tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86974469739341033752024-02-21T07:35:29.431-05:00Ugly AmericansAn expat life, in Technicolor.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-28203282600955807952019-12-06T10:15:00.000-05:002019-12-06T13:04:11.755-05:00Grifter<br />
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Once a month, we would clamber into the family car and drive into Dade to visit our grandmother. She lived in a condo on Miami Beach, nestled close to what would eventually become (nowadays) ground zero for celebrities and wannabe celebrities in South Florida- South Beach. But in 1980, it was as far from trendy as you could imagine. A place of dilapidated art deco apartment buildings filled with the elderly and those new to the States, slowly dying antique shops, bodegas, and the occasional tourist trap filled with everything you could stick a shell to. It was the opposite of the 80s suburban landscape of one story single family homes my parents had bought into in Broward.<br />
<br />
It was an adventure.<br />
<br />
These trips were relegated to once a month, <i>on a weekend</i>, because we lived in Broward and my dad was <b><i>a very busy man™</i></b>. Each visit would follow a pattern. Drive down in the morning when the highway was less crowded and parking was guaranteed. Climb the stairs to her apartment, and be greeted by the smell of arroz con pollo (the <i><b>only</b></i> dish Abuela Carmen ever made). Spend one hour with her after having lunch, then leave.<br />
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On one visit when I was seven, our Tio Pepe also showed up to visit. This was not the first time I had met my uncle, but it was the most memorable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaEWs5tiaoFr2GLa7LYE9K7TNqcJGRdvDEs6vh2t9iX54MjA4CqElIStna5ceEPYuKShtb_rpFj05e4egDCyO0-z9MP6BVIKicMGRPmyll-agiIUINEzkTwjx7ddOHcFb1jyzD_p09aQ/s1600/chao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaEWs5tiaoFr2GLa7LYE9K7TNqcJGRdvDEs6vh2t9iX54MjA4CqElIStna5ceEPYuKShtb_rpFj05e4egDCyO0-z9MP6BVIKicMGRPmyll-agiIUINEzkTwjx7ddOHcFb1jyzD_p09aQ/s320/chao.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tio Pepe was what most people would call a confidence artist, and had been for as long as anyone could remember. He was also the polar opposite of my father, who was (and has always been) a stickler for rules and order. My father always had a contentious relationship with his younger brother. As dad was the elder son, he was always charged by my grandmother with looking out for Pepe. During their childhood, dad watched over Tio Pepe, and continued to do so when they emigrated to their new home in the United States. Then Vietnam happened. Both sons enlisted, and while my father returned to civilian life after completing his tour of duty...<br />
<br />
...Tio Pepe did not.<br />
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My father, as the story goes, was told a story by Pepe about being forced into a second tour. Understandably upset at the thought that something like this had happened to his baby brother, my father took my uncle to the nearest recruitment office to sort things out. That was when he found out that my uncle had actually<i> signed up for a second tour, of his own volition</i>. Disgusted, my father left him to his fate. From that point forward, their relationship was comprised of Tio Pepe trying to enlist my father's help to get out of increasing shadier scenarios involving cars, houses, insurance, credit cards, investment 'opportunities'...<br />
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His actions, over time, made believing anything Tio Pepe said increasingly more unlikely.<br />
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When we arrived at Abuela's, Pepe was already ensconced in an armchair by the tv, a briefcase propped next to him. As usual, our family performed the ritual of arrival . Everyone greeted everyone else with smiles and cheek kisses (even if the gesture was disingenuous), the offer of beverages (coffee for the adults, cola for the children) was made and accepted. We all moved to take our places in the old prewar living room. My brother and I in the corner, focusing on setting up a checker board housed within a shell-encrusted box. Our parents moved to their places around the television.<br />
Tio Pepe had other ideas. Briefcase in hand, his speech swung from English to Spanish, beckoning them away from the living room, to the dining table. This act of changing languages was like blowing a whistle. Adults were speaking, in a language they (erroneously) believed we were ignorant about- a fact that delighted and amused Abuela to no end. It drew our attention away from the (admittedly less exciting) seashell checkerboard and to the drama unfolding at the table. Pepe was telling our parents that he was leaving Florida, with his family, for California. That day. He set the case down, and with a flourish opened it to reveal the contents.<br />
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Money.<br />
Lots of money.<br />
A briefcase full of money.<br />
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As you could imagine, my dad wanted no part in knowing the details of how Tio Pepe got the money, much less where they would be living in California once they left Florida. My mom, well aware of the trouble Pepe frequently got into, was looking at the briefcase like it was a cobra. Seeing that he was not getting the desired response, Pepe shut the briefcase, and the conversation ended.<br />
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It would be another 15 years before we would hear from Tio Pepe again.<br />
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In the mid 90s, Pepe returned with a new wife, and son. His first wife had divorced him at some point and returned to the west coast of Florida with their kids. Pepe was now back on the east coast, and involved in real estate again. Over the next five years, we would only hear about him indirectly. Someone would see him out and about, or at another extended family member's home. Lenders would call my father about paperwork Pepe filled out that included his name as a guarantor.<br />
After his second divorce, the contact escalated, becoming an epic game of tit for tat between the brothers. Each interaction between Pepe and my father became increasingly adversarial. He would contact our grandmother, who lived off of a very fixed income, for loans. My father would get a call from her about these requests. Our father (who supplemented our grandmother's expenses) would then call Pepe, irate at his younger brothers attempts to secure money from their mother. This cycle repeated itself, with slight variations, time and again. Occasionally he would call my father directly, to chat, and these conversations would eventually lead to a pitch for something my father would ultimately deny. Near the end of my Abuela's life, the calls became solely about her finances. When she died, he attempted to clear out his mother's apartment of valuables while our family was at the hospital.<br />
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Our father, assuming this would occur, had already removed anything of value from the apartment.<br />
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After the funeral, we didn't hear from Pepe for awhile. He disappeared again into the wilds of Florida, where there was no shortage of colorful characters, and we went on with our lives. The next time he resurfaced was in early 2000. He was living in the palm beaches with a girlfriend, and my mom ran into him while visiting friends. They talked, and he told her he'd been attending Santeria services, and spiritual groups. He had even begun to affect the dress and mannerisms of a Babalawo.<br />
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Then he mentioned he had cancer.<br />
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She didn't believe him, but she did pass on the story to us. We didn't believe it. How could we? Pepe had always been a colorful, unreliable character that was constantly in flux, for as long as we'd known him. His antics had only become more pronounced as the years passed, the antithesis of our father's rigid and ordered self. Eventually, my father found out about Pepe's condition. After grandmother's funeral he'd ceased talking to Pepe - even going so far as to change his landline telephone numbers, an act which seems<i> old school</i> now. I don't think he believed Pepe either, but in that moment the possibility that it might be real managed to crack his seemingly iron resolve. Enough so that he got his brother's new number, and called it.<br />
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We didn't know he called until after the fact. Pepe had told him that it was stage 4 colon cancer. They started talking regularly after that first call. He visited him in the hospital, and arranged for his belongings to be secured when Pepe's girlfriend tried to take them during a hospital stay. If our father still had any issue with his brother, he kept quiet about it. Over the next year, he would act as a guardian for Pepe as his condition worsened. When he finally succumbed to cancer, father arranged for Pepe's military funeral and burial. Aside from our parents, my brother, and I only Pepe's second wife, and their grown son showed.<br />
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After the service they asked for the keys to Pepe's Mercedes Benz from our father. He gave them the keys, but kept the folded flag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYx9Kuga-ZcbzMh4Bs45j7TR0wXrNpjZAX-EQqkD-FBKRZrdAj64IJhSyHia4OdATeBSwpNu0Y7htNdII8TLf_CosxpYcMSPfny2DeqqlMpw1sA_ikdUKBRfnXH3e7dIXEDV7r0IJ1msg/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYx9Kuga-ZcbzMh4Bs45j7TR0wXrNpjZAX-EQqkD-FBKRZrdAj64IJhSyHia4OdATeBSwpNu0Y7htNdII8TLf_CosxpYcMSPfny2DeqqlMpw1sA_ikdUKBRfnXH3e7dIXEDV7r0IJ1msg/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last year, at our old home, I had put a package of water bottles outside, next to the front door of our home but out of sight from the road. This package of bottled water had been in our home for a few years, untouched since its purchase during a home leave a few tours back. One day, I was inside the house cleaning, and the kids were outside playing. Halfway through cleaning, the kids came back in, giggling and clutching quarters and dollar bills. I asked them where they got the money.<br />
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My son, beaming his big effortless smile, "We saw some people working, so we gave them water."<br />
My daughter grinned, "They gave us money for it!"<br />
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Staring down at their smiling, happy faces I realized they were selling the water I'd set outside.<br />
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I have no doubt Tio Pepe would be proud.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-35814099911937964992019-10-04T10:14:00.002-04:002019-10-04T10:14:32.815-04:00Traveling tangle.<br />
Let me help you.<br />
I know you can do it on your own.<br />
But there's a traveling tangle<br />
that won't leave your hair alone.<br />
<br />
This traveling tangle's pesky<br />
it weaves itself into knots<br />
defying the detangler<br />
and running down the clock.<br />
<br />
As you can see he's tricky<br />
and the brush can miss some spots<br />
when there's a tangle entanglement<br />
the battles can hurt a lot.<br />
<br />
I know this tangle's travels<br />
have made you pretty cross<br />
<br />
Having seen the path he takes<br />
I can say he might be lost<br />
<br />
Let me help you.<br />
I know you can do it on your own.<br />
But there's a traveling tangle<br />
that won't leave your hair alone.<br />
<br />
This troublesome tangle is stubborn<br />
