questions I have...

Tonight embarks our 28th sleep in Playa del Carmen!  4 weeks, a few days shy of a month and 1/6 of our adventure in, I have a few questions that I am bound and determined to find the answers to.

1.  How do the Mexicans keep their whites so white?
2.  Do the taxi drivers REALLY have driving licenses?
3.  Is sleeping in a hammock night after night good for your back?
4.  How much will our first electricity bill be?  (Our Canadian neighbours learned the hard way their first 2 months here, they ran the AC alot and their bill was $16,000 pesos (close to $750 per month) YIKES)
5.  How long will it take my kids to be fluent in Spanish and how much will they lose being back in Canada?
6.  Does Paris' coat really keep her cool in the heat and warm in the cold?
7.  Will I be ready to return home in April or will I want to stay longer?
8.  How long will the red licorice, Gordos Greek sauce, Kraft Dinner and chocolate chip granola bars brought from home last?
9.  Who will come and visit?  Who will continue to keep in touch via email, text and phone? 
10.  Will I find a good esthetician to do waxing and pedicures and a hair stylist to do cuts and colors?
11.  When will I feel chilly/cool?
12.  When will I see a snake ... have seen many geckos and iguanas, just saw a cockroach and several neat birds but I know the inevitable is going to happen - when and where? (I am sure when it does you will hear me loud and clear!)
13.  Will I get too accustomed to our 2xs per week cleaning lady folding our underwear, organizing our shoes and cutlery drawer and washing our floors and wonder who will do it back home?
14.  Will I lose my breath when we hit Regina soil and its frigid temps on January 12?
15.  Why do the phone lines go down for days on end when it rains excessively?
16.  When will Mexico devise and utilize an effective recycling program?
17.  How do families live on 200 pesos per day?
18.  What is the average age that locals cease education?
19.  How many of the vehicles stopped at the check points have illegal goods and/or corrupt individuals driving them?
20.  What is the leading cause of death in the Playa area?

If you know any of the anwers to the above questions I'd love to hear about them.  In the meantime I will continue to ask, learn and observe and vow to tell you what I find towards the end of our sabbatical!

What are you curious about?

our own little "Mosaic"

Back home we tend to ask people "what school did you go to?" or "where did you grow up?"  In Playa del Carmen, a tiny percentage of people are actually from the area.  Foreigners have relocated here to take advantage of the weather, business opportunties and/or have married a Mexican and Mexicans have relocated here to take advantage of employment derived from foreigners vacationing and/or living here.  Over the last 10 years the city has BOOMED and that is highly due to people such as neighbours we have met over the last 25 days.

The area where we live has two common pools~one right outside our back deck~its here that we've met most of our neighbors.  I want to share a little about our own little cultural Mosaic.


We met the couple right next to us a couple years ago actually ... Gary and Carol are from Winnipeg and live here 8 months and there for 4.  They have a dog that Paris dislikes, they work from their home and brought us crackers, bananas and a bottle of wine the first night we were here!  Carol is fluent in Spanish and has acted as my translator on a couple occasions when I needed to tell the maintenance guy what was wrong with our gas and a maid that I didn't need or want her services!


Next we met Tony, a 59 year old divorcee originally from Portugual but has been living in Vancouver for 40 years.  He has been wintering in the tropics for the last 12 years but returns to Canada/Europe from May to November.  Tony speaks excellent English and has been a huge help!  He grows fresh basil, has a papaya tree and is attempting to grow figs.  He is in the "know" of all the neighbors: who fights, who has had plastic surgery and who to talk to if you want a tree cut down, listens to jazz music and goes to the gym at 6am! 


Tony introduced us to the neighbors on the other side of us ... Julianna and Rogerio, a beautiful couple from Brazil, reside here full time.  They have a three year old Raphiel (don't know the proper spelling of all these foreign names!) who looks and acts like he's 5 or 6~he can swim, read and write.  His parents are glad we only speak English to him so he can practice but he still speaks a mouthful to us in Spanish, or maybe its Portugese?!  Julianna is a banker and strongly  reminds us of a friend back home (Rhonda Bennett) and Rogerio is a home builder who loves wine, cooking and is a vegetarian.  He introduced Jay to octopus and debated with me that Canada has scorpians!  Both Julianna and Rogerio speak excellent English and love to entertain!


