The shifty stay

For a school trip, Jack was going to the equator border for what was called a “life-changing experience” by the marketing department of the cheapest tourist company in the UK. After the long and unpleasant flights, he landed and got to the 1-star hotel. He spent another 4 hours at the hotel lobby waiting for the bus. He took the time to send an email to his parents.

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to share an update about the vacation, though, to be completely honest, calling this a “vacation” at this point feels like a tragic misuse of the word. The place where I’m staying has been nothing short of a nightmare, and I’m still in shock that such a horrendous experience could happen in what was supposed to be a tropical paradise.

Let’s begin with the hotel itself. The online photos must have been taken decades ago—or on a completely different planet—because this place looks like it’s been abandoned since the early ’90s. The lobby is dimly lit, with a decor that can only be described as a cross between a thrift shop and a disaster zone. Even the staff seemed surprised when we arrived, as though guests are a rare sight around here.

The bathroom… I’m genuinely at a loss for words. The “shower” trickles water at a rate slower than a leaking faucet, and let’s just say the water quality is questionable at best. The entire space has a constant, overwhelming odor of mold and mystery chemicals that makes it hard to breathe without holding my nose. I’m beginning to think the phrase “running water” was never supposed to be taken so literally, given how fast I want to run from it.

I can only hope the remaining days of this trip hold some small redeeming quality, but at this point, I’m not optimistic. I’ll keep you posted, but please know that the next time you hear me talk about a tropical vacation, it will be with extreme caution.

When they got off the bus and into the border, their tour guide got out a sink and a tub of water. 

“Now there is an effect called the Coriolis effect, where water spins clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the south. As we are now in the Northern hemisphere”- he poured the water and it spun clockwise-“It spins clockwise.”

“But if I step over here-” and he poured his water and it spun anticlockwise “-you can see it works.”

Applause was heard 

Jack had heard this a lot. 

Did he have to debunk it again?

WHY?