Tag Archives: travel

Mar14

Life 101

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Life 101

Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care. University of California, Irvine. That’s the course I’ve just started this month on Coursera. This week we’re discussing habits. We’re learning how to overcome bad habits and turn things around so that we form good habits. We’re learning how to look at our current life situation and interpret things in a more positive way than we have in the past. We’re learning how to strive for goals differently by considering the benefits of intrinsic motivation over extrinsic motivation.

The beauty of taking a course on Coursera is that I work at my own pace. Other courses I’ve done on Zoom demand that you be there on certain times and on certain days. With the nomadic lifestyle I follow, this is difficult and sometimes even impossible. Thankfully some of the writers’ workshops I attend on Zoom frequently send me recordings of the session and that is quite helpful.

Less than three weeks left until I fly back to Washington. I finally went down to Central yesterday and got my bus ticket to Puerto Vallarta. I have a hotel booked and I fly back up north to Wenatchee via Seattle on April 2nd. This winter went by way too fast.

I’ve been stockpiling meds as the cost here is about a third of what it is in the USA. I really don’t enjoy all these tedious last minute things to do before I leave. And I especially despise having to say goodbye to friends. It’s interesting the close relationships you develop with people although you’re only in a place for a few months.

And then there are other friends who have left Aguascalientes and are now living in other areas in Mexico as well as in the USA. But Aguascalientes has become home to me. I love my neighborhood and the delightful tiendas and papalerias. I have my favorite restaurants that haven’t changed much over the years. There are the familiar parks and streets that are comforting. However, I still look forward to the time I spend up north.

When I first arrived in Mexico in 2010 I met several people in Mazatlan who had decided to leave Mexico and return to the USA. I really pondered that one until I reached year six living fulltime in Mexico. That first visit to Leavenworth in 2016 had an impact. I became a snowbird after that. And I have been blessed to enjoy the best of both worlds.

But it’s still hard to say Adios when it’s time to leave.

Jan3

Here We Go 2024

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Here We Go 2024

Happy New Year! May 2024 be filled with good health, love, peace and joy.

Right now I’m also praying for warmth. The month of December was rainy and cold. Overnight lows in the 30ths and daytime highs that don’t even reach 70 are not my idea of a winter in Mexico. Mexican homes are built to keep the heat out so it’s not surprising that outside it feels warmer than inside. This is my fourth year here in Aguascalientes and I wish I’d brought a ski jacket with me. Last year I never even put on a sweater. This year my hoodie is my best friend.

Do you ever wonder about why you are where you are and why you do what you do? Today is one of those days where I find myself doing just that. When I first came to Mexico back in 2010 it was a one year plan to teach English in Culiacan. But here I am fourteen years later, still in Mexico. Granted I reverted back to a snowbird in 2016 when I discovered Leavenworth, Washington. But I still haven’t found that one place where I want to settle down.

Sometimes I imagine what that one place might look like. I prefer smaller towns to large cities. I’d like to avoid snow but I would like to experience the beauty of all four seasons. I make friends easily everywhere I go and a sense of community is important to me. And if I ever do settle down again I would definitely get a dog.

I would love to perch comfortably on the seat of a bay window when I write. I’m not one for traditional chairs and desks. I find it more inspiring to gaze outside, especially if I can also hear the sound of waves lapping on the shore. Sunshine is also preferred although the patter of rain is also welcome from time to time.

But right now the bay window and the dog are still just a dream. And that’s okay. I will continue to volunteer my time teaching English in Mexico in the winter. And I look forward to going back to Wenatchee in the spring and rejoining the writers’ group and the Tai Chi classes at the Senior Center.

I have no idea what else lies in store for me in 2024 although I do have some tentative plans that include travel to Canada. I have a mission to accomplish but haven’t quite worked out the logistics yet. In the meantime I intend to enjoy the three months I have remaining in Mexico.

I encourage you to continue praying for world peace.

