Looking back over the past year, we have been blessed in many ways. Foremost, if not as fit as we would like to be, we both are reasonably healthy as are our three animals and our extended families. We are fortunate to be in a position to have purchased a home in Mérida and begin our plans to retire as expats in Mexico. I'm not sure I like the word "expatriate." It seems to imply a renunciation of allegiance to one's country of origin, but actually refers to anyone living temporarily or permanently in another country. There is much to not like about what is going on in the United States right now, but we are not renouncing anything. We're just thrilled to have the opportunity to experience another culture in our retirement years, especially a place as culturally rich as Yucatán. Another Mérida-based blogger,
My Mérida Life, posted a rather poignant piece about how their priorities have changed over the course of a single year living in Mexico. In many ways, we have begun this process before actually getting there on a permanent basis. Resentment, anger and frustration seem to melt away more quickly.
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Leonora Carrington sculpture on the Paseo de Montejo
photo January 2011 by John Bradshaw |
Patience is possible. Being without a working refrigerator for a week is annoying, but we've managed fairly well with one ice chest. We've had no nighttime ice cream for a week and I think we might have shed a pound or two. We've also been without TV service for over two weeks and despite missing the season finale of our two favorite shows, it has not been all that bad, and our dogs have loved the extra attention. Could this be the universe preparing us for our new life in a foreign country?
A special thanks to all of the "seasoned" Mérida bloggers for sharing a wealth of knowledge and experience and for offering advice, when asked, about how to best succeed in adapting to life in Mexico. For those of you pondering a potential move to Mérida, or any place in Mexico, a good resource is Joanna Rosado's book,
Magic Made in Mexico and all of the blog sites listed on my blog list.
I agree about the term expat. It sounds like we gave up our culture and citizenship. I much prefer North American Living Abroad or the term used by my husband... Yucagringo.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with ex- words is that they usually indicating what someone used to be. But "expatriate" doesn't mean someone formerly loyal to their country. (We're not going to be "expatriots.") Those two letters also start off words like "excellent." So I'll keep the word expat, just for its brevity and clarity.
ReplyDeleteNo nighttime ice cream for a week....you will do fine here!Walk to almost any corner and get a handscooped cone! Life here is full of little inconveniences,but rich in new experiences. Gotta love Mexico!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the grammar lesson Lee, hehehe, but I do know what the word means. It has been used, though, in the somewhat distant past as a renunciation of allegiance to one's "fatherland" (another reason not to like it). I'll continue to refer to myself as an expat, although I think I prefer extranjeros, or Rainie's NALA.
ReplyDeleteTy and Sara, thanks. Actually, I sort of like the sorbete's at Plaza Grande or on the Paseo de Montejo. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteI like my tacos with extranjeros.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try that. (;D
ReplyDeleteI like yucagringo for me and of course Carlos would be a yucarican...
ReplyDelete(: )
ReplyDeletei love joanna rosado's book
ReplyDeleteI agree, a great book for anyone wanting to live in mexico.
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