and doesn't want to budge<br />
it's going to take convincing<br />
'cause I think he has a grudge<br />
<br />
Let me help you.<br />
I know you can do it on your own.<br />
But there's a traveling tangle<br />
that won't leave your hair alone.<br />
<br />
Now I know your patience is failing<br />
and the time spent wrangling a cost<br />
<br />
But i'm done<br />
and we've won<br />
<br />
Here's your brush<br />
there's no rush<br />
<br />
...the traveling tangle's gone!<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-81072776345601114592019-08-28T16:30:00.001-04:002019-08-28T16:34:05.184-04:00Florida girl.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFPBnvldGi_OYNTSWl8KRkRSq597lHvXW5_KlR80d2HFN5Xnv9xbeCspizLK_fOEYsEMOXJjCKGlim3Vli0cxaL78a_O4CQWKJjusBktGv_sfv5V3d9jcyVjH6HaJDfojyYvLpeD9Rbg/s1600/dorian.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="897" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFPBnvldGi_OYNTSWl8KRkRSq597lHvXW5_KlR80d2HFN5Xnv9xbeCspizLK_fOEYsEMOXJjCKGlim3Vli0cxaL78a_O4CQWKJjusBktGv_sfv5V3d9jcyVjH6HaJDfojyYvLpeD9Rbg/s320/dorian.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last October, we purchased the Florida resident passes to Disney, and had gone a few times but wanted to squeeze in at least one or two more visits before they expired. In May, we had a plan to take a vacation after the kids went back to school, over Labor Day weekend. In my never ending search to get the cheapest price for a room at the resort, I booked it via Expedia because they had cheaper room rates. The last time we went, I also booked a room with Expedia. On that occasion, it was very last minute, so when we got to the park and they told us we were unable to purchase the dining plan, we just sucked it up.<br />
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Now, I knew this vacation was coming up, but life has been busy for the last few months. So I left the setting up of dining plans and fast passes and whatnot as a last-minute task. For those of you who are unaware, we had a Tropical Storm that (as of this writing) is going to be a Category 1 Hurricane. I also was unaware that tomorrow is the opening of the new Start Wars: Galaxy's Edge wing at the park.<br />
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Lucky me.<br />
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Undeterred by this news (as all Floridians are), I began to make my calls to Disney, then Expedia, back to Disney, then back to Expedia again, and then finally, back to Disney. You might be asking right now why I had to spend most of my day listening to hold music*.<br />
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For those of you who don't know**- if you book a room at one of the WDW resorts through anyone but Disney, that booking is considered part of Disney's w<i>holesale travel department</i>. Unless the agent you booked with gives you the option of adding a dining plan to your vacation, you will not be able to purchase a dining plan from Disney. This was the fresh hell I found myself in today. The end result, after a lot of repetition is that I had to cancel my original reservation in order to make a new one with Disney, that included a dining plan. Thankfully, there was availability for our original days, and at about the same price as I originally paid (THANK YOU DORIAN!).<br />
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With any luck, Dorian will continue its slide north and west. As we fully expect rain, we have our rain jackets and sandals at the ready. I realize that for many, this decision to go forward with the vacation instead of cancelling seems crazy. But if you've ever been through a hurricane season, you know that eventually all you can really do is make sure you have your hurricane supplies at the ready, make the preparations you need to, and keep living your life.<br />
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Here's to hoping that a ton of people cancel their trips thanks to the storm!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Hold music is hell.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">**Learn from my mistakes! Book really early through Disney to lock in good rates. Or you know, wait for a hurricane to book!</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-14947597169197202332019-06-14T09:28:00.000-04:002019-06-14T10:39:40.893-04:00Tales of Old Florida: Crandon Park and Zoo Miami.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Once upon a time, long ago in Miami's past, a rich family decided to donate land on Key Biscayne in order to secure the construction of a bridge that would ultimately increase the property values of their other properties on said key. Whether you believe the donation was philanthropic or not, we know for a fact that in 1940, the heirs of Commodore William John Matheson donated 808.8 acres of their holdings on Key Biscayne to Dade County. This donation came with a condition- that the land be used as a public park. </div>
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In <i>exchange</i> for that donation, the chairman of the County Commission Charles H. Crandon offered to build a causeway that would connect Key Biscayne to the mainland. This agreement came to fruition on November 9, 1947 when the Rickenbacker¹ causeway opened, allowing automobile access to Virginia Key, Crandon Park and the rest of Key Biscayne. </div>
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One year later in 1948, a traveling animal show broke down or (most likely) became defunct when it visited the County. It was the late 40s. It was <i>Florida</i>, and the show's misfortune became Dade County's first zoo, Crandon Park Zoo. </div>
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That zoo was by all accounts a success <i>and</i> an accident waiting to happen. A success, because they got enough visitors that they were able to keep expanding the zoo. An accident waiting to happen because they put a zoo on a key <i><b><a href="https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search?AddressQuery=key%20biscayne%20florida#searchresultsanchor">prone to flooding</a></b></i>, and first in line for any hurricanes to make landfall in the area.<br />
As time went on and the zoo expanded, its dated concrete enclosures and bars did it no favors in the court of public opinion. The push for more natural, humane habitats in zoos had started at the beginning of the 60s, and Crandon Park Zoo was anything but natural. After taking a direct hit from Hurricane Betsy in 1965, the zoo's days on Key Biscayne were numbered. The deaths of 250 animals as a result of Betsy's floodwaters, combined with accusations of abuse at the zoo ultimately led to the county's decision to relocate the zoo further inland. By 1981, Miami Metro Zoo opened, and Crandon Park Zoo shuttered.<br />
The original space eventually morphed into a park with botanical gardens, a nature center, marina, golf course, and tennis center. There are still to this day remnants of the old zoo on site that have been incorporated into the park proper. Additionally, Crandon Park has numerous Tequesta Indian ruins, and they are part of the Key Biscayne Archaeological Zone.<br />
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When it opened Metro Zoo was a far cry from the original zoo located on Key Biscayne. It was one of the first free-range zoos in the country, where animals could roam freely. Its location also makes it the only subtropical zoo in the United States. Even though it is further inland, the zoo is still susceptible to damage from hurricanes (most notably Hurricane Andrew, which did extensive damage to the Wings of Asia exhibit in 1992). That hurricane is also the source of Metro Zoo's <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-story-behind-the-most-famous-photo-from-hurricane-andrew">most famous photo</a>:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5ob7HVR8hrwmogFh8MfjAt7pk_NGPUl3HrkDjpQkwoqSDbuICOeDirf3nddBMCYdWz9xt6iChgqoA__i-hNaYUpQKqQMoPEX41nlDILLSEarBwS-VyKY5IgI3LQazWI46MfIBvbwMUE/s1600/flamingoroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1024" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5ob7HVR8hrwmogFh8MfjAt7pk_NGPUl3HrkDjpQkwoqSDbuICOeDirf3nddBMCYdWz9xt6iChgqoA__i-hNaYUpQKqQMoPEX41nlDILLSEarBwS-VyKY5IgI3LQazWI46MfIBvbwMUE/s320/flamingoroom.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Metro Zoo flamingos hiding out during Hurricane Andrew. Photo: Copyright Ron Magill.</span> </td></tr>
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Today the zoo occupies almost 750 acres,and is home to more than 3000 animals representing over 500 different species.² On July 3, 2010 as part of the zoo's 30th anniversary celebration, its name officially changed from Metro Zoo to Zoo Miami.<br />
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With updates to the entrance and new exhibits, the zoo has only improved over time. I am probably a bit biased, as this is the zoo I went to <i>many times</i> as a child growing up in South Florida. Whenever we've been back for home leave, I have made sure to take the kids. I love it more than any other zoo I have seen overseas (and to be fair, short of the zoo in Berlin most of the ones I have seen overseas have been sad affairs). I love it even more than the Smithsonian National Zoo, even though that zoo has <i><b>adorable</b></i> pandas. Pandas can't beat a giant submerged clear tube your kids can crawl through while an american alligator lazily eyes them from its perch ON TOP OF THE TUBE. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><i>Top that, Smithsonian!</i></span></td></tr>
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The zoo has three miles of path that meander through the exhibits, letting you see the animals in their habitats. A good part of the path has shade trees, but in the sections with less shade there are misting stations and covered gazebos to get relief from the sun. </div>
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If you go:<br />
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<b>Zoo Miami</b><br />
Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.<br />
Admission: Adults (13+) $22.95, Kids (3-12) $18.95, Kids 2 and under are free. Free parking. A zoo membership (which covers 2 adults and up to 4 children) for the year is $169. The zoo membership is the best deal if you plan on going multiple times and/or you have a family of four or more.<br />
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Address: 12400 SW 152 St. Miami, Fl 33177<br />
Website: <a href="https://www.zoomiami.org/">https://www.zoomiami.org/</a><br />
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<b>Crandon Park</b><br />
Hours of Operation: Sunrise - Sunset<br />
Admission: Free. Parking fees are weekdays $5, and weekends $7.<br />
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Address: 6747 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, Fl<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/crandon.asp">http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/crandon.asp</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">¹If the name Rickenbacker sounds familiar, it is because the bridge was named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker">Eddie Rickenbacker</a>, a WWI flying Ace and founder/president of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Air_Lines">Eastern Air Lines</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">²<a href="https://www.zoomiami.org/about-the-zoo">https://www.zoomiami.org/about-the-zoo</a></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-48836638724899129902019-04-25T19:40:00.000-04:002019-04-25T19:40:23.425-04:00Tales of Old Florida: Long Key Nature Center<br />
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Once upon a time, long ago in <i>Old Florida</i>, there was a man named Robert Hoyt.<br />
