Do you commute? From where?

This is usually how the conversation starts. Flight attendants are constantly digging into each others lives, looking for that common bond. Over half of flight attendants commute so after we have learned that someone on the crew commutes we have to find out from where. I really think that this is because we are looking for someone that has a worse commute than us, so we can feel better about our situation.
For those who are not up on airline lingo, commute means that you live in one city, or country and work in another and that you HAVE to take an airplane to get to work. Luckily, if you work for the airlines you fly for free domestic and just pay the taxes for international travel, BUT you fly standby and get to compete with all of the other airline employees that live where you live and are trying to get to where you are going so they too can be to work on time, and all this while the flights are already full with paying passengers.
When flight attendants ask me where I commute from either asking because they want to feel better about their situation, they are looking for small talk, or they actually care, a conversation that could last for one second has suddenly turned into a longer conversation when I tell them where I commute from.

So, this is usually how the conversation goes and my answers depend on my mood, whether I am tired or not, etc...

Where do you live, commute from?
Mexico

New Mexico?
No, Mexico, the country.
After the blank look goes away and they have processed this information they stop what they are doing and actually pay attention to the conversation.

Why?
Because I want to. Because I can. I want a better, simpler life.

How is the commute?
I usually say, it is great, three flights a week, as they immediately spit up what they are eating or drinking and say, " a week"? Then I immediately become the girl who makes them feel so much better about their commute, since most of them have at least five flights a DAY if they are commuting within the US. At this point I become respected and interesting as opposed to just another flight attendant. I already have a reputation in Atlanta as the one who commutes from Puerto Vallarta.

So... Back to the conversation, usually the next question is....

Are you married?
Yes

Or

This is the funny part...
Pilots always ask, "did you follow a man down there?"
Yes, my husband and I didn't follow him, we decided this together.
While Flight attendants always ask, "is your husband Mexican?
No, once again I get a blank stare and a "oh".
Funny how the two groups think so differently

Oh, did your husbands job take you there?
No

What does he do?
He owns his own business working with decorative concrete, mainly in kitchens and bathrooms.

Why Mexico?
Because we have been visiting there for six years and really like the area where we live. It is inexpensive and the commute is easy (masa manos). Or used to be.

Do you speak Spanish?
No, with embarrassment, but I am trying

Does your husband?
With pride I explain how he is doing really well with Spanish and how I make him do all of the talking when I am there.

Do you have children?
Yes

Are they in a private school?
No, they went to the public kindergarten last year, 100% emersion, no electricity, etc
This one usually gets a WOW as well

Do your kids speak spanish?
They are learning very fast

How do you get to the airport?
I take the bus. It's just an hour to get there.

Then they are usually comment with another "wow", that is awesome, I have always wanted to do that but am afraid, wow, what an exciting life, I really admire you for following your dreams, etc.. I don't say it but I am really proud of us too.

If there is time the conversation turns to safety

Is it safe?
Yes, we feel safe. Do you really think that we would take our children to a place where we were afraid? Seriously? But I understand, they have to ask because of all the press.
Then I explain that we are much more aware of our surroundings there, we lock our doors we aren't galavanting around town drunk and stupid late at night. And that actually I am more afraid of leaving the hotel I stay in in Atlanta, in between trips, where the night manager had to shoot a robber the other night, than I am at any time where I live in Mexico.

Are you worried about kidnappings?
Once again, do you think I would take my kids to a place where I thought they were in even more danger of being kidnapped than in the US?

Can you drink the water? What is the cost of living? How is the food? Do you have a car? Etc..

What gets me is that we are flight attendants, we travel all over the world. I have talked to people who commute from Chile to Atlanta, Australlia to New York, Paris to Salt Lake City, we have people that commute from all over the world to work for Delta out of the United States, people that are very well traveled, but they are always amazed, in an inspiring way, that I would pick up my family and move to Mexico for a better life because I wanted to and because I can!

It's Not Wise To "Drop In" On A Wookiee

Looking For Surf

Alex, Trace, Jack and Maggie know there are waves out there somewhere.

Some General Information About Mexico

Alex' 2nd Kindergarten Graduation

We made it!! We did it!! We survived!! We stuck with it!! Looking back I would do it all over again. If you have read previous posts about our public school experiences, you can appreciate this one. If you haven't read them, please do.