I met Lena from Montreal and her husband is originally from the USA.  They arrived the same day we did and will also stay 6 months.  She is very friendly, gentle and sweet!  Albeit having a strong  french accent she speaks English nonetheless!


I met Mark from Calgary on day two and discovered that his wife Stephanie is originally from Weyburn and knows a dear friend of ours.  They have been in Mexico for one year but have extended their stay for another.  Both work from home transcripting for Alberta's department of justice and their two kids are homeschooled doing the Alberta curriculum.  They have 10 year old Jada and 13 year old Jacob and 2 older sons that stay for periods of time as well.  Its nice to talk about hockey and snow and other prairie commonalities! 


Guy, originally from the Philadelpia area, and Roni from California lived in Puerta Vallarta for years prior to moving to Playa.  Roni, late 50's, got a tattoo the other day and had the tattoo artist come to her home to give her adult son a great, colorful tattoo.  My kids were intrigued, asked if it hurt and wanted me to show the guy my cheesey dolphin! 


Across the street is Willem and Marcy (whom I've yet to meet) from Holland and their two huge labs Angelina and something I can't properly pronounce or spell, and they understand English, Dutch and Spanish.  Willem is also a home builder and is outside in his yard working all day long.  Willem sees me daily at 6am when I take Paris out for a pee ... he likes my attire of pajamas! 


Yesterday I met an incredibly nice family from Italy who has been here for 4 months!  Matthew (pronounced Mattao), Angela, Marco (6) and Elena (4) opened up an Italian pastry shop Sabrina and do I wish I had met them a few days earlier when I was frantically searching this city for an apple pie!  Matthew speaks very good English and explained that they wanted a change in their lives, wanted their children to learn another language or two and wanted to explore and live an adventure.  Their story sounded quite familiar to ours! 

We have been told another couple from Toronto will be arriving on December 12 and will stay until April, that the neighbours get together for Christmas and New Year's parties under the common palapa and that during the winter months  the ladies get together for lunch once per month.

Friends we have met here over the years also have a lot of cultural content!  Phil is from England but has lived here for years and is marrying Mary Cruz, originally from Mexico City.  Nick is a Greek Canadian from Toronto and is married to Jeannette who is from Mazatlan, Marisol is from Mexico City, Helmut is from Switzerland and Sylvia from Campeche, Mexico, Hugo from Mexico City, Johnny from Detroit and his wife somewhere in Mexico and Alejandro and Valeria are from Spain.  

These people make our life so interesting on a daily basis and our life sabbatical/adventure so worth it!  I love learning new things and love meeting and getting to know people ... so far it seems like a perfect place to do just this! 

things I know for sure...

Here is a list of 20 things I know for sure:

1. Geckos are like maple bugs, you just get used to the odd one or two being in your house.

2. I drive ALOT here ... leave at 7am for school, either wait with Em or go get groceries to return at 8 for her start. Pick up both at 215pm Mon throught Thur, return home on Mon and Thur for snack, quick swim and then return to school area for soccer and on Fri pick Emy up at 115, Hunter at 215 and today for example return at 430 for a school fiesta!

3. I miss my People magazine subscription and the weekly People Puzzlers!!

4. Big Macs are so much more tasty and fresh in Mexico than anywhere else I've had them!

5. When it rains alot the phone lines are down for days.

6. Skinny, scronny, sickly, twiggy palm trees banging against your roof can keep you up for hours.

7. There really isn't an effective recycling program in Mexico (makes me ill throwing out all this paper and all these cans!)

8. This week I have paid $1500 pesos (approximately $140 Canadian)for kids' revolution costumes, Christmas concert costumes, food for Thanksgiving celebrations, a birthday gift, tutoring and that doesn't include the ballet, soccer, gymnastics, school text books, uniforms and tuition! I knew I shouldn't have gotten the notes translated!

