New Law

I got a job offer at a hotel in Cancun (Dreams).  Yes, it would entail doing the lovely timeshare that we all know and love. 🙂 haha  Anyway, it is something that I can do in the mean time to make some money and meet new people.  I was very excited until I heard about this new law that Mexico is enforcing.  It states that as of Oct 6th(?) people here cannot go from a tourist visa to a working visa.  One must be hired before entering the country…So, what that means for me is that I must leave the country(which I’m doing anyway) and then be hired by a Mexican consulate.  I don’t know how difficult this will be and it has me a little concerned.  The job I had before(as a teacher) I wouldn’t have a problem, but I’m pretty sure there are Mexicans that could do this job.  I totally understand and hope everything works out.  If it doesn’t then I will stay here as a tourist for a while and then?  Life is crazy!!

Mushroom?

After I went snorkeling a couple of weeks ago, I noticed I had some bumps on my face around my nose.  I didn’t think anything of it.  I thought it might be from a sore that was open and the salt water aggravated it or something.  Well, it’s been over 2 weeks and it’s gotten worse.  I have all these bumps, but they keep peeling and then bleeding.  I think I had something like it before in the US.  It was a bacterial infection.  I have a friend here that knows a doctor(his brother).  He called him up and explained my symptoms.  The doctor then told him what medicine I should take.  My friend  told me 2 things that his brother thought it could be.  One thing he said was that it was like a type of inflammation of the skin from the snorkeling mask and sun.  The other thing he described was like a bacterial infection, but he said it had a name.  He didn’t know what the name was in English(my friend didn’t).  He called his brother back to ask what is was in English…he said mushroom!  I immediately started laughing because obviously it meant fungus(bacterial infection).  So funny, I have a mushroom on my face. 🙂  It’s so funny how some things don’t translate well and some don’t at all.

¿De Dónde Eres?

I have been here for 4 months now!  The time has really flown by.  I absolutely love it here.  If I could go to school and find my dream job, I could potentially stay here (or in the area) for who knows how long.  I know I wrote a post before about looking like a tourist, which isn’t a big deal.  The other day I was around the Market 28 area(a very tourist area with lots of shops that sell Mexican items) and I didn’t know the fastest way to get to Wal-Mart.  Of course, a guy comes up to me and asked what I was looking for.  I tell him and he points in the direction.  He asks where are you from(¿de dónde eres?)  I told him that I live here, but didn’t know my way.  It was almost like he didn’t believe me and asks “where?”  I tell him the approximate area.  He might’ve been a little baffled.  I thank him and go on my way.  I love surprising people! 🙂

Follow Your heart

 

I feel like I’m getting closer to what I want to do with my life… I recently met a girl named Mayra.  She is a psychologist.  I have always been interested in the mind, how it works, why people get sick, etc.  (Okay, maybe not always, but for a long time.)  She has recently become a part of a program called Core Energetics.  It is a holistic healing modality that bridges body-psychotherapy and spirituality. (The definition is from the website below).

To read more on this, here is the link: http://www.coreenergetics.org/about-core-energetics/what-is-core-energetics/

What really interests me is the energy part of the program.  We are all made of energy.  It is interesting that the way we think can form not only our future, but prevent or cause our bodies to heal or to be harmed.  I am very aware of how our subconscious can alter our future.  If we don’t stay in tune with our subconscious/God/energy then we can lose sight of why we are here and our health can take a turn for the worse.  I want to know all about energy healing, being in tune/communicating with my subconscious/God.  I want to become an expert on this!  Not only do I want to help myself, but I feel like it would be completely gratifying to help others in this way as well.  Sometimes I wondered what I was doing here (Mexico)…but now I know.  I know it wasn’t to teach for a year.  It wasn’t to live on the ocean (ok, this might be a necessity in my life.) 🙂   It was to fully realize what I wanted to do.  I was never meant to be a teacher…I did pretty well, when I put everything into it, but it was never meant to be a lifelong career.  I am fine with that, because everything has led me to where I am right now.  You are probably wondering, well then what are you going to do next?  Very good question!  Ideally I would like to go back to school, but right now it’s looking a little tough for me to go back to school here…(Yes, there is a program here in the Riviera Maya, but not all the classes are in English.)   😦 I need to do some more researching on where and exactly what I would like to do.  I am getting closer and who knows, maybe I will change my mind again!   I might try something and find that it isn’t exactly what I thought and try something else, that is okay.  It is more than okay; it signifies that I am getting closer to what I want to do.  I’m so excited!!

Chichen Itza-New 7 wonders of the world!

I am soooooooooooooooo blessed!!  Mi amigo that is the manager of a tour business, sent me a text on Monday morning asking if I wanted to go to Chichen Itza.  I saw the text at around 7:00a.m. and he offered to pick me up at 7:30.  I thought, why not?

