Jens Wegmann
And then the more I dig deeper into each topic, into Montessori and into Bitcoin, the more I see, like the similarities you see and Montessori is kind of the same. It's a lot about taking responsibility for yourself. She also says every child is their own master kind of, and builds itself and develops just by itself. Yeah, natural process, kind of, you just have to let it and not put in crazy stuff, like what they do in public schools.
Mike Peterson
Jens. Wait, did I say it right? Yes, Jens. I won't even try the last name. So what do they call you here in El Salvador, I guarantee they don't call you Jens.
Jens Wegmann
No, Juan. They call me Juan.
Mike Peterson
So my, my son's name is John, and I don't know, for some reason, you know, he's like, like Juan. And so they would call him one John. That was his name for like, 10 years. One, John. Where's Juan, John.
Jens Wegmann
But it also means the same. Like Juan means John, yeah, and John means Johannes and German, and Johannes means Jens, so it's all the same.
Mike Peterson
Okay, so I guess it is a good translation of it. That's so funny. So tell us what brought you here to El Salvador,
Jens Wegmann
What brought me in the first place was, I guess, a mixture between the Bitcoin law and COVID because we wanted to escape German policies during the covid pandemic, how they call it.
Mike Peterson
Was the lockdown pretty extreme, where you were at?
Jens Wegmann
Where we were at, officially, yes. But what you do with it? It's up. I live in a super small village, so no one really cares.
Mike Peterson
They weren't ratting you out like the Canadians, nope.
Jens Wegmann
And I mean, I had the best time of my life because I didn't have to work. I still got my money, and I was going for hour long walks in the mountains and in the forest. Was amazing, but
Mike Peterson
Got old after a while.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah.
Mike Peterson
So, but you were able to get, you were able to get on a flight and get out during that time, because I know in some places that couldn't even get on flight.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, that was always fine.
Mike Peterson
Okay, yeah, so you chose El Salvador because of the Bitcoin law, or did you land somewhere else first? Or where did you guys wind up? I think you were like-
Jens Wegmann
We checked Yes, with my girlfriend now, wife, we checked the map, and where can you go if you're unvaccinated. And there were, like, a couple of countries left, and I've already been to Central America, and I know kind of the wipes and the mentality of Central America, and I was not that fine with Asia. I was not sure, because I've never been there. So it was Central America, Mexico, because it was open. And then pretty soon El Salvador opened back up again, too. And we everyone could choose one country. So for me, it was El Salvador because I skipped it when I did that Central America the first time.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, most people used to say they would either fly over it or they'd try to drive through it all in one day. They we're so scared to be here.
Jens Wegmann
And ask the hashtag, don't skip El Salvador, which is super correct. And yeah, my wife choose Guatemala. And so we did Mexico, Guatemala, and then we ended up here, and we loved it.
Mike Peterson
So did you guys spend some time in Guatemala first?
Jens Wegmann
No, we spent time in Mexico. Flew to San Salvador, and then I think, like, three or four weeks, we went to Guatemala and came back because we loved it so much.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, we've we saw that with a lot of people during COVID, a lot of people headed to Mexico, yes, and then after there, it just wasn't the right fit for them. And then they wound up heading to El Salvador.
Jens Wegmann
And they were, like my parents were telling me our flight back was in December, just before Christmas. And then we were thinking and hesitating, are we really going back? We love it here. The situation in Germany is horrible, and when my parents say and tell me, please stay it's it's insane here, please stay away. And they tell it for Christmas. Then, then we knew, you know, okay, it's serious. We don't, we don't do that in Germany.
Mike Peterson
When your parents are telling you not to come home for Christmas, you know, yes. So how long were you here during that time?
Jens Wegmann
We arrived, like, middle of November, and stayed until. The end, end of February, okay, with a little break in Guatemala.
Mike Peterson
And I want to get first into your Bitcoin story, but then we're going to talk about the the hotel you guys wound up, yes, opening here, but I just curious, when did you buy that on that trip, or was that on a subsequent trip?
Jens Wegmann
No, that was that trip.
Mike Peterson
That's right here.
Jens Wegmann
And it's, it's an honor that you call it hotel.
Mike Peterson
It, hey, it looks it looks like it's got a lovely pool. It looks like a perfect place. So we'll hit on that later. But well, and you bought it the right time, because, yeah, that was, if you were looking right now, you'd be paying a lot more. So congratulations on that. So what made you decide you wanted to buy property here, like a place you would just visited, and you know, you're only here for a short time?
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, I think that the potential, and I was always interested in real estate, and even when we were driving through Mexico, I always checked seven day, seven day, and I was texting, how much is it? And and everything. And it was just the right moment. Moment was just the momentum. Everything was perfect. Then we bought four of us, so the risk was also not like crazy.
Mike Peterson
And these are for these three of your friends from Germany with you?
Jens Wegmann
Like my wife, okay, and two Canadians, okay. So I did not. I met them in El Salvador. Oh, wow, yes. And the guy that bought with us, he didn't even see the land before he bought, because he was already back in Canada.
