| Greetings from sunny Puebla!! Having spent the past 6 weeks in the frigid mountains of North Carolina, I am all too happy to return to the pleasant climate of Puebla. The day-time temps range in the mid to high 60's with night-time lows sometimes dipping into the 40's. The warm breezes, the beautiful blooming flowers, and birds singing are soul food. My time spent in the US was a much needed emotional pick-me-up. While I am grateful for many opportunities that only Mexico can offer, I none the less long for family, friends and familiarities; familiarites being all things English southern-american. Not until this international move did I understand just how nationalistic I am, but also how quintessential southern are my ways. For those that know me undoubtedly your thoughts are, "duh...." - for immediately upon meeting me, it's very obvious by my pronounced twang/drawl (a by-product of having lived in both North and South Carolina....and yes, there IS a difference in the accents!!) that I am undoubtedly southern. It's just that I've always taken my southerness for granted; like having green eyes. All this to say - I adore my "scarletness" and my American heritage and will always feel like a fish out of water until I'm home again for good in the mountains of North Carolina. But also know that I am not at all miserable living as an expatriate! On the contrary, our family is living quite comfortably and enjoying unique experiences that only the challenge of living outside one's home country can offer. Growing pains ARE painful....but I've never known a growth, a valuable experience, not worth the struggle....indeed, oftentimes the struggle is the blessing (of course, rarely do we think so in the throws of the situation!). To Keith's guarded disappointment I will be traveling much more frequently back to the US this year; my trips are non-negotiable. And because Jake's schedule will be much more flexible due to homeschooling, he will be free to travel with me (if you've not read the news of Jake's new situation, CLICK HERE). I regret that I was unable to work on the website while in the US. I hope that each of you are enjoying a fresh start on the new year....and that you are at a peaceful place in your life journey. Best to all! |
| Archived Monthly Musings - Continued |
| January/February 2003 - 10/11th Month |
| Hola mi familia y amigos! I hope everyone is well and WARM. What a wicked winter most of you have experienced (and sadly, are STILL experiencing!). Under no circumstances do I miss the cold weather. Puebla�s climate is quite divine and is the aspect I will miss most when we move. I�m almost at a loss for news this month. Jake and I have been quite occupied with our new homeschooling duties and we�ve done little else. I just want y�all to know that I�m learnin� my yungin reel good. Never could I have imagined that I would one day be homeschooling (especially Jake!!). Some, who know me best, will probably recall my eagerness to drop Jake off his very first day of kindergarten. ~ As I pulled away from the curb of Pleasant Gardens Elementary, I noted Jake�s precious little bowl-shaped haircut and his toothless grin (Jake had long since lost his teeth in a biking accident), he eagerly waved goodbye. I noticed how exceptionally bright his eyes were but then I realized it was only my headlights. Yes, headlights�for at the crack of dawn I had cheerfully dropped my beloved bundle of all-boy to the curb!! (Well, that�s not how things went at all). But for sure, Jake sucked the ever lovin� life out of me his first 5 years on this planet. I�ve spent the last 10 years recouping and am rested and back for more, I suppose. The truth is, time spent with Jake now is MY PLEASURE. The only regret I have about homeschooling is not trying it sooner! Keith is in the states for business as I pen this month�s update. He has the great fortune of being able to stay with the girls for 4 nights because his seminar is in Henderson County, NC only a few miles from our home in Fletcher. Of course, each trip home gives us the opportunity to stock up on southern basics to bring back to Puebla; grits, Duke�s, and country ham (be still my arteries!). Keith is also bringing back loads of books (for Jake) and I�ve requested a tail-less mouse (ok � �cordless� mouse). I would truly love to hear from you. Quite frankly, emails have been sparse as of late. Look folks, y�all are all I have! Please keep me posted. My best to all� ...wishing you daffodils and tadpoles real soon! |
| March 2003 - 12th Month |