So, we went to Wet and Wild where some of the tour buses meet.  We hung out for awhile and I left around 8:30 or so.   I hadn’t had anything to eat(didn’t have time).  I was so happy to see that they served coffee and pastries on the bus!!  Not long after that they started serving cerveza!  Me encanta México! 🙂  For the tour they had 2 tour guides(one to give tour in English and one for Spanish) and one waiter/assistant.  The one tour guide talked quite a bit on the way to Chichen Itza(It was about a 2 1/2 hr ride from Cancun).  The tour guide was quite the comedian!  He started off by saying that the bus driver has been driving for 20 years, but a TAXI! haha He said that if we got back today, that he would be able to drive a bus! hilarious!  He went around and found out where everyone was from, which was different, but fun.

I love going on these tours!  They are very interesting and fun!  First we went to the Sacred Cenote(I had been there before when I went to Ek Balam).  It was still very amazing!  I knew that I was going to have a great day when I got out and went to one of the dressing rooms and found 140 pesos(only about $10 US), but I still felt lucky!  I wasn’t about to turn it into lost and found(I found it in the shower, pretty sure it had been there for awhile)…so I didn’t feel bad when I tipped the waiter and tour guides more or bought some Mayan stuff at Chichen Itza!  Then we had lunch at the restaurant there.  I felt very special because the waiter was asking what everyone wanted(beer, pop, or water), then he got to me and asked if I wanted a margarita!  Heck yeah! 😉

Then we were off to Chichen Itza.  It was…amazing!  I suddenly felt very small!  It is now considered one of the 7 new wonders of the world.  I can see why.  It is so interesting how they could construct a building to coincide with the Spring and Fall equinox.  It is on these days that the sun hits just right to make triangles to form what looks like a snake sliding down the side of the temple of Kukulkan.  It also has 91 steps on each side plus the top platform to make it equal 365, obviously like the days in year.  There is also a huge ball court and an observatory along with many other buildings/sites.  The history of the site is very interesting!

Also after the tour, there were tons of vendors there.  I got a chance to practice my Spanish!  Many were so funny, they thought because I spoke a little spanish that I was fluent!  I even told them I only knew a little, but I was surprised at home much I could say and how much I understood!  It was so fun!  I have so much to learn though!!

Along with my tour, mi amigo decided to really spoil me.  They have an option where you can get your own special Mayan calendar with a date that means something to you.  They also have a place where you can get your name or anything inscribed in Mayan symbols on a necklace, and of course tequila!  I didn’t pick tequila, but this other almond type liquor…should be very yummy.  I think I tried it at a restaurant and it was like dessert!  The guy on the tour said that I got all of them for free!  He(mi amigo) is sooooooooooooooooooooo nice!  Yes, I am very lucky!!

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Maroma Beach

The friend that I have that does tours asked me if I wanted to go on a tour, but with him this time!  He asked if I had ever heard of Maroma Beach and I hadn’t.  I guess the Travel channel calls it “the best beach in the world.”  How could I not know about it?  He was going to book a tour of swimming with the dolphins, but it didn’t work out.  We went on an atv and speed boat tour instead!

It was a blast!!  First off, I made the mistake of wearing my GB Packer shirt.  Of course, this seems to always get comments from others.  There were some people there that were Seattle fans, but they sounded like they were from the south.  I could’ve sworn that the one guy was missing his front teeth. 🙂  I looked closer and I was imagining things…I think?  Anyway, the tour started off with riding the atvs.  I’ve never driven an atv before, and now I’m an expert! haha  We went through the jungle and along the ocean.  We even saw some tejones!  I had never seen one before and couldn’t even remember the name of them!  They are not afraid of people or vehicles!  While on the atvs, we even saw some people riding camels!  My friend told me there were camels there, but I just couldn’t believe people were actually riding them.  I thought that people only did that in Egypt and places like that. 🙂  Anyway, I made it back safe and didn’t crash, so I was happy.

Then we were given instructions for the speed boats.  It happened to be very windy that day.  As much as I love being on the water, I didn’t want to drive that day.  The tour guide picked on me a bit, but I said I don’t have enough money if we crash. haha  They warned us to be careful for the sharks…Mexican sharks-Mexicans in the water!  They were the guys helping us take off and doc the boats.  So funny!  My friend ended up driving, he felt a little uncomfortable, but we had fun.  We hit a wave so hard that I was almost standing up in the boat!  When we were done I couldn’t find my shorts.  I was teasing the guy and thought they hid my shorts on me!

Afterwards we got cleaned up and had lunch.  I had my new favorite meal of ceviche and margaritas.