Mike Peterson
Okay. So was that a pain trying for everybody, trying to get their their funds into the country?
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, it would have been easy with Bitcoin, yeah, but the family that sold it, they were, like, she was already super old, I think around around 80 already, and she was not that into Bitcoin at Yeah, let's do Bitcoin easy. And then, yes, it was kind of a pain. I remember it was like a week or two weeks of going from tonte, or we stayed in our tummy back then to the city every single day just trying to open a bank account, and they won't let us open a bank account because we're not from here, and we didn't have, like, income or whatever. Do we need? Everything you need. And that was really, really painful. And at the beginning, the family, you wanted to sell, they just wanted to have, like, a check in the bank from from a Salvadorian bank. And then we said, and like, one transfer. And in the end, we made three transfers. Okay, my wife made one, I made one. And the Canadian couple back then. No, I'm not anymore. Also made one, so in the end, it worked. But it was, Oh, my God. Was not easy.
Mike Peterson
And, and when you sent the wires, did it take a while for them to clear?
Jens Wegmann
Of course, I mean, it was, I think it was another four or five days, some something like that.
Mike Peterson
Lucky. That's I've had them held for like, weeks, yeah, yeah.
Jens Wegmann
Then there was the weekend and everything. And in the end, we had to be at the notario at the specific day. And the transfer from my wife was still missing. And just like, an hour before, it kind of appeared and or, like they said, Okay, I see it in here. It's pending, or it's uh huh, like, not through yet, but I saw, I see it's not there anymore. And in the end, we also made the transfer while we were all at the notario. And like they they watched when we did the transfer, like the family who sold it.
Mike Peterson
Okay, so you transferred it to one account, yes.
Jens Wegmann
And then I, we transferred it live, okay, at our first date with the notario. And then, like, five, six, a week later, some, something like that. We get got there, and, like, made everything completely okay.
Mike Peterson
Okay, I see, I see what you're saying. So you had that rometa, yeah. So you transferred it with them. You signed the promise of sale, yeah. And then once it cleared, then they signed off. Yeah, that's, that's one of the tricky parts about buying property in El Salvador, is they don't have an escrow process. And so there's, especially if you're bringing the funds from overseas, there's always the like, Okay, do you sign, you know when you've sent the money, or when the wait till it's actually received, and you never know what could happen in the meantime. I mean, somebody get hit by a bus or, you know, there's lots of things that. So it's, it's, it's like a nerve wracking but you guys made it. You did it. You bought the property. So we'll get more into that. But, but first I want to get some background and hear your Bitcoin story and what brought you to the Bitcoin.
Jens Wegmann
I think I'm always like, I was always a person with an open mind and open for like, different ideas and innovations too. And then I was a shit coiner. I started when a friend of mine told me, yeah, there is Ethereum something. And I was like, is it like, is it like, silver and platinum, aluminum, something like that, and and then we bought XRP, and it went up so crazy back in 2017 I was like, Oh, my God, that's crazy. And then it crashed, of course, it crashed like crazy. And I was like, okay, probably not for me, but and I still have it, like, I bought Bitcoin to buy shit coins I couldn't get with my euros. That's like, Oh my God. And back in 2020, when COVID hit, i i I knew they're gonna, they're going to print money. I can count one and one, so we will get like crazy inflation so and with my teacher salary, I was still in in education, kind of, and it's super, super low, and I saved a lot of money, because I, right now I can save way more, of course, because I earn more, but this was hard saved money, yeah, and I say, No, government, you will not take it from me. I saved it a lot. I lived in in the basement, kind of during my two years of education as a teacher, and this money I will, I will protect it. And I was looking for ways. And then Bitcoin hit me again. And then I really began to dig deeper and say, That's it. That's that's how. And the more I'm into it, the more I'm like, how you say, the more I'm secure that that's what is with my values. What you
Mike Peterson
Just realize that it lines with everything.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, it aligns perfect. And the more I get into it, the more it aligns and and you can really be your own bank, and you can really run your own node. And, I mean, it's a process, and you go down the rabbit hole, but the more you go down it, it's like, oh my God, that's mind blowing. How, how did Satoshi, or whoever, whatever it was, bless us with this gift called Bitcoin, you can just go like what they always say, it's an opt out, and that's what I use it for the most, and I love it
Mike Peterson
So, but you didn't wind up staying here in El Salvador, so you wound up going back to Germany, correct?
Jens Wegmann
Yeah.
Mike Peterson
And was that after the schools reopened, because you were a teacher, and I believe now you're both a teacher and principal at a Montessori. What is that word, Montessori School? So did you think about staying here, or was it just like, No, we need to go back. That's where my income is. And yeah, that's kind of the thought process of that was choosing to live?
