Gringa-n-Mexico

Piñatas in Mexico

2015-12-15T12:38:00.000-06:00

Piñatas always seemed like a pretty straight forward thing to me while I lived in the US but I had no clue how different the tradition actually is here in real-live-Mexico. Check out what the differences are that you've been missing out on - maybe you'll want to adopt the new way as well. I know I'll never go back to the old ways. :D

Second part! I took another video of the stuffing process. I don't actually hate Elsa or the Frozen movie as much as it appears in this video, I was just feeling on a roll that day is all. I DO stand behind most of my comments though. ;)

Garbage Service in Mexico

2015-12-10T10:38:00.002-06:00

The loud, the bells, the yelling and the honking. Is it 11pm or 2:30a.m.? Who cares, it's LATE, but it's what we've got going on here. Check it out :)

Yard Sales in Mexico

2015-12-07T12:07:00.004-06:00

Hello! I went out yesterday (STILL camera-gun-shy to get up-and-close with people, I'm trying!) to take a new video on the phenomenon that is the wild amount of yard sales/garage sales held every day here in my part of Mexico. It's all a masquerade of course, they're not your typical weekend garage sales at all, something else entirely to be truthful and I'm here to let you in on the secret.

If you're a newbie you won't have to be fooled like I was. ;)

Have a great day, feel the sun on your face and if there's no sun, try out the wind.

- Gringa

Away From Home During the Holidays

2015-11-25T13:34:00.003-06:00

This video is for anyone, expat or no, who is away from their loved ones and friends for the holidays. We can choose to make them beautiful no matter the circumstances.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Gringa

Garbage Troubles in Mexico - It's not the raccoon's!

2015-11-20T10:43:00.003-06:00

I'm totally excited about this video! I solved a long running mystery about why my garbage is always found out of it's can and strewn all over the street in front of my house. Nobody wants to see my frightening array of disposable ... things all out in the street, least of all me. *shudder* Husband has come up with a solution already, because he's smart like that.

So join me, (there's swearing, just fyi) in my discovery of The Gruesome Garbage Attacker.

So there you have it. I didn't see it coming either. Seriously, WHO KNEW?? LOL!

See you soon!

- Gringa

Hair Cuts in Mexico - It's Not Pubes

2015-11-19T10:23:00.002-06:00

If you're a newbie to Mexico or are still struggling with your Spanish this post is for you! When I first moved here I truly struggled getting my hair cut the way I wanted it due to not only my lack of Spanish but my sweet husbands as well. He doesn't know words like "layers" or "bangs" in English let alone Spanish bless him and so getting my hair cut was a big ole pile of trial and ERROR for quite a few years. Below the video I've listed some helpful words that you can use and some hints on the culture of hair cutting here as well. Last, I've posted some pictures of what a hair salon in your neighborhood MIGHT look like. It's not Super-cuts but it works out great when you get down the lingo!

Important to check out how to say "hair" and not "pubes" like I did for the first few years here. *cough*

Words to use:

"Flecos" (flay-cos) = Bangs

"Capas" (cah-pahs) = Layers

"Cabello" (cah-bay-yo) = Hair. You CAN use "pelo" (pay-low) but it's a word that people use as slang for pubes. Not all the time, like, you can use it, but you might draw some smiles from people with minds of 12 year old boys - AKA - all my BFF'S.

"Pintar" (peen-tar) = Color ---> "Quiero pintar mi cabello" (I want to color my hair). Note for this, BRING a picture of the color you want. Don't try and wing it by asking for a "subtle red" as you WILL go home looking like a deranged fire hydrant.

"Base" (bah-say) = Perm - No judgement here.

"Alasiado permanente" (ah-la-see-ya-do pear-mah-nen-tay) - Chemical Straightening.

"Planchar" (plan-char) = straighten with a flat iron

"Rayos" (rie-yos) = larger stripped highlights

"Luces" (loo-says) = delicate highlights

And last, a big tip, they always ask me how many "dedos" (fingers) of length I would like cut off. Like, holding up your hand horizontally and showing two fingers might equal an inch and a half or so. BUT GAWD NO. They always end up cutting at least twice as much as you asked for. Not because they're not intelligent or good people but ... I have no clue why, something cultural? It just always happens and I've found that one should never use "dedos" as a reference. Just SHOW them how much.

In fact, what you should really do until you find someone that is able to understand you and work with you and that you will worship till the end of your days with love and adoration for cutting your hair right and thus ensuring 6 weeks of bliss, is to just bring a picture of EXACTLY what you want. And no matter what they ask, just point to the picture and smile.

This is where it goes down for me. It's a house and there's a sign in the window and that's it. If the gate isn't locked you just go up and go in, I always notice people knock first because, well, it's her house.

The left side of the room, those stairs lead up to her actual living quarters (this space below is what would normally be her living room and kitchen, but she's working it and whatever living she's doing is happening up stairs. Go girl, get it. The door with the green sign is a bathroom.

