In spite of what Donald Trump has been spouting, we are finding the Mexican people we meet each day to be kind and helpful – good hombres and mujeres. I admit our days crossing the border were a little uncomfortable and I am still a little unclear exactly what went down when we imported our tools and trailer. In fact, we still haven’t been able to get the correct paperwork from our broker to actually get plates on our trailer. We are patiently waiting for the package that was supposedly shipped from Nogales a number of days ago. But the people we meet each day in our neighborhood are welcoming and helpful and a lost telephone reminded us of that this week.
On Tuesday we spent all afternoon at the beach in Nuevo Vallarta riding our boogie boards and eating chicken nachos, celebrating being back home after a quick business trip to Canada. On the drive to the beach, we stopped to take pictures of the amazing purple vines that have bloomed in October. From the airplane it looks like a purple blanket has been gently lowered on top of the other trees and vegetation.
After we got home and cooked a shrimp feast, Grant realized he couldn’t find his phone. We searched everywhere in the house and drove back to the beach. No phone in sight. The Security guard hadn’t seen it; the restaurant nearby was now closed. We were pretty sure it was toast – forever lost or more likely sold. Slight panic set in. I sent a text to the phone with my contact info – please call if you find this phone.
2 hours later I received the hoped for phone call – someone who speaks English had our phone – let’s meet at Chedraui parking lot in Valle Dorado in 20 minutes. I was thrilled – but I was also nervous. Valle Dorado is a bit rough – were they going to give us the phone or were we going to get shaken down? It was now close to 10:00, kind of late for a parking lot rendezvous. We stopped at the bank to get some money to pay a reward and then went to the grocery store parking lot where we met some wonderfully kind people – a couple in their 30s or 40s and an older lady. Big hug from the younger lady as soon as I got out of the car. Another big hug. She said they had just seen the corner of the phone sticking out of the sand – the rest was buried. But she knew how important it must be to us. Then the older lady got out of the back seat, rushed over to me for another hug and said “I really want to pray for you.” I said “Absolutely – we’ve been praying to find this phone and you’re the answer to our prayer”. She literally screamed with joy, grabbed me for more hugs and then prayed an awesome prayer for health and safety and blessing – in the middle of Chedraui parking lot. Whatever you believe, I do believe in prayer, especially when it comes from the heart of a kind stranger just when I need it most! So Donald Trump has it all wrong – Mexicans are definitely ‘good hombres’ and I’m proud to be living on this side of his wall!
The area where Irandi now lives is called Primavera. Kind of ironic that primavera means “spring” in Spanish but it did not feel like a place of new beginnings or growth at all. It is different in that the homes are made of concrete and the one Irandi lives in has 3 rooms instead of 1. The roads are definitely just as bad and poor Azulita (that’s my little blue car) bottomed out in some of the mud and water filled potholes. But eventually we found the complex where this new young family lives and as we got out of the car we yelled for Irandi. We climbed the stairs to the little home and met the cutest baby I have ever seen. She looked healthy although her young mom looked tired and in a lot of pain. One day in the hospital after a C-section seems harsh and Irandi looked worn out. But happy. And proud of her baby. And really happy to see us and share her story with us. 6-year-old Jose lovingly kissed his little niece. Lupita stared in amazement at her new cousin. Kevin ignored it all and wandered outside where he promptly closed his finger in the door of our car – setting off the alarm and screaming down the neighborhood. The idyllic moment was gone and life with a bunch of toddlers resumed. Because they do not own band-aids, Irandi took a piece of Kleenex and tied it over his bloody finger with a string.
New animals in town – we have 2 new donkeys wandering around the neighborhood. We saw a donkey chasing a dog who was chasing a donkey who was chasing a dog. The donkey won!
It’s been a LONG time coming but we’re finally on the road with the load of tools that will turn Vision Enterprises – the company my husband has operated for most of our married life – into Banderas Bay Enterprises – the company he will operate for the next part of our story. It has truly been one of the most difficult – and annoying – things we have ever tried to pull off. Trying to understand the rules of three countries we will need to drive through has been confusing at best, agonizing at worst. But today we are loaded and headed for the first of the borders we will need to cross.
So we are heading for the Mexican border in our Canadian truck pulling our Canadian trailer where we will meet up with our ‘guy’ Ramses who will help us jump through all the hoops. There is a good chance Ramses’ friend will have to drive with us all the way to Bucerias to keep everyone happy.
It’s not just the vehicles that have made us crazy. The tools. You can’t just show up with a bunch of tools. Over the past few weeks we have documented every nail, every screw, every extension cord (why does Banderas Bay Enterprises need so freakin many extension cords???). Over 800 items have been logged in a spreadsheet with Make, Model, Serial Number, Value and all translated into Spanish. We have an Ebay printout for every one of those items to justify the values. We have scanned and photocopied and hole punched all those lists and put in binders. One binder for American customs, 1 or 2 for Mexican customs.
Grant and I often drive or walk up and down the streets surrounding our house, exploring each block so we know where to find the local mechanic or hardware store or tortilla lady. Today I found a seamstress in a tiny shop – someone I can ask to sew new cushion covers for our garden. Sometimes we look in windows or climb up to look over fences, curious to see how our neighbors live. We feel welcome here, everyone stopping to smile and say “Hola, Buenas tardes”. Children are everywhere and are excited to speak to the gringos. When we drive our convertible around with the roof down, everyone stops what they are doing to wave, and call out to us. Here are a few things you will see when you come to visit us in our colonia.
Karen Moves to Mexico 