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The lowest point of my life was getting scammed out of thousands in Costa Rica when I was already going through hell, crying myself to sleep on a beach with a friendly old German man from a neighbouring beach lodge and an iguana as my only friends.
Jans would tell me comforting stories in the evenings about getting lost in China in the 80s, trying to navigate from Shanghai to Beijing without knowing the language. Him and his wife couldn’t have kids but they had four cats, one had only two legs. They were his children.
Before I go further: this is literally my friend Jans! 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Face with tears of joy" aria-label="Emoji: Face with tears of joy"> (though a bit younger, friendlier and thick German accent)
For the few days I knew him, I felt like his adoptive granddaughter. He’d make me tag along on his excursions and daily activities. I told him about all my issues and he’d reflect and give me advice. Being out and lost in the sea where the only times I wouldn’t cry.
I lost my appetite and practically didn’t eat the whole time I was in Costa Rica but Jans would bring plates of food to me in the evenings. Buttered toast with slices of cheese, peppered tomato and onion with tortilla and a tuna dip mix. My favourite home snacks now!
I promised myself at the time that I’d visit him in Germany one day, promised his wife too on FaceTime! One day he went off to a 2 day safari, he was so reluctant to leave me! Knocked on the door of my beach lodge to say goodbye and asked me if I was SURE I didn’t want to join.
I reassured him that I’d be okay and that I wouldn’t cry. That same night, someone attempted to break into my lodge in the middle of the night whilst I was inside. I bought a flight home within hours! I was frightened.
In the midst of chaos, the one worry that kept flagging up in my mind was that I didn’t have Janses number! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😭" title="Loudly crying face" aria-label="Emoji: Loudly crying face"> I knew he’d be worried sick when he got back and I promised him I’d still be there. I wasn’t set to leave for another two weeks!
Times like this, when I’m wrapped up in the legal battle against the company that placed me out there, I think of Jans, hoping he’s doing okay! That he wasn’t too worried. I posted this thread bc sometimes I feel like I’ll forget this encounter
but I want to remember his kindness I and hope to be that person for another lost traveller one day! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Sparkles" aria-label="Emoji: Sparkles">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Sparkles" aria-label="Emoji: Sparkles">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Sparkles" aria-label="Emoji: Sparkles">
