Gustavo

You have to become part of the family. And I think that is why, quite frankly, I feel so... indebted and ingrained in the Venezuelan culture is because when I met Raphael early on, here's the story, you ready? Raphael and I met at a restaurant. I was working at one restaurant, he was working at the other, they were the same restaurant, two different locations, two little Italian restaurants.

You have to become part of the family. And I think that is why, quite frankly, I feel so... indebted and ingrained in the Venezuelan culture is because when I met Raphael early on, here's the story, you ready? Raphael and I met at a restaurant. I was working at one restaurant, he was working at the other, they were the same restaurant, two different locations, two little Italian restaurants.

You have to become part of the family. And I think that is why, quite frankly, I feel so... indebted and ingrained in the Venezuelan culture is because when I met Raphael early on, here's the story, you ready? Raphael and I met at a restaurant. I was working at one restaurant, he was working at the other, they were the same restaurant, two different locations, two little Italian restaurants.

The owner wanted him to come work at the one over where I was working. And I'd been working at this restaurant for like four or five months. Didn't know Raphael, never met him. He comes over. He's sitting at the end of the bar. I'm bartending. Quickly, we strike up a conversation. And fast forward to six or seven hours later, we are incredibly intoxicated at the bar across the street.

The owner wanted him to come work at the one over where I was working. And I'd been working at this restaurant for like four or five months. Didn't know Raphael, never met him. He comes over. He's sitting at the end of the bar. I'm bartending. Quickly, we strike up a conversation. And fast forward to six or seven hours later, we are incredibly intoxicated at the bar across the street.

The owner wanted him to come work at the one over where I was working. And I'd been working at this restaurant for like four or five months. Didn't know Raphael, never met him. He comes over. He's sitting at the end of the bar. I'm bartending. Quickly, we strike up a conversation. And fast forward to six or seven hours later, we are incredibly intoxicated at the bar across the street.

And his grandparents, where he was living at the time, lived in the townhouse behind that bar, like half a mile behind the bar. Okay. So the bar closes, 3, 4 in the morning, bar closes. We are 30 drinks into it. I mean, we are just shithoused. And I'm like, I got to call a cab home. And he's like, no, fuck that, dude. We'll go to this gas station. We'll grab a six-pack of beer.

And his grandparents, where he was living at the time, lived in the townhouse behind that bar, like half a mile behind the bar. Okay. So the bar closes, 3, 4 in the morning, bar closes. We are 30 drinks into it. I mean, we are just shithoused. And I'm like, I got to call a cab home. And he's like, no, fuck that, dude. We'll go to this gas station. We'll grab a six-pack of beer.

And his grandparents, where he was living at the time, lived in the townhouse behind that bar, like half a mile behind the bar. Okay. So the bar closes, 3, 4 in the morning, bar closes. We are 30 drinks into it. I mean, we are just shithoused. And I'm like, I got to call a cab home. And he's like, no, fuck that, dude. We'll go to this gas station. We'll grab a six-pack of beer.

We'll go to my grandparents' house where I live. So I said, oh, your grandparents are going to let me stay there? And he said, my grandparents, they wouldn't have it any other way. You need to come to my grandparents' house. They'll cook us food.

We'll go to my grandparents' house where I live. So I said, oh, your grandparents are going to let me stay there? And he said, my grandparents, they wouldn't have it any other way. You need to come to my grandparents' house. They'll cook us food.

We'll go to my grandparents' house where I live. So I said, oh, your grandparents are going to let me stay there? And he said, my grandparents, they wouldn't have it any other way. You need to come to my grandparents' house. They'll cook us food.

This is like Waffle House? I had no understanding of Venezuela.

This is like Waffle House? I had no understanding of Venezuela.

This is like Waffle House? I had no understanding of Venezuela.

We walked to the townhouse. We open up the door. We're trying to be quiet so as not to wake up his grandparents. We go up these little stairs. We turn the corner. He opens the door. There's a bed, TV, fan. Looks perfect for me, right? Place where I can sleep with a little bit of air blowing on my face and a TV. So he says, go ahead, brother. Go ahead. Go to bed.

We walked to the townhouse. We open up the door. We're trying to be quiet so as not to wake up his grandparents. We go up these little stairs. We turn the corner. He opens the door. There's a bed, TV, fan. Looks perfect for me, right? Place where I can sleep with a little bit of air blowing on my face and a TV. So he says, go ahead, brother. Go ahead. Go to bed.

We walked to the townhouse. We open up the door. We're trying to be quiet so as not to wake up his grandparents. We go up these little stairs. We turn the corner. He opens the door. There's a bed, TV, fan. Looks perfect for me, right? Place where I can sleep with a little bit of air blowing on my face and a TV. So he says, go ahead, brother. Go ahead. Go to bed.

I'm going to go brush my teeth and stuff. And I'm like, cool, bro. See you later. Good night. And he's like, good night, bro. And I jump in the bed.

I'm going to go brush my teeth and stuff. And I'm like, cool, bro. See you later. Good night. And he's like, good night, bro. And I jump in the bed.