Jens Wegmann
I would say was a for me, for my personal life. It was a really, they call it crunch time in the NBA and stuff like that. So it was really, I was not sure where I'm heading. I'm I'm really homebound. But then on the same time, the the opportunities are here, and Germany is going south right now, and it was hard then. Also, the house where we lived in Germany was my grandma's house. She died when we, like, two or three days, when, after we got back and I was, I was, I grew up with her, so I was in some sort of space where I just had to figure out everything. And then I got the offer that I can be a principal of a Montessori school. I also had the offer here at the German school in El Salvador, and I was comparing a lot. But then in the end, it was it was easy, because being a principal at in my case, a pretty young age, it was an opportunity I could not say no to. And right now, two years later, I would not say I regret. It was best choice ever, because they also told me the first I want, wanted to meet them and say, Okay, I can't do it. I have a house in El Salvador. I can't be in school all the time. And they said, Yeah, we're gonna find a way. Okay, let's go.
Mike Peterson
That's pretty I mean, I don't, I don't know about in Germany, but for the US, that's pretty unusual. Like, if you're a teacher, you're expected to be there during all of the school year.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah. I mean, it's kind of the same in Germany as it's a private school, it's a little bit more open, more flexible, but still, it's super uncommon. But now as long as I deliver, they will let me be here my four weeks, three times a year.
Mike Peterson
That's awesome. That's amazing. Yeah, so. You were mentioning, before we went on air, that that you see a lot of similarities to Bitcoin and Montessori. And in fact, I think we have, we have a slide of you. I think you were presenting at the Bitcoin conference in Germany.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah. Prague.
Mike Peterson
Prague. Okay, okay, but it was in German that you were giving the presentation.
Jens Wegmann
No, in English.
Mike Peterson
In English, okay, okay, I misunderstood that.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, this I was talking about. The talk was kind of called Maria meets Satoshi, or Satoshi meets Maria, because both of them are
Mike Peterson
And that's the Maria, I'm assuming is the person who found that a Montessori.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, yes. I mean, that's really Maria Montessori that founded the Montessori method. And this, of course, is Satoshi Nakamoto. But she was a pioneer, and she was the first female in Italy that studied medicine and stuff like that. So she was visionary. And then the more I dig deeper into each topic, into Montessori and into Bitcoin, and the more I see like, the similarities you see super visionary, independent, self independency and everything. And then I see Satoshi, he's promoting the same values. So for me, the values they share are super, super similar, because one of the main goals of Montessori is to get the child independent from the parents as early as possible. And that's like the independency, and-
Mike Peterson
By learning how to do stuff on their own, like, yes, and they can make their own lunch or do their own, you know, activities, and they're not, you know, just waiting for their parents to do it.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, and with Bitcoin, it's the same. You don't wait for someone to call you to tell you how much inflation is right now and how much they indirectly rob you. So you just be your own bank, and you decide by yourself, if you lose your keys, you're fucked, and that's it. And Montessori is kind of the same. It's a lot about taking responsibility for yourself. And I'm not sure I will describe it, because there is a German word for it, like the German Montessori vocabulary. But she also says, Every child is their own master, kind of, and builds itself and develops just by itself. Yeah, natural process, kind of, you just have to let it and not put in crazy stuff, like what they do in public schools.
Mike Peterson
So it's very anti rote learning, just copying things or it's and memorizing. It's more I mean, I've been in some classrooms, they always have all kinds of things for the kids to play with, yes, different activities for them to like, learn on their own, yeah, so.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah. And if you Google like famous Montessori students, you will find like Mark Zuckerberg, the Prince William, Prince Harry, I think Jeff Bezos, like many entrepreneurs.
Mike Peterson
It teaches those skill sets, yes, at a young age.
Jens Wegmann
And maybe also their parents already knew we won't let them into the public school system. So yeah, they see, oh, Montessori is good. We're going to use it for us.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, it's interesting. And the school system El Salvador is is changing, but in the in the past, it was very rote learning, like we have a friend, his daughter's in her math class here in El Zonte, they're there. What they had to do was write out from one to a million, like, for the year, that just tons of just busy work that doesn't, like, you know, facilitate any type of learning, but just something to and so they're very, they, historically here have been very focused on just that kind of memorization and not, not at all, teaching the kids think for themselves. And so we're seeing that kind of shift a little bit, but it's been interesting as there, there are some Montessori schools in El Salvador, and they're, they're such a clash with the traditional system.
Jens Wegmann
So I, I'm not that much into politics, and I I'm not trusting any politicians, but if I would have to pick one, of course, it would be Bukele. And I talk to the people here too, and they say, like, yeah, bukele, he's fine. And I'll say, Is he really that good? And they all say, yes, yes. And I just hope he's because what he's doing right now, I think 90% of it, or even more, is super good. What I really hope for El Salvador that he's also changing the educational system, because I see it too, that it's more also from the High Rocky.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, yeah, very teacher, very top student. And yeah, yeah. And that even transfers over into the workplace, yes, very top down. So what I afraid to take initiative? They have yes to be told what to do, yeah.
Jens Wegmann
And I really hope that he, he's smart, that he also sees like this change and said, says, let's do it different in educational system as well.
