(Monday, February 10th, 2025 to Sunday, February 16th, 2025)
Personal Highlights
This week was a mix of productive mornings, frustrating visa bureaucracy, and a memorable Valentine’s Day—though a dodgy buffet threw in an unexpected challenge.
Webinar Course & Work Progress
I kicked off Monday with a webinar course by Paul Jordan, running from 8:30 to 9:00 AM each morning for six days. The course is designed to help sell webinars effectively on Eventbrite, which is perfect timing for my plans with Digital Growth 101. The first session covered the basics but was engaging and promising—I’m looking forward to the rest of it.
After the webinar, I dedicated the day to working on both the Digital Growth 101 and Just Blog Life websites. It was a focused day at home, refining my projects and catching up on tasks.
Visa Struggles Continue
Tuesday brought another attempt at securing the third certificate for my visa, which meant a trip to the Palacio de Justicia in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, all the ticket allocations were gone, and we were told to return at 8 AM the next day. A wasted morning, but at this point, patience is part of the process.
On Wednesday, we decided to skip the visa mission and instead hit the gym for a workout and a well-earned chicken salad at the café there. Afterward, we did some food shopping to stock up for the week ahead. It felt good to have a more relaxed day instead of dealing with more paperwork.
Victory at the Palacio de Justicia
Thursday started early—6 AM wake-up, 7:15 AM departure, and back to the Palacio de Justicia for another try at the visa certificate. Initially, it felt like déjà vu—no tickets left again. But this time, we were told to come back in 20 minutes, and when we did, we finally secured a ticket.
That was the easy part. The next four hours were pure endurance—waiting for our turn in an uncomfortable setting, watching time crawl. When we were finally called, it took just five minutes to process the certificate. Weeks of effort, hours of waiting, all for a five-minute task—but at least it was done!
To celebrate, we went to a Chinese buffet for lunch. Sadly, this turned out to be a big mistake. The food wasn’t great, and by the evening, my stomach was already telling me I’d made a terrible choice.
Valentine’s Day & Ceramics Fun
Friday—Valentine’s Day—was supposed to be special, but I woke up really ill from the food the day before. I spent most of the day resting, trying to recover. Despite this, Vanesa had booked a ceramics lesson in the center of Santa Cruz, and I wasn’t about to miss it.
The class was fantastic! What was meant to be a two-hour session turned into four hours, as we got carried away crafting a capybara cup and plate. We had such a great time, and I can’t wait to pick up our finished pieces in about ten days once they’ve been fired and glazed.
Weekend Wipeout
Saturday was the worst of my illness. I had stomach cramps and no appetite, so I spent the day in bed. Vanesa kindly made me some cooked vegetables and chicken in the evening, which was about all I could manage.
Sunday was a little better. My energy started returning, but my appetite was still off. I had toast for breakfast and chicken and vegetables again for dinner. In the evening, we ventured out to Caffeine, a cozy café just around the corner. I treated myself to a hot chocolate and a biscuit, which felt like a small but much-needed victory after being stuck inside for days.
Work Updates
- The webinar course I started has been a great learning experience so far, and I’m eager to apply what I’ve learned to Digital Growth 101.
- I continued working on Digital Growth 101 and Just Blog Life, keeping momentum on my projects.
- The visa process is still dragging on, but at least I finally secured the third certificate—one step closer to getting everything sorted.
Looking Ahead
- Finishing the webinar course next week and implementing what I’ve learned.
- Hopefully recovering fully so I can get back to my normal routine.
- Picking up our capybara ceramics—can’t wait to see how they turn out!
- Continuing to work on Digital Growth 101 and Just Blog Life.
This week had highs and lows, but despite being knocked down by a bad meal, there were still great moments to remember—especially crafting our capybara creations. Here’s to better health and more productivity next week!
Goals and Challenges for 2025
1. Healthy Body and Mind
Trying to create a routine for regular workouts, including running, weights, and cycling. Balancing work with fitness is proving to be a great way to stay active while traveling.
2. Embrace the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
I’m settling into the digital nomad rhythm, enjoying the flexibility of setting my own schedule and working from anywhere. With networking events, workshops, and website development in full swing, it’s starting to feel like a proper work-life balance—though time zone differences still trip me up occasionally!
3. Learn Spanish
This is where I need to step up. Duolingo isn’t quite cutting it, and while I’ve been trying to chat with locals, I haven’t made structured learning a priority. Time to explore new methods and get serious about improving.
4. Enjoy the Ride
Santa Cruz is an amazing place to be, and I’m loving the experience! But financial sustainability is still a work in progress. Right now, I’m relying on Airbnb income to cover housing costs, but with my business set to launch fully in March/April, I’m hopeful for a shift toward financial independence soon.