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Mr. Hoyt was a horticulturalist in Clearwater. He was also an organizing member of the <a href="https://fshs.org/">Florida State Horticultural Society</a>. That might seem dull to you, but I assure you that reading about <i>the Wild Wild West of Horticulture in 1880s Florida</i> is far from dull.* But I digress. Mr. Hoyt, in true Florida fashion, went on a trip to India and brought back with him two <i>Bombax ceiba</i> seedlings. Of the two, one survived, and he planted it across from his orange grove. Over time, the tree grew massive and became a curiosity that tourists visited in the 1940s.<br />
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In the 1950's, a tourist from Maryland named Richard B. Baumgardner visited Clearwater with his family. Seeing how popular the tree was, he decided to purchase the land it was on (and the orchard) to build a 'destination restaurant' called The Kapok Tree Inn. It was as ostentatious, opulent, and gaudy as a restaurant-tourist trap in Old Florida could ever be. In other words, it was glorious. Don't believe me? Just google 'Kapok Tree Inn'. The Kapok Tree Inn was so heavily visited and popular, that in the 70s the restaurant expanded to <i><b>other locations</b></i> in the state.<br />
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One of these locations was a site in Davie, Florida. This sister site was an expansive location, built on land that was formerly known as Long Key, one island in a chain of seven in the area surrounded by Everglade marshes. This area of Florida was populated by the Tequestas, then later the Seminoles. In the 1900's the site was many things- a citrus grove, dairy farm, Old West theme park complete with railroad, and ultimately the Kapok Tree Inn.<br />
For many years the restaurant served as a fancy (and ultra gaudy) site that hosted weddings, birthdays, and all manner of specials events. But in true Florida fashion, when Baumgardener died in the 80s the family began <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1979/04/12/fraudulent-plan-charged-to-ex-chairman-of-kapok/503d7987-1740-42c1-949c-027a5351f16e/?utm_term=.3825756c0d90">a long, ugly fight</a> over the chain. The end result was that all the restaurants were shuttered by 1991.<br />
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It would take <i><b>20 years</b></i> for the site in Davie to become Long Key Nature Center.<br />
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Completed in 2008, the park is 157 acres and one of the largest natural areas managed by Broward County. It has walking trails for pedestrians and equestrians, a visitor's center complete with a scale model of the site, a rental facility for events, a butterfly garden, an exhibit hall with an activity area for kids, and more banana spiders than you can shake a stick at. That the park exists in the midst of developed Broward is a miracle when you consider that land to build on in South Florida is a highly-prized commodity. It is a great place to see native waterfowl, insects, and animals. If you want to be in a natural environment big enough to forget you are in an urban area but don't want to drive into Dade county to visit Everglades National Park, this is the place to visit.<br />
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If you go:<br />
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Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.<br />
Admission: Free<br />
Address: 3501 S.W. 130th Ave. Davie, FL 33330<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.broward.org/Parks/Pages/Park.aspx?=22">http://www.broward.org/Parks/Pages/Park.aspx?=22</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Likely deserving of its own post.</i></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-54847221123747011352019-03-13T12:16:00.000-04:002019-03-22T17:50:52.648-04:00Order of operations.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCRsgc4jC6DPbyzSAa-jvuqrnSLCf2x4Zd4JVTvUb4q06B_qVGfStdcY5BD7iuZJ1J38RtpkEzrSqD9UBbguX5kp9bO2pCcN-FaTOwaHWKiXKxUEuzPQPgFTl4p5tZatq6jpKDCjeST8/s1600/sl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCRsgc4jC6DPbyzSAa-jvuqrnSLCf2x4Zd4JVTvUb4q06B_qVGfStdcY5BD7iuZJ1J38RtpkEzrSqD9UBbguX5kp9bO2pCcN-FaTOwaHWKiXKxUEuzPQPgFTl4p5tZatq6jpKDCjeST8/s320/sl2.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>“There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.”</i> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Bob Ross</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> A little over seven months into our time here, we have finally established our daily patterns in order to ensure <i>successful*</i> days. Things are as scheduled and orderly as you can make them when dealing with two very willful children. South Florida is a loud, colorful, hectic mess. But we're ok with that. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">At least I think we are! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">As mentioned in <a href="https://uglyam3ricans.blogspot.com/2018/10/through-looking-glass.html">an earlier post</a>, the kids overall attitude keeps getting better, not worse. I see in them now a level of happiness which was more than my pessimistic little heart <i>dared to hope for</i> after their run in with Cumbres. Things are still a work in progress (that I accept will be never ending) but they are both doing <b><i>so well</i></b>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">I only have to look at their art wall to know that. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> Our oldest's school is really working with her (and us) as we navigate through <a href="http://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/ese-eligibility/">ESE</a> in Florida. We are now at the stage where she is being formally assessed at school. After the entire process is over, I will probably write an in-depth post about it. But for right now the short explanation of <a href="http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070088-idp.pdf">ESE</a>/ <a href="http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070055-504bro.pdf">Section 504</a> in Florida goes something like this:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">1.The student's parents or teacher raise concerns about said student's need for additional help. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">2.The school's ESE committee (which you can and should be a part of) meet to discuss the student. At this meeting you will be given a questionnaire to fill out regarding your child. After this meeting a form will be sent home with your child asking you to provide consent for an evaluation. This form will list the ESE program your child falls under, which is determined after review of the initial information provided by you and your child's teacher. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">3.Your child is evaluated to determine if they have a disability and what type of supports they will require to meet their needs. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">4.All the collected information is used to create your student's Section 504 education plan. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> This very abbreviated explanation doesn't take into account kids who are <a href="http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070092-whatgift.pdf">gifted</a>, or those who qualify for the <a href="http://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/beess-resources/individuals-with-disabilities-edu-act-/index.stml">IDEA</a> Act. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> If you follow the topic of the FSLife with kids who need assistance, you know that for many it can be a <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/02/state-department-children-special-needs-mental-health-issues-bureaucratic-battle-diplomacy/">brutal</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi2_ZD34__gAhVQ2qwKHQF3C-0QzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fworld%2Fnational-security%2Fstate-department-support-for-diplomats-with-children-with-disabilities-is-contracting%2F2017%2F10%2F29%2F86e2fff6-b4d4-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html&psig=AOvVaw0nIM8-e4fD-49-mfaFyjjo&ust=1552589283641705">knock down</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjg1tnZ4__gAhUEKK0KHQ6LBW8QzPwBCAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforeignpolicy.com%2F2018%2F08%2F14%2Fexclusive-pompeo-ignores-plea-from-diplomats-with-children-with-special-needs-disabilities-mental-health-issues-diplomacy-state-department-medical-bureau%2F&psig=AOvVaw2P4NGcbB5I9O-s1aqMc1Fq&ust=1552589222161827">drag-out fight</a> to get support for your kids from the department. We curtailed from our last posting due to the lack of adequate schools, and if I am being honest about it I don't like to think of the extra hurdles awaiting us next bidding cycle. Which is sad because my kids have in general loved being overseas. Will our oldest need a supportive school environment when we go overseas next? Yes. Do I think that's an impossible feat to accomplish? No. Do I dread getting MED involved? Yep. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> Despite that dread, I am cautiously optimistic about all of this. While we have some suspicions as to what will come back on our eldest's </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">assessment, we are trying to keep a positive outlook on everything. So far, it feels like we have actual agency when it comes to our interactions with the school which is very comforting as a parent. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*no-meltdown day</span></span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-5876513579626185012018-10-18T10:42:00.000-04:002018-11-28T10:47:11.969-05:00Through the looking-glass.<br />
<br />
Time is a constant you grow <i>acutely</i> aware of as the years go by.<br />
<br />
Its passage feels more pronounced the longer you are out as an expat, or (for those who move away from their hometowns to later return) when you return <b>home</b>. It has been busy these last three months. I have been quieter more than I wanted to be, because of the relentless pace our life has taken since returning to Florida.<br />
<br />
As is our tradition, we had a welcome back/return party about a month after arrival. We invited everyone, and we had more people show than we expected. I don't know if it was because we are not staying 'just a month', like we would for home leave... if it was because of the current political climate, or if time had a hand in prompting people to show up. So it was with our party. There were a ton of people there, that I had not seen in some time.<br />
<br />
It was the best hail to post I think we have ever had in our FSLife.<br />
<br />
I have been sending out actual, real, honest-to-goodness resumes for jobs. Never once before now have I actually been delighted to put together and send out resumes. But I guess that's what eight years away in the EFM job pool will do to a person. I have resolved to find a job that will be able to go with me (via telework) when we go to an onward assignment, because I really never want to be at the mercy of post for a job ever again. It might amuse you, <i>dear reader</i>, to know that some of them are actual federal jobs that pay a decent chunk of change and offer benefits comparable to what my spouse gets with State. So, with any luck, I may be gainfully employed sooner than later.<br />
<br />
The best thing that has happened since coming back has been the change in our children. For them (unlike us), Florida is a new post. Sure, they've been here for home leave, their grandmother is here, and Olivia has been here for Wyatt's birth. But they've never lived here for a year or more. So some of the same stresses that happen at a regular post are happening here.<br />