This is the right side of the room directly after the bathroom door. This is the amount of space in an average mid-size Mexican house, just FYI. They almost always have T.V.'s with cartoons. Notice the t.v dates back to 1990, everything is fixable here.

I quite like the circa 90's hair cut options for men and do believe I might lust after buzz-cut-thin-stache man for quite some time. If you can't read it, the faded green sign on the bathroom door has a notice stating that if your kid has lice you must tell her before she begins the cut and to please not be shy about it. And that if you don't tell her and she notices while cutting that she's going to charge you an extra 100 pesos (about 8 dollars). *cough* So there's that.

Last, pricing. This is an AVERAGE hair cutting place for the majority of the regular-income folks. We do have fancier salons but this is what the majority looks like. Pricing is 60 pesos (about 4 dollars USD) unless you come on Wednesday and then it's 40 pesos (about 2.60 USD) Kids are cheaper.

Welcome to Mexico, may your travels be delicious and your hair cuts be fabulous.

- Gringa

Why are We Fat? Coke is Cheaper than Water

2015-11-10T10:07:00.001-06:00

A short video inside a 7-11 to talk about how Coca-Cola is cheaper than bottled water here. Considering that we don't drink water from the faucet here it's in my mind a bit of a big deal and really kind of silly all at the same time.

Mexicans here ADORE Coke, to the extent that Texas adore, I don't know...Texas. It's pretty much a food group and at any given moment you're able to see a six year old child walking down the road from the corner store with a 3-liter of Coke in hand to take back to his family waiting for dinner. That in itself was shocking to me when I first came here, but now I'm just excited for my own kid to turn 6. ;)

Water, the bottle to the far right is a 12oz and costs 11 pesos.

A variety of soda pops, all cheaper than water and all (delicious) sugar filled.

Aaand the Coke. Yummy glass bottled Coke, a full 6 pesos cheaper than the water. In total costing about .40 cents USD for glass bottle and around .80 cents USD for plastic.

There you have it, we live in Crazy-Town.

Bad Mexican Candy - Evil Clown

2015-11-09T09:37:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday! (Or whatever day you found yourself here on this blog, happy that day too!)

To help get us through the doldrums I’m posting a video today that’ll inform you about the evil clown marshmallow lollipops widely sold here in Mexico and let you in on their dirty secrets and how they’re possibly destroying the spirits of entire generations of Mexican children.

Also a bit of clown stripping, so you know, no kids allowed.

Enjoy the day and beware the clown! - Gringa

Day of the Dead - Gringa in Mexico Style

2015-11-06T10:17:00.000-06:00

The last of the Vertical Video's today! Also the last video where I'm nervous and won't go directly up to the people. It was a process, a whole two days of working up the courage to just go close and ask to take a video for my mom :D I'm totally learning this video stuff and working up my level of ballsy.

The first video is a simple share of some Mexican Hershey's Chocolate that I found on Halloween and was excited to try. It was interesting, I'll give it that, but at least you can see what a lady I am while eating and find out about sitting on cars in streets. :D

The second video I'm introducing you to how street vending is very much in-your-face even when you're not looking for it. A lady selling tamales in front of a grocery store door and a man that just happened to randomly walk behind me during the video and try to sell me some tortillas from a cooler he was carrying over his shoulder. Totally can't make that up! Love it. Love Mexico!

Mexican Street Bread - and Screaming Mimi

2015-11-05T07:46:00.000-06:00

Happy Day!

I feel like writing "Welcome Back to Gringa in Mexico!" just like I do in the video's. I can't help it, it just seems cheerful and I want you to feel welcome and know that I love that you're here. *mushy mushy*

Today I'm posting a video - **OMG SIDE NOTE** I promise that the next set of video's will be HORIZONTAL. I didn't know about VVS (Vertical Video Syndrome) or how much the world hates it till yesterday when a friend informed me that I'm breaking a much love/hated YouTube code by taping myself vertically. *snort snort* I said "taping" ahahah I'm old! Anyways, coming soon to a vlog near you - horizontal video's.

Back to our regularly scheduled program, today I'm posting a video about one of the many ways that daily baked fresh bread, sweet and savory comes screaming (yet literally) to our doorsteps here in Mexico. I've posted a couple of pictures I took from a man I bought from that same day.

OMG, can you feel the softness? The crunch? The addictive pull that screams EAT ME FOR I AM CRACK! That might be just me...and about 80% of the population here as well, let's be honest. They're not as sweet as breads in the U.S. of A. *the eagle flys*, even the ones that look like frosted donuts with sprinkles are actually pretty dry and not very sweet on the inside. The biscuits however, oh, oh man. They use SO much butter that Paula Dean would be like "HOT DAUMN!" and are absolutely worth living for. If you ever come here do yourself a favor and set aside an entire day to eat one EACH with much coffee or hot chocolate.

On to the video about how they're sold. Enjoy - Gringa

Loud-Ass Vending Man

2015-11-04T08:42:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited you're here! I'm wildly excited to share another video and show you more of what it's like living here in the regular-folks part of Mexico and not the tourist centered areas.