Dec28

Adios 2023 Bienvenido 2024

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Adios 2023 Bienvenido 2024

This will be my last post for 2023. It seems like just yesterday I was writing my last post for 2022. The older I get the faster the time flies by.

Highlight of the year was spending a magical weekend with my kids and my granddaughter in Brandon when I was in Canada last summer. I hadn’t been together with both of my kids together in eight years, and who knows when we’ll do it again. One of the dangers of my nomadic lifestyle is that I spend the year in two different countries where neither of my kids live.

It’s been a cold December here in Aguascalientes, very different from past years. Last night it went down to 34 Fahrenheit that translates to about 1 Celsius. We’ve also had a lot of rain which is very unusual. And they have the nerve to call it global warming!

Christmas Eve I found myself in church with my friend Gloria and her daughter Romina. Afterwards we had dinner with Gloria’s family. Then on Christmas Day we vegged and watched movies. I also had a video call from my granddaughter Madeline in Canada.

I still haven’t made it to El Centro to see the lights yet. But I plan to do that with a friend on Friday night. But I will have to bundle up. The high will only be 64 tomorrow and once it’s dark out the temperature will plummet. Last year I didn’t even need a sweater at this time of year. Now I layer and wish I’d brought my Columbia ski jacket with me this winter.

I’d like to wish all my readers out there a HAPPY and a HEALTHY 2024. And let’s all pray for WORLD PEACE.

Oct14

Back in AGS 2023

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Back in AGS 2023

A government shutdown was avoided so the air traffic controllers stayed on the job and I arrived as scheduled on Monday in Puerto Vallarta. I dodged Hurricane Lidia by a day and arrived in Aguascalientes by bus at 4 am on Tuesday. Raul, my landlord extraordinaire, picked me up and brought me home where I slept a good part of the day.

With all the craziness going on in the world today, it was comforting to come home to my familiar barrio of Las Flores. I’ve spent the last few days wandering around and renewing acquaintances. My neighbors are the same as last year and my Spanish got a workout. None of them speak English. Everyone remembers me and are very welcoming. I think I bought more stuff at my corner tienda than all the rest of his regular customers combined. I picked up food at a cocina and the lady was quite interested in hearing about my time up north. The lady at the candy store welcomed me back. Yes I’m still addicted to chocolate. I was at a gift shop today picking up a few things. I’m invited to a 5-year-old’s birthday party tomorrow. The lady at the gift shop asked me how my friends in Washington liked the things I’d bought for them when I left in March. And of course my friend Chui still has his potato chip operation only two doors down from where I live.

But yesterday was Friday the 13th and I’m glad that’s over with. I woke up to no internet. Thankfully it reappeared later in the day. But the real fiasco was at Telcel where my chip didn’t work in my new phone. AT&T insists the phone is unlocked and Telcel says it isn’t. So for the time being I’m carrying around two phones until I get it sorted out. A big thank you to Raul for coming with me and translating. The people at Telcel were having problems understanding him and he’s even Mexican. Raul has the patience of a saint as he kept changing the chips from phone to phone. So it appears that I am now using my old phone for Telcel and my new phone for everything else at the moment.

I’m going to end this post on a more somber note. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my family and friends in Israel. Your texts are comforting and greatly appreciated. Here in Mexico planes are being sent to evacuate over 700 Mexicans from Israel. There is no escaping this horrible war. It has affected everyone everywhere. Unfortunately there is no end in sight and all we can do now is continue to pray.

Sep24

Trapped or Ministry

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Trapped or Ministry

Last Sunday Pastor Mike began a new series called Trapped. It was enlightening and definitely merited more introspection. So naturally Steve and I got into a discussion about the traps in our lives, and if they really were traps. We concluded that what often appears to be a trap can instead result in the opportunity to become a ministry.

