Well, it’s been a year and a half since we moved to Mexico. Life since then has been exciting, exhausting, boring, frustrating, eye opening, difficult, and worthwhile… How can all that be true?
Well for starters, raising 2 young boys anywhere is a handful. I love these little guys so much but more often than not, they are 2 little luchadores (Mexican wrestlers) which keep Amber and I on our toes, playing referee most of the time.
I’m so proud of these two for taking on a big adventure that they really had no say in. We threw them into a local Montessori school which is made up of 90% Mexican families and almost entirely taught in Spanish. Before coming to Mexico they had no Spanish skills. Now, my older son is a social butterfly and speaks better Spanish than I do. He seeks out conversations with kids and adults, often leading with “qué estás haciendo?” or “what are you doing?” He loves to ask questions and feels completely comfortable in Spanish conversations. I’m constantly amazed at his growth. And our little guy, who was just learning to speak English when we first came to Mexico, understands so much Spanish and is now starting to speak it too. When I talk to him in Spanish, he looks at me and smiles like he realizes we’re both in on a special secret.
Their accents are precious as well. They sound just like any other Mexican kid their ages with all the correct pronunciations and vocabulary. The other day at the doctor’s office, the doctor showed how the motorized chair went up and down. My son blurts out “No manches!” which is a very Mexican slang for “No way, are you serious!?!” Whether or not the derived meaning is appropriate language, is debate for another day; but all the kids say it. When the doctor heard him, she burst out laughing and said “wow, he really is Mexican!”
And just like every Mexican kid, they love their Jicama, one of Mexico’s most popular root vegetables which when eaten raw tastes like a crisp asian pear. But they refuse to eat it plain. It must have lime juice and Tajin (pulverized salsa) on top. This dish is served at just about every Mexican party and the other parents always comment that my boys must be Mexican since they love to eat it.
The first few months were tough though. Drop offs were horrendous. By far, our kids made the most commotion out of any of the others. Most mornings were tearful for the kids and us and we handed them over to the school and pried their surprisingly strong little fingers off our necks. We often wondered if what we made the wrong decision…
But as time went on, it became easier, for the kids and for us… Thanks to the caring and patient teachers at the school, who let the boys integrate at their own pace, and to our friends back home who reminded us that it’s not how your kids act at drop off, but how they act at pickup. Sure enough, the kids were happy when we came to pick them up at the end of the day. With big smiles and a carefree attitude.
Making friends in the community has been helpful too. Most of the people we’ve connected with have been friends from school. The parents are a tight knit group and we’ve been fortunate that many speak excellent English and are very welcoming, especially to us outsiders. The community we live in has also been great. A mix of young and old, foreign and local. We’ve been made to feel at home. None have been more warm than our immediate neighbors, a retired Mexican doctor and his artist wife. They are our Mexican grandparents and look out for us. They are genuinely kind to our boys and have helped us with everything from finding a mobile lock smith on a holiday when we locked the keys in the car, writing prescriptions when we were sick, delivering home cooked meals from time to time, helping us navigate how to get flu shots, and calling a repair man when we had a gas leak… They have truly made us feel warmly welcome. Without them, we wouldn’t feel like we’ve found a home.
There is much to love about Mexican culture. The obligation to say hello and goodbye to everyone at every event forces you to acknowledge and engage with people. A touch of the right cheek with the sound of a kiss when greeting woman. However, I must admit I still struggle with greeting other men. First there’s a handshake but I seem to always pick the wrong style, which leads to fix it, and then leaning in for a hug and a pat on the back. But unlike the States where men would lean to the left and hug, it seems in Mexico men lean to the right for the hug. I always forget and it ends up being an awkward exchange! Jaja, c’est la vie… Wait, what?
Exploring and getting to know this small town of San Miguel de Allende has been a treat too. It’s a gem in Mexico. The weather is wonderful with 9 months of sunshine and a brief rainy season in the summer. With a lack of humidity and extreme temperatures, most houses, like ours, get by without heat or air conditioning. We’ve found our go to restaurants, all of which have play areas for the kids – an essential for when we need them to burn some energy before bedtime. An English speaking pediatrician helps us when the kids are sick, and the local hospital helps when a kid decides to swallow a little plastic star that he received at school. 🤦♂️ A visit to the emergency room and a set of X-Rays cost less than $100 dollars out of pocket and thankfully proved that he was not in danger. The local children’s dentist helped with cleanings and fixing a chipped front tooth after it cranked from a run in with the kitchen counter… We adults have also been impressed with the healthcare and dental care we’ve received at a very reasonable out of pocket rate and without any long lead times to get visits. A root canal and crown didn’t break the bank and were easily scheduled via messaging on WhatsApp.
The town itself is quaint but with all the amenities that we need. And when we need something more, the big city of Queretaro is just an hour drive away. Beyond the town, we’ve ventured further around Mexico with roadtrips through cultural cities like Puebla and Oaxaca, “outdoor sports” destinations like Valle de Bravo and the beach in Zihuatanejo and La Paz. We’ve explored ancient pyramids, delicious cuisines, and many playgrounds. Mexico has so much to offer but we’ve really only scratched the surface. Traveling with 2 little kids with lots of energy is fun, but exhausting.
Mountain biking is wonderful, when I can find the time. Last winter and spring I was going a bunch but work picked up significantly, and then the rainy season came. Sadly, I’ve been off the bike for too long.
We’re also so thankful to the few friends and family members who came down to visit us and our new home in Mexico. A visit from the Slutzkys wrapped up with an excellent video compilation of the action packed week we all shared together.
There is much to be thankful for here in Mexico. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Well, it is almost all sunshine… And that’s part of the challenge. The sun here is strong, with a high UV index most of the day. This, coupled with a lack of shade in the city and the countryside, really enforce the Mexican siesta, of taking a late lunch and relaxing during the heat of the day. The city comes alive again in the late afternoon as the sun sets. But with little kids, we get to sleep early but still need to entertain them mid-day. Amber is craft-mom extraordinaire but even with her amazing effort, the kids still get bored hanging out with Mom and Dad in the house. We do miss green space, and being able to take the kids out into nature during mid day.
Life here is less expensive in general, but we find ourselves going out to eat way more often than we ever did back home in the States. When we parents need a break we head to restaurants with play areas so we can catch our breath. There are free playgrounds around town, but many of them are rather unsafe and most often made from steel which gets dangerously hot under the mid day sun.
And of course, the hardest part is being away from Family, but we have been fortunate to have visits from some of them. We took a trip to NH and CA last fall and it was wonderful to reconnect with our friends and family.
All in all, we’re happy we took the plunge to try expat life. Living in a foreign country instead of just passing through has been something I’ve dreamed about for over a decade and I’m thankful we’ve had the opportunity to live it. But with a busy work schedule and restless feet, we feel that it’s time for a change…
2024 is going to be another exciting and challenging year. The wheels (pun intended?) are in motion and we’re looking forward to change, movement, and new opportunities. It surely won’t be an easy year, but we’re hoping it will be worth it. Here is Amber’s instagram page if you’d like to follow along.
Hit reply and say hello. I’d love to hear from you!
A Few More Miles 