| Greetings from ever-sunny Puebla! The rainy season hasn�t quite found its way to us, but it is fast approaching. In the meantime, and for the exception of two fluke episodes back in the middle of March, we�ve not seen a drop of rain since last October. The end of April usually begins the rainy season that brings about daily afternoon torrents. The rainy season is welcomed, however, we learned last year that outdoors BBQing is best done in the winter, non-rainy, months�for each and every attempt to grill on our veranda resulted in a mad dash for cover with half-cooked, sopping meat in hand! I imagine our neighbors took delight in watching the crazy gringos attempt time and time again to enjoy a summer BBQ�old traditions are hard to break, but we�ve finally learned our lesson. This month we will by flying back to the states. Our plans are to leave mid-month. Keith will enjoy a 2 � week stay in North Carolina; Jake and I will remain until MK�s high school graduation. Jake and I have a few extended-stay visits to the states scheduled for which I have mixed feelings. I�m looking forward to being with the girls and enjoying Mary Kathryn�s high school senior moments but I will be separated from Keith for over a month � and being apart from one another is something for which we�re neither fond! However, without a doubt I need time in the states...being back in the mountains allows me some semblance of harmony. After all, I�m nothing more than a mountaintop lovin� South Carolina girl (of course, being in the shadows of 50 the term �girl� is used more figuratively than literally!). Last month we enjoyed the company of several folks from the states. Jack Lewis from Marble, NC and Ben and Kristen Marion who will soon be living in Orizaba, Mexico stayed with us the third week of March while here on Coats� business. We enjoyed sharing our casa with them and hope their visits are the beginning of a new tradition. We enjoy hosting and are thrilled to have (short term � *wink*) visitors. The pending visits cattle-prodded me into acquiring guestroom furnishings (since MK�s departure the room had been bare). The photo above shows the new forged iron headboards and benches custom made for us by a company in Cholula. The quality and service exceeded our expectations; the price was very reasonable as well. The old print of the �los hijos� (the children - left of this note) was found in one of our favorite antique stores near La Parian, a must-see tourist spot in Puebla. My allotted space is up, but before closing I feel I must mention the war. Just as in the states, the moment to moment coverage is being lived out here through CNN. Putting aside my political, spiritual and personal convictions�I simply pray for minimal loss of life and Godspeed to all involved. Wishing each of you some sense of comfort in these discomforting times. |
| April 2003 - One Year in Mexico |
| May 2003 - Second year begins (13 mos) |
| Expatriate = Estranged. I'm sorry folks - I simply can't bring myself to share this month. I've nothing perky and/or fluffy and frivolous to offer. Since arriving back to the states, events have ranged from bazaar to bitter...mostly family related. Gawd - don't ya just love tha relations?!! Just know that I've much happening this month; MK graduates, Jake continues to homeschool, and Keith and I are struggling through some issues. I'm enjoying my homestay despite the junk. Wishing each of you well. |
| June, wow. First of all I�d like to share that our oldest, beautiful daughter, Abbie, is celebrating a birthday this month. Upon being asked her birth date as a small girl, she would respond, �June of the 10th�. Being the first of all the grands, her prideful and determined response was deemed adorable and stuck with all the family. June of the 10th is a very special day - Abbie will be 22. I am still enjoying an extended stay in the states. Keith flew back for a week�s stay that ended last week. He was here to attend Mary Kathryn�s graduation. I miss him already. But I�ll never grow tired of being home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jake and I will be flying back to Puebla on June 28th where we will stay until the first of August. We will be flying home to prepare Mary Kathryn for college, and Jake for � get this � BOARDING SCHOOL! Family plans redefined (i.e. gone amuck, haywire, heebie-jeebied, befuddled...). The only for-sure thing about the expatriate lifestyle is that nothing is for-sure!! Yes, homeschool is out, boarding school is in. Where to begin... Write me if you�d like to know details � just know for a hoard of reasons Jake will be attending a boarding school near our home in North Carolina this fall. Next month, I will share details. My life is fixin� to change even more drastically than it already has. I�m soon to be an empty nester (like I need - NO, Keith needs - one more premenopausal issue for which to contend)!! And while boarding school is quite a privilege and an opportunity that we never imagined for Jake, I�m given to silly images of dropping my baby off at a kennel��boarding� him while I�m off playing in Mexico! Wondering if his keepers will play with him, console him, feed him his favorite foods, give him plenty of water and sunshine, rub his belly�that sort of thing. (Ramblings from the mentality of a person who can totally entertain herself with a June bug and a five foot piece of string). I wish someone had warned us exactly how flexible expatriates must be, especially with almost-growns (off-spring ages 22, 18, 15). After two years� time, by golly, our family could join Ringling Brothers as professional emotional contortionists!! It�s downright embarrassing the way we�ve changed our plans and minds! But the truth of the matter is change is necessary, change is good, change is life��uuummmm. Wishing you healthy stalks of silver queen this summer! |
| June 2003 - Second year begins (14 mos) |