I’m a firm believer that people come into our lives for a reason. And I also feel that I have ventured down a path that was predestined for me, although I do find myself occasionally straying off to the side. I always have been a bit of a rebel. It’s a lot to ponder. Why do I live where I live? Why do I do what I do? Is it a trap that has turned into a ministry? Can it fluctuate between the two? Dare I stray further?”

I often wonder what keeps drawing me back to Washington instead of snowbirding back to Canada. There can only be one answer to that. If you’re a believer you’ll get it. And if you are not a believer there’s no way you’ll understand it. The same holds true for why I have chosen to return to Aguascalientes during the winter months.

While it’s still a nomadic lifestyle it now has a twist. I’ve been coming to Washington since 2016 and to Aguascalientes since 2019. Before that, at the three or four year mark I’d move on. But now I’ve more or less settled in two places….Washington state and Aguascalientes.

The wanderlust has waned. I don’t get quite as excited about traveling and exploring new places. But on the same token I’m not prepared to call only one place “home” just yet. It’s actually kind of fun having more than one home although it can be a challenge when dealing with Immigration in three countries.

But what makes a home a home are the people. And I’ve been blessed with many amazing people in my life whom I consider to be much more than just friends. They’re my family. And I tell them they’re stuck with me now. Apparently they don’t mind and feel the same way. I can’t tell you how great it is to have family in three countries…my native country and the two countries I now live in. It really resonated when I found myself seeking asylum in two foreign countries during Covid. And although things have calmed down considerably, my appreciation for my extended family grows more every single day.

When life throws a curve ball my way, my attitude determines the perspective. Is it a truly a trap? Or is it an opportunity for a ministry?

Time to lighten things up. We’re headed out to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.

Sep20

Countdown

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Countdown

Less than three weeks and I’ll be back in Mexico. I finally booked flights the other day. While I prefer to fly inland to Guadalajara, the direct flight to Puerto Vallarta from Sea-Tac caught my eye. A bonus is that I can fly out of Pangborn here in Wenatchee so I can avoid TSA at Sea-Tac. Now we just hope there is no hurricane barreling up the coast.

This morning was my last writers’ group meeting until April. I’m really going to miss this group while I’m gone. I know. I’ve said that before. But everyone is such a great source of encouragement and inspiration. Two of our members are currently on the verge of publishing books. New people are coming to our meetings and our membership is growing. And we all write in such a variety of genres too. Today’s pieces ranged from science to memoirs and everything in between.

I spent the weekend with friends in Leavenworth. On the agenda was binge-watching Virgin River. This season isn’t quite as riveting but it is addictive nonetheless. Now I need to finish off the second season of Lincoln Lawyer and I’ll be ready to head south. In Mexico I tend to watch very little TV. When I do watch, it’s primarily in Spanish. Many of the programs and movies I watch are geared towards kids. I’ve never been able to get into the soaps that people recommend for practicing vocabulary and grammar. Of course I’ve never really gotten into soaps at all up here. The only exception is Guiding Light. I got hooked on that when I was pregnant and on bedrest and watched it until the show was cancelled back in 2009.

Today is a rather dreary rainy day and I think fall is here. The timing is actually perfect because I need to sort through clothes and decide what to take to Mexico. So I’ve gingerly moved my fall clothes to the front of my wardrobe along with some warmer hoodies. It will be hotter flying into Puerto Vallarta than into Guadalajara so I’ll have to figure that one out. Footwear will be easy. I’ll have to choose between pairs of New Balance. I think back to the days when I had a walk-in closet with shelves full of shoes. Now it’s just tennis shoes and sandals.

I registered for an online writers’ workshop out of New York. It happens next week and I remembered to put a reminder on my calendar for it. The topic is about writing powerful emotions. Now I just keep my fingers crossed that a conflict with the time won’t arise. New York is three hours ahead of Washington. I am sent a copy of the recording if I do miss it but doing it live is always better.

