I got this letter from my mom today. I thought it was pretty interesting so i decided to share(in case u didnt know, my mom,stepdad,and sister got up from illinois and decided to move to mexico last month)
Sept 3, 2oo2
Hello Friends and others who are not so friendly:
What a week. I spent the first part of the week organizing our new home. To our benefit we only have a limited amount of stuff, aside from some boxes of photographs, some videos, Jenoas toys and my Winnie the Pooh collection everything is essential. The first thing we did was wash out the inside of the house, literally. With the help of 2 hoses and long brushes we started at the top floor and rinsed all the walls and floors. I must admit this was the first time I ever washed out the inside of a house. All the water ran into the sala(living room) and then we swept it to the street.
On Wednesday was my 41st birthday. The day before we were eating in a small restaurant in Santa Cruz and we spotted a cage with baby parrots. Since having raised 2 Amazon parrots I have loved birds and was promised a parrot when we got to Mexico. The cost of these birds in the states is prohibitive. But as luck would have it (being my birthday and all) how could my dear husband refuse. So for 30.00US$ we now own a Olive Throated Parrot also known as a Aztec Parakeet. When they are small they have yellow heads and very much resemble the larger Yellow Headed Amazon, which carry is a much higher cost, but to the sellers dismay we knew it was not. In the States an Amazon sells for 1500 to 2000. The Olive throated goes for about 600-800. She is about 4 months old and is the size of a large Love bird, her name is Baby. I have already trained her to sit on my finger hand as loves to lie down and fall asleep in my hand as I rub her belly.
Well back to my birthday, Myles arranged a special dinner on a small roof top restaurant over looking the water. Pedro, Jenoa and her friend Ileana, joined us.
During dinner a Mariachi that Myles had hired the day before showed up and serenaded me under the stars. Myles presented me with exquisite silver key pendent as the key to his heart. After dinner, while we eating Flan ( my favorite Mexican dessert) another man showed up to play music for me also. It turns out that Myles had spoken to two different men and thought that one had said he could not come to sing. But Myles misunderstood so in reality he had hired two Mariachis. So for dessert I was once again enchanted by more beautiful guitar and song. Still the best is yet to come. As we walked down the street toward home I noticed balloons all over the roof top patio on our home. As Jenoa led me up to the house top our neighbors had come over to surprise me with a homemade cake and tequila! The cake was marvelous but I passed on the tequila. What a day!
During the week Myles and Pedro had visited 6 lawyers and 4 notaries to find the best price on setting up the necessary papers for the opening of a business. They finally went directly to the government office which handles these matters and Myles with his charm got the woman there to assist him without the help of the lawyer and consequently we will be able to finish the necessary papers at a cost of 75% less. He has narrowed the search for a shop down to 3 locations and we are shooting for an opening day of October 10th. Nick, Myles brother will be here soon to help teach the actual skills needed to manufacture the candles.
Well now for some really crazy news! Monday morning we were having coffee (yesterday) and our landlady, Rosa stopped over. She asked us to come with her as she wanted to show us something. Together we drove 10 minutes north to San Cruz a somewhat smaller fishing village. She brought us to a beautiful home that she explained we could rent for slightly more then the one in Bucerias. She had another family that could not afford it and wanted the Bucerias house. Obviously my first reaction was #*^#*&! But we looked around anyway, the home is one level with very large 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms a gated yard, a large covered patio in the front and back with fruit trees. The ceilings are very high, accented with orange brick. In the back there is a detached roof top room and bath. The two back bedrooms are connected with their own bath also. All three of these can be rented out with no problem from November to April by the week or month. This added income would not only cover our rent but net us a profit. The choice was ours. I told Rosa I did not want to even think about packing again and moving and then unpacking. She said she would send people to do all the work I would just have to direct. Well, after a family meeting and group vote (3-0) we decided it was the thing to do! So we are now in a new house. Which is quite grand . I have many pictures to send but cant figure out how.
The address is
Coral # 3 Esq. Huachinango
LaCruz, De Huanacaxtle, Nayarit
C.P.63732
Mexico
Now on to something really exciting ( you must be tired just reading this)during our work with the Childrens home and discussions with many we have found a need that is totally unmet. Instead of the orphanage we will open a childrens center for enrichment(like a Boys and Girls club) and social services. The Catholics will not let others administer a home for orphans. But in Bucerias and San Cruz there are many many children left alone will the parents work, or without any kind of organized activities. We will offer free daycare for the working Moms, computers for the school age children, art lessons, a game room, a small library, educational field trips, English lessons, movies on Friday nights. I will ask the mothers too exchange the services needed for time volunteering. The children here go to school in half days, the young ones go from 8-12 and the older ones from 1-5 so we will gear schedules to these times. I will also provide a counselor to help with abuse issues, and other family problems. The
first order of business is to find a place to rent and then start to fix it up. I should be able to rent some place big enough for about 400.00 or so a month. Please if you have suggestions let me know or have time or money to help we can use it all. We do have plenty of room for guests. I hope to have a start date of November or December.
Jenoa is doing great. She is very happy and her Spanish is improving daily. She has made many friends and is in the process of trying to find a kitten.(since my writing this morning we now have a new kitten!) We started school last week; we spend two hours a day covering her work. She tells us that she does not want people to think she is a gringa, because to be Mexican is better! Last Sunday we drove up to the mountains (45 minutes) and went swimming in a fresh water river and waterfall, it was indescribable. Its so many new experiences everyday.
Thanks for all the letters of encouragement. I hope this finds all of you well.
TTFN,
Sueanne and Co.