What I did this week (Week 56)

09/01/2024

Writing to you from Eugene, Oregon.

This week has been very interesting…at least the second half of it. You see, I was doing my usual routine in Denver (Chess, Spanish, reading, BJJ, hiking).

Something was missing though. And, I certainly did have unfinished business in regards to scuba diving.

Months back I was able to finish my pool dives, but was unable to complete the four open water dives needed to become certified.

It’s been something that’s been looming in the background of my mind for a while.

My girlfriend’s brother completed his dives down south, so I figured I might as well do the same.

I took the long drive down and completed 3 of my 4 dives. It was tough and not pretty at times, especially whenever I had to flood my mask or take it off completely for the training.

My body freaks out trying to breathe out of my mouth while I feel water over my entire face. But, I stayed calm enough to get it done, and maybe that’s all that matters.

Yet, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get the final dive done the next day and get certified. Instead, I was sent back out onto a fire in Oregon, which I’m at now.

For 13 more days I’ll be spending all day in a medical trailer because my paramedic and I were assigned to be the camp ambulance. It’s safe to say that I will not be seeing any fire, plenty of blisters to take care of, but no fire.

I’ll make the best of it since it’ll be my last fire of the season. With everything going on in the world and the fact that things will likely get a whole lot worse (the upcoming election as well) it’s best to get out of here and head back down to Uruguay.

I’ll keep you guys updated. Foolishly, I forgot my computer charger and will have to make all of my updates from my phone, which means they won’t be as organized as usual.

Have a good day.

-Maxim Benjamin Smith