Mike Peterson
Well, I'm already seeing it shift, because especially now, as you're having new companies flow in, they're looking for employees that have the ability to think for themselves. And so you're seeing they're they're realizing that they need to shift the way they do things, the fact that they're rolling out Bitcoin curriculum across, you know, at what we would call junior high age, you know, like seventh, eighth grade, they're, they're rolling out, I think it's seventh grade, they're rolling out curriculum. So, I mean, that's, to me, shows that they are shifting. But these things are like, it's like trying to turn a cruise ship. It's not, you know, it takes a lot. You got all the teachers that are used to doing it one way, and they're resistant to change. And yes, you know, you've got to kind of push some of those out and bring some new blood in. And so it's, doesn't, yeah, yeah. So, and I, I watched anybody before we have to play that, because I love that. It looks like you are taking advantage of your position at that school, the orange pill, your students.
Jens Wegmann
Yes, I do.
Mike Peterson
So tell us what's happening in this video here.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, what's happening in the video is that I downloaded blink wallet for my like the Bitcoin Beach wallet for my students. They are super interested, of course. And I always say it's not bad that I'm not there for like, four weeks, two, three times a year, because what they get, the open mind they get from my being, from me being away, is way more important than, like, if I'm there and then just telling them out of the books and I installed the wallets with them. And as you already told the audience, that we have a guest house in El Zonte, we have to pay la luz, the electricity, and it's working from Germany, 12 year old student that paid our electricity bill from, like, from our classroom, yeah, first I sent him the, I think, was the small electricity bill for like $16.
Mike Peterson
I would love to have my electricity bill look like that.
Jens Wegmann
We have two. The other one is, like 150 something, and this one is the second house, okay, so I let him pay the cheaper one.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, but that's so amazing that, you know, like from a video screen, they can make a payment and-
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, and it was instantly borderless, and they will learn it on a whole other level. You can't even kind of describe it, because it's so intuitive. They have the experience. I mean, there is a lot of-
Mike Peterson
Look, I love that face, yes.
Jens Wegmann
He was super proud.
Mike Peterson
Lightning moment of yes in that like, go off of like, Wow, that's amazing.
Jens Wegmann
And now they get all their, um, I don't know, though, you give your kids money?
Mike Peterson
Allowance.
Jens Wegmann
How you say, if you could give your kids, like, 10 bucks allowance, allowance, yeah, I didn't know the English word, but like, they get their allowance now in Bitcoin, like 50% they want 50% in Bitcoin, okay, to save it. And when they 18, they want to start a business or something like that. And I love that.
Mike Peterson
That was super awesome.
Jens Wegmann
And I already know those kids, like not all of them, of course, but like, I have some kids in there, they will challenge the systems, even in Germany, for sure. And I love it.
Mike Peterson
So how has that been culturally for you to adjust to El Salvador? Because in my mind, Salvadoran culture and German culture, like on two ends of the spectrum, Salvadorans are very like last minute with everything like, you plan an event, and people start to get worried because, hey, nobody's like, committed. And I'm like, No, don't worry. Like, the day before they'll tell you that they're coming, or they'll just show up. Even, I knew somebody who got transferred here to run a hotel, and he was freaking out because he was looking he's like, there's no reservations on the books. They're like, No, no, don't worry. Everybody. Books like, right before. And so whereas in Germany, I know people are much more planners, things happen far ahead, things are more regimented. So do you find like there's a big cultural difference for you?
Jens Wegmann
I would say I embrace all sorts of life and all like the whole spectrum. So I'm pretty I love it when I'm in Germany, when I know, okay, on point, yeah, punctually, on time, on time, yes. And I also love the easygoing, the chill vibes in El Salvador. I love the I love both worlds also here it's-
Mike Peterson
And you're able to move back and forth. Yes, that's good, because a lot of people get frustrated with one or the other, like they get, yeah, here and they go back and they can't do it, or they have a hard time adapting.
Jens Wegmann
I even see El Salvador some sort of, it's some sort of a retreat for me too. Yeah, because I come here, you change, you adapt, because there's no other way. And you get more relaxed. You live way more in the moment, I would say. And every time I go back to Germany, I try to keep it up as long as possible. And then, like, two months or one month later, I'm driving 120 to my school that I'm in time and whatever, and not being in a moment, doing this, doing that, and then I always, always know, Okay, it's time for another for El Salvador, yes, and I love it.
Mike Peterson
So tell us about the hotel that you got the crazy idea you had to start this with partners that, yes, you at least one of them you didn't know, or-
Jens Wegmann
I knew all of them, okay, you didn't know them, okay? And we met in palmacito, okay-
Mike Peterson
But you didn't know that from like, before, like, even, like-
Jens Wegmann
Three or four days, yes. And it was, I always say it was the universe that brought us kind of together, and as I was always looking for real estate and just just being interested. Then Valerie, the Canadian girl, she was also kind of into it. Hey, let's do something. And then we gained momentum, and it someone was talking to the to the people here, and saying, What is anything for sale here? And we had a look at the first property, then we had a look another property. Then we had, like, three of our properties we had a look at, and it was not like a fit yet, because we were also thinking about, we want our own space. Everyone should have their own space, but we will. We also want the place we can rent. And then some places didn't have a pool, which is kind of bad.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, you need a pool.
