Very stressful and upsetting day

Well, things have been going great and I have been very optimistic until now.

I have been super busy as everyone can see and haven't had time to really think and I think that is what happened today.

Miguel is starting a painting and remodeling business so, we were trying to register it on the SAT website but, even though, I thought I speak Spanish, I found out, I have a lot to learn and Miguel has never used business Spanish. He went to the US when he was 17. So, we didn't understand half of it and that caused it to take forever. Would you believe that, you HAVE to have a partner or other employee besides yourself. The website requires a socio, we tried to put me but, I don't have my Fm2 or 3 so, no go. After we filled in everything except the socio, we were able to send it in for approval and guess what? We got denied, we need a moral partner and their approval, what ever that is. I will have to investigate this a little.

Throughout this ordeal, I was assigning weekly spelling words to the kids and giving them math work. By the time I finished, it was almost 12 and I had to be at work at 1 so, I gave the kids a review assignment for English and a writing assignment. Then, I got dressed and left.

I was thinking the whole time that, I just don't have enough time in my day. I have to work, have this HUGE responsibility of my kids education in my hands, have to cook lunch and dinner, and plus plan my classes for work. This caused an eruption, I sort of went off on Miguel and then told everybody, I loved them and left.

All the way to work, I was crying and almost called in to cancel my classes but, remembered, hey! This is your responsibility so, I kept going. Some how, i got thru the day but, I don't remember hwta we did in the classes just, that I gave conversation classes today. More like, they talked and I half listened. I know, not a good teaching style especially for English classes but, for today, I don't really care. Today was my "I want to go back to the States" day but, not really. I do miss all the benefits of having family around to help with anything and here, I don't have that.

I have come to a conclusion, I have way too much on me. Miguel is a life saver but, he can only do so much. He is no cook so, that will continue to be on me and the kids education will be, as will my classes so, I just need to figure out how to balance this.

I think, right now, what I need is "Me Time" I have always had it and in the past 7 months, I have only had me time a few times. In the States, I had "Me Time" every week so, yea, I need it. Nobody understands this concept here. they all think that if you had the kids, it is your responsibility to be with them 24/7. So not true.

I just don't understand how things can be going so great and just all of a sudden, just like that, change! I don't know, maybe, I am Bipolar or something but, I feel hopeless right now when yesterday, I felt great. I don't know what is going to happen right now but, I do know, I will get through this, one way or another!!

Sunday de Familia

Things have been pretty boring here lately (this can be a good thing.) so, I don't have much to blog about, sorry.

Yesterday, we had an American cookout: American Hamburgers and Hotdogs! yayyy!!! My husbands cousin and his family came over and finally brought back my grill and cooler that we loaned them about 2 months ago and that was only because we asked them to bring it so, that we could cookout while they were here! I have learnt, do not loan anything out here unless you want to have to beg for it back. Well, I made my special hamburgers with, worcestershire sauce, seasoning salt, pepper, and minced onion mixed in the meat. We had all the toppings except for pickles, :( my favorite. Other than that, the food was awesome. The night ended early, around 8:30, everybody was tired and Miguel's cousin had to work today.

Today, we had planned a lazy day at home but, my sister in law called to tellus to go eat breakfast, they had made menudo. Now, I can't stand menudo, there is just something about knowing it is the stomach and intestines that just makes me nauseated. Miguel on the other hand absolutely loves menudo (I tell him that is the Mexican in him LOL) so, we get up, and urggg! get dressed, and after about an hour and a half of telling the kids hurry up and get in the shower, hurry up and brush your hair, check that the dogs have water, and about a hundred times saying get in the car, off we go! I hate going there because, the Transitos like to harass and constantly want "mordidas" or bribes. My favorite one is, your fine will be in the passengers name because, the title is in her name, the fine will be around 6500 pesos, and I will have to take possession of the car title and owners license until you pay the fine. The fine will be around 6500 pesos, are you sure you can pay this? Here, I say (I am the owner and a very angry owner at that) what you can keep my title and license? My license are property of the US. They say yes I can but, we can get around this. How much money do you have? At that, hubby will say, we only have about 10 pesos and the transitos says well, I'll tell you what, go get some money and then come back. We can get around this with about 300 pesos. We say ok but, we make sure, we don't go through there for a few weeks. These guys are "perros"as the call them and now I see why! I have learned to hate them as much as any other Mexican!