The Autumn Leaf Festival happens this weekend in Leavenworth. I’m debating going to the parade on Saturday but that will depend on the weather. I’m not quite sure how she does it, but Alexa seems to forecast better than the local weather apps. I’ll have to check with her later.

Happy Humpday!

Sep15

No I Haven’t Yet

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No I Haven’t Yet

It’s crunch time but I still haven’t booked any flights. I’ve been too busy doing other things. Of course yesterday I did take a cursory glance at available flights but decided to delay the frustration a while longer.

My granddaughter Madeline started kindergarten this week. We did a video call yesterday and she looked very tired. She goes to day care after kindergarten so it’s a long day. And she has finally given up her afternoon nap. As I recall her mother gave up that afternoon nap when she was just a few months old. Very different. But Madeline is doing the same activities her mother did at her age – ballet, swimming lessons and Sparks. Seems like just yesterday….

On Monday I volunteered at the 9/11 service at Spirit of America in Cashmere. When I first came to Washington state back in 2016, this was one of the first places I checked out. And I’m amazed at how many Washingtonians I’ve met who have never been here. I’ve brought friends here for the first time. And many have never actually even attended the event on September 11th.

This has also been the week for Mexican food. I normally don’t eat Mexican much while I’m up here. After all, I get the real thing when I’m down south in the winter. But on Sunday after church we went out for Mexican. And on Tuesday after Tai Chi we checked out a new restaurant. My favorite restaurant in Cashmere just opened up a place in Wenatchee. How convenient!

I have my story for writers’ group done and printed and it’s a week ahead of time. Bittersweet though. It will be the last meeting I attend before I head back to Mexico. We come from all walks of life and the talent in this group is amazing. I will miss our discussions over lunch and will attempt to keep in touch by email. But it won’t be the same.

Today I got a ride home from Tai Chi with new friends who have led quite an interesting life. Originally from California, they came here back in the eighties with two very young children. When they retired, they traveled by motorhome and motorcycle for five years. Did they ever have adventures!

Time to visit Duolingo.

Hasta luego!

Sep9

It’s Friday Again

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It’s Friday Again

I really should be practicing Spanish on Duolingo or researching flights to Mexico but I’ve been in writing mode most of the day. This morning I actually slept in despite the fact that there is a war zone outside my window. They’re putting in new water pipes and the whole street is torn up and there are piles of dirt everywhere. There are also at least a half dozen pieces of heavy equipment clogging up the street. But that extra hour of sleep was most conducive to writing today.

I sorted through mounds of poetry I found when I was back in Canada last month. Apparently I used to write a lot of it. But somehow I stopped when I got pregnant with my son and then I never wrote another word after. And I still don’t write poetry. I wrote exactly one poem about fifteen years ago for an artifact for one of my college courses.

This afternoon I wrote a story about my experience renewing my passport this summer. It needs some editing and then will be ready to present to my next writers’ group meeting. I’m really going to miss this group when I’m in Mexico over the winter. I plan on keeping in touch with some of the members. We always go out to lunch after the meeting where we continue our discussions. I will really miss those while I’m gone.

Yesterday was Chelan County Fair. My American friends tease me because I still get excited about going to a county fair. They all grew up with them but I never had that experience. I love looking at the animals and fruits and vegetables and quilts all vying for ribbons. However, I must admit that I’ve tried funnel cake and don’t see what all the fuss is about. Just give me a good old American Hershey bar and I’m happy.

I watched TV for a while today which I don’t do often unless bingeing on Lincoln Lawyer or Virgin River with friends. Today was two episodes of The Rifleman. Both were from 1960 in the days of black and white. Chuck Connors was very young back then and the story lines were corny. And the shows are a little on the violent side with lots of shooting and killing. But back in the day those were considered fine for kids to watch. Brace yourselves… I’ve mentioned before that I was a tomboy but I actually had a cap gun which was one of my favorite toys growing up. Toys? Hmmmm.

Duolingo is calling.

Have a great weekend!