9. It's pitch black by 530pm but the day is ready to begin at 5am.

10. Playa del Carmen has a population of approximately 400,000 ... and in 1997 the town had one traffic light.

11. You can't find licorice, Spitz or Kraft Dinner here.

12. The kids have attended 21 days of school and are now walking in to the grounds by themselves, we made it one week in a foreign country without Jay and have met almost all the neighbours (most Canadian, American or speak English!!).

13. Texting, email and facebook make it possible to keep in contact and feel connected to my friends and family back home. So glad we decided to come now versus 5 years ago.

14. My computer doesn't have the proper Spanish accents for certain letters. I translate all notes and homework online ... this makes it sound like I need to bring potatoes to school rather than a deposit for Hunter's costume!

15. There are the most beautiful real Christmas trees here and are very cheap compared to back home!

16. Mexicans are extremely celebratory people and very patriotic.

17. We can't wait for our dear friends Krzysik's to experience and share Christmas and New Years with us. Our kids are so excited to take the kids to school with them December 23!

18. I have seen one Mexican child playing a DS but several playing hide and seek, marbles and traditional hopscotch.

19. Despite being 30.5 degrees locals find it chilly and do not use the pool, wear long sleeves in the morning and don't use the air!

20. I miss my friends, family, beach life and the rink but I am so happy to be here learning, experiencing, sharing and growing.

Have a great Friday. What do YOU know for sure?

mi buen amiga

Today I spent two different hours visiting and sharing with a dear friend over the phone. After our first conversation I couldn't help but remember when I first met her and how our friendship has flourished.

In 2006, I called someone the town had recommended to register Hunter for preschool. We were fairly new to the beach so when the president asked if I wanted to sit on the board I responded sure, what a great way for me to meet other moms and get out into the community. After that phone call I was happy I had found a program for our son ... little did I know I had just talked to someone that I would one day refer to as one of my best friends.

When I actually met this "friend" my first thought was wow, she has it all together ~ she was organized, straight forward, goal oriented and was very involved in her kids activities. But, she also didn't hesitate to let people know her thoughts or throw a sarcastic (but funny) comment to anyone in her presence! At times I thought she may be guarded and too busy to meet new friends.

I had a significant amount of phone contact with this "friend" in and around the time of our preschool fundraiser. (I like to think I actually "WOW'ed" her with my contacts and the incredible donations I obtained for the prize tables!!) Our sons were in the same preschool class and the following year on the same soccer and hockey teams. (And...on a side note, they continue to be on the same sporting teams and have become best little buddies!) I was in the same group as this "friend" more and more ... although she still didn't throw invitation my way for a coffee or one of her "cliquey" parties at her house!

After my "friend" had her baby in 2007 another girlfriend and I sent her a gift. Not realizing her lavish tastes in namebrands, we gave her an outfit from WalMart (which she undoubtedly regifted soon after!) We also politely asked if she wanted to join our newly created "beach girls splurge group" ... she said yes and we soon started spending time together during our once per month social gatherings.

Shortly thereafter I learned that she was very meticulous, creative, had a great sense of style and could whip up amazing appetizers at the drop of a hat. I learned that her Christmas tree and gifts were exclusively chocolate brown and gold, she loved to have fun, she had been a sailing instructor and photographer, she ran a business from her home and she loved to entertain (still didn't get an invite for anything though!).

During the next hockey season, my husband and my "friend" really clicked. Jay respected her straight forwardness and her devotion, he got her sense of humor and, most importantly, loved the talia in her coffee go-cups. He often spoke of her work ethic, her ability to multitask and on occasion would do the ol' comparison of wives and mothers to her!! I will admit I respected her capability to do so many things in one day and parent 3 busy kids too ... but I would not succumb to the comparison game!!

As it turned out, I knew my "friend's" husband from growing up in the same neighborhood and I really loved his gentle nature, his hug or handshake upon every greeting and his contagious smile. But, more importantly, I admired his relationship with his wife.

One day while sitting at the rink my "friend" received a phone call that her dad was very ill in the hospital. She asked if we'd stay with her kids until she could arrange her inlaws to pick them up and then quickly left. To us there was no question ... of course we would help out. In fact, we told the grandparents that the kids could stay with us until they needed to. I got a phone call the following day endlessly thanking us for dropping our schedule. I had forgotten about that afternoon until recently when my "friend" reminded me that we had really helped them out that day. It seemed so minute to me, but it was obvious that she truly appreciated what we had done.