Today I'm taking you to see another couple of street vendors, one from afar, and finally, one close up. You actually get to SEE the country crock container he has full of mayonnaise!

I'm beyond thrilled that you're coming along with me and sharing in my mini adventures! Welcome to Mexico!

Loud-Ass Vendor on a motor tricycle with a loudspeaker.

Up and close with the Elote Man (the in the cup kind, not on a stick kind). Hot corn in a cup, mayonnaise, margarine, nacho cheese, thick Mexican cream, lime if you want it, chile (chee-lay it's like hot sauce), aaaaaand sprinkle cheese on top. It's death in a cup, Texans would adore it, God bless you crazy Texans.

Underpants in the Park

2015-11-03T07:23:00.003-06:00

Squeeeeeeeeeeee!! This has been so fun! Today I'm posting two more video's because I'm like a kid at Christmas and can't wait. In the coming week you'll be happy (or horrified) that I get closer to the people and finally just flat out ask if I can video them. I may *cough* have asked "Can I take a video for my mom??". They can't turn down a mother-request here and I can't wait to go out and make a gazillion more video's. I'll be posting them all week! Again - squeeeeeeee!!

The first video is about selling clothing in the park and the second about Mexican popsicles. Again, welcome to Mexico.

Have a great day! Hope you've got your underpants.

Street Corn and Garage Sale Meat

2015-11-02T10:46:00.001-06:00

My first video! I put gel in my hair thinking it would help with the wind but ended up looking like I've been living on the streets for a few weeks. It is what it is. :D I'm showing you guys a street corn vendor and a dude selling cooked meat from the side of his house. Explanation in the video! (omgomgomgomg can't-belive-I-did-this but also squuueeeeeeee!!)

Rooftop Gardening in Mexico!

2015-10-28T10:14:00.001-05:00

I came home from vacation to Austin last spring break to find this planter on my roof. It was a serious dream come true and all thanks to some good friends and above all my amazing husband who painstakingly hauled a truck load of dirt from across town (bagging it himself out of a friends yard who was moving) and hauling it to the back of our house and up a ladder one big bag at a time. Not to mention building the planter box. I can't imagine how much sweat he poured to make this happen but I'll be forever grateful.

We didn't know where to begin and it was late in the season so off I scrambled to Texas to smuggle back some tomato and pepper plants.

If you notice there's also the top of a pineapple in the corner. SERIOUSLY, to plant a pineapple, all you have to do is take the top off one you're eating and put it in dirt. I thought it was a joke but it's totally not! It just...freaking grows!

We've learned a lot these past few months and have had more than a few plants cross the green-brier bridge into the compost beyond, but it's been truly, absolutely, fabulous.

The first time eating a home-grown tomato since living back home where my mom grew them by the bushel every summer, oh man, just, it's like eating pure sunshine.

One of the biggest surprises/benefits from this has been the enthusiasm shown by my kids. They've planted, weeded (YEAH Mexican child labor!! Woot!) and have been over all pant shitting thrilled with the entire process.

Daisy eats whatever comes off of the plants like a raging zombie intent on going raw - veggie style. We usually don't make it off the roof before she's cater-pillared her way through whatever's ready to be picked. What's a little bug poop and dust when there's no pesticides or herbicides to worry about? Nada, eat it up kid!

(Little baby cantaloupes!)

I'm incredibly excited now that I have a couple of seasons under my belt and can start really planning what the next year will look like. I feel really fortunate that we can actually plant all year long here in this climate as long as we pay attention to what is able to grow and when.

What has truly affected me over the past months though is that every time I climb that ladder up to the roof (and have only fallen ONCE thank you very much) is that when I look across the thousand or so rooftops in every direction I'm so saddened to see nothing but concrete. Bare rooftops. In the community where I live where hunger is real in many families that live around me something like my garden could be a huge help for those that struggle.

I spoke with the coordinator of the outreach program that our school runs about how EASY and truly not expensive these gardens are to build. He was excited about what I'm doing and agreed that this could be a majorly beneficial tool for the people that live here. We're working on some ideas on how to get the word out and that makes me feel even closer to home than ever.

I feel closer to my mom with this garden, feel like I'm teaching my kids about healthy eating and know that in the future I'll be able to figure out a plan on how to eek out every inch of space for the maximum output of truly organic produce.

I feel incredibly blessed.

I AM incredibly blessed.

Cooking for a Mexican

2015-10-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

The other day I was thinking back and remembered what the very FIRST thing I every cooked for my Mexican man was while we were still dating. The Epitome of Single-White-Girl fancy at the time and really, mom's everywhere I imagine - the Deluxe Ortega Taco Kit. Hard AND soft shell taco's. I believe at the time it came with a Taco Bell seasoning packet and as far as I was concerned was the shit.

I was so fancy that I diced fresh tomatoes, shredded lettuce, got out the shredded cheddar cheese AND super fancy thank you - a dish of sour cream. Ohhh yeaaahhh.

