The following is an excerpt of the first email I sent to a friend, when I was really struggling with all the newness of living in Mexico. I didn’t realize it, but I was culture shocked. At the time, we hadn’t been here for two weeks yet. I’ve added some updates to the text to highlight the changes that have happened in half a year.
How long did it take you to adjust to life in Mexico?
I wandered downstairs one recent Saturday morning. The house smelled deliciously of coffee, which was normal for a weekend. My husband (almost) always brews coffee for both of us. He feels it’s in his best interest, but I’m not usually a cranky-ass mess before coffee anymore. I’m more of a zombie.
The day before, he’d told me, “There were some tiny cockroaches in the coffeemaker.” My face want from normal to full on eww in 0.001 seconds.
“There are cockroaches in the coffeepot???” I said incredulously. I’ve been drinking coffee! Everyday. Like always! Had I been unknowingly consuming cockroach poop or corpses?
Ever heard of the Peña de Bernal in San Sebastian Bernal? ? I hadn’t! I didn’t even know exactly what we were doing. Was it a crater? A mountain hike? Or some other natural phenomenon? Mexico is full of natural wonders and the Peña de Bernal, located in Bernal, Queretaro, Mexico is one of them.
My grandmother died yesterday morning at age 100. Obviously, given her advanced years and also her declining health, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Though, you do always think you have just a little bit longer.
Our relationship wasn’t a close one. She had a tough life. Born in 1917, she was the oldest of 6 children (outliving all but one sister). My great-grandmother died when my grandma was only 13 years old and she raised her siblings. What that entailed was quitting school and taking on house cleaning work to make their lives a little better. She lived through both World Wars and countless others, and also the Great Depression. This cemented her frugal nature and has definitely had some bearing on me, as my dad is also frugal.
Grandma was practical to a fault and often tactless. She always told me how fat I was while I was growing up. While I have many memories of her, there are two strong memories that stand out in my brain at the moment.
I was there, fellow mom traveler or mom traveler want-to-be. It felt like I’d never get out of the mom rut. Would I ever get to see a beach again? Would I ever get to visit Europe or Japan? Could my husband and I travel with our kids and live to tell the tale?
Technology keeps us closer than ever before. Also, let’s be candid. I doubt I would have considered the move from the US to Mexico if we didn’t have the technology we have available today. In the short time we’ve been here, I’ve missed my grandmother’s 100th birthday party, my Aunt and Uncle’s 50th Wedding Anniversary party, and several immediate family gatherings. You know, the usual when you choose to travel long-term or move far from family.
But technology helps!
UPDATE: This link answers questions about the best ways to donate to disaster relief agencies. CharityWatch is listed on the previously mentioned website and they provide ratings that may help you with your decision of where to donate to disaster relief. In the days following major disasters, monetary donations will go much further than material donations (many of which end up being unusable). Clicking here will take you directly to Charity Watch’s top rated charities. Scroll down to International Relief & Development to find the organization that most appeals to you. Please consider donating to help people around the world who are victims of natural disasters. We are all humans. Today, Mexicans and Americans need your help. Tomorrow, however, it’ll be another part of the world. Thank you!
UPDATE 2: 11 days later on September 19, another strong earthquake rocked Mexico City. We are much closer to Mexico City and indeed we felt it. Thankfully, our area has no damage. Again, if it is within your heart and means, please consider donating to help the victims of both of Mexico’s earthquakes this year. Many people already live in poverty and your donations will go far to help them.
PLEASE NOTE: Parque Bicentenario has been closed since early 2020 “until further” notice. It seems unlikely that it will ever reopen.
Though in the Midwest USA, amusement park season is winding down, autumn is a wonderful time to visit! In August, we finally had the opportunity to visit Parque Bicentenario, located in Querétaro, Mexico. While I knew it was an amusement park, I actually had no idea what to expect. Would it be like our big parks in Ohio, Cedar Point and Kings Island? Would it be fun?