Later that same year Jay was admitted into the hospital with pneumonia. After getting him settled the kids and I returned to the beach to already find a home made lasagne and garlic bread waiting in our fridge. My "friend" had left a note telling us to take care and don't worry about a thing.

These are two small examples of what friends do for friends but I can't explain how the giving has continued. I have discovered a side to my "friend" that is not seen in a lot of people, especially in today's hectic and selfish world. I can honestly say that my "friend" would do anything for those that she loves ... well ALMOST anything. She still won't eat chicken in Mexico.

I have witnessed and experienced generosity from my "friend" that I have not seen from many others. And I'm not talking material generosity ... I am talking about emotional support, offering to go out of her way to help another out, and a generosity of her time. My "friend" is a very busy person ... she is up at 530 or 6am every day to get "her" stuff out of the way before her family awakes (and "her" stuff includes: laundry, house tidying, lunch and dinner preparation, book work completion and banking trips to the city at dawn). She will stay up late to finish sewing hippo costumes or making teacher's baskets just so she can spend time with her husband and kids the following day. She is always willing to meet for a coffee (years later I don't even wait for an invitation!!) or go for spur of the moment boat rides or breakfasts... I just love this spontaneity.

I have come to get her sense of humor and abundance of sarcasm as well ... as a matter of fact I have become quite good at throwing sarcastic comments right back at her. I discovered that she is very open to those she trusts and isn't at all too busy to meet a new friend. She has whole heartedly befriended some of our friends and has taken on our family as her own.

I have seen a woman go through devastation with a house fire and all that such entails. I never once saw her break down, complain or feel self pity. This I respect more than words can type.

I have seen my "friend's" self confidence and indulgence blossom and I am so proud of her for this. Without lessening the doing for others, she has slowly started to do things for herself; she has lost weight, she has built an incredible wardrobe, she has travelled without her kids, she has let her kids travel without her and she has diminished her voluntary roles.

Our families have spent a lot of time together and as couples we have done the same. She and I have similarities that make spending time together so natural but the differences make the friendship interesting. She is certainly not afraid to call me on something she thinks I can be doing differently but she is certainly not afraid to tell me to hang in there and keep my chin up!

Prior to us moving here my "friend" joked about how much I'd miss her. To others this may have been taken as conceited but to me this was how my "friend" shared her emotion. The night before we left she had our favorite coffees waiting for us at the rink, they hung around until we were ready to go and I felt a hug that I hadn't felt in a long time. I saw tears that said "GF I am gonna miss you!" (OK, now I am crying as I write this ... "friend" you better be too!)

For the past several months we have greeted each other almost daily with a customary silly little "morning sunshine" BBM text. To some this may sound immature and foolish but I'll admit that over the past few weeks these messages sure helped me get over some emotional times. At 1146pm the night before we left I was still receiving comments from my "friend" teasing us about how much stuff we were taking, at 615am the day we left one saying "Good Morning Sunshine! Good Luck!!" and at 954am "every time I think about you guys it brings tears to my eyes. I am so excited for you but sure going to miss you". For a girl that doesn't show a ton of emotion I knew exactly what she was saying and feeling. I was feeling the same way about my dear FRIEND.

WOW, didn't intend this to be a book about you (cause almost everything else is!!)... but in a way I felt like you were here sitting right beside me as I told our friendship story. So, here's to you. Thank you for eventually inviting me to your house for whatever it was that you invited me to (actually, I probably invited myself), thank you for making me laugh when I really felt like crying, thank you for opening up your heart to me, Jay and our kids and thank you for just being you.

Good Night GF

did he fall off the balcony?

6:05am ~ mom, can you get my shower going. I'm in white today right?

Wow, what a difference from a mere 9 mornings ago. For the past two days Hunter has eagerly gotten himself ready for school, attended practice and tutoring and actually initiated doing his homework after dinner.

