What a difference two years make! Last month we celebrated our 2nd anniversary as southern internationals. The last two years have been � interesting� as Keith likes to politely put things. Listed is a synopsis of our last two years as first-time expatriates.
1st-4th Months � Vacation: PINCH ME I can�t believe we� re living here!! All sights, sounds and smells are fascinating. We�re very busy unpacking and getting settled in�all those expat advice books are wrong � we�re not suffering from culture shock in the least! The drivers are a hoot here � everyone does as they please � it�s really comical watching them. We hardly understand one word, but who cares? We�re going to learn Spanish in three months.
5th Month � Oh uh � We�re really living here: On the way to parents' meeting at school I�m cut off AGAIN by another crazy driver. Parents' meeting is all in Spanish�can�t understand a word anyone is saying�Spanish lessons aren�t going as well as expected.
6th Month � Honeymoon is over: Where can I find a $%#@ washcloth in this town? If I have to share the road with these manic asinine drivers one more day I�m gonna scream!! Did this Mexico City Policia really just demand $180US because I failed to put on my turn signal in a turn-only lane? I can hardly comprehend a word he is saying�wait � he�s taking my wallet and taking $800 pesos (so, this is a mordida - no - this is a robbery!)��uh � wait a minute mister!! You can�t rob me of every penny� I�ve got cuotas to pay for the toll roads back to Puebla � give me $200 pesos back� (he does). Maybe it was a bad idea to bring the NC plated car. This is the foulest, filthiest, and most corrupt place I�ve ever known. What were we thinking when we decided to move here?
7th �18th Months � Melt Down: Kids HATE schools � Mary Kathryn moves back to the states, we decide to homeschool Jake. Parts stolen from car � car is returned to states. Spanish skills suck. Issues with gas, water, power, cable, maid, teachers, shopping, driving, church, loneliness, homesickness, etc. Keith is more emotionally distant than ever and in total denial of struggles of family; he�s struggling to communicate at work and too exhausted to take on more issues. I�ve turned into a dependent, accusing, sniveling wreck!! Our twenty-four year marriage is threatened.
19th � 23rd Months � Redefining Expatriate Life: MK begins college, Jake moves back to the states for boarding school, and both are truly contented and thriving in their new environments. Keith and I come to terms with our vulnerabilities and weaknesses and agree our marriage is stronger for our struggles. Keith and I now have peace of mind and resign to accept Mexico and our expatriate experience on their terms. For the first time in 2 � years our family is at rest. Our Spanish is better but far from perfect. We finally have wonderful new friends and have learned to drive like the rest of the idiots.
2 years and Counting � Making the Most of Our New Lives: Jake�s educational opportunity is a blessing. Keith�s work experience is a blessing. Our home and spring-like weather in Puebla is a blessing. The opportunity for our children to travel and experience another culture on vacations is a blessing. The opportunity for me to now focus on my health and to be learning via online courses is a blessing. The traveling and time Keith and I share together is a blessing. Our growing friendships and opportunities in our new community are blessings� in short, life�s pretty darn wonderful now and we�re happy to have stayed the path that led us to the peaceful place of our destination. Would I do it all over again? Yes and no. Keith and I are very happy sharing this experience with one another, but if I had it to do over again, I would never put our teenagers through the experience. The emotional cost of the experience was much too great for the return. If you�re a Calvinist you'd be inclined to believe we�re exactly where we are because (and in spite) of the experiences leading to this moment. I�m not sure I believe such, and my only regret is not having been better informed to make better choices for our children.
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