Ground beef and all the fixin's, I was gonna show this Mexican man my SKILLZ. Aaaand no. He was quick to inform me that these were not tacos. That tacos don't come with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce or sour cream. OR Taco bell seasoning. Lucky for him it was the couple weeks of dating and I was already head over heals for his booty because seven years later I would tell him right where to put those tacos with the hard shell. He did eat them though, he choked them down and I give him credit.

Years later I understand how absolutely disgusting those flower tortillas are that somehow were totally ok living in a cardboard box for what was possibly years. I still love a crunchy taco on my white days but shudder at the thought of those medicine-y smelling store-bought flour tortilla abominations.

Many years have come and gone and through the God given lake of knowledge known as YouTube and a good friend and fellow blogger (FOOD blogger, hallelujia!) Leslie Limon I've come a looong way. Rice took me a good 5 years to figure out and salsa about .... well hell, salsa is still iffy, some days amazing and other days wtf-is-this-and-why-God?? And bless me I haven't burned the beans in over a year. *PRAAAIIISSE*

It's crazy the judgment that is placed upon women here - I don't know if it's all, but certainly the gringa - on home cooking skills. I knew within months that I had to figure out some basics so that the family could stop worrying that he would die from hunger.

And then there's street cred. Basics sure, but can I make homemade mole and not Doña Maria? (check). Pozole? (check as of this last month), tortillas hecho de mano? (check but gawd whyyyyy when the tortilla shop 3 blocks away sells them for cheaper than I can make them and come hot and fresh??), and perhaps the ultimate holy grail - tamales. (check sort of, I've helped the family a couple of times and that I think counts so I say "yes" because I could do it alone, but nobody does, cuz damn.)

People don't actually drink margarita's very much here (the horror I know!) but I sure can whip up a yummy one, and they always like it, even the ladies who always claim that they don't drink (and yet end up asking for 4ths *cough*)

The kids are getting in on the action these days and are working on their tong-skills for the carne asadas (cook out). There's also the coming of age beer-fetching that is a requizite starting somewhere around the age of 4 that they've both mastered. *sigh* That part of my hillbilly past seems to have found me even here, but they feel important and useful so that's totally what counts. So there.

Mexican Culture Love Affair

2015-10-24T17:14:00.001-05:00

Someone asked today what I love about Mexico and I began to list food items. (lol duh) I spoke of the weather, the people, more food, and then I thought about the culture. I felt like a rusty door being pushed creakily open after years of mis-use but still on good hinges and squeeeeekkeed my thoughts out.

I've been here seven years. (holy crap, shit, how? what? *cough* *(didn't fart with that cough)*) I've been here seven years and in that time the culture has beaten me up, spit me out, embraced me and then welcomed me. Sadly I see some of my fellow Expat friends continue to be beaten up and spit out because they have not yet made the choice to go with the flow. Getting into another culture and staying above water doesn't happen to a person, they truly must choose it. I think I understood this and made my decision more openly/widely just a few couple of years ago.

I've felt so much more at peace since figuring out that I'm HERE. I'm an American here but the only American culture I brought with me is my own, I didn't bring the U.S. of A. and inoculate Mexico as I think a lot of Expats might unknowingly feel.

People here do walk slower in the streets. It took a long time to not power walk everywhere I went here and look like a damn weirdo doing it. My husband noticed yesterday out loud in the mall that I do the slow walk (he still power walks), but did so with a smile. I don't even know exactly how/when it happened but I amble along these days looking in store windows and at trees and houses and people instead of straight ahead toward my mission.

People here get to the point - eventually. Depending on the subject matter you might have to walk around a metaphorically pretty bush for anywhere from 20 minutes to 7 hours to get to your point. It once took us an entire day of visiting someone's house/family just to be able to loan them some money. Talking to parents at school about their children when their children's behavior isn't correct is a fine art and talking about anything personal with someone who isn't a close friend is sort of taboo but can be done if you walk backwards around the metaphorical pretty bush while holding one hand behind your back and holding coffee in another. (Lol, no, it's actually a lot more difficult than that).

It would be long and impossible to list everything and what I really want to say is to stop fighting. Maybe even your home country you've made a new friend or mate and they have their own family culture that you're beating your head up against. The amazing part is that I've never had to give up who I am or where I came from, I don't feel jilted by any of the changes because the only true changes I've made are the ones that have made me a better person no matter what country I'm in.

Some of the cultural things here in Mexico I will never love or respect but I don't have to fight them - unless I choose to. I can live in peace here because I've stopped head butting like a goat and have instead, eaten it. A little salsa and hot damn, it's pretty good.

I am SO back!

2015-10-23T13:13:00.004-05:00

The blog has been BRUSHED off! New pictures, out with the old, in with the new, the beautiful, the messy the spicy! And whatever else I can figure out to write about. It's been so long (seven years living here!) and so many changes - babies, jobs, friends, ect. that I'm not even sure what in the world I'm going TO write about. But hell, the kids are older, I have time now, it's time to brush out the cob-webby vagina that is this dried up blog and find something to say.