When they got to Florida, it was like they had this dark grey cloud over their heads. It has been a rough three months- but that cloud over their heads isn't there anymore. Sure, there are rough days still. But things are vastly improved at home and at school now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-20903254356343277872018-09-21T09:59:00.000-04:002018-09-21T09:59:21.934-04:00The difficult ones.I know it's hard.<br />
It's hard to like the difficult ones.<br />
<br />
Their minds and eyes wander from the page.<br />
Accidentally, of course.<br />
Like glitter slime in a colander<br />
<br />
their<br />
<br />
<br />
minds<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
avoid<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
capture<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
by escaping through the holes.<br />
<br />
A picture on the wall.<br />
The actions of another child.<br />
<i>Anything.</i> Anything except the words on the page.<br />
The number problems hidden in sentences.<br />
Se quenc ing<br />
<br />
Their day is a rebellious day.<br />
Red like a warning light.<br />
<br />
red<br />
<br />
Red<br />
<br />
RED<br />
<br />
<i>Sometimes yellow.</i><br />
<br />
Rarely green.<br />
<br />
<br />
I know it's easy.<br />
It's effortless to like the easy ones.<br />
<br />
The ones that can focus. Like lasers.<br />
Minds and eyes remain on the page.<br />
Little to no back talking to be found.<br />
Instructions <i>almost</i> always followed.<br />
<br />
They<br />
<br />
are<br />
<br />
on<br />
<br />
point.<br />
<br />
It is easier to laugh when they make a mistake.<br />
Smiles are more plentiful, as are chances.<br />
<br />
Their day is a green day.<br />
Green like a summer day.<br />
<br />
green<br />
<br />
Green<br />
<br />
GREEN<br />
<br />
<i>Sometimes yellow.</i><br />
<br />
Rarely red.<br />
<br />
<br />
I know.<br />
<br />
I know it is hard<br />
<br />
to like a difficult child.<br />
<br />
But I love my difficult child.<br />
As fiercely as I love my easy child.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-55756539166861443132018-07-12T15:15:00.001-04:002018-07-12T15:15:24.508-04:00Onward.<br />
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Months ago, when my kids were still going to Spanish class here, I ran into another expat mom. She was a new arrival to the area, having recently moved to Mérida. While the kids were in class, we chatted about a life traveling with kids, finding <i>your people</i> in your new home, and making a life for yourself amidst all of it. In the course of our chat she told me the story about how she found out her family would be moving to Mérida.<br />
Apparently, they had lived in the same place for seven years, and she'd left a picture from their initial move wrapped all that time. In her mind, as long as that last picture never got unwrapped and hung, they would never leave.<br />
<br />
For seven years, that picture stayed wrapped up, and tucked in its corner.<br />
<br />
So, imagine her shock at seeing it on the wall after a handyman she'd hired to fix something else in the house, completed the task he was hired for then <i>also</i> unwrapped the picture and hung it up.<br />
<br />
That same night, her husband came home and told her he'd been offered a great opportunity to work in Merida, Mexico.<br />
<br />
Life works in mysterious ways. I have heard similar versions of that story many times over the years as we have moved from post to post. The events of the story are usually triggered by the opening of a box, a piece of art, discarding an item held onto 'just in case'... something like that. Once that last 'thing' is done, the announcement of a new move occurs.<br />
<br />
Last night I went to bed, still clueless as to where we would be going once we left Mérida. I had been trying to write how I felt about that uncertainty for awhile, and finally managed to get it all down the way I wanted and posted it yesterday. I woke up, and with an email inbox still bereft of any news of substance, went about my day with the kids. Needless to say, the day didn't stay that way.<br />
<br />
We know where our next posting is going to be now. The handshake offer came in this morning, and it was accepted.<br />
<br />
No more uncertainty. Our preparations for departure can finally begin in earnest.<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-71590350582121634092018-07-11T18:00:00.000-04:002018-07-22T20:01:58.664-04:00NepentheWe are leaving Mérida. <br />
<br />
I am going to miss Mérida. <br />
<br />
I know that statement seems at odds with my previous writings, but I will miss the city and its people. After almost a year here, my Spanish (which had withered from years of neglect) has improved dramatically. I have made acquaintances (both expat and locals) that could have probably become full-fledged friends had we stayed here the full three years. One of them might still become a long-term friend, but we'll see. You come to accept that friendships made in this life are what you put into them. Sometimes, this ends up being a one-way street despite your best intentions.<br />
<br />
My plan of visiting as many archaeological sites in the region is pretty much at its end. I would like to visit at least one more site, but realistically I probably won't. We've just run out of time. It turns out that you can only squeeze so many sites in between work, school, people getting sick, poor weather, and any other roadblock life throws at you. Would I like to come back here to see more of the Yucatan, and visit even more sites? Of course. But right now we're more concerned with our next landing spot (and getting the kids in school when we get there) than future vacation plans.<br />
<br />
Our departure has gone from the 'if' stage to 'when' now. As such, we are in a weird limbo state, where we don't have a set <i>anything</i> (onward assignment, packout, departure). We're just here, between the end of our time in the Yucatan and whatever comes next, existing. Waiting. Working down the food in the fridge. Tossing, donating and putting away things. Unsure as to when the next step will be, and uneasy as a result. There is no section in <i>A Guide to the Foreign Service</i> that covers this. Certainly, you'll find information on culture shock and reverse culture shock (and how to cope or work through it). But not this.<br />
That isn't to say the topic hasn't been written about elsewhere. There are actually a number of articles and academic papers on the subject of managing risk and uncertainty. A lot of it relates to economics, or more specifically, the stock market. But there are also articles dealing with the personal impact of risk and uncertainty. For those of you who want to read in depth articles about risk and uncertainty management, i'm just going to leave this link <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=managing+personal+risk+and+uncertainty&ei=jl9GW6ieEYLUgAadyKvYDQ&start=10&sa=N&biw=1610&bih=954">here</a>.<br />
For those of you who fall into the TL:DR category, here's the gist of it: people will generally manage uncertainty and risk with a combination of <i>rational</i> and <i>irrational</i> strategies. Weighing your pros and cons about the future with the facts at hand, planning for contingencies, gathering as much information as you can- these are all <i>rational strategies</i>. Emotions, intuition, trust, hope, faith are <i>irrational strategies</i> for dealing with risk and uncertainty.<br />
<br />
Assembling a NOW list, and researching what posts provide the best school option for your children (on said list) are rational strategies. Searching for affordable rentals in CONUS is a rational strategy...although <i>I suppose</i> some would lump it into the irrational category when it comes to DC (HA!). The happiness and excitement you feel about a post when the schools come back and say they have openings for your kids this late in the application process, that's irrational strategy.<br />
<br />
It is also an irrational strategy to lie awake in the small hours hoping that a school will take your child as a student and give them a chance even though they have needs beyond what a regular student requires. Placing you faith in strangers to decide that yes, your spouse should be the one to fill that NOW position. That everything will be ok in the end. That a year from now, you will be laughing about all of this, around a table with good food and equally good friends.<br />
<br />
I am looking forward to that day, a year from now. I hope it plays out like that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-44091509151061458422018-06-11T17:10:00.001-04:002019-03-25T09:30:38.656-04:00Uxmal<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFfTnV1a55Qu1rEAfnhoItKCE7kIlyCDvBuhd6tbj2OO3cPtx2ZO43lUwFPKrpp4t7OmVQr5inc5ax20Acn4U9mRGtIsUpNXffndx5gaKky4Ey7Zpz27tixgqNG309gO83PUEfp2BFJg/s1600/main2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFfTnV1a55Qu1rEAfnhoItKCE7kIlyCDvBuhd6tbj2OO3cPtx2ZO43lUwFPKrpp4t7OmVQr5inc5ax20Acn4U9mRGtIsUpNXffndx5gaKky4Ey7Zpz27tixgqNG309gO83PUEfp2BFJg/s320/main2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />
In the hills an hour south of Merida, past the edge of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicxulub_crater">Chicxulub crater</a>, sits Uxmal. Uxmal was a Mayan trade center from the Late to Terminal Classic period with about 20k residents at its height. It is an excellent example of the Puuc architectural style, and the pinnacle of late Mayan art. As it grew from a small town to a major center in the region, <i>sacbe</i> were built, radiating out to nearby settlements (the sacbe linking Uxmal to Kabah is still standing) and other large sites like Chichén Itzá. Even after it was abandoned, it was still visited as a pilgrimage site until the Spanish conquest in the 1400s. Due to its location in the hills, it remained well-preserved. It officially became a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/791">UNESCO World Heritage</a> site in 1996.<br />
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The site has a number of well-preserved buildings and carvings, even before its restoration. If you visit, the first building you'll see after climbing up the steps is the Pyramid of the Magician (the first picture at the top of the post). Unlike most of the pyramids you'll see in the Yucatan, this one has rounded sides. There is another smaller pyramid, further back in the site (near the tortoise house), but it's not as impressive.<br />
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Midway through the site is a Mayan ball court, where the game of Pok Ta Pok was played. One of the two stone hoops remains intact at the site. If you visit the <a href="https://www.granmuseodelmundomaya.com.mx/">Mayan World Museum in Merida</a>, you can see a copy of the hoops on display.<b>*</b> You can also see a game of <a href="https://yucatanexpatlife.com/calendar/mayan-ballgame-at-the-cathedral/all/">Pok Ta Tok</a> every Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in Downtown Merida, by the Cathedral of San Ildefonso.<br />
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If you go:<br />
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Plan to go early. This is a large site, and it will take you awhile to see it all. The earlier you go, the less likely you will run into multiple tour buses. You will also miss the hottest parts of the day if you go early. If you are visiting the Yucatan in the summer (June/July) you really want to avoid the heat, as it starts to get really uncomfortable at around 11:30 in the morning until late afternoon (3-4 p.m.). Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat. If you don't have the hat, you can buy one from one of the vendors just outside the front gate. There are gift shops just past the ticket booth, along with a stand selling food and drink. Keep in mind any food or drink you buy at this stand cannot be taken into the ruins.<br />