Jens Wegmann
And even if you like, if you live, okay, still a pool should be-
Mike Peterson
Yeah, yeah, especially at the beach, if, yes, if you're in the city, maybe not as much, but yeah, be true.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah. And if you rent it for sure, you will, yeah, you have. You need a pool, first thing to blast, yeah. And then we found the perfect space, and everything worked out like it was kind of and if people say me, isn't it complicated or difficult? I would say it was kind of fine. We had like, three to four weeks of where we were in the process, and we had to deal with the banks and everything. But in the end, it was kind of fine. And we it was also like serious, like, you buy it, you sign it. And because the people in Germany say, yeah, they was it a real notario. And, you know, let's say no, that's they have the same, like we in Germany, you have, like, the where you sign it in the municipality, and then with the Texas and everything, it's just, it's the same, yes, and there's like, Okay.
Mike Peterson
So did you guys open up right away, or did you have to, like, do a lot of work on the place? Or what was the kind of process for you?
Jens Wegmann
It was used as a vacation home for a family of in the city. So they already had three rooms for the girl, for the boy, and for the parents kind of and so we already had three rooms with private banyo, with the private bathroom and everything that was, yes, that was, of course, perfect. Yeah, the house itself is pretty old and not in the best shape. And the rooms were painted in bright colors, rose and green and bright, yes. So I was okay, that's the first thing we need to do. But then-
Mike Peterson
We need to make these boring in German.
Jens Wegmann
Yes. But then, yeah, some basic cleaning and stuff. But we had a beautiful pool. Yes, the pool is amazing. The we love it, and it's, it's big, and also the guests love it. That is one of our rooms, okay, yeah, we painted the wall white because I think it was also kind of green or something like that. And, yeah, we didn't do much with that, because also with the budget,
Speaker 1
Yeah, very basic, but clean,
Jens Wegmann
Yes, yeah, it's basic and clean and you have all the amenities you you want as a traveler.
Mike Peterson
You got your hammock spot, you got the ocean view there. You've got. The pool. And I love because what we hear when the biggest complaints we hear from people all the time is it's so expensive in El Santa, there's no like, reasonable, you know, options for you know, people that you know, especially like younger people that are trying to travel on an extreme budget. They they want something more basic they. And, you know, a lot of times, as people get older, they, they, I've seen it. I become softer. I want more. I need my AC I need the things. But I remember when I was young, it was like, No, I want to, how long can I afford to stay for? And so, yes, I love to see that there's more budget options. So, so what, what are the rooms go forth there? This is, this is a Bitcoin podcast. So-
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, so it's 65,000 SATs,
Mike Peterson
Okay, so very reasonable. It's your own bathroom, yes, okay.
Jens Wegmann
And we, like, really tried to be the the low end, or, like, the low budget version of El Zonte, because when we were traveling, we had the same issue. We were staying in pamacito because it was cheaper, yeah. And as sante was kind of expensive. It's getting more expensive day by day. Also, we already raised our prices too, because we improved the place a lot as well. But we want to be a place where people feel welcome and feel home and like home away from home. And what we always hear from our guests is that that's exactly what they feel like, and so we're super happy about that. Not everything is perfect here. Sometimes the water isn't working, but, I mean, I don't know if it's the same at the $300 hotels.
Mike Peterson
I mean, I think some of they have probably a little more reserves of water, but still, for a lot of them, when the power goes out. The power goes out. They may have a generator for the kitchen, but not for, you know, the whole thing. So, yeah, it's, it's, it's slowly getting better. Come I feel like, for a while I was getting a lot better, and then there's so much building and stuff here that I feel like it's like, overtaxed the electric system, and so they have to keep upgrading it. And you see them, they're trying to keep up, but it's one of those things that you have those growing pains. So do you usually find that the people come that are staying in the rooms there are they usually people that come together? Or do you feel like there's a lot of single travelers and then they kind of connect there? Or is it a variety?
Jens Wegmann
I would not it's a variety, but I would not say it's a lot of single travelers that connect at the plate. We're not like the we're not hostile. We don't have the hostile vibes where it's a lot about party and everything, yeah, but what happens, for sure, is that people connect and they have dinner together, something like that. But yeah, I would say a lot of couples, some individuals, and a lot of remote working people too. Okay, they rent for four months. We had a lot of them, yeah, and it's also-
Mike Peterson
And you have a monthly rate for people that are, yeah, okay, so they get a little bit of a discount.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah. And we have a super good Wi Fi because, like, we really try to get the needs and fit those needs, like private bathroom is super important for many people. Good Wi Fi and reliable Wi Fi is super important for many people. Are you guys using Starlink or using no we have with the local service, but the best one, like the highest speed, yeah, I think it's Yeah, for sure. It's better than in Germany. My German Wi Fi is not as good as here and not as reliable, for sure.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, yeah. It's always funny when you're talking to somebody from here and they're the ones having internet problems. And lots of places in the US, the internet still sucks. Wow. So do you guys share the, like, management of this, or do you all, did they kind of spend a few months a year too. I guess your wife's one of the partners. So yes, she comes at the same time as you do.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, she comes at the same time. Okay, we already, like, I did four weeks and she did four weeks apart, okay, but it's, it's fine too, yeah, and we try to share the 12 month of the year, kind of. And we also work a lot with the volunteers. We, we always looking for volunteers, and then they check and check for the place.