I love my life here, I love the food, I love my friends, I love the crazy arse high-jinx that people get up to here in Mexico.

It's time.

See ya in a few - Gringa

Halloween in Mexico - Suddenly Scary

2014-11-01T09:07:00.000-05:00

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I feel lucky that here in Mexico (especially on the border) the people celebrate Halloween AND Dia de los Muertos. It's like you get to extend the fun for three days!

Last night however we had a strange scary experience that I wish to write about. I should start by explaining the difference between Trick-or-Treating here in Mexico compared to the U.S. In the U.S. (at least where I come from) usually around half of the houses in a decent sized neighborhood are handing out candy. In the U.S. people leisurely stroll around neighborhoods and children end up collecting way more candy then they'll likely eat. Here in Mexico it's around 1 in 50 houses. Mostly it's businesses that hand out candy with residences being a new trend that's slowly taking hold.

SO, what happens when you get a big neighborhood full of 2000+ kids and only 20 places handing out candy? A feeding frenzy. Like piranhas, running, yelling, rushing to get to one of the few places before they run out. Last night as we began our trek down the street with our neighbor friends we saw a lady come out to begin handing out candy and heard a kid half way down the street yell - ACA!!! - and within seconds the lady had a line of over 60-70 kids in front of her house. She hurriedly passed out candy and by the time my kids got there she was OUT. That fast, about 30 seconds and she was done.

That happened all night long and being that Niko is so small and slow he often ended up with no candy. I've never been sad on Halloween before, but seeing his face drop so many times was a real buzzkill, poor kid. Luckily at his age it's all fun and games 10 seconds after a defeat and I loved him for that.

On to the scary event last night. Last night amongst the running (yes, you have to RUN here if you're going to get any candy in this 30 minute window) a truck pulled up beside me with two men inside wearing scary as shit clown/monster masks. I was scared because I didn't understand why they were stopping next to my kids and I (we were ahead of the pack) and rolling down their window. I was about to run for it when the man reached his hand out the window and started handing them candy.

Serial killer masks, black truck, on the street, handing out candy - SILENTLY. I was so shocked that I just stood there and let it happen, like, I was momentarily brain dead. Once I had my wits about me again we walked on and looked back - and the feeding frenzy had begun.

All I could think was "Um REALLY???" "That's NOT QUITE SAFE I DON'T THINK?!!?" When our group got all together everyone was wearing strange looks on their face and so I asked "WHAT was that? Shouldn't we look at that candy? What did you get??" The parents all started talking at once about how strange it was and started taking out the beer shaped lollipops that were given. (LOL are there beer shaped lolli's in the U.S.? Cuz we do in Mexico!) Everybody was just kind of shrugging their shoulders when one of the moms kids popped his in his mouth. Reaction? Laughter and jokes about how he would be the test lab rat and that if he died in a few minutes then we'd all know. And then off we ran for more possible houses.

I of course had to have a little bit MORE of a freak out then that and asked my husband what he thought. He confirmed my suspicions that the men were cartel members. It was obvious to everyone and I guess the reason why they weren't truly concerned by the obvious (frightening!) taboo. It's just KNOWN in Mexico that the cartel (the good ones) don't hurt kids intentionally. Sometimes they're caught in the crossfire and that's life, but for the most part women and children are left out of ugly business.

So, it was just our friendly neighborhood cartel doing their (freaky!?) part on Halloween. The cartel is often seen on Christmas handing out toys in poor neighborhoods and so the candy truck was no bit surprise.

Dream Come True - American in Reynosa

2014-10-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl my mom took me to the library and it quickly became a place that I considered it to be a magical. The librarian stuck in my head over the years growing up and I could think of no better job than spending my entire day amongst books. When I was considering college courses I dreamt of being an editor because it meant I could read all the time - unfortunately I considered my lack of skill in spelling and grammar detrimental to this goal. My most favored dream was to be a book reviewer for a magazine but I thought it unattainable because I couldn't figure out what courses a person took to attain such a lofty position (lol, can you tell I didn't have a counselor?).

Anyhoo, I couldn't figure out how to get my dream job and so settled on taking course after course of whatever interested me most. I don't think I accomplished anything in two years but the broadening of my vocabulary, and then, my husband was deported and my vocabulary career was brought to a halt.

If you've known me you know how I searched for a jobs that I was qualified for on the border in Texas and came up with ZIP for my lack of Spanish. I worked as a hotel front desk clerk for two years and learned the horridness that the trade has to offer. Finally an American friend convinced me that my bright white skin and American accent qualified me for an English teaching position at private schools in Mexico.

I walked in to a private school and was hired on the spot, in about 10 minutes time. (Not a school I'd send my kids to thinking back, nice security measures!) I learned to teach English and what classroom management is with the help of Google and small evil first graders that sent me home crying for the first three months.

After gaining experience and years I tried out for a better school, one that actually cared about my sanity and skills, requiring many interviews, a psych eval, having to plan a sample class and present it to a group. It was THE most intimidating experience of my life and I was scared to death the whole time. But then, suddenly, I was a new teacher at a new beautiful school that resembled something that I thought I could stand up and be proud to represent. Finally something in Mexico that I could be proud of.