Ok, back to my story. We get there and as usual, sis in law has her little attitude but, oh well, that is her problem. I am so over it! We have a good 3 hours there. Miguel eats 2 huge bowls of menudo and I ate a couple of steak tacos. The kids had gotten up and fixed the leftover hotdogs for breakfast so, they weren't hungry. While there, we pre-planned a Halloween party for the neighborhood. We have made the decision not to go trick or treating, it is just too dangerous here right now for that. I will post more on the party later. We also, decided to give my sister in law a surprise 18th birthday party in November. We will plan it better when, she is not around and all of the other girls are around. We went to La Michoacana afterwards, for those of you in the US who have been to a Michoacana there, my favorite one is in Gainesville, GA, the ones here are almost exactly the same only less variety of toppings. Now, we are at home and I am thinking bout what to make for dinner as I am writing. Multitasking!!

Well, here is another peak into my boring life that I am loving so much, right now. For all I care, it can stay boring but, just with more money!! Which reminds me, I am plannig on starting English classes at my house for groups.

One more thing, I have started another blog about homeschooling my kids, it is called Homeschooling in Mexico. Take a look and see what we have planned for this year.

Thank you, Valerie from This is Life for giving me the idea of homeschooling again this year.

That's it, have a great Sunday!!

Welcome to "My Crazy Life"

Well, my last post was about my calm weekend. Well, unfortunately, my life is no where near calm, normally.

On a normal day, I teach 5-6 classes at different locations, homeschool my children, and cook lunch and dinner. I get up at 5:30 AM and finally get to take a break at 9:00 PM. Usually at 9:00 PM I am planning classes or sending emails from bed! I have yet to figure out how to put in some "Me Time"but, hopefully, I will soon. Like, before the nervous break down.

I am home schooling the kids now, I decided that, since we still have a tourist permit and no real legal residence in Mexico, I would just register the kids in the homeschool program in the US and send in the forms through my mom. So, I have a 4th grader and 2nd grader. the 2nd grader is so-so easy but, the 4th grader is difficult. I don't have access to traditional Home school books here like I used to buy at the book stores in the US so, I used the internet to get curriculums and from there I find lessons and readings online.

   Jeni, is in 4th grade and she drives me crazy. She doesn't have the desire to study this year so, she is whining and complaining constantly! Plus, to add to that, this year she is learning long multiplication and long division and she forghot her multiplication tables! Atleast, she loves to read and write so, that part is easy. her reading level is a 8th grade level as of February of this year.

   Luis is in 2nd grade and he is learning regrouping and place values right now, he started last week and has already learnt it. But, not to brag but, he is my little Genius! He had an IQ test done last year and it was 142, only 2 points away from Genius level!!! I am so proud!!! He also, loves to read and write. His reading level is a 9th grade level as of February of this year.

    So, now I am trying to balance all of my responsibilties and hopefully include some freetime! Have a great day people!

Relaxing 3 day weekend...

Happy Independence Day to all!

Well, thanks to Miguel Hidalgo, I got a very needed 3 day weekend. Well, almost. Haha. there is always a catch, right?!

On Thursday, I got off early at 3:00PM. We had planned on going to the festivities, it would have been my kids and my  first time seeing the "grito" and Miguel's first time in 6 years but, about a mile from our house they killed 3 Transitos. So, needless to say we stayed at home. We did go to the 7 Eleven and get ice cream for the kids, Modelo for micheladas for Miguel and coffee for me (my addiction). From my son's bedroom window, we could see the fireworks in San Nicolas. Here in Monterrey, they did the fireworks early due to all of the issues here. So, we saw the fireworks and then ate dinner. After that, we played and All Mexican game of Dominoes for a while. This was a first for the kids, they had never played. Well, Jeni had beginners luck, she won almost all games!! we went to bed early but, watched the "grito"on TV, I loved Felipe Calderon's enthusiasm!!

