Ross Zeiger
Met 2024-07-08 09:00 at Red Tree House, Culiacán 6, Condesa, Mexico City, Mexico.American from Washington. Age 32 now. Wife from Korea. He teaches Descript video editing software.
Check out the full video he made of our conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao6iLiFXqxQ
Was in the military, got out in November 2019, intending to travel for a year, but Covid hit while he was in Kathmandu, and Nepal locked down, so they stayed. Rented an apartment for $180/month. He'd spent 3 months in Kathmandu in 2014, mostly trekking, so he knew he liked it. Nepal is like India-lite. Less intense.
Backpacking in Nepal, just start walking with a backpack. Hire a guide for $10/day. Lots of little shops, villages, where you can stay. Bed is free if you buy $5-$10 breakfast the next morning. He read all of the Harry Potter books that week because they'd be done walking by early afternoon so he was just reading 6 hours a night with no distractions.
Came to Mexico and got Scuba Dive Master certification, which means over 100 dives. Loves the silent peaceful feeling of being underwater. Scuba diving isn't as much about the sightseeing, but just being underwater.
Living in Mexico for two years, mostly for his wife's veterinarian school, so he hasn't gotten involved in Mexican culture much. Mexicans are self-deprecating.
Wife is doing a medical degree in Spanish, and didn't know Spanish beforehand! Spent 8 hours a day learning, and mastered Spanish in 6 months.
He'd love to live in Korea, but wife doesn't want to, because it's too patriarchal.