There has been no yelling, no refusal and no tears. AND he and his sister are playing and getting along (well, for the most part ... I'm not suggesting a complete miracle has happened just some good to great mornings and evenings!)

His schoolmates seem to adore Hunter. His English teacher says he is a dream to have in class cause the kids WANT to speak English to him! He was moved up to an older aged soccer group and in broken English a 3rd grade kid came up to me after practice and said "Hunther, he is good". This morning while walking to class Hunter wondered aloud where his new grade 3 friend was.

Before dinner Hunt and Emy were riding their bikes around the complex. I noticed the 10 year old girl from Calgary was outside playing with a friend. I started the BBQ and was getting things ready when Emy came in and informed that Hunter had put his bike down and had gone into the pool without "perminission"!!

My initial instinct was to get angry and tell him to come in and get dry clothes on and what was he doing when we were eating in 3 minutes! But then I could hear the girls in the pool as well. They were talking about where they were from and Hunter was having fun playing catch with them.

My second (and motherly) instinct knew he felt comfortable and really, what was the big deal if our burgers got cold.

After dinner Jay called to talk to the kids. Hunter was polite, excited and asked about his new roll bag for school. When the phone was handed to me Jay's first words were "did he fall off the balcony"??

At this point in time, after seeing my son cry, express anger and fear and wonder and resentment ... I don't really care what happened! All I know is that yesterday and today I had my old happy son back. I am a realist and know that there will be more speed bumps to come ... but hey, I'm prepared to take one bump at a time.

Hunter and his buddy Janni after accepting their first place relay medallians!!

What I Learned Today

November 20th is Mexico's celebration of their historical revolution against a "corrupt" president. The poor and working class had enough and revoluted against him and his government. At least this is how I interpretted the festival I attended today at Emersyn's school.

A note was sent home last week outlining what she was to wear. It was in Spanish so I had a teacher translate it for me. So, off we went shopping to find the appropriate costume for the Kinder 11 presentation. I handed the note to an older Mexican lady just as she was closing down her shop. She smiled at Em and dug through a bag for a beautiful red, white and green 2 piece outfit with embroidered flowers and lace sewn over the skirt and blouse. She was so proud when she later modelled it for us.

So, this morning we wake up and Emy's sun burn is still flaring and the blouse's stitches and elastic hurts her shoulders! So, when we arrive at the school I show a teacher her burn and ask if she is allowed to wear a shirt under the blouse. We braid her hair, put on her Mexican outfit and wait to see what the others show up in. Silently I am fearing that I have bought the wrong thing. I misinterpretted the Spanish note (just like I read that Hunter's olympics were today and should be wearing his white uniform but really its happening on Thur and his class is all in their blues!) and we are not only the only non Spanish speaking family in the entire school but we are wearing the wrong clothes!

It turns out we were led in the proper directions and Emersyn is a beautiful mexican revolution girl! I leave her in the classroom and I await the production with other parents in the palapa. Soon there are about 50 parents, all of whom I assume speak only Spanish, and I sit alone. I look around and recognize one mom. No one talks to me ... everyone quietly smiles and says buenos dias and I respond back. I remind myself that if I were at South Shore right now I'd know the entire parent presence and would be talking and listening and laughing with lots of friends and aquaintenances. But, surprisingly I am OK. I actually enjoy the alone time and the confidence I feel being in a new environment, learning a new tradition and taking in all the excitement for what is about to happen. I may not have the commorodry that others have established here but I know I will. I am more worried that my kids don't have a best friend or the same feeling of belonging that they have at home. They don't seem to be worried but their mom does!

The kids arrive and I see my daughter. She has her fingers in her mouth ... I know she is nervous. And, GOD I don't blame her! She follows her classmates and teacher and takes direction in Spanish. They sing and recite what I assume is the national anthem and some sort of pledge and then sing the colegio ingles school song. She is silent. But she is standing as she should, with her new friends, and is going to try something new. They gather on the stage and when her song starts she sings. She is watching her neighbour and is following the dance moves. I am so proud! She likely doesn't know what she is singing and what the words mean, but she is singing and dancing like she has been at this celebration 3 times before.

