Catching our Breath!

We’ve finally had a moment to breathe. After church last Sunday, we came back to our apartment and took a long nap—our first weekend with no field trips or homework. It felt so freeing!  We would be lying if we told you we weren’t tired, a bit overwhelmed with our new surroundings, and so many changes! The Spanish-a-thon has worn out even me—queen of FOMO and never wanting to miss a thing. The neighborhood/colonial we will live in is called La Paz, peace.  It seems fitting for us!

On the bright side, we just finished our Week 3 class (half-way mark!), and Pat says he’s already learned more than he did in an entire semester of high school Spanish. Let’s just hope it sticks!  Right now our brains are in overload with remembering the differnt pronunciation of each letter!

Prior to starting our Spanish Immersion Program, living at GYTTE’s headquarters was fun.  The room we were in had a bed that’s not quite a queen, maybe closer to a double. Around here, they call it “the marriage bed/matrimony size.” Let’s just say the mattress felt like it had celebrated a few anniversaries… But hey, we were grateful just to have it! 

The shower each morning was a gamble. Would it be cold? Or colder? That was the question of the day, but we  made it a game of positivty to see who could shower the fastest, and felt blessednto have running water, as many people here don't and/or can't afford it!  We shared a communal kitchen and washing machine with nursing students who live at GYTTE and have a scholarship for their studies.This is one of the cool GYTTE programs.

Once we finish our Spanish classes, we’re starting to settle into what we think will be our rhythm here in Mexico: alternating weeks between the bustling city of Puebla and the serene countryside at the Ranch. It’s a balance of energy and peace, modern and rustic—and each place has its own quirks and charms.

We want to introduce you to our house on the Ranch—a 1970s ranch-style gem (the first straw bale home built on property) with beautiful terracotta tile floors and ceilings just low enough that your hair brushes them as you walk.

It’s charming in a deeply lived-in, cozy kind of way.  

I was in love with the ranch house… until someone casually mentioned that snakes sometimes shed their skin in the rafters. (Yikes #1) I am now discerning my true feelings about living at the ranch, lol!  We are going to get an insect net for our bed in hopes that brings me some peace!

The bedroom has a lovely rounded shower, laundry space, and a Talavera-tiled bathroom. It is warm and welcoming, even for the iguanas that have been known to hang out in the dry composting toilet!  (Yikes #2)!

There is also emergency venom recue jars in the main office should a rattle snake or scorpion bite. (Yikes #3!) 

Back in Puebla, life has a different pace. It’s busy, noisy and there’s always something cultural to do! One of my favorite things here is the Papel Picados that hang everywhere—those intricate, hand-cut paper flags originally born right here. They come in all kinds of shapes and colors, and they’re simply gorgeous.

Plus we've found some great coffee and kombucha cafes!

By the way, reports indicate that the mosquitoes love having me live in Mexico!  I’ve been added to the menu for many feasts for these pesky blood suckers.  Most recently one dined on my eyelid, leaving me with a stylish puffy eyelid for a week! (I will spare you my pirate photo!)  The irony is that the night before I had been researching where to obtain the Vimkunya vaccine for Chikungunya.  Because these guys just love me, I wanted to be protected.  But everything is a process.  So probably another visit or two to the public health department and I will be in good shape with added protection! 

September is almost here… and around these parts, that means one thing:  earthquake season. People are already talking about them! We actually experienced our
first earthquake recently—a 5.8—but didn’t feel it because we were walking. Not sure if that’s a blessing or not! When Pat asked his maestra what to do during an earthquake, she said, “Stand in the middle of the street—it’s safer than inside.” Of course, that’s the same street where buses fly by at 100km/hour. Earthquake or bus… pick your poison.

Ah yes… the luggage saga continues. The last we heard our luggage needs to make a fieldtrip to the USA and back to be accompanied by one sealed document from the MX Consulate that we need to also go the USA to get in person.  That is planned for mid-September.  After 6 weeks of not having anything, we’ve grown kinda accustomed to a simple life.  

One another note, Pat passed his driver’s license test on the second try—thanks to our friend Clara!  Funny story: to prove your address at the DMV, a lease isn’t enough. You need a utility bill in your name, which we’ll never have, because our rent includes utilities. But here’s the kicker: the DMV doesn’t actually care whose name is on the bill. So now, I use the address of our local hair salon (Hair Glamore'), and Pat uses one from the neighbor behind us. Apparently, borrowing a utility bill is just part of the process here.

Next up? Getting a Mexican tax ID number, so we can eventually buy a car. Even though it’ll be a cash purchase, the transaction has to go through a bank. It’s taken us 3 visits to the government office to learn we are required to make an appointment online.  It’s scheduled for Friday.  Send good juju our way that the 4th time’s a charm!

Yesterday we passed a panaderia with a man hand-dipping cakes into the icing.  The smell was heavenly!

Thank you for journeying with us on our adventures.  God Bless!