2:was so mad because, like, so like, we were in surf city and then we traveled to nawi. So when we were in nawi, I was like you know, scrolling through instagram and they were like jonah hill and surf city, el salvador. I was like I miss jonah hill. Damn, that's wild yeah that's so crazy.
Speaker 1:And the fact that even celebrities are going a lot of you know, famous people want to see what el salvador is about and I love that man, I. It makes you feel so proud because people are acknowledging us like we exist yeah did you see the airport, though? How nice it is. Or did you see the new side, or no? Yeah, the new wing. Yeah, it's actually like America, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I came in there and I was like dang, did I ever leave Hartsville?
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, this is good. The airport is nice too.
Speaker 2:They're building another one, by the way, on the other side of the country. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you might be landing there when you go. I hope, because the drive from the airport to my gran's house is like two hours. Where did you stay in el sonte, I mean?
Speaker 2:in uh surf city. So we stayed in the in the attraction, the main attraction, surf city. So we just went there and revisited okay and then we traveled to mi mi taza, mi sata I don't know sata el salvador, where it's like where, that's where now he is okay the famous. Now we and you know like it's like black sand beaches because of the volcano or whatever, and it was just like.
Speaker 1:It was so gorgeous I stayed at the surf city hotel, I think it was or puro surf hotel. Beautiful, yeah, I'll recommend that it's like 200 a night, but it's fire, that has an infinity pool. And then, obviously, because surf city like you can learn how to surf and like you pay for classes or whatnot, but even like the place where you eat, where, like they give you all the food or whatever, like it has a beautiful view to the beach, the infinity pool beautiful, it's just nice. It's so nice and I'm like yo, this exists stay in el salvador, no, no, this is fire.
Speaker 1:This is fire.
Speaker 2:I got we should, we gotta go, kareena oh, it's so funny because, um, we want to go, me and my cousins want to plan another cousin's trip, because in december we all went together without my sister okay but when she went she experienced the battle salvador and oh, my sister, the bad and the good she's like, yeah, I'm not gonna go, like I'm just, no, I'm scared. Or she's like there's not really anything to do there. It's like I'm like girl, like you have not gone to the new and improved el salvador.
Speaker 1:It's so much better, even the city. I love staying in the city I love the city.
Speaker 2:We stayed at the uh sheraton okay, I've stayed there before. That's good um, and it's just so. It was so beautiful, like it's like going to the mall that's the one with the big pool, right? Yes, yeah, sheraton, we actually stayed in the executive and it was like so nice oh, you got money?
Speaker 2:no, I just happened to you know like um have some points, or whatever to be able to stay there with my cousins and it was just so cool because they had like a picture like the reina from hispania coming there and all these famous people have stayed at the, at the sheraton, so what is that called?
Speaker 1:a lot of the um embassies for other countries are around that um and I, when I went, I stayed with somebody who used to work for, like um, the french embassy, and I was like damn like you guys are over here, like this is where you guys are.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's pretty cool. Which is it's really cool because also, like when I went to naui, there was like a lot of, you know, like europeans there, you know don't you love that though? Yeah, I'm like, wow, like even europeans know about you.
Speaker 1:Guys know about us, but it's cool, man, I mean, and and the thing is though oh, it's gonna get better.
Speaker 2:Sorry to cut you off, but keep doing it's like now that el salvador is known, you know how people. You know like, okay, here's an example. When I used to work at pandora, you know like, um, god bless this lady's heart, you know. But you know, I was like wrapping up her, you know, like charms and rings or whatever. And then she was like are you a puerto rican or are you a mexican?
Speaker 1:like with a country accent and I was just like. I was like you know, you a.
Speaker 2:Puerto Rican or are you a Mexican, like with a country accent? And I was just like. I was like you know what? The store is so busy right now I don't have the time to explain to her. So I was like yeah, I'm Mexican. Because if I told her, you know I'm from El Salvador, she'd be like where's?
Speaker 1:that she's going to start asking me all these questions, you know.
Speaker 2:So now I feel like when people have asked me that and I'm like, yeah, I'm actually from El Salvador, Like they're like oh, like we've heard so much about El Salvador, like the president, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It kind of feels good to you know, finally be recognized.
