Recent small victories this week had me smiling...
We moved last weekend to a temporary corporate apartment.. It is located outside of town, on a freeway, literally! Very busy & difficult to get into & out of the complex!
This means learning new driving routes!
So this week I learned how to get to the kids' school 3 new ways!! All on my own, all without getting prior directions from anyone, and all without being late to get the kids!!
Also, with this new driving confidence, I attempted to find my way home via new routes... The first time was a major fail.. The road took me out of town but into a totally different direction.... But I got myself turned back and into familiar territory before getting drastically lost! The next time I attempted the new route home I guessed correctly & learned a new way, and I learned I need to trust my FIRST gut instinct more often.. It has usually been right!
I have been able to navigate the grocery store a bit more quickly also, I still don't really know exactly what the cashier says to me, but we both understand each other pretty well.. Even when there was a price discrepancy.. Of course I am in no position to argue my point for customer rights if I wanted to... But I digress..
I successfully had a conversation with the security guards at school, I could tell them the reason I was coming to school was "Mi hija esta enferma" (my daughter is sick), they asked where, I answered the Primeria escolar (elem schl), & they asked my name, her name & I understood & answered... I was on cloud nine! This whole "conversation" was about 60 seconds long, but I was feeling pretty happy - and that allowed me to use my best head nodding and Si,Si... When talking to the parking guards as I pretended to know everything he said to me & then I went ahead & did what I usually do.. Park in the garage.. & walk up, like I am a pro or something, haha!
I am getting very good at my aggressive driving! I drive between lanes, I am even merging over multiple lanes sometimes... And...Sometimes, I don't even use my turn signal!! Truly Mexican!! I pay ZERO ATTENTION TO SPEED, except when I see a speed bump!! Those are waaayyyy more important than a police officer! In fact, I have never seen the police pull over a traffic offender here in town, then don't even stop to help cars on the side of the road who need help. They do drive around with their lights on all the time. There is one police vehicle in the same exact spot every morning, to give the illusion of regulating traffic... And it truly is an illusion as that vehicle sat there, with an officer in it each morning, for 2 weeks, with a flat tire!!! That officer could do no more to stop traffic problems than he could to catch a thief!
I have learned to stay away from the far right traffic lane pretty much always... Because in that lane a taxi is likely to stop at any given moment to pick up a rider, or drop them too. Also in that lane the green buses, public transportation, stop on a dime for the same reason. I swear, there are not always real "stops", people just wave & the bus stops.... Which is why you just avoid the far right lane and always avoid those green busses!
The beautiful, warm, sunny weather is finally here! We made it through the rain... (I really love Barry Manilow songs!). So, it does not feel so much like Santa Fe is the Michigan of Mexico anymore. But, holy smokes, it was a really long rainy season, gratefully, unlike many towns in Mexico, we sustained no damage from all that rain. Our biggest problem as a result of that rain are the big pot holes; feels like they swallow up my focus!! But they are ever vigilant here, they usually get fixed quickly!
So, next on the agenda...
Going home to pack up the house for the final move.. That will be a BIG VICTORY, considering all that it has taken to get this far, and considering it has been 12 months since Patrick was offered the job.. Its time to start living this adventure, learning this language & fully living here!!
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