Next time we said we would do the jetski instead…and maybe the camels? 🙂

Here’s a pic that I found of El Tejón (clown of the jungle) from

http://www.elsayulero.com/story/el-tej%C3%B3n-clown-jungle

Agua

In the US (and other places too) we take for granted that we can drink water out of the sink.  Obviously in Mexico this isn’t the case.  Although a friend of mine said that she has had water out of the sink and has been fine.  She said she would never do it in places like Mexico City, but she thinks Cancun is ok.  I asked about the white chunks that I see floating in the water sometimes.  She said something about the calcium in the water or something like that?  I don’t know, I sometimes don’t have the greatest memory.  One time when I ran out of water, I drank a glass of water.  It didn’t taste good, but I didn’t get sick!  Yes, I know, I know…you’re not supposed to do that.  I won’t be doing it again…

So anyway,  everyone has to buy water to drink.  At my old house, there were many “water boys” that came around and delivered water.  Where I’m living now, it’s a bit different.  Occasionally I hear someone yelling “AGUA!” but I don’t bother and just go get it myself.  I used up all my water and it’s very cheap to get more, but it’s really, really heavy!  I went to the Extra(24 hour convenience store) where they sell my brand of water (there are many different brands).  I went to pay and the guy was going to lift it to take it outside.  I tried to explain that I didn’t have a car.  He looked at me like I was crazy, but then I left 🙂  I carried it the couple blocks home and up the stairs to my new home.  I told a couple amigos that and they got kinda mad.  They would say, “Why didn’t you tell me? I have a car and I can do it for you??”  I told them it’s not a big deal, but it’s nice of them to offer.  Sometime I might take them up on that offer! It’s a good errand to do in the morning or in the evening.  It’s a little cooler then for weight lifting or carrying water. 🙂

 

Ek Balam

I have a super nice friend who happens to be a manager for different tours around Cancun.  He knows that I’m not working right now and have some free time on my hands.  Occasionally he will ask at the last-minute, “Hey, do you want to go ______ today?”  Sure!  One morning he sends me a text to ask if I want to go to Ek Balam.  It’s all in Spanish and I had a little bit to drink the night before…I look at it and then tell myself I’ll figure out what it says later. haha!  Then he calls and asks me if I want to go.  He would pick me up in about 30 minutes.  He is so funny, he even says it will be later because he is Mexican! 🙂  So I decide to go on a trip to a place I haven’t even heard of before spur of the minute.  Many times the best things in life aren’t planned.

So he picks me up and takes me to where I can get on the bus.  I even get coffee and donuts!  We were driving along and they realized the air conditioning wasn’t working.  We drove a little while and switched buses.  This bus didn’t have as many seats and everyone on the bus was with someone except me and one other guy(about my age).  We had to sit together.  We had a good time talking(he spoke English and I tried speaking Spanish).  We weren’t on the bus very long before I though I might be missing something.  MY PHONE!  I started emptying out my bag and giving everything to my new amigo.  He asked what was wrong…I tried to stay calm, in fact I started laughing!  I told him.  He said the favorite Mexican saying that I’ve heard so many times, “Don’t worry.”  So I realized I left my phone on the other bus(it either fell out of the bag or I didn’t see it).  I ended up getting it back at the end of the trip.

We had a great time checking out the Mayan Ruins, awesome Cenote, lunch in a Mayan village, and a traditional church!  This wasn’t all in Ek Balam, but it was rather close to it.  I ended up having a great time and making a new friend.  I feel very blessed that I get to meet so many cool people and see such wonderful places!

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One thing missing…ok maybe two?

I am living in one of the best places!  I have everything I need, perfect weather, a beautiful ocean, lots of friends, awesome food, great place to live, and so much more!  There is something missing…something very important.  I need to find a job!  I have never not had a job.  I feel pretty loca living here and on top of it not having a job before quitting my other job.  I know I did the right thing and I will be fine…I would just feel SO much better if I had a job.  If I was taking a break and had a job lined up in 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or even a month, I would be ok with that as well.  I feel like there is a big stigma even if you are taking a break for a while.  It’s almost like you need to have a job or you are a loser…(unless you are retired, stay at home mom/dad or have a disability,etc).  I obviously don’t fit into of any of these titles.  I know I am not a loser, but it’s weird not having a job.  I am pretty sure that I will be able to find something when I get back from my trip to WI.  I just need to tell myself that it’s ok to take a break and not be freaked out.  I know this break has been very good for me.  I have been able to do many things that I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had a job.  I will post more about that later.  Now that I am doing all these daring things like moving to another country and quitting my job, I’m really excited about the future.   In the past, I did what I thought I “should” do, not what I wanted to do.  It’s so refreshing to live where I want and find a job that I want to do!  How exciting!  I feel like I’m finally living my life!  Everyone should do it! haha  I am open to new ideas for jobs, which is so liberating.  I have worked with kids my whole life, and I can’t wait to do something different!  If anyone has any great ideas on finding a job here, let me know! 😉  I know I posted about this before, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately.  Once I write about it, then I usually feel a bit better.  Thanks for listening/reading.

The other thing/things I’m missing…of course is my family! If they could be here it would be perfect!  Also, another thing I am missing is my dog, Lily.  My parents are her new mom and dad, but I miss her!  I think she would like it here, but not where I’m living(unless she was allowed in the pool). 🙂  No matter what, in life you have to make sacrifices and do what is best for you.  I know that being here is best for me.  I’m willing to skype with my family and friends and see them when I can(for now).

I haven’t fallen in love with anyone, but I am in love with Mexico!