Mike Peterson
You have a place for them to stay.
Jens Wegmann
Yes.
Mike Peterson
Okay, yeah.
Jens Wegmann
We haven't like the three rooms we are renting. And then we have a small, smaller house.
Mike Peterson
Electric bill that they were paying for.
Jens Wegmann
Yes, there are two rooms and one bathroom. And then we just built a new house on the on the land, like two apartments, two floor. Oh, nice, and it will be like a little bit the more luxury version with AC, with AC and just newly built.
Mike Peterson
That sounds good to me. I'm as I've gotten older. I need my AC, so especially at night.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, here, it's crazy. We just arrived yesterday night again, and I will have two, three hard days until I adapted again to this heat here.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, it's warm here this time of year. Yes, when we get the good rains, it kind of cools things down. But then the last couple days, it hasn't rained, and so it's just, it's just hot. So do you have long term plans to, like, expand this, or to eventually move here, or do you just see this as like, hey, this will be a great place for our family long term to be able to, like, come and visit. Or what's, what's kind of the thought process?
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, kind of like that. We want to have a place like, first, I want a refugio for when things get really bad in Germany. Because, for sure, I won't get in any war, for sure, not for those politicians. Nope. Then I'm gone. I just need, will have to get the timing that it's not too late.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, where you can't get us?
Jens Wegmann
That's one, like, one reason for that.
Mike Peterson
Real, real quick. A little bit of a side note, but I'm just curious. It reminded me what, what has it been like in Germany the last few years with with the war going on and with the the pipelines being blown up, and I know there's been a huge reduction in availability of electricity in front of what I've heard a lot of German companies in manufacturing have shut down because they just can't afford to manufacture in German anymore because electricity prices. Is that happening? Or is that not really happening? Or what's, what's your sense of that?
Jens Wegmann
I would say it, it is happening because those companies shut down, or they go to Switzerland, like, still the famous chainsaw a producer, they went us, yes, and they went from Germany to Switzerland because it's cheaper for them there.
Mike Peterson
It's cheaper in Switzerland, like the production has an electricity cost.
Jens Wegmann
I'm not sure what's the I think Texas a lot too. Okay, um, and as I come from a really small village, people in my village, they just don't care, like we if no one, if no one has TV in our village, no one knows that there is, there was COVID. Like really, no one knows. And then no one knows that there's a war in the Ukraine. But of course, with all the propaganda and the media,
Jens Wegmann
Have you felt it, though, in your utility prices? Has that been like a huge-
Jens Wegmann
Inflation is a thing for sure. We, in my small village, we don't like we just do whatever we want, kind of and we're living happy. Okay, sometimes I don't really get it when people say, Oh, Germany is so bad right now, is it? And it's like, where I live best life ever. But when I when I'm in cities and everything, it's like crazy. It's also we have a big problems with refugees right now, because they let in so many people, and also they, they pay money to everyone, and that's, that's a huge issue, yeah. And you have, like, the one part of Germans that say, oh, we need to welcome everyone, and we will, we have to get vaccinated 10 times, and we will obey and obey and obey. And they're like the more of the Green Party and everything. And then you have all the other people, normal people that say there are two genders that there are they. They just want to live their life in peace, yes. And they Oh, they just say, I can't do much about it. I will just do my best. Like my father, he's, he can't do much about the politics right now, yeah, but he, for sure, he's laughing at it, like, really, he's watching the news and saying, No way that's, I mean, in America is the same. It's, kind of such a shit show right now. It's like a reality. I don't know. Do you know Idiocracy?
Mike Peterson
No, I feel like-
Jens Wegmann
You have to have a look. It's like, it's like playing in the year 2500 but it's close.
Mike Peterson
Okay, I'll have to check that out.
Jens Wegmann
That's amazing.
Mike Peterson
So I sidetracked you, but you were saying you so you want it. You see it as a place to have as like to take refuge in if you need to get out of Germany.
Jens Wegmann
And also to spend a little time in winter, always with good weather, because when you're in Germany, May, June, July, August, September, amazing. Nice, super nice. You have spring of autumn, but if you stay there, like November, December, January, February, March, it gets long and it's like it depresses you. So I also use it to just get my. To Mindy, yes, yes. Here, and it's it also, I would also say it opens my mind, because in my small village, that's the problem with small villages, you can do whatever you want, but also you will, you won't find like crazy Bitcoiners in every single house. And here, when I'm in El Zonte, we have guests and at our place, just so inspirational. You talk to them and they say, like, about blue light blockers and, like, then the carnivore diet and stuff like that. And like, Okay, wow, I can't think about that. And I'm, I love those conversations. They give they fuel me. Yeah, I would say.