I learned today not only about an important and symbolic date in Mexican culture but that my kids are adjusting. There still may be fear, tears and question but they are slowly but surely adjusting. Kids truly are strong and resilient little people.

As I was walking out of the school, after leaving Emersyn crying in her classroom, a blonde lady asked if I was Emy's mom. She spoke English!!! I quickly said "yes, and you speak ENGLISH!!". She introduces herself and tells me her daughter Lily is in Emy's class and has talked about her for 2 weeks! The mom gives me her card and says she is going to invite her to make Christmas cookies with some of the other girls in the class. Whew, a sense of joy came over me.

I texted a friend while driving home. She asked if it was wierd being here while Jay was at home in Saskatchewan. I answered not really, just wierd not knowing many people. I told her about the blonde lady I had met and she responded "wowzers, you are going to meet so many people there!". And you know what ... she is right! That is all a part of this wonderful adventure!

Favorite things

Today on Oprah she is sharing her favorite things. This show is a huge hit with her fans but for me, other than seeing all the great gadgets, clothes and food I would ultimately love to have, it gets me thinking. What ARE my favorite things??

In keeping with my thought pattern of "some of the greatest things in life aren't things" I pondered this and decided to be absolutely upfront and frank!

Right now, as I sit listening to a chain saw, the birds singing and pool gurgling, here are my favorites.

1. My family - husband Jason, son Hunter and daughter Emersyn. Although these past two weeks have been emotional and painful and stressful these three people are my life right now. I know we aren't supposed to LIVE for other people, and I don't, but right now, at this time, my purpose is to provide the best emotional, physical and loving support I can to my family. I trust, love and respect Jay more than I do anyone. I know we can argue, disagree, fight but know we will be there for one another 10 minutes later. My kids (like any others) give me my challenges. But, they are forcing me to obtain patience, unconditional love and a strong sense of loyalty!

2. Friends - I have always loved friends and making new ones. I love being in different circles of friends and sharing different interests with different ones. Jay has been like this for as long as I have known him as well. He has friends that are Hells Angels, presidents/CEO's of large companies, living out of storage units with propane fueled heat, still living with their parents, educated, not educated, in fashion, no clue about fashion, with manners and without. I respect him for this and can also say I am a part of his friendship circles! As I grow older however, I am finding less and less time for spending with my friends. Schedules, distances, children, work all play a part in making the time I do spend with loved ones that much more important. I love visiting. I love getting to know people (thus the million and one questions). I love laughing. I love giving. I love sharing. I love surprising. I love organizing. I love new things. These are all a part of friendship. When I was younger I could count endlessly how many friends I had that "would be there for me". As I mature, and become that much more wiser (and clued in!), I can count on one hand how many friends I have that would be there. And without a doubt, I would take this over relationships of 20 years ago. Friends that I chose to spend quality time with would do ANYTHING for my family. As would I. This is hard to find. Treasure your friendships...I know I do.

3. OK, this is a THING and I will not lie ... my cell phone and computer (can I count them as one?!). If you know me well, I love to maintain contact with texting, BBMing, facebooking, calling and emailing. I just love to keep in contact. I don't phone as much as I should/can/want to. I know and full heartedly admit that! But, I love to write. I love to send a quick "good morning sunshine", "miss you", wanna do lunch!! I am writing for Fine Lifestyles Magazine and need my computer. I do work for the store, and need my computer. I love to share pictures and see others ... you get it! I LOVE my technology~even though I don't know how to work it properly!

4. Photographs and photography. I want to be a photographer. I want to learn how to use my camera properly! I love pictures and love taking them! This is a must in my bucket list!

5. Coffee ... I love coffee in the morning, I love Second Cup chillers (half the amount of white mocha), I love chai tea lattes (on ice in summer, hot in winter) from Starbucks, and I love Lumsden Fogs from the Bistro (especially with my GF HP!) I also love nice coffee mugs. In our rental house we have chipped ugly white ones and I didn't bring my nice travel ones from home ... if ever wondering what a nice gift would be for me ... well!!????!!?

What are your favorite things???