So, Alex graduated yet again, from kindergarten. One time in the US and one time in Mexico. She attended kindergarten here a second time for language reasons. Graduation is a big deal here. Ozzy remembers talk of the kid's "graduation outfits" all the way back in November. Throughout the year, Ozzy and I both attended many meetings with and without translator help. Ozzy attended some where he was the only man there while the moms spent an hour or so discussing dress "color" options.

So the big day was July 5. And I was actually off work. A little because of my transfer to Atlanta and a little because July 4 was in the middle of the week. Anyway, I am so glad that I did not miss this graduation.

So the seating was at 11:30 or in Mexico time, 12:30. Alex took her seat, and Ozzy and I wandered around wondering what was going on. Just before it started a friend of ours, Sergio and his wife Yohana approached us and wanted to walk Alex to get her diploma. Unkown to us this is a tradition, that the God Parents or relative walk the child up to gather their diploma.

We had no idea that this was going to happen and were so grateful to Sergio and Yohana. First reason being that Alex would have walked alone up to receive her diploma because we simply didn't know what tradition was and secondly because Sergio and Yohana thought about this even before the graduation and wanted to act as Alex's God Parents. They even came prepared with a customary gift they presented to Alex when her name was called. Sergio and his family all were born and raised in Sayulita, so they are obviously very local for many generations. We have surfed with him, traveled with him and like him and his family very much. Actually, Sergio's nephew, Enrique, is amigos with Trace and also graduated this day. When Enrique was crowned King for the primavera celebration, Alex and Trace rode with him in his float/truck for the parade. Check out the "Spring Pageant and Parade" blog post in March.

In between the diplomas the kids all sang a song and Maestra walked around with the microphone. She chose to put it up to Alex to sing into. So, just imagine, the only tall, blond, American, in a Mexico public school belting out a song into a microphone in "perfect" spanish in front of more than one hundred locals, who probably thought back on November that this family will never last in this school. I was so proud of Alex. I was also proud our family for staying in this school, sticking with our goal even though it was so tough at times, especially for me. I just wanted to give up sometimes. Ozzy and I would also like to think that many of the parents of the school saw how hard we tried, how we did what was expected, participated, how we didn't give up. Many now say "hola" to us on the street and around town with huge smiles. The moms would give important information to Ozzy, on their own free will, to help him figure out what he needed to do or not do. In a way, they looked out for him and he would always be so excited when he would tell me about a certain mom stopping him to tell him this or that.

After the diplomas the kids all did a dance and Alex danced with Fernando. I think he used to give Alex and Trace a hard time when they first started school, but they all became friends.

If you couldn't guess the pictures below with the yellow gown are graduation from Park City one year ago and the ones with the Pink gown are from Mexico last week.

So ends a small chapter in our "Adventure". In only six weeks or so Alex and Trace will be off to school again. For now, summer camp and lots of surfing to stay cool.

Jolyn Swimwear

I never thought that finding the "perfect" bathing suit was anything that I would ever need to think about. But I did, to both. A friend told me about the bathing suit brand Jolyn, and honestly I will never own another brand of bathing suit. I waited to write a post about the Jolyn suit because I wanted to really test drive it and give it an honest 9 month test drive. So here are the results:

The Joyn is made for performance but still has a very nice cut. If you are into any water sports, swimming, surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing, paddling, river rafting, diving, etc then the Jolyn is perfect for you.

The Jolyn stays put! I have gotten completely hammered in the waves thinking that I would come out naked but the Jolyn stayed exactly where it should be, to my relief.

The material is bomber. I have two suits and wear them all the time and neither one has stretched, faded or shown any wear, as the rest of my clothes are literally falling apart from the weather here. And, the Jolyn does not sag in the butt, you know what I mean.

A 41 year old woman with two kids can still wear it.

The Jolyn is also very reasonably priced at about $60 for a complete suit.

The company is small and therefore very personable and aims to please.

I LOVE my Jolyn Swimsuits! and want to share my awesome find with everyone, so spread the word. Click on our affiliate link to visit their site.

On your board ;)

A Visitor

Looked up from finishing some concrete samples the other day to find this guy having a siesta just a foot or so from my nose.

Interesting that he showed up soon after we started fostering a kitten.