Sep. 17, 2006 - Thoughts on Leaving the US Again
It seems things have calmed down some in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. At least for now!
Our time back in Tucson has been nice. We finished many projects we started or wanted to do last time we were here (July). We were able to be here to help take care of the details after the car accident. We got a rental car for my oldest daughter to use until the car is repaired. We'd hope it would be repaired before we left, but they tell us it will be two weeks.
On the school front....
It will be nice to get back to where all our materials are and have full school days. We have been doing "school light" for a two weeks. Nothing wrong with that. We are just ready to get back into our routine.
I did start thinking about things I will miss from here though. Although we love living in Mexico, I think it is only natural to miss things from where you used to live. When I am there, I miss my two oldest daughters, central air condition, good electricity, not having to worry about water, Trader Joe's (well, really any grocery store), daily mail, the ability to have selection when you need to make a purchase, buying from online, good tea, bookstores, and being able to communicate in a language I feel comfortable using. My Spanish is a work in progress and sometimes it gets frustrating not being able to say what I want to say!
The communication factor has made it hard to make close friends there. Unless a person speaks English better than I speak Spanish it is hard to have anything other than a simple conversation. My cleaning lady seems like a nice person, I'd love to get to know her better. She does not speak any English. She often laughs at my limited Spanish. We can get through cleaning my home with limited words and lots of pointing and nodding, but I know little about her, as I do not have the words to find out. Sometimes I do learn how to ask certain questions, but then I do not understand the anwers. I know my Spanish will improve in time.
On the flip side, while here I have missed things about Mexico. I miss the more simple lifestyle we have there, having a cleaning lady (laughs), the ocean (especially the snorkeling), Mexican food, the people, my books there, and just the whole experience of living in another culture. I do feel more community there. Basically if you are a "gringo" living there you are part of the gringo community...everyone helps each other out...almost everytime we have ever met any fellow American (also Canadian, Australian for that matter....oh, cannot forget the people from New Zealand) anywhere in Baja we end up exchanging phone numbers and emails. You have to have a network! In our first couple weeks there, we found that out quickly! Dedee, a realtor, who has never made any money off of us, gave us invaluable advice about driving down Baja, and helped get us out of a bad situation or two. She suggested my cleaning lady, she is finding a tutor for me and she is just an all around nice person! We offered once to pay her something. She said, "No, you are family now!"
We also have English book exchanges in the oddest places (a large box in a store, a bookshelf outside someone's office, etc.). This is how it works....everyone brings books down with them to Mexico, get more when they visit the US, have relatives and friends bring them when they visit....you read the book (s) and then you take it to one of these exchange places...leave the book(s)....pick out any books you want....the cycle continues. You do not have to give in order to get and you do not have to get in order to give. Of course, you never have any idea of what you will find!
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About Me
Reflections and ramblings on living and homeschooling in Sedona, Arizona.
(Formerly "Under a Baja Moon" and living in Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico.)
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