Why do we focus on what we don’t have and not on what we have?? I am getting better at this but will admit I have found myself “needing” a new pair of designer shoes, “needing” a different shade of brown lipstick and “needing” another dress for my 5 year old.

Watching the Mayan people so happy day in and day out not only humbles me but gives me a sense of hope. We took the scenic route to school today … went downtown and drove through residential areas that tourists likely don’t see on their vacations. There were many stray dogs laying in the middle of the streets, hammocks housing sleeping individuals in roofless houses, lines full of laundry attempting to dry in the pouring rain. There were many people waiting for buses, walking their children to school, sweeping the garbage from their sidewalks … they have next to no personal possessions but they all appear happy, at ease and grateful.

Maids in Playacar work for $200 pesos a day. That is equivalent to about $2 Canadian per hour. Hunter’s teacher tutors for $100 pesos per hour. Gas attendants get paid solely on tips. Masseuses on the beach get $15 out of the $50 for each massage. And they keep a smile. They love their families, they are proud of their homes and aren’t afraid to bike, walk or take a taxi to work.

I hope this experience is enlightening for my children. Today Hunter told Emy that most people here don’t have cars because they wouldn’t be able to pay for electricity or food if they did. However, in his next sentence he commented on how rich maids were for making $200 pesos a day! He was also astonished that most local boys did not know what a DSi was.

In keeping with my theme…this adventure is a learning process. And, I think this is one of the most crucial lessons to learn ~ and learn well.

I like to remind myself that the greatest things in life aren’t things.

It all started....

Four years ago we had a wonderful dream … we wanted to move to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico.  We loved traveling here, we absolutely fell in love with the people and we felt relaxed and healthy while down here.  My husband befriended some very strong business people and became a sales person for Exotic Travel.  Each vacation down, he consistently helped in closing deals for the travel membership group. 

We became friends with many good people and after several trips to the Playa del Carmen area it began to feel less like a vacation but more like “home”.  We started to put the plan in motion … we set a goal of fall of 2010 for our 6 month relocation.  We found 2 strong leaders to run our company, we saved money and we arranged schooling for the kids and housing for our family.  On November 3, 2010 we made the trek to Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Qunitana Roo, Mexico!

It sounds so easy and we know people back home are skeptical, excited, thrilled, proud, and perhaps some envious … but this is right for us.  Or, it is for now.  After many years of worrying about what others thought I have come to a sense of calmness and am ok with doing what is good for me and our family.  My husband tends to fear failure and is worried “what if we go home before the 6 months … what will they think?”  My question back to him was “would those people you are worried about try what we are trying?”

People today; some being friends, are too comfortable just “being”.  Many live day to day with the same routines, schedules, friends and habits and don’t let themselves explore outside the box.  I am not saying everyone needs to move to a different country or even travel to a far away destination!  We are very lucky that we have an independent business that allows us the freedom and financial perks to do what we do (ie, we are not restricted to 3 or 4 weeks holidays, we can acquire an abundance of points to fly and stay in hotels for minimal cost, we can work from home). But…we also have a desire to try new things and to step outside of the norm!

We have been here in Playa for 2 weeks today.  I am not going to lie and say it’s been without difficulties, stress, fighting and tears.  But … change is supposed to bring these, right?!  And if its not, we are going through a major learning process and whatever comes about we will be stronger and wiser for it!  My kids have had to adjust to an all Spanish school, to a lack of friends at their finger tips, to a new house, bed and schedule.  Jay and I have had to deal with acting out kids, house with problems, translation difficulties with purchasing vehicles, TV and BBQ!  But, at the end of the day we are together and will have one another when we wake up.  We also have learned something new and have experienced a variety of emotions.  All of which is healthy.

I do talk a big talk mind you!  I have been stressed beyond stressed with my kids schooling, homework, tutoring etc.  But again its all new!  In one week it will be better and in a month MUCH better!  Our son has pushed me to the limit, but again, this will improve.  In our adventure and new experience, we are living day to day and are thankful for the opportunity to experience these changes and struggles.

I would like to challenge you to ask yourselves what you have done, or do, to push yourself into a new situation and what have you gained and/or learned from it?