After teaching a while I was offered a position in coordinating the elementary English program and took on THAT challenge for the next couple of years, once again reveling in the opportunities that Mexico had brought to me.

And then, the school librarian gave her notice. (That's right, our school in MEXICO actually has a library! And a library big enough for a staff of two (a huge deal here considering in a city of a million there's only one public library))I saw my dream job open right there in front of my eyes and pretty much died a little each day thinking that I wouldn't be able to have it. It was THE worst six months of my 30-something years toiling with my current unsatisfying position and fighting for one that would be an actual dream come true.

In the end it all worked out. I gained a lot of weight from stress eating, formed new wrinkles in my forehead and put myself in a pretty ugly state of over-stressed, but it DID happen. I fought and I (with a shit load of help) won.

I am now the library coordinator, spend my days surrounded by books and figuring out ways to inspire 640-something kids to want to read. It's my JOB to kindle the love of reading in their hearts and help their fires to grow. I'm SO full of ideas and joy that I haven't even needed all that Pjnterest has to offer, although I admit to spending hours at home pinning over and over beautiful ideas that I might one day use in our library. No matter how busy my day gets (who knew librarians were so BUSY??) I still go home every day feeling that I had a great day. I smile at my kids and husband when I walk in the door these days and I can once again sleep at night. I'm back on track with my eating habits and beginning to care about hair and makeup once more. It's amazing the effect job stress (or joy) can have on a person.

We believe at our school (in MEXICO!) that giving the gift of the love of reading to these children and to the people of our community, that we WILL change lives. We believe that these children will have the opportunity and skills to grow up and CHANGE their community and Mexico along with it. Readers are life long learners and will be a new and exciting generation sent out into Mexico to hopefully make changes for the better. We believe it is true and we believe we can be a part of this change. I am at the wheel of this movement and can't let myself forget for even a minute how lucky I am and how important of a job I have.

So! There's my update for this time, I found my dream job and a real purpose right here in Mexico. I'm blessed that my children are able to attend this school and I remember to be grateful for what life has brought my way.

If you're new to Mexico and in despair with no job or a job that you hate do have hope. I struggled and fought for over six years to be where I am now but it's not impossible. Keep going, keep searching, make your OWN way.

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Dirty Bus Driver

2014-10-07T18:19:00.002-05:00

Say what?

I've seen a lot of things written on the back of the public transportation busses over the years here, but this one threw me so far for a loop that I actually dug my phone out of my purse and snapped a pic.

Usually it's things religious oriented or something to show how manly the driver is, maybe about his family (HAS anybody ever seen a lady bus driver here??). But perverso?

Um... I feel this requires a trip to Google Translate. I mean, perverts don't go around town broadcasting "I AM A DIRTY PERV!" right?

I thought about leaving you to ponder it yourself but I'm off to Google as to not be a tease. for those of you who know more Spanish than me, consider me sticking my tongue out at you. ;)

I'm back! SUPER speedy service you've got right here now.

Aaaaaaaaaand it translates to!!!???

Perverse.

Oh.

Ummmmmm.....

I'm not getting on THAT bus.

And...well...huh. I mean, well he'll you know? Not much else to say. Just damn.

Americans in Reynosa, Americans in Mexico

2014-10-05T15:05:00.004-05:00

Hello out there!

I've finally gotten to a place after having two babies in two years and then waiting another couple years that I can look at my blog and think "Hey...I could DO that again!" I'm curious about how it might go, I'm not a new girl in Mexico talking about all of the crazy new and exciting things that I'm seeing/eating/doing anymore. I can't say that everything is old hat, by far not so! In fact, I saw a horse drawn trash cart today (old news) BUT it had two dogs riding on the ROOF of it, (har har) happy as ham standing up and enjoying the ride. I've got to get quicker with my camera phone.

Anyhoo, one of the friends I have here in Reynosa that is American mentined that she "knew" me way before we even met, by reading my blog. It got me to thinking that even though I'm really content and have so many friends that I can't believe it, that there are probably new women like me coming here all the time. Maybe they DON'T have an awesome support system and maybe they're waiting for friends like I was.

So, it's time to (really) dust off this old blog and make sure that the beacon to other gringas in Reynosa (or Gringos, that happens too!) is still flashing a light out there where it sometimes feels pretty dark.

I hope I find you!

- Gringa

#gringosnmexico

2014-04-25T20:44:00.004-05:00

It' looks as if I've abandoned my blog but the truth is children work and FB have taken over. BUT, I still have all of these "Ooooo that needs to be WRITTEN DOWN!" moments that fill my head and bounce around ...and around... and around and I'm going a little bonkers.

After over five years here it surprises me that I'm still surprised by the people and culture here and heebeegeebies I need an OUTLET for it all. SO, I've (soldout?) created a # hashtag (of which I thought were really douche-baggy until I read the one about #fatgirlproblems and laughed until I cried. Which was good, because I didn't pee.