Sep1

Friday, My Day

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Friday, My Day

This morning I was lazing in bed with coffee playing word games on my tablet, music by Phil Wickham in the background. It’s the first chance I’ve had to do that since I returned from Canada. Usually I’m up and out the door early. Saturday was Waterville, Sunday was church, on Monday I was out with Ann, on Tuesday I had a workshop with my writers’ group and then Tai Chi, on Wednesday I was off to Linda’s in Leavenworth and yesterday I was off to Leavenworth to teach a fitness class and then back to Wenatchee for Tai Chi. It’s so nice to have one day this week with absolutely nothing on the calendar.

Of course there are things I need to do today, among them online banking and catching up on emails. I also need to come up with something for my writers’ group meeting next week. And it’s also time to start checking out flights back to Mexico. So much for nothing on the calendar today.

My street looks like a war zone. New water pipes are being installed. Piles of dirt and heavy equipment make traveling down the street an obstacle course. They’ve been at it since back in May. We have the same two seasons here in Washington that they do in Winnipeg…..winter and construction.

Linda and I have been binge watching The Lincoln Lawyer. Last night I caught an old episode of Perry Mason. Those were the days when lawyers actually got innocent people off rather than getting guilty people off on technicalities. Our world has changed.

I’ve been watching the crazy weather and have pretty much decided to stay away from the coastal airports when I fly back to Mexico next month. I’m leaning towards Guadalajara again. I detest Mexico City anyways and have been reading about all the expected cancellations due to cutbacks on the number of daily flights allowed. I’ve been in Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta when there have been hurricanes and it wasn’t fun.

Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend!

Aug25

Why do you blog?

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Why do you blog?

Why do you blog? This was one of the writing prompts on WordPress this week. I decided to give it some thought.

I was living in Guadalajara when I started blogging on WordPress. Two of my housemates, Sean and Omar, were computer geeks and helped me get set up. Both of them were working remotely while living in Mexico for a while.

Before I started my blog, I used to send out mass emails to friends I’d left behind in Winnipeg. But now that I was living and teaching in Mexico, I found myself keeping in touch with others I’d taught with or lived with over the years. It’s true that a one-liner on Facebook got the word out and was easier than writing emails, but I could write in more detail in a blog.

I also used to include a lot of photos in my blog posts. I do a fair amount of traveling and there are always new museums, art galleries and parks to explore wherever I go. I made a lot of new friends and we often went on adventures together. But that changed when Covid arrived.

My blog posts became more introspective when I sought asylum in Mexico in March of 2020 when my FMM expired. I had given up my work visa when I retired back in 2016 so I was now counting my 180 days again. When I finally made it to Leavenworth at the end of September, I had a lot more freedom and fewer restrictions. Life was a lot more normal than it had been in Mexico. I was able to be vaccinated and was able to obtain medication I required that had not been available in Mexico.

My 180 in the USA was almost up in March of 2021. Do I go to Canada and pay $2000 for a two night hotel stay in isolation and then have nowhere to live once I got out? Do I go back to Mexico and take my chances in a third world country during a pandemic? Thank you to the CDC for coming to the rescue and issuing a level 4 travel advisory against travel to Canada. I retained an attorney and successfully sought asylum in the USA.

It’s now 2023 and I’m pretty much back on track with winters in Mexico and the other six months in the USA and Canada. But my blog posts are very different than the ones I wrote when I initially began the blog on WordPress. One featured photo and more writing. I write about life rather than travel. I occasionally write about family. I still tend to shy away from politics and religion.

I can’t remember the last time I sent out a mass email. Instead I encourage people to read my blog. I have followers around the globe and am grateful for all your support. I’m not the least bit interested in making money from this blog although I know several people who do just that.

I blog because I enjoy writing. I blog to give others some insight into my nomadic lifestyle. I blog in the hope that what I write may impact someone else’s life. I blog for me and I blog for you.