Mike Peterson
No, that's, that's one of the great things about being here in El Salvador, specifically in El Zonte, is just, it's, I always, I use this all the time. Probably overuse it, but it's, it's really like, you're at a, you know, ongoing Bitcoin Conference, because you're just be walking down the street, and you run into other Bitcoiners, and there's just impromptu meetups. And it's like, continually, your your meeting, you know, today I had lunch with with a guy that you know, just like it reached out to me, and he's a bitcoiner and and, you know, staying in a hotel just few doors down for me. And so, you know, we sit down and you talk, and you connect right away. It's not awkward at all. So you have that connection.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, because if you already know someone is a bitcoiner, their chances are high that this person already kind of know what the monetary system is all about. There's this guy also assumes that there are two genders and not like, yeah, you kind of assume some sort of common sense, yes. And the same thing happens at the Bitcoin conferences. I'm always there and I'm thinking, Whoa, those are the fucking most intelligent people on this planet. Like, what the fuck? And that's just super nice.
Mike Peterson
Yeah, so that's, that's what you know. That's one of the things that I love about living here, is you've just kind of experienced that. I'm curious in your last so since you you bought back in 2001?
Jens Wegmann
2021 it was in 22, February 22.
Mike Peterson
So have you have since you kind of come and go, do you see the the rapid changes that are happening? Like you're gone for six months, you can come back and you're like, Wait, where'd that come?
Jens Wegmann
Yes, yeah, for sure. Yeah. And at the one at one point, I told my wife, because, you know, women are always more emotional. And she said, like, this place is going to be different and everything. And I said, if it's going to stay like that, it will be always be a chilled wipe, and it will be nice. We love El Zonte. And if it's changed, our property goes up in value, so we win either way, now it's changing. I just hope it changes so that also the community here also gets get it started. Yes, and that's like, what Hope House is doing, Jorge and all. And also Bitcoin Beach. It's just amazing. Like, that's what I I really appreciate. While being here, I go to every Creole when I'm there and Saturday, and I see what they what values they teach. Yeah, they don't teach the values like, you know, the Salvadorian for some Salvadorian clean is not clean for a German. And also on being on time, it's not being on time. And or his various guys, those guys, they really-
Mike Peterson
They remind me he's like, Hey, we're, we're not on Salvadoran time here. Like, yeah, we because I would start to show up late to things, because you just get used to that here. You're like, if you show up on time, you're sitting there waiting. And he's like, Hey, where are you?
Jens Wegmann
Yes, like, we go for for runs a lot of times, like, when I'm here maybe two times a week, sometimes three times, and it's always like, you can't run at 10. You get roasted, yes. So we always run at six. And when I'm still brushing my teeth and I'm just making it at 601, it's like, Hey, brother, you late. You're late, yes. And he's giving those values to the to all those leaders. And so I, I feel like the community here is getting, it's getting in a really good direction.
Mike Peterson
No and just the the opportunity, like you were saying, for me personally, like, yeah, it would. It was great, how it how it was, because I was getting my income from somewhere else and and I didn't need to try to make a living here. But I You saw this kind of continual, you know, the locals would have to leave Muslim going to the US illegally, because they felt like that was the only opportunity they had. And so it worked well for me, but it wasn't working for the Salvadorans. Now, you see, they're building businesses. They're, you know, they're investing in properties. You're seeing these young entrepreneurs kind of rise up. And it used to be almost impossible to find a job. Now I hear complaints from the businesses like, oh, we can't find any workers. And you see in the morning, like the busses are dropping tons of people off from the surrounding communities, because this has become kind of the engine of growth here in El Zonte. So while for me personally, like, yeah, it was great when it was a sleepy town, you also saw the downside of that, how people were suffering. And so now it's just great to see these young people with, like, hope in their eyes. And they have this, you know, they're going to stay here in El Salvador, they're going to build a business, they're going to get a professional job. And so just number of kids that, specifically through Hope House, that have now, like, gone to high school and then on the university. I mean, it's just amazing. Where you go back 10 years, you'd be hard pressed to find anybody in the community who'd gone to university. Now it's like becoming a common thing.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, that's crazy, especially because you're here already for way longer. So you see the process are also way better, because the last, even the last two or three years, so many things changed, but I can imagine, yeah, no, it was stories you can tell.