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Uxmal hours are from 8am until 5pm daily.<br />
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Admission is $111 MXP ($57 MXP for the site and $60 MXP goes to CULTUR) per adult. Kids are free.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*It is a small museum, even though the building is huge. Worth going if you want to read up on Mayan history in a multimedia format.</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-38531647429953361322018-05-25T12:54:00.000-04:002018-07-12T15:04:05.364-04:00Orbital resonance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There were massive tropical storms. The children, reared in lands where rainstorms are subdued things, were amazed. They didn't know when the car arrived, that they would be flying away. Like little lightning rods catching the charge of familial anxiety, they wavered between anxiousness and calm.<br />
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I didn't understand it before, but I do now- the need to leave post, if only for a little while. The change was a welcome reprieve, but we're back at post again. Just in time for more rain. We also came home to a green pool that <i>clearly</i> had not been cleaned in the two weeks we were gone. Needless to say, I am now working to arrange for a company to come by and regularly maintain the pool. Such is life in the Yucatan.<br />
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School number two is in our rear view mirror now, after a miserable slog to close out the month. I don't think anyone will miss it. I know I <i>won't</i> miss it. The emails keep coming though, asking when we'll re-enroll our children, or emails telling me that <i>if I use an American Express card to pay for it, I can get a discount.</i><br />
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Thanks, but no thanks.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-66145675564808955392018-04-14T16:36:00.001-04:002019-03-25T10:09:12.544-04:00Mayapan<br />
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<h2>
The Mayapan ruins</h2>
Forty five minutes south of Merida, off of I-184 is the archaeological site of Mayapan. It is an easy site to visit, as the ground is pretty level and clear of debris. Like previous sites we've visited, there are more uncovered areas on the perimeter of the cleared and restored area. The big draw of the site is its main pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcan. The temple, and the other structures found at this site are generally considered <i>inferior</i> to those found at Chichen Itza. But, <i>unlike</i> Chichen Itza, this place has fewer crowds. So if you get there early (like we did), you will have the site to yourself.<br />
Even if you show up later and a bus shows up (as one did near the end of our visit) it's not a real crisis. People will beeline to the main pyramid (pictured at the top of this post), so your view of carvings and the mural at the site will likely go unmolested as other tourists scramble to clamber up pyramids in order to get selfies or group shots.<br />
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Mayapan Carvings</h2>
There are a lot of original carvings (and a preserved partial mural) at the site, which is why it is worth coming here. As it is not very crowded you will be able to get a good look at these carvings, and the mural, without feeling rushed. The structures are climbable, and anything that is off limits is clearly blocked off. It is generally kid friendly save for one place at Mayapan, a cenote to the left of the temple. There is a <b>very</b> basic rope fence blocking off the hole, so kids need to be careful. The rest of the site is great for kids to explore. There is a lot of serpent iconography here, Quetzalcoatl makes an appearance, and there are plenty of Mayan carvings (like this face and a similar one which live at the base of the Temple Redondo platform) to see on your visit. Just keep an eye out for them, as some are more apparent than others.<br />
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If you go:<br />
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Entrance fee is <b><i>45 pesos</i></b> per person. When we went, the man at the ticket booth did not charge us for the kids, but YMMV. Expect that you may very well have to pay for the kids too if you go- as these sites usually charge the same (or a reduced price) for kids admission. A bathroom is at the entrance. There is no gift shop at this site, nor are they selling any local art at the ticket booth.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-63295539554992100502018-04-04T16:49:00.001-04:002018-04-04T16:54:24.402-04:00Intertitle<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pool (maintenance) season.</td></tr>
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Last weekend was Easter, but here in the Yucatan, we are solidly in summertime temperatures. The kids have a two-week break from school, so the house is in a greater state of disarray as the children revert to their natural <i>feral state</i>. The kids, after an <b><i>amazing</i></b> tryout day/visit at one of the local montessori schools will be switching schools, <b>again</b>. Hopefully for the last time. The catch is, they start at the beginning of the new school year, and not sooner. So until then we wait, and the children stick it out the last two months before summer break. Everyone has been sick, which has put a hold on our pyramid-visiting plans. This is extra depressing because we now have our <b>official</b> license plates (bye bye paper tag!).<br />
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For those of you who are reading this, and don't know why this is so exciting, let me explain. When you finally get your car at post, you have to wait to drive it until you have it plated. Usually, this happens pretty fast. But sometimes, things happen that delay the process. Like when you lose the title to your car, and have to send for a duplicate in the mail. Which is what happened to us. We had a photocopy of the title, but not the original. So, until we were able to provide the original, we couldn't get our tags. The only thing we <i>could</i> get was a temporary paper tag. While the paper tag lets us drive around town with (relatively) no problems, things get a little dicier when you decide to drive out of town to do stuff. Hence why we've only gotten out of town twice since we've been here. So, when we did get the tags, it was exciting! Then, one after another, we all got sick.<br />
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Life happens.<br />
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This summer is looking to be a very busy season of people visiting us, which is nice. I look forward to the friends and family that will be flying in to our corner of the world, and exploring some of it with them. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-49650164165866890122018-02-23T10:47:00.000-05:002019-03-25T09:40:18.339-04:00Oxkintok <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend we visited the Oxkintok ruins, an archaeological zone near the town of Maxcanu which is a little more than an hour away from Merida. It is a less-visited site for a few reasons; it's in the hills, the site is not completely uncovered, and the two roads most frequently used to get there (after you exit the highway) each have their own problems. If you take the route we did (the clearly marked exit), you will be travelling on a winding, increasingly sketchy road up a hill that turns into gravel/rock for the last part leading to the site. The other route has you take a poorly marked exit off the highway, but is more direct, and maintained.<br />
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No matter what road you take, you will be rewarded with a site that is massive (even though it is not completely uncovered) and devoid of tour groups. This site has a number of pyramids to climb, and carved sculptural column figures. It is very apparent from the site that it really has not been completely unearthed. Beyond the cleared area, you can see the edges of pyramids and walls still covered by the scrub brush, vines, and trees in the area. There are also (again) lots of iguanas here, sunning themselves on the pyramids.<br />
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Because this site is not completely cleared, it is a little more challenging to explore, but not too much that it would be a problem with kids. You just have to be a little more observant of your surroundings. There are plenty of places to rest for shade, either in the shadow of the ruins or under shade trees. Like most places in the Yucatan, you should bring water with you because it will get hot and you will dehydrate without it (even if it feels cool or humid). If you come here with a baby and stroller (which I actually saw while we were there), know that you probably won't be doing much beyond rolling the stroller in the flat fields and having to haul it up uneven stone stairs to get to the raised terraces.<br />
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As this is a remote site, there isn't a large gift shop/ convenience store combo here. There are bathrooms at the entrance where you buy tickets. They also sell some spanish language books on the Mayan ruins, and wooden carvings of pre-columbian figures at a very affordable price. We picked up two carvings for $500 MXN ($26.92 USD). I will probably treat and seal them, because we won't always be in the Yucatan.<br />
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If you go:<br />
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Admission is $56 MXP per adult. Kids are free.<br />
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It should probably go without saying, but I will say it anyway- if you have Spanish (any level), use it. The people working at the site do speak some english, but you will get a much better response (even if your Spanish is horrible).<br />
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Note that there is a cave system, the Calcehtok caves, right next to this site. We didn't visit it, but it is also open for visits. We will probably see it on another trip.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-58956020336786567612018-02-22T17:59:00.001-05:002018-06-12T09:18:10.158-04:00Dzibilchaltún<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHSxtrU7B8LLWhXXHOiu5lF8Z3r5yNw57UM1FvBfTnRjmcdvhQeGBZs1MurhDCRKeuvvGl0pBFmDBYAZAxYvezlspTQq_d90dAaE0zl6jKlEOtIipKCp3RpTkQ1zwsBHZ13oxpB8slPg/s1600/pyraadzibu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHSxtrU7B8LLWhXXHOiu5lF8Z3r5yNw57UM1FvBfTnRjmcdvhQeGBZs1MurhDCRKeuvvGl0pBFmDBYAZAxYvezlspTQq_d90dAaE0zl6jKlEOtIipKCp3RpTkQ1zwsBHZ13oxpB8slPg/s320/pyraadzibu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dzibichaltún is a tiny site, about 15 minutes from Merida. The two things people go there for are the small pyramid, and the friendly-for-everybody cenote on-site. There is also the ruin of a church from the sites second life as a colonial ranch (and you do have people visiting for that), but the bigger draws are the step pyramid and cenote. There are also many iguanas all over the place, and a gift shop/convenience store/tchotchke zone near the front entrance.<br />
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The day we went was a sunny, clear day. We left early to visit the ruins- mostly because you want to go early (anywhere) to avoid crowds in the Yucatan. We got to the site at about 9 in the morning, but there were already tour groups at the site. This is not surprising, because the site is also close to Progresso, where cruise ships berth when visiting this area of the Yucatan.<br />
