POLITICS ~ UNITED STATES IN MEXICO

POLITICS  ~ United States in Mexico

How does the election in the United States effect other countries?  For the last        two weeks every Saturday we have breakfast with Spanish lessons at this diner. Ruben our teacher clips newspaper articles out of the Spanish newspaper here in Mexico for us to listen to the words and repeat them along with explaining them to us in English.

Well the past two weeks it’s been focusing on how the Mexicans feel about both candidates.  You see it does affect not only the Americans but the whole world. 

There is this English newspaper here in Guadalajara that wrote an article that holds true because I am here to see it happening.  The peso fell to an historic low this past week closing at 19.96 to the U.S. dollar. 

Reasons cited for the peso decline are the continuing fall in international oil prices, speculation of an increase in U.S. interest rates and the bounce in the polls for Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for U.S. president who has vowed to deport all documented immigrants from the U.S., erect a wall along the 2,000-mile border and renegotiate or scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexican government officials have dismissed the Trump effect as significant reason for the peso’s decline.

Living here in Mexico and converting the American dollars to peso’s is what is helping Dan and I to survive after spending almost our whole life savings to cancer treatments here in Mexico.  The U.S. wanted to poison us with the conventional treatment.  So I am somewhat grateful to be able to live comfortably.

 Regarding the wall.  There has been a wall and fence that was started back in the 90’s, however it was never completed in some areas.  I invite you to go see the wall between California and the Tijuana Beaches.  On the side of Mexico, they have a monument with pictures of immigrants that passed through to the U.S.  It’s far from a wall but it separates the border and I must say well put together.

I do not like to post anything that is political for we all have our own opinions; however, I feel we should all check our facts and educate ourselves on each side of the fence.   There are two sides to every story.  So this election let’s not decide if we do not know all the facts.  Educate and Research for Knowledge is power.  May the best person represent us and the world. 

  

DAY 1269 LIVING IN A HOTEL IN MEXICO

Day 1269 (3 YEARS ~ 5 MONTHS ~ 20 DAYS)

LIVING IN A HOTEL

MEXICO

Dan and I have been living in a Hotel since we arrived in Mexico for the past one thousand ~ two hundred and sixty-nine days.  A home says a lot about you by what you place in it and how you decide to decorate it.  I have made our suite our own by adding little touches throughout our temporary home.  We find it less expensive then even renting a house or apartment.   When you rent either one everything is usually separate; like the electric, gas, gardener, maid, cable, phone, etc.  When renting time in a hotel all most everything is included in the amount you pay for the rental.  They provide you with maid service and laundry which is a small fee like about $3.00 to $5.00.

We would not do it any other way than this for it has been very simple and we have been able to be flexible and explore the area around us without worrying about Heckle our turtle. When we are away the maid or workers come in everyday to feed and turn his light on for a small fee.  To me this is priceless for I am able to focus on enjoying our travels without thinking the worst and knowing he is being taken care of.

So if you ever consider visiting Mexico for a while, research the option of staying in a hotel or motel.  About five months ago we moved into another hotel for the same price, with much more; for example, now there are two bedrooms with king size beds along with a lake view of Lake Chapala.  When researching look at all the costs and what you get, for it is amazing the price difference.

We have enjoyed the experience of living in a hotel and also the experiences of using the bus system that is offered to the Mexicans.  This is another option to look for when finding a place to stay if you do not want to own a car in Mexico.   We have been very lucky for the bus picks us up right in front of the hotel.

Day 1268 (3 YEARS ~ 5 MONTHS ~ 19 DAYS)

TIME AND MEXICO

Converting down to the seconds

109,641,600 seconds

1,827,360 minutes

30,456 hours

1269 days

181 weeks and 2 days

Time, one thing that I have learned here in Mexico is tomorrow is another day.  So each second is precious.

Time Lyrics

Translation in progress. Please wait...

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

Every year is getting shorter; never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say.

Home
Home again
like to be here

When I can

When I come home
Cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones
Beside the fire

Far away
Across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell

Yesterday, while on the bus heading to the organic market I noticed in the small villages ahead art.  One thing that I take with me is how creative the Mexican's are.

VIVA MEXICO ~ 1267 DAYS

VIVA MEXICO

It has been one thousand two hundred and sixty seven days since our adventure of moving to Mexico.

This past weekend Dan and I celebrated with the rest of Mexico their Independence Day (September 16^th).   We were invited by some friends to go to dinner and listen to music. It was the traditional food and music to create the true meaning of their culture.

Long before 1810, Mexicans had begun to chafe under Spanish rule. Spain kept a stranglehold on her colonies, only permitting them limited trade opportunities and generally appointing Spaniards (as opposed to native-born Creoles) to important colonial posts. To the north, the United States had won its independence decades before, and many Mexicans felt they could, too. In 1808, Creole patriots saw their chance when Napoleon invaded Spain and imprisoned Ferdinand VII. This allowed Mexican and South American rebels to set up their own governments and yet claim loyalty to the imprisoned Spanish King.

This was the start of Independence Day in Mexico.  The celebration starts on the day before and around 11J in the evening of the 15^th the president speaks to the Mexicans and the party continues into the next day.

As you can see in the pictures below, they go all out singing the traditional songs and play with honor.  Dan and I enjoyed the day with friends going to Jocotepec a town near us and listened to a band that was only 10 yards away from us.  I felt the music bouncing off my chest.  Loud and passionate, the kids played with gusto. 

Since we have been living in the community of Chapala, I have learned so much about traditions and how proud they are of their culture.  I have had the pleasure in meeting some wonderful Mexicans as well as Americans and Canadians.  The unity together has made me wonder and realize how lucky Dan and I are to have decided to move here.  I feel safe and do not fear that something bad would happen to me in this community.  I invite you to come and visit this area and see for yourself.

MACHI MA (Earth Essences Food)

The best place for healthy food in the area.  All the food is from the earth and is very eco friendly, organic, conscious and nourishing; made with so much love and passion!! If you are going to Ajijic you have to go and try some juice or smoothie and the dish of the day!! A  beautiful project with people from a Big Heart and he loves what he does!!

The food is not just healthy ~ but delicious.  So next time you are in the neighborhood come on in and feel the energy. 

Located on the Carretera in Ajijic.