Anyhoo, I'm going to go and hashtag my brains out so that I can get all of this SHEEEEETT out of my head and on to the Internets so that I can sleep better. What did people DO in the olden days? Write... books? Boo, no time for that. I'm hashtaggin bitches.

#gringosnmexico (on FB)

Read it, use it or ignore it but it's there now and I'm as happy as when the PAAAAANNN!!! man comes back after you missed him the first time cuz you didn't have enough clothes on to go out in the street.

Ears! Pierced!

2013-05-11T21:11:00.002-05:00

I'm 31 years old and finally got my ears pierced.

Two days ago at work with my babies :)

I tried about a year ago at Wal-Mart in the states but the lady put one in that faced LEFT and another that was so crooked it looked as if the stone were depressed and looking at the floor. It was horrible.

I've honestly trying to up my image for work this past year, lost the 50 pounds, got a lesson from the kinder teachers on how to wear makeup -they honestly GRABBED me one day in the morning and said "We're giving you a makeover!" I didn't even know them that well but I guess they just couldn't deal with a grown woman not wearing her war-paint. Once in the school I worked at before this one I was actually taken into the OFFICE to have my boss tell me that I should try out wearing eye shadow and mascara. THAT pissed me off, but these ladies were kind and funny and I felt like a princess.

Of course they made me look like a prostitute, but in the end I learned enough to start going about it on my own.

Do they have piercing places in the mall here like anywhere else though? Uh..not that much. I went today and nobody could even tell me if a place EXISTS in this city of 1,000,000 people. Yet all 6 of the ladies I asked HAD pierced ears. One mentioned that everybody just takes their baby girls to the doctor when they're a few days old and he does it. Seriously, nobody could give me a place.

See? They even put makeup on DAISY!

Aaaaaaaaand then I picked up Daisy from my neighbor/babysitter/Friend and told her my dilemma. She laughed and told me I was silly, that people just do it themselves here. She said she's done her daughter twice, her sister in law and a cousin or twelve. She told me to go get them and she'd do it for me.
So. I did! I went home and got ice cubes, a bottle of rubbing alcohol and the pointy tipped earrings. Of course when I got to her house she looked at the alcohol like I was insane and instead made me stick the earrings into a clove of garlic for one minute.

Ohhhhhh Mexico. Garlic DOES have antibacterial killing .....stuff and I thought it was pretty smart. (although I still threw them in the alcohol for good measure, despite her dismay.)

2 minutes later and I had pierced ears - and it didn't even HURT! They said bee sting but I barely felt a thing and it hurt A LOT OF FREAKING SHIT LESS than it did at Walmart with the gun.

WHO KNEW??

Just to show you that he DOES smile.

So, waist - smaller, face - makeup! and today - earrings. I don't think I've ever SEEN a Mexican woman without pierced ears. It's like...un-heard of. Like a secret sin or something. So the fact that I'm 31 and couldn't wear earrings was another glaring insult in the eyes of fashion here.
Plus, I've always wanted to buy all the spangly earrings I see in stores :D

I deal with well-to-do parents on a daily basis and have honestly taken it in that it would do me well to look my best. People respect you more when you look like you care about yourself and it's high time I DO that (and reap the benefit of that bit of added respect.)

Next is my hair. I've had the same hippie hair cut since I was....born. I've only deviated ONCE into the land of layers and then went strait back to my hippie hair. Alas the time has come though and my boss knows a man who's apparently the GUY to go to.

I've even started buying clothes that are wardrobe pieces and not just my normal kooky shit or t-shirts.

Maybe it's the water here? I mean really who AM I? Or maybe I'm getting old?

Or mature? Or just care about my job. I think the real fact is that I'm around so many other people who take pride in their appearance that it's rubbing off and I just plain want to fit in. Plus, it feels good. I'm second from the right in this picture, I don't even recognize myself! Lipstick! Blush!

Aaaaaaaaaaand I'll no longer be that weirdo gringa no-earring/makeup wearing FREAK. Cuz they really did think I was a freak.

UPDATE!!

2013-05-01T12:58:00.002-05:00

I know, you think I'm gone, another one bites the dust!   It's pretty much the truth but a new gringa in town said she had read my blog BEFORE we ever even met, and when we DID meet it was by chance. Anyhoo she said that it helped her a lot and it really touched me and I remember that there are probably more new women and men like me coming here all the time.

SO, if I'm not going to delete my blog (which would be like cutting off a HAND) I should at least update once in a while so that people still know I'm living here in Mexico and how things are doing.

The past few years have been so crazy and I know the future will be as well, even more so perhaps, but I can at least UPDATE right??

My two year old and three year old are sleeping right now. I can't believe I've had two children since moving here.

I'm on holiday from my job right now, another Mexican holiday - there are so many! - to get me off of work that is becoming increasingly more difficult and detailed but supports my family and allows my children a good education.

