Grace on Fire: Lost in Translation
Articles / Sports
Date: April 18, 2007

Grace Castro Arts Editor

I was elated to make reservations for my newest adventure: mineral bathing at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. The natural hot springs are only open to the public from 1-3:00 a.m. for $20.    
As I was on my way to Big Sur, I began to think about the vague directions given to me from the phone teller at the Institute. But having been to Big Sur quite a few times, I thought it would be easy to find, being that it is right off Highway 1. 
Highway 1’s long windy road and steep cliff view always makes me a bit queasy but at night the feeling is intensified. After and hour and half of driving I was sure we had passed it. I drove up and down a small stretch of highway looking for anything that appeared familiar.  
Finally, I gave up and drove all the way back home. My night was wasted and I was disappointed and angry at myself for not getting clearer directions.
The next morning I called the Esalen Bath line feeling ashamed. A man answered the phone and when I explained to him what had happened he replied, half laughing, “I don’t see how you could miss us, we are the only lighted sign for miles.”  Which may be true but I recall seeing many lighted signs. 
I humbled myself and told the man that “maybe I was an idiot; maybe it was the fact that I was sick” but regardless of how easy their directions may be, I missed it. I asked if they could reschedule. “It is not refundable or transferable,” he explained. 
He then asked me what signs or road marks I noticed while driving. I told him the names of signs I passed and he told me where they were located in approximation to those signs. When I became confused again, he stopped talking, sighed and said, “What part of this don’t you understand…” he then began to talk slowly, like I didn’t speak English and was incapable of comprehending his instruction. I got the feeling I was a waste of his time. 
After calling back they concluded the man I had talked to was the manager but still did not offer an apology or resolution. The only word that comes to mind as an accurate description of this man is: bastard. Maybe the institute doesn’t have time for college students who can barely afford the $20 fee or maybe they don’t care if one person walks away dissatisfied.   
After dealing with the Esealn Institute, I won’t likely return anytime soon. Since I paid for my traveling companion, there is now a $40 charge on my credit card, which is a life savings for a college student.
I paid $40 to get sick on a late night drive to a nondescript location, and then be offended, embarrassed, and patronized for receiving illogical directions.