Speaker 1:They know where they're at now. Yeah, we're on the map is what we call it.
Speaker 2:We're on the map Exactly.
Speaker 1:We're on the map. Promise you, we're not just hyping it up because it's our country, but the difference that it's became, and I'm telling you the there's so much to see. It's so little but you can see so much and it's cool that you can see so much, because it's not that long to get from one place to the other, because it's so small yeah I think across to like go across the country takes like five hours yeah, it's really you can't even do that here in georgia but there is just so much to do and it's so beautiful, full of culture, like the food.
Speaker 1:Don't forget the four pupusas. Come on, man, come on um, it's so funny. I was explaining to one of my co-workers that I'm hungry now yeah, I know I can go for some pupusas don't play with my feelings right now, because I'm hungry but honestly, honestly, I told her.
Speaker 2:I was like, if you want to make sure that the pupusas are good, make sure that the pupusera has an attitude, yeah.
Speaker 1:If she doesn't have an attitude.
Speaker 2:I do not want those pupusas.
Speaker 1:It's like Waffle House. Exactly, it's like Waffle House, you know yeah.
Speaker 2:If she's not sarcastic to you, then it's not gonna be good. That's a great analogy to be like um, do you guys have a booze? And she's like no, when there's like literally a sign that says babusa is there man, I'm gonna plan a trip to el salvador this this summer.
Speaker 1:I have to go. I love going. I love staying at the beaches. There's another thing places you just tell I will give you some. I've been a lot. I'm gonna give you some spots where there's this place on this side, before we go. Um, that I went to I forgot the name of the, the hotel, but it's a small little hotel, so it has a couple rooms and it's beautiful, it's nice and you can get your own massage, like right next to the beach, like type vibe fire, and you have in order for you to get food, you can either go out, or there's a chef that works there and you you just text them, you send them a WhatsApp and you're like, hey, chef, I want this order ready by 10 pm or 7 pm for dinner. Or like I want breakfast and he'll make it for you and he'll have it ready for you at that time. You just go to the table and eat and I'm like you feel like a king bro. I I'm like he treated me so nice, karina.
Speaker 2:I was like this is what it's about. Right here, this is where we're at you know, I saw tiktok and it was like you're not depressed, you just live in the us damn facts.
Speaker 1:No printer facts. Nah, we'll be blessed. We live here, though.
Speaker 2:We just need to go back to our country and say, yeah, maybe we'll just you know, be the generation that you know migrates back you think so or retires there I, I would probably retire there, you know you think?
Speaker 1:so build my house I feel like it gets more if it gets more modern, especially with, like the health health care I would oh, yeah, definitely but we need a lot of work on that side too, even though it's going. We're striving, but we're going. Um anything else you want to share?
Speaker 2:uh, before we go, karina, this is good, you got me excited about us all right now yeah, jesus, I think I'm gonna look at flights when I get back home to see, uh, when I can take the next one what's the move?
Speaker 1:I love that man travel and then we can go. You can come back on and and talk about it when you yeah come back, I'll bring pictures awesome.
Speaker 1:Uh, well, thank you for being here today. I appreciate you. You were, you were great. I love having these conversations. And to everyone that's watching or listening, I appreciate you watching or listening, remember, you can watch the video in 4k on youtube, on my channel, and then, if you know, listen to all the social uh, all the audio platforms spotify, apple podcast and amazon music. Um, don't forget, they'll also have merch coming out and I'm going to keep updating the merch as time goes on. But if you guys want to support the channel, that would be a great way to do it. And get your sweater, get your hoodies, whatever you want to get, especially summertime, there's a lot of t-shirts that you guys can get and eventually my plan is to whenever I host somebody give them a shirt to my that you get came to my podcast, so don't forget to share this podcast with your family, your friends.
Speaker 1:Karina, again, thank you for being here. I appreciate you for having me. Thank you, I really enjoyed this, so I love it. I would love to have you back and talk a little bit more, so thank you guys for watching. I'll see you guys on the next one. As always, take care of each other, take care of your family, your friends, and peace and love family. See you guys in the next one. Awesome, and peace and love family.
Speaker 2:See you guys on the next one, deuces Awesome.