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They did what to you in Philadelphia? Así en la calle, sin provocación?
Sí, sí.
Puta. Yeah, that doesn’t happen here.
Guatemala City, October 2025
Ashkan R. -
At 20, I thought I knew everything. I pitched Josh on a hostel in Puerto Rico; I had stayed in so many in Europe. He obliged. Unfortunately — and these things happen — it turned out to be a homeless shelter. We stayed two nights, he wanted to leave, and I told him I’d plan better next time.
At 21, I thought I knew everything. I told Josh I’d struck gold with this idea. Unfortunately, he soon found himself psychedelically trapped outside of the space-time continuum at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I called us an Uber back and agreed to be more discerning next time.
I’m 22 now. I’ve learned all I need to. I have a killer trip to Afghanistan lined up for us next. Just need to get Josh on board.
San Juan, October 2022
Ashkan R. -
There’s a rat in my room. There’s not much I can do about it. I can’t leave. It’s not leaving either.
After bed bugs, mosquitos, spiders, sunburns, and quarter-sized blisters, I’ve come to appreciate the entropy of the world’s least visited country for its unapologetic absurdity. I hope the rat likes Karol G — we’re jamming tonight.
Tuvalu, August 2025
Ashkan R.