Mike Peterson
There was, you know, there was a lot of just depressing scenes here. You know, a lot of, you know, alcoholism of men that just felt like there was no opportunity, and so, you know, they just be like, passed out drunk in the streets. And obviously, when the gangs controlled everything, it was a very different place. Now you there's just like, I mean, sometimes I feel like I'm lost in a was on things. I go down the street and I'm like, when, when did that get built? Yeah, where is that coming from? And so, so it's exciting to see and to be a part of that, and to see the that you know, the locals participating, but also the influx of people from from around the world that are bringing skills to El Salvador. Yeah, I've, I'm very bullish on the future of El Salvador.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, for me too. And what I also see like, compared to Germany, for example, the the youth in El Salvador, no, no. I don't know if you heard about, like, gluing themselves on the street and everything they do that in Germany, like the climate, oh yeah, I don't know. Yeah, the protesters, they glue themselves on the street, and then there is traffic jams and whatever. And I mean, it's this is sad. And people here, or the youth, young people here in Nestor would never have this idea, because they see hope. They see a great future, and not like a dark future, like we do in Europe.
Mike Peterson
They're optimists, yes, yeah, which that wasn't the case five years ago,
Jens Wegmann
And that's crazy. It changed a lot.
Mike Peterson
Well, I think that's a good positive note to end on, but I want to make sure, unless there's something else that we missed.
Jens Wegmann
I think, no, I think we have everything.
Mike Peterson
So we need to make sure people know how to book their stay with four amigos. What's the best way for them to find a room, and how can they follow you? I'm assuming you're on Twitter.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, I'm on Twitter, but not that active, not that active, but I love your posts. You need to be on there to promote yes, no, I'm on there. It's Jensen you 15, which is a little bit complicated, but I think we can mention it. Yeah. And we are on Instagram with guadro Amigos and sante. Okay, if you Google guadro Amigos Asante, or if you put it in Instagram, cuadramis Asante and we are on Airbnb, I think we are listed top number one in all of us.
Mike Peterson
Okay, nice. Make sure, hey, if you, if you rent their place, make sure to give them a good review on Airbnb. Is there, is that the best way for people to book through Airbnb, or is there a direct way that you guys prefer?
Jens Wegmann
Instagram is the best, because then you can also pay with Bitcoin. Awesome. With Airbnb, it doesn't work. We try to get or, like we think about getting on air BTC, yeah, yeah. There are some-
Mike Peterson
I know they just, I know they just launched, like, two weeks ago. Yeah, so I haven't actually, I was perusing the site a little bit, but I don't know how functional it is yet.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, same for us. So I think we will put us ourselves there. But for sure, right now, Airbnb is the way to go to get the most booking. Yeah, and I have to say, Instagram is a super tool to sell or like to present your your business as well. It's it's work. You guys get a lot of bookings for that. We get a lot of bookings, and mostly all of our volunteers. We make, may we put in like a story, looking for volunteers, and they come. Okay, right now, we also looking for volunteers. So if someone wants to come, being a volunteer at our place. We're always looking for something.
Mike Peterson
What does that entail for them?
Jens Wegmann
Taking care of our two lovely dogs when no one is here, just making sure that the place runs smoothly, and just saying hi, welcoming new guests, coordinating the bookings, coordinating with our cleaner and our gardener.
Mike Peterson
Basically, that's in exchange for that you guys, you get free stay.
Jens Wegmann
Yes, and you can enjoy the nice waves.
Mike Peterson
So for people who are looking to do it on a budget, that's definitely sounds like, yeah, the best way to do it, yeah, for sure. Okay, awesome. So volunteers, if you want to come down. It's been a couple months, and what's, what's the minimum time you guys look for, for them to commit one month, I would say, Okay, awesome. Anywhere else the Anything else we need to mention?
Jens Wegmann
Come to El Salvador that's what we should mention, I think, for sure. And, yeah, experience it. Experience Bitcoin country yourself.
Mike Peterson
Awesome. Yeah, spend your Bitcoin in El Salvador. Definitely spend your Bitcoin. Don't be one of those people that's afraid to spend their Bitcoin. Yeah, you shouldn't have any cash. You should have already gotten rid of all that so and come stay at Cuatro Amigos if you're coming for either the conferences. So we have adopting Bitcoin Conference, which is mid November, and then we usually do something in a afterwards. So I'm not sure if you guys are already booked up for those days or not yet.
Jens Wegmann
Maybe we can offer a tent on our roof.
Mike Peterson
So but for you guys, since a lot of people don't know yet, there's going to be another conference, Plan B conference at the end of January. So if you're looking to come for that, make sure the book up, because maybe you guys aren't booked up for those dates yet. So yeah, that's awesome. Well, I love seeing the progress that's happening. I love seeing your guys vision and just your perspective on the hope that's here. So appreciate your time volunteering in the community with recreo and Hope House and yeah, this was awesome. We'll have to circle back next year and hear about the changes that have come to Cuatro Amigas.
Jens Wegmann
Yeah, thank you so much. It was an honor being here in this nice podcast where you interview bitcoins from all over the world. Big honor for me, too.
Mike Peterson
It's a fun it's it's fun. I do it just because, selfishly, I just enjoy. I get to meet people. I get to know them in an hour, in a way that you know usually would take days. So I love I love that format, so that's my excuse to Nice. All right, guys, thank you. Bye.