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It's an easy site to walk, even with kids. You can climb on most of the ruins, save for the section with the actual intact pyramid. The cenote is not very deep, or at least doesn't seem deep. There is a sizeable water lily field in the center of the cenote. This field of water lilies did not stop the snorkeler and assorted swimmers enjoying the cenote when we visited though, so clearly no one was bothered. The water was very clear, and I could see why someone would want to snorkel in it. It was beautiful and relatively quiet. We will probably go back to swim in the cenote with the kids and visitors.</div>
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If you go:<br />
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Admission is $70 MXN per adult. There is an additional cost for parking (another 20-30 pesos). Little kids are free. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-61246209883922220942018-02-01T16:16:00.001-05:002018-02-01T16:18:34.195-05:00Not waving but drowning.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I write in the book every day. "I'm sorry that you write and you are always asking how your daughter is and I don't respond." I am listening to the words, nodding because this is how the transaction is supposed to go.<br />
<br />
"Your daughter."<br />
"Your daughter ran around the classroom."<br />
"Your daughter did not want to do her work."<br />
"Your daughter started taking down the display I had on my board."<br />
"Your daughter ran from me, around the room."<br />
"Your daughter climbed up onto the table and hit another child in the face."<br />
"It was an accident, and she apologized, and she felt bad, but she hit her."<br />
"I know she doesn't understand Spanish, but she needs to respect me."<br />
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I nod, and listen as she continues to tell me how my child has failed, again, today. That's my job today, as the cars of other parents waiting for their children in the pick up line wait behind me. As my children wait somewhere behind the wall, held back until I am told everything I am supposed to be told today.<br />
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"I am sorry that I have to tell you this, and I know that you are working with her. But she has to respect me."<br />
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I nod at this. I say, "I understand." She nods, and we say our goodbyes. The children are now allowed to come out, led by a minder to our car. They get in, and they are happy to be in Big Silver. My daughter is not talking about her day. We drive.<br />
<br />
I ask her carefully about her day. She answers cautiously. Our conversation is like a person trying to gently coax a scared cat out from under the bed.<br />
<br />
This is not how our after school conversations are supposed to go.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-64452851503609611212017-12-22T19:03:00.002-05:002018-02-23T12:12:59.048-05:00CreepSo we are well into our third month at post, and I admit my last in-depth entry sounded pretty horrible. It really felt that dire at the time. Three months in, life in the Yucatan is still a work in progress, but for right now it's more manageable? Or at least, the problems seem to have lessened in severity?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A dramatic entrance!</i></td></tr>
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Our Halloween party was small, but apparently a success. Since the house was so barren, we left everything up except for the inflatables (like the one above!) until our HHE arrived. Now, with the Halloween decorations down and most of our stuff in place, the house feels less like a horrible vacation rental and more like a home. We probably looked like weirdos to people stopping by the house with all the Halloween stuff hanging up after the holiday, but who cares.<br />
Our first visitor came by this month- which was nice. Not a long visit, but it was good to have a visitor, doubly so that it was abuela (my mom) visiting. The kids were beyond excited to have her here for a bit, and I suspect we'll see her many more times during our time here. We finally got Big Silver last week- our car was the last thing we were waiting on. It arrived with more dings than when we said goodbye to it in Sarajevo. So, we'll have to see about getting them fixed. It works (no flat tires, no dead battery), which means we have a functioning car day one. A car with safety features! That we can leave town in and drive to the beach, or pyramids, or whatever else we want to see in the Yucatan! Can you tell that i'm happy that our car has <i>finally</i> arrived? We are looking at taking our first trip out of the city soon, after we have some maintenance done.<br />
Day to day living here is super easy. You can go to a restaurant and have a smoke-free meal. Most have a play area for kids. There is no air pollution to speak of. The skies are a clear, beautiful blue- up until midday when the daily rainstorm passes over. Sometimes we have overcast days, but it's been nice so far. Our pool is now fully functional and (more importantly) mosquito-free. The kids are now in school #2. School #1 lasted all of 3 days. School #2, which was not on our list of prospective schools (for <i>reasons</i>) seems to be working out so far. It is also really close to where we live (as opposed to a 25-30 minuted drive out of town) so <i><b>hooray shorter commute! </b></i>The kids still mention Sarajevo, their friends, and school. But they're also getting used to being here, and that adjustment will probably go faster as they adjust to School #2. We all have to find our own ways of adjusting. For the curious, this place is a <i>makeyourownfun</i>* community, and post population is small.<br />
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And that, dear readers, is where we are at the moment. Make of that what you will.<br />
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Happy Holidays!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-20188985825624180402017-10-21T16:05:00.000-04:002017-12-22T19:16:13.116-05:00The plan.<br />
Despite my last post, I have a general idea of how I want to spend the next three years here, in the Americas. As we have awhile here, and language is really not much of an issue, <b><i>the plan</i> </b>is that we are going to visit every pyramid, archaeological site, cenote, and nature reserve or park we can.<br />
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And tourist traps, because who doesn't like a cheesy tourist trap?<br />
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At least, that's my plan. If I have to drag everyone else along with me, so be it. I don't think i'll have to drag anyone along. When you sell the adventure to your kids by saying, "Lets visit beaches, pyramids, and jungles and have adventures!" it pretty much guarantees a yes response. And that's true to for my husband, for most of the places I'm looking to go. Other places require a little more planning...because i'm pretty sure some of these places are going to require a plane flight, and probably making arrangements to go with a tour group.<br />
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Exciting!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-83275622294026548782017-10-18T20:30:00.000-04:002017-10-18T22:47:01.596-04:00Stay awhile and listen.<br />
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If you know me personally, or you have read any or all of my previous posts you have probably figured out that I am what most people would say (if they were being polite) a terribly pessimistic, and perhaps jaded individual. Even when i'm trying to look on the bright side, it's still a very salty viewpoint. That being said, despite this outlook I am often more than willing to deal with things that affect our day to day life, and in general work to get them resolved. Some things you just can't ever find a work around for (ie: staircase from hell in last house) but for the most part smaller hiccups (like a horribly clogged sink, for example) can get resolved to everyone's satisfaction, even if it takes a bit of work. I get that. I also tend to get my hopes up high (despite all this) before we get to our new post, every time. Especially with this post, because <i>reasons</i>.<br />
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Now I suppose I could lie, and just pretend for the next three years in every entry about our life in Merida that everything is wonderful like an Instagram account (#INSTA-LIE), <i>but if you know me</i>, you know I am completely incapable of doing that.<br />
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<i><b>So go get a drink and some snacks. You'll need them, because this is going to be long.</b></i><br />
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At the very end of September, we finally left for post. After a very delayed flight, what should have been at most a two hour flight to Merida became a two day ordeal. Such is life. We are now in Merida, and have been here for a little over two weeks. In that time, we have done a lot of grocery shopping, received our UAB (shocking!), tried to get the kids into school, volunteered to host a Halloween party, and rented a car.<br />
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That was the short version of the last two and a half weeks.<br />
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This is the long version.<br />
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The long version starts out the same. We did leave post at the end of September, and it did take us two days to get to post. I'm not going to elaborate on that part, because it's PCS travel, which is always (despite planning or effort) a total mess.<br />
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When we got to post, our sponsors picked us up, and dropped us off at the house. A house, that once I had received our housing assignment, I had dubbed, "The Miami Vice" house. Finally, we were seeing it in person, which is always nice but <i>not always for the same reasons</i>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An older shot of the exterior, from the assignment package.</td></tr>
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As it was already early evening, we just ended up unpacking our suitcases and getting the house in order. That was when we discovered a few things we had not expected. Like a twin bed on the first floor, and two queen beds (in separate rooms, thankfully) on the second floor. Missing (important) keys. Only one set of keys. Possibly the saddest attempt at a welcome kit, ever (which merits its own post, it is <i>that bad</i>). A strong smell of insecticide, which is understandable (the tropics) but still annoying. Lights just <b><i>not working</i></b>. An LED pool light with seemingly no off switch that made the pool look like a rave.* And to top it all off, the only tub in the house...broken.<br />
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That was day one.<br />
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Day two had us meeting our babysitter (arranged by the CLO). She watched the kids while we went with our sponsors on a trip to the grocery store with a cliff notes tour of the city tacked on the way to and from the grocery store. The trip was fine, we got our groceries (the goal)- which is pretty painless here in Merida as there is no shortage of local and American goods in the grocery stores. We went home, unloaded our stuff from their car, paid the sitter, and saw everyone off. After putting away the groceries, we decided to let the kids use the pool- since they had been pestering us about the pool since the night before.<br />