My husband has now finished a full school year cycle at the trade school and is quite the handy man. We have a big ole sign out now that says he repairs washers, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and mini-splits. And lol, in small letters - blenders and their parts, where it all started for him.   In August he's going back to learn how to do more - car air-con and then maybe on to welding. It's amazing how cheap the education is and yet how much it has changed his life here. I feel so blessed!

I just got back from a 4 day stay in San Antonio. I saved up and went with my boss to the International Reading Association conference. I attended a gazillion conferences and learned so much I don't even know where to start. I also enrolled myself this week in an online study in classroom management on Edumy. I'm doing as much as I can to learn more about education so that I can keep up with my position AND provide a better education for the students I'm in charge of looking after. Our School had 400 something my first year, 650 something my second and we're aiming for 800 this next August. The place is growing like crazy and I had better be with it!

My husband and I had finally come to an ugly head in our relationship a few months back. I actually asked him to move out and he did. I thought it was over between us, the stress of Mexico and two babies being to much for us to navigate, I thought we had destroyed our marriage but luckily was wrong. I had a good friend at school talk me into at least TRYING marriage counseling even though I thought it was for nothing. My husband JUMPED at the possibility of us working out and found us someone right away.

So, we went to counseling separate for a while and then together. The counselor was like magic and our marriage today is better than EVER! I can't believe it some days how happy we are and how lucky I am to have had people around to help us through and navigate.

On a note, if you're wondering I never planned to move back to the U.S.   I promised him that I would never take the babies back to the U.S. and leave him behind - how could I??  Unless he were harming them I really never would, I would stay here till they were grown, it's my home now.

I still miss my family and a couple of close friends from back home but am lucky that my parents come to visit a couple times a year. And I've made such good friends here that life is a good place to be.

Yes, the lights still go out sometimes for a day or the water still shuts off for a half a day or day sometimes but it doesn't bother me anymore, it always comes back on. I've learned to make an ugly peace with cockroaches (although I WILL NOT give up on killing as many as I can) and ziplocks are now my new best friend.

OH!! I've lost almost 50 pounds the past almost year now!! That's new! YEE HAWWW!! I've been on the Atkins way of eating and love LOVE it.  I also joined a gym and have gigantic man biceps, it's true, but I look and feel great. I've never been this small in my entire life and when I see pictures of myself on FB or anywhere else I still can't believe it's me. I'd still like to lose another 20 pounds or so, depending on muscle gain, but I'm in no rush, the diet and exercise slowly chip away yet I don't starve and I don't go insane with the gym. I actually ADORE lifting weights and do it for about 2 hours a night, 4 nights a week. I've made new friends at the gym, it's right near my house and everyone is so friendly.

My Spanish has come leaps and bounds over the years but I still suck donkey balls at conjugating verbs. It'll get there though, I need more for my job and so it's become a priority.

Alright, I hear a baby rustling around in her room. If she's QUIET with the door closed that means something bad is going down ;)

I'll catch up with you all soon, I'm still here and things are better than ever! :)

- Gringa

My French Baby

2013-01-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

I think this baby has speant a little too much time outside on the ground learning the ways of our dogs. He likes to KISS like this.

Lucky for him his Daddy is more maternal than me and will actually oblige him once in a while. I however have seen him BE kissed BY the dog with his tongue out just like this. And enjoy it.

Daddy however has earned his undying and everlasting love, so, that's nice and all. Today is my big boy's first day of school and I am probably a mess. (I'm writing this the Saturday before because I'll be too busy that day to do anything but freak out) He's just a BABY, a weeeeee one. Widdle. Widdle and small and sweet. He doesn't have to go to school but my friends and co-workers got me thinking when they said "What is he learning at home with daddy all day?" And then I thought of tongue kissing the dog and I was sold. It's nothing like daycare in the U.S. it's....SCHOOL. They have books, make projects, have music class, art class, motor skill class (aka gym), learn songs and dances to go with them. They spend a half a day with a Spanish teacher only learning Spanish and the other half learning only in English. How to count, the colors, body parts the Alphabet, phonics ect. Daisy has been going since August and I'm freaking AMAZED.

Speaking of Daisy (let me not dwell on Niko or I will again begin to have palpitations and consider running across the border with him to escape the reality of growing up, live in the woods and become feral people) Check out that beauty. And TELL ME - just WHY in the world has she suddenly (when I try and give her a kiss) she stops me, puts her hand on my face and says "No Mami, Asi." and then TURNS my face away from her lips so that she may kiss me on the CHEEK.

CHEEK KISSES!? Whaaa? HUH? But....but I'm Mommy. She's THREE, she can't be disgusted by me yet! Daddy still gets lip-kisses. Boo. I imagine it's the Alexa complex, ugh, booooo. It means she's developing normaly and all, but it's still lame. (Google it if you need to know more but my psych. prof. was way too graphic and I'm scarred for life, any explanation I give would be icky)

But WHATEVER little CHEEK kisser. Wait till Niko goes through that stage, THEN we'll see who gets the lip kisses! HA!! Just please God, let him forget about the tongue by then. Cuz damn.