On Friday, we did chores all day. I figured I would get the weekend chores out of the way and have Saturday and Sunday free. My inlaws came over that afternoon for a while but, not even long enough to stay for dinner. Oh well. That night, we went to bed early because, I recieved a phone call that I had a class at 9 the next morning.

Saturday, I woke up to my phone it was a text from one of my students. No class today!! Yayyyyy!!! Well, here is where the catch comes in. I had a class with 3 kids in the afternoon so, at 12Noon, off we go. I say "we" because, my son is my assistant teacher. I have an 8 year old, 12 year old, and 13 years old. I give them a 2 hour class and the 8 year old can't handle that. So, my son goes with me to play and conversate the last hour with him in English. So far, it is working out great and was the parents idea. Well, Saturday evening was a late night, the kids have turned into "parranderos" since we moved here. They now have friends around the block and the neighborhood is very safe so, on Saturday nights, all the kids are running around from house to house. Fortuantely and unfortunately, my house seems to be the most popular one, we brought the kids Wii and X-box when we came to Mexico so, my house is the "Arcade". I say fortunately because my kids are at home and I know they are safe, unfortunately because, all the noise and plus, I 'have' to furnish snacks and sodas for the kids. They are around 20 kids in and out of my house!

Sunday, we watched Cantinflas on TV. So, we relaxed and had my second Mom over for dinner of All American fried chickem!!! MMMMMmmmmm!!!

Have a great week everyone and maybe I will have something more interesting next time!!!!!

Rest in Peace Jose Daniel

Almost 2 weeks ago my husband and I were out walking the puppy and we met this guy who showed us his puppy he had for sell, we never got his name but, he seemed a really good guy. 

Five hours later we were awakened by loud noises outside we thought it was the gun fights of the Cartels so we looked out the window but, never went out. Outside our bedroom window lay a man bleeding to death, we thought the cartels had shot him so we didn't go outside first our kids second others. I felt helpless, watching him die and nobody did anything. The ambulance arrived an hour later and declared him dead. 

The next day we found out his name was Jose Daniel who was 26 years old and he was on his way home from walking his 4 month pregnant wife to the bus to go to work. He will never meet his child, he did not deserve that.

He was at the wrong place at the wrong time a gang of about 20-30 people were chasing the gang from this area and mistakened him for one of them and beat him to death with full 40 oz glass bottles of beer, he choked in his own blood.

He was the man we met that day.

Today they took up all of the saints and candles that were placed where he died and in its place the put a cross.

Please take a minute to remember and honor all of those who have died as an innocent bystander of gang activity and organized crime. Anyone who is involved in these crimes please think about this man, who lost his life and the chance of a future, his family who lost someone they loved dearly, and his unborn child who will never know him.

Rest in Peace Jose Daniel...

Welcome to our journey...

What!!!???!!! You are going to Mexico with all of the fighting going on down there??? Have you lost your mind?! You are not taking my grandbabies there!!

This is what I heard in January when we decided after the first approval for Georgia's Bill HB87 which is their version of Arizona's Bill. 

After hearing about the bill, we talked it over and decided, it is better to leave and apply for legal status from Mexico than to stay and wait until the caught him.

It took us about 2 weeks to convince my family that we would be ok. So, on March 10, 2011, we began our journey. We loaded up our 1998 Dodge Dakota with our clothes and as much household stuff as we could get in there. And set out, after 3 days and 2 nights of hearing "Are we there, yet?" from our  bored 9 and 7 year olds, we arrived in Mexico. 

Everything was great up until we were waked in the middle of the night to gunshots. We got the kids to the bedroom with no windows, (the one I used to hate but, no longer do.) and since we no longer heard any gunshots looked out the window and right in front of our bedroom window laid a man dying. We stayed up until 4 AM too scared to sleep but finally all of the Investigators left and we all camped out in a 12x10 room, all 10 of us. That room has become my safe house, if I hear anything going on in our area; my kids go in that room. 

When we decided to come here, we thought prices were close to the same as before but, imagine our shock when we realized that food prices are the same as in the US. We arrived here with less than $1500 dollars and are now trying to live on M’s salary of $1200 pesos a week which is about $106 Dollars.

I am job hunting now so, hopefully I will have a job by the first week of May. We’ll see….

Goodbye for now..