There were some dead dragonflies in the water, and palm fronds at the bottom, and we'd managed to get the rave light shut off, and although I saw no movement in the water, it was apparent the pool had five jets to circulate the water. So, we let them go in. I sat, on the edge of the pool in my 'this is as stylish as a mom bathing suit from Target can get' bathing suit, legs in the water, still not quite committed to getting in with the kids. I sat like that, on the edge watching the kids for about five minutes. We have photos of that. Our children, happily splashing away in the water. Water that I soon discovered was filled with mosquito larvae. The kids were pulled out of the pool and bathed, the gate locked. And just like that, I became the <b style="font-style: italic;">fun squisher</b>.**<br />
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Day three was uneventful, save for moving the twin mattress to the second floor office since it had become apparent that the kids <i>really</i> needed to sleep in their own rooms again. This had always been our intention when we got to Merida, but due to the layout of beds when we arrived we let the kids share a room in the interim. Thankfully, everyone slept well that night.<br />
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Day four was the usual first visit/check in, and I finally met the CLO in person, whom I had been corresponding with for months. I have nothing bad to say about the CLO in Merida, and that is no lie. The children became infamous, as they managed to get into the pool on the consulate grounds when they were supposed to be playing in the playground. Everyone knows them now, thanks to that stunt!<br />
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The next four days were filled with visits from various contractors and GSO employees for work on the house. Visits that occurred much later than the stated appointment time, solving minor issues. There was a visit from a locksmith to make a key that we never received yet was necessary. He made one key, and left. Another visit was to replace our dryer- as it was not working, and had made a terrible screeching and thumping sound when I tried to use it. It was replaced, and I later found out that the reason it died was because a snake had decided to take up residence underneath it in the mechanisms. When I started the dryer, the two died simultaneously. No one was able to tell us what kind of snake it might have been, or how big. But I am guessing the answer is, "big enough to take out a dryer"- which is as good an answer as any.<br />
A plumber stopped by to take photos of our kitchen sink- apparently some time between the last residents and us, the kitchen faucet head grew legs and walked away. The plumber actually asked me if I had the faucet head lying around somewhere and I assured him that no, it was not in the house. He left to find a replacement, and never returned. A gas company stopped by to check on the level of gas in the tank on the roof. I attempted to get the pool cleaned, and that ended in tragedy since the guy I called to do the work couldn't because the pool needs to be repaired and repainted before it can be cleaned and maintained. Right now, it is a big empty hole in our back yard. At least the larvae are gone. The extra queen bed was taken away (after I argued that they would be taking it and we would not be storing it in the house) and replaced with a twin, the other queen was moved out of the master and into the downstairs room for guests, and two more twins replaced it in our room***, and the office furniture got swapped with bedroom furniture.<br />
Almost all of this (save for the conversation about the queen being removed permanently) was done in Spanish. While I am really happy about that, I can say it is also really very tiring mentally to have a full week of dealing with visitors in a familiar language you have not used in a long time. Also during this first week, I went through our inventory list, given to us by GSO. For those of you new to this- you get a list on arrival at post of all the furniture, appliances, transformers, lamps, etc. issued to your property. You, as the new resident/custodian of said property, are expected to go through the list and check off everything on it, denote things that are not in the house (missing) but on the list, and also note any and all current damage to the items on the list so you don't get blamed for said damage. Then, you turn that list in to GSO and you're golden until the end of the tour when they inventory the property again.<br />
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This is my inventory list, for our house:<br />
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Save for a few pieces, almost every item we received is damaged. Now, i'm ok with that because we didn't cause the damage and after submitting this sheet they know we didn't. And we have kids, so having stuff that's taken a beating is kind of better than having brand new stuff that you have to fix because it was new when you got it. So there's that.<br />
<br />
We also made a list of items that needed to be fixed or replaced in the house that we used to submit work orders to GSO. That, we were told, would start to take place on week two. Then we had the weekend, and that was mostly visiting Walmart (Walmart!) for things we hadn't remembered to get the last few visits during the week. Also, for more <i>pan de muerto</i>, because it's the season for it! I have decided that you can never have enough. I suppose this means I will need to find a recipe for it. So be it.<br />
<br />
Week two started with a day mercifully absent of any visitors. I spent that time arranging with the one school that had responded to my latest round of emails for a visit the next day. The following morning we took a trip to the school. As I have been trying since May to get my kids into a school at post (or at least get the process started), this was our first actual interaction with a school beyond email. This was not my first choice of school, nor second, but third. As we had the kids with us, they were 'tested'. We took a tour of the school. An appointment for later in the week (without the kids) was scheduled for us to meet with the school head to go over the results and find out if our kids could be admitted. We left with mixed feelings.<br />
<br />
The next day, we were supposed to have GSO show up at ten, to work in the house. Sure enough, no one was at the house at ten. I know, because I checked at ten, then went back upstairs to deal with the kids. Then at 10:21 someone opened our front door.<br />
<br />
It was not my husband. He was at work.<br />
<br />
This person didn't both to announce who they were, until I started running down the stairs yelling "WHO IS AT MY FRONT DOOR".<br />
<br />
No phone call to our landline.<br />
No phone call to my cell.<br />
Work order clearly stating not to enter the home without contacting the residents.<br />
<br />
<br />
I know. I probably sound like a crazy high-maintenance person. I swear i'm not. I wish I could say this was the first time I had a run in with this particular person since we have not been at post for long, but it isn't. It's kind of just the one thing I am not cool with. Maybe I have been lucky. Maybe I have been spoiled by previous posts. But I don't think so. After a very terse conversation regarding entry to the home, this individual and his coworker came into the house to do work. I wish I could tell you everything that was supposed to be completed during that visit was, <i>but I can't because it <b>wasn't</b></i>. Which is apparently a common thing here, at post.<br />
<br />
We haven't had anyone back to the house since that visit. We did go later in the week to the school for our appointment with the director. That meeting, much like our first visit to the school, left us with mixed feelings. The kids were 'accepted', if we want them to go there. I honestly don't know if we do. <i>Could we homeschool?</i> Yes. <i>Do I have the temperament for it?</i> Not really, if i'm being honest. So, back to trying to get an answer from other schools as to whether or not they have openings. The CLO is helping us out in that regard, but it's still like pulling teeth. After attending a CLO meeting about Hanal Pixan and Halloween, I offered to host the Halloween party at our house since we have decorations (thank you UAB) and lots of empty space. I also learned, during this visit to the consulate, that the majority of EFMs at post are male. So, for once I am the minority in the EFM population at post. I suppose there's a first time for everything. Clearly, no book clubs or wine night here!<br />
<br />
Which brings us to this week. We rented a car (for getting around town), and now we are arranging for work to begin in earnest on the house next week. I have managed to clean the house to the point where your feet don't turn black just walking around on the tile. Many of these things regarding the house will get taken care of in the near future. And to be clear, GSO has been great about our concerns, and is actively working to make things better. They already know everything here- and I have no beef with them. Other things still have me a bit on edge. Beyond this, what i've seen of the city is beautiful. The skies are blue (when it's not raining), there is tons of green everywhere, and it's sunny. I have no problem when we are out and about communicating with people. Sure, there are some things I take a minute to process, but it's to be expected. Maybe, after a month or two here, i'll be able to laugh all of this off as an aberrant blip for an otherwise lovely tour. I think that if we get everything with the house sorted, and the kids school taken care of, we have a really good chance of enjoying the three years we are here for. We just have to get to that point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*A Dengue/Zika rave!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**This is not the first time (or last time) I have been called that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">***Because two twins = king (or close enough).</span><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-34301833603885285872017-08-11T13:47:00.000-04:002017-08-11T13:47:10.144-04:00Sea of silver light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVgtI30z2y_osMbcCfyhRHekl1DEShIw_6FqcvKRxSk9dpbu5ztP9gSo2obBGXOLZXxQPrWJXAvAlNe5wLxDYYDkdvuBsQCbNskPlDsI-B2gVrUrBcv1wbfz1k4a73tpaIV0jFriTH8s/s1600/lrc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVgtI30z2y_osMbcCfyhRHekl1DEShIw_6FqcvKRxSk9dpbu5ztP9gSo2obBGXOLZXxQPrWJXAvAlNe5wLxDYYDkdvuBsQCbNskPlDsI-B2gVrUrBcv1wbfz1k4a73tpaIV0jFriTH8s/s320/lrc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our kids really have it lucky.<br />
<br />
It's funny that during something so mundane, you mind can drift to an earlier time and place in your life. I was making dinner for the family (pizza), and realized that my kids basically have <i><b>almost</b></i> the dream childhood of an 80s kid- <i>or at least my interpretation of a dream 80s childhood</i>. They play video games* (many of them educational, thankfully) at their discretion thanks to their kindle fires. They can watch cartoons whenever, wherever- not just on Saturday mornings. Pizza, popcorn, chicken nuggets, burgers, fries, and probably a few comfort foods I am forgetting are no strangers to dinner time**. Books galore, both digital and hard copy. A buffet worth of art supplies. And a sea of toys that will likely get culled again when it arrives at our next post.<br />
<br />
<i>Almost</i> everything, like I said.<br />
<br />
We walk to the local grocery stores, when i'm not feeling lazy. Even though my last two posts have been on the subject, it honestly isn't the only thing we've done while here for training.<br />
<br />
But i'm getting ahead of myself.<br />
<br />
