My family and I live in Mexico, in the small village of Ajijic on the shores of Lake Chapala. We rent a house that comes with a maid, which is the norm in Mexico. Last year, Amelia was our maid and she quickly became an integral part of our household. On her birthday, we try […]
Continue ReadingNovember 12 is “Dia del Cartero” here in Mexico. According to the pre-printed envelope that my mail carrier slipped under my apartment door, I am supposed to show my appreciation for his work by leaving him a tip. The name of my mail carrier (Martin) and the number of his route are stamped on the envelope and […]
Continue ReadingA Woman’s Perspective on Living in Mexico One of my readers asked me to talk about bugs and diseases. These are simply my experiences or observations and they apply to the Chapala/Ajijic lakeside area south of Guadalajara. I’m sure different parts of Mexico have their own unique vermin. I usually have one very loud mosquito […]
Continue Reading(While traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula on vacation in 1985, the author and her husband meet an adventurous contractor who offers to sell them a beachfront lot in Playa del Carmen. After accepting his offer, a series of bizarre events-including the Mexico government’s seizure of the land by eminent domain, the contractor’s financial crisis, and […]
Continue ReadingLarge families, devout Catholics, modest clothing, very poor – these are some of the common preconceived notions about Mexicans from a rural eastern Oregon perspective. However, such a view is limiting and hides the rich variety that abounds in the Mexican culture and among Mexicans from both the United States and Mexico. People who hold […]
Continue ReadingA Woman’s Perspective on Living in Mexico Every once in a while, I get an email from a reader who asks, “What are the down sides of living at Lakeside?” Normally, I have to scratch my head and think a bit, but once in a while, I get a week like this one and it […]
Continue ReadingA Woman’s Perspective on Living in Mexico Let’s start at the beginning. The five most commonly asked questions before I came to Mexico were: Why not stay in California and retire? Won’t you miss your friends and family? Will you be safe? What if there’s a medical emergency? What are you going to do with […]
Continue ReadingA Woman’s Perspective on Living in Mexico Most expats here keep the majority of their money in Canada or the States; however, because of the recent peso devaluation, interest rates are high in the bank–33% last week. The money I do have here, I keep at Lloyds in a thirty-day account. Every month, like clockwork, […]
Continue ReadingA Woman’s Perspective on Living in Mexico These next two columns will share some dubious gems of wisdom, organized alphabetically. My editor (are you listening, David?), limits the number of words for each column, so you’ll have to wait until next month for the M-Z section. It’s avocado season and my neighbor’s huge tree extends […]
Continue ReadingA Woman’s Perspective on Living in Mexico The most often asked questions by visitors when they get here is “Can I drink the water?” followed closely by, “Is this okay to eat?” Okay, I admit I asked those same questions when I first got down here, too. I’m going to dedicate this column to the […]
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