We walk, a lot. The kids and I. While we are walking, I have a lot of time between incidents of kid minding to take in my surroundings. Both the Safeway and Giant near me are in reasonable walking distance. Safeway is solidly in the outskirts of Falls Church. Giant is near Virginia Square station, which is a mix of commercial and residential. We walk to the local parks that are in walking distance. The parks are mostly in residential areas. Getting to these destinations on foot provides a visual snapshot of what most people*** would consider an example of everyday life in the United States. We see kids coming back from camp. Well worn play sets and playgrounds in yards. Older kids on bikes with no parents! The remnants of some kids chalk art on the sidewalk or pavers. None of these things definitively point to a life built up over time in one place. I know that. But they do remind me of my childhood growing up in South Florida. A childhood under a wide blue sky in the middle of suburbia- where after school activities meant hanging out at your friends houses in the neighborhood, and weekends filled with board games, bike riding, pools and exploring the undeveloped acres filled with scrub nearby.<br />
<br />
I see the kids here, on the mall in their summer camp groups. In the museums. The neighborhoods and the shops. Roaming free-range in this urban environment. Part of me sees all this, remembers childhood, and makes me think <i>maybe i'm fucking my kids up with this lifestyle</i>.<br />
<br />
Then my daughter will start talking about how she wants to go see a movie on the side of a house again with the other kids- and I realize she's talking about an outdoor movie night at our last post held by another family. Or my son will say something about one of his friends from our last post. In these moments when my kids are telling me about something they remember that is a happy memory, I realize that their childhood is <i>theirs</i>. Not mine.<br />
<br />
Sure, they're going to have their bad memories or disappointments, but they are having fun. This is their normal, it is happening in the present.<br />
<br />
<br />
But I <i>probably</i> am fucking them up somehow.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*For those of you who also grew up in the before time, you can still play <a href="http://www.vintagecomputing.com/madmaze/">Mad Maze</a> (originally offered by Prodigy a looong time ago) online, for free via emulator.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">** I cook healthy, too!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">***Yes, I know the local neighborhoods are pricey. But i'm not talking about the actual costs to live here, just the image of suburbia/city on view here.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-28040607556403250442017-06-16T10:22:00.001-04:002017-06-16T10:32:38.945-04:00Adventures in internet grocery shopping.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXv94w3K_6Fhg8Hjg1EYpgzLbEb5i6UnXOs-RmatCk8A_Vwv8NtYSaGanOhisVh2LEJ48FChsvVRll3jEaUz1b8ZPRnyqAICsdD3MzxaUC94E_zlaZH2oIOhyMote8Z1yniqyUz25Det0/s1600/lgs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXv94w3K_6Fhg8Hjg1EYpgzLbEb5i6UnXOs-RmatCk8A_Vwv8NtYSaGanOhisVh2LEJ48FChsvVRll3jEaUz1b8ZPRnyqAICsdD3MzxaUC94E_zlaZH2oIOhyMote8Z1yniqyUz25Det0/s320/lgs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As mentioned in a previous post, I am lazy and unwilling to make multiple trips on foot or rent a vehicle in order to get my groceries. As my last two attempts ended in tragedy, I decided to forego a third order on Peapod and try a different service.<br />
<br />
Enter Amazon Fresh.<br />
<br />
I did not actually order ice cream in this order, which I immediately regretted once I received it. Unlike the Peapod order (which arrived in plastic grocery bags devoid of cold packs/dry ice pack for refrigerated items) there were plenty of ice packs (and dry ice packs) to keep the produce and frozen foods cold. They also used cold bags to further insulate anything cold.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQaswcykpY8N0dhyphenhyphenLPPNaD-6S1vHPt3Flmafsd5MIPeXipCurfttm_xakfWSD6JlhHBJG5JOy5G8R-YGzzV1NbnszLQq7SpVneMjSJV6OgdtAtQtgKC4gMU-Fog86O4vB98yn7P58Qn0/s1600/20170614_163734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQaswcykpY8N0dhyphenhyphenLPPNaD-6S1vHPt3Flmafsd5MIPeXipCurfttm_xakfWSD6JlhHBJG5JOy5G8R-YGzzV1NbnszLQq7SpVneMjSJV6OgdtAtQtgKC4gMU-Fog86O4vB98yn7P58Qn0/s320/20170614_163734.jpg" title="" width="180" /></a></div>
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There was only one problem with the order- and that was how they packed the chemicals:<br />
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<br />
While I don't think anything leaked out onto the produce in that bag, it easily could have been the opposite. I did tell Amazon as much in the follow up email I sent them about my order. Costs for items in this order were on par (sometimes lower) than local grocers offering a similar service. Even with the treatment of chemicals in this order, I would probably order again from Amazon. I don't think I would do this (or other delivery services) if we were actually living here. Mainly because:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li> we'd have a car if that were the case</li>
<li>I prefer shopping for produce and meats in person</li>
<li>selection is still not as wide as what you'd find in-store</li>
<li>there are still some things that show up cheaper in store due to sales,coupons,etc.</li>
</ul>
But, while we are here for training, I will probably keep using the service for big orders. And I would totally trust them delivering non-liquid ice cream. <i>I would definitely recommend the service for folks PCSing and getting their groceries dropped off on day 1 of home leave.</i> In that regard, it is a lot easier than placing a grocery order online (which a lot of grocers, and Walmart offer now) only to pick it up in store while you and the family are in <i><b>full-on zombie jetlag PCS mode</b></i>. If you decide to use this service, make sure it is offered in your area, because they are not offering the service everywhere in CONUS yet.<br />
<br />
Happy internet grocery shopping!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-31606051643736504922017-06-09T12:13:00.003-04:002017-06-09T12:19:52.596-04:00Way Station<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
After spending a lovely 30 days in Florida that seemed (like it always does) to go by faster than it should, we now find ourselves in D.C..<br />
<br />
I'm not complaining, mind you. This is an extended stay in the U.S. for training before we head off to the new post. If it were a tour here, I would probably be complaining because D.C. isn't cheap. But we're not, so hooray for that. So far we've had the chance to spend time with friends from other posts since arriving, and visit the museums. As both kids enjoy walking, we are taking advantage of that fact because it is easy to walk wherever you need to go. And if it's too far to walk, there's the metro. Which the kids love to take because 'TRAIN'!<br />
<br />
The only thing which has been a bit troublesome is grocery shopping. In the before times, I used to look at grocery shopping as something easily completed in one trip, at one store. Now, after a number of years shopping for groceries on the local economy overseas, I have come to the realization that maybe (just maybe) that memory of one-stop shopping was wrong. Because since we arrived I have visited a number of stores (and ordered online) to get everything we were looking for. Also, <i>and this might be in part due to age and lack of a car</i>, I have no desire to make multiple trips lugging my groceries (while wrangling two very active children) on foot from the nearest grocer to our apartment. Now before you say, "You can rent a Zipcar!" or other similar service- I know. I have an account with Zipcar. But the cost of renting a car by the hour (where the hourly cost begins as soon as you rent it):<br />
<br />
finding said rented car <br />
installing the car seats<br />
getting the kids in<br />
getting to the store<br />
shopping<br />
getting out with everything (including kids!)<br />
getting back to the apartment<br />
hauling it up to the apartment<br />
getting the car seats out<br />
driving the car back<br />
<br />
is greater than what it would cost to just buy your large order of groceries online and have them deliver it to you for a fee significantly cheaper than the total cost of the rental. Which is about ten bucks (at most, before tip from Peapod), in case you were wondering.<br />
<br />
So that's what I did. I know, I'm lazy. First world problems. But then I realized something once I got that order. Not everything should be ordered online. Like fruit. Or deli meats. OR ICE CREAM*. Learn from my mistakes people!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Pro tip: You might want to buy your Ben & Jerry's (or for that matter ANY ice cream) in person, because it's going to arrive in liquid format if you order it online with your groceries. Just saying.</span><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-68637013122208995492017-05-07T16:59:00.001-04:002017-05-07T16:59:02.069-04:00FillerHi there.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
I actually (surprise!) have stuff to write about, but not the time at the moment. I know, sad maybe for the handful of people reading. Until the next post of substance, I leave you with this YouTube video clip which aptly conveys my feelings about being back in the USA.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XvuM3DjvYf0" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8697446973934103375.post-45050521879903880982017-04-17T08:59:00.000-04:002017-04-17T08:59:58.627-04:00Crossing the Rubicon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bmWzaRf16V2i_hlt4iqvo7QxgH2VeGoJDbMZyeWX9G-TAgznOcI12noYCGIPwYeLhE7eJ4XpouiqYZHdT0eUDLU8K5W6HwERTsbO1E_hZ9tdheXjTAgBnoQyMETkoee5NAddE98QePI/s1600/20170413_160843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bmWzaRf16V2i_hlt4iqvo7QxgH2VeGoJDbMZyeWX9G-TAgznOcI12noYCGIPwYeLhE7eJ4XpouiqYZHdT0eUDLU8K5W6HwERTsbO1E_hZ9tdheXjTAgBnoQyMETkoee5NAddE98QePI/s320/20170413_160843.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clear day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pack out. It is part time capsule, and part <i> 'this is your life</i>'. It's a weird thing, and I don't think you ever get used to it. Mainly because our default response (when sedentary) is to just keep all these things you accumulate. The things we keep settle like layers of sediment around us, in our living environment. We don't address this accumulated <i><b>stuff</b></i>- and if we do, we put off <i>for another day</i>.<br />
<br />
When you enter the FSLife, you can no longer do that. You have a finite amount of total weight, split between your storage, your HHE, and your UAB. Every pound counts. Keep or toss. Store or send onward. Nothing escapes review. When they came to do the pre-packout survey, they told us we were either at, or over our maximum*. Two weekends ago we were sifting through the last bits of junk before the packers arrived. Bye bye old Christmas tree, toddler bed, crib, clothes, and all manner of junk we haven't used or looked at for the last two years. Or <i>longer</i>. Last week, our house was full of boxes. Today, the house is empty save for our suitcases and a pile of stuff set aside for UAB.<br />
<br />
Since we have a moving scale, we've weighed out our UAB items and they are also well under the total weight for UAB. Which is good because I still have a few souvenirs to pick up before we leave Sarajevo that are not going in a suitcase because they are too damn heavy.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Our total weight for HHE, it turns out, was under the maximum. Which means we <i>can</i> get some HHE stuff sent from Florida to Mexico because we have the weight to do so.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0