We got chicken!!!

A couple of months ago my girlfriend Cele from Argentina came running over asking us if we "lost a chicken". Did I just hear that right?? I mean her accent is a tad different than that of my Mexican friends, but not that different!!

Needless to say Cele was not kidding, and I did hear exactly what I thought I'd heard. Someone lost their chicken, and when she got home from work it was in her house.... It got through her back patio door that she leaves open!!

Hubby to the rescue ran over there and helped them out. The poor thing el pollo was so scared and shaking.... He had a broken wing, and was so skinny. Hubby caught him and put el pollo in our friends laundry room with some grains while we went door to door asking if someone had lost their chicken.....

To this day we have no idea whos chicken it was, and I'm not quite sure what Cele did with el pollo after we left....

Only in Mexico..... :))

Here they are!

In my last post I had mentioned that hubby had a nice little surprise waiting for me.... Two photos from our wedding put on canvas, and framed!!!

They are so beautiful, and we still have to hang them... I kind of don't want the one of me put up in our family room as I feel it's a bit too much of ... me! However, hubby really wants both of them and that is one of the reasons he picked these specific photos.

What do you think?? Am I right? Will our friends come in and think "Well someones a little full of themselves", or will they think "aww...isn't that nice"??

Still gotta say I loooove that he did this for me!!!!

Spring. What spring?

I arrived in Calgary early this morning with our puppy Kiara, and my Bff S picked us up from the airport. What a trooper! Kiara was an angel on the flight, and again the flight attendants told me they didn't receive one complaint - thank goodness for gravol. LOL!!

It was a balmy -3 celsius so not too cold, but still a shock to my system. Poor Kiara was shivering in the car ride, and didn't go out until we woke up this morning!!

Hubby is meeting us on Friday and may only be staying for the weekend as he is starting a new job, and they really want him there for Monday. I hope he doesn't have to go back as we spent $800 on his ticket and would really feel wasted if he's only here for the weekend.

My mom's 50th birthday party is this Saturday and it's going to be HUGE. I'm going over to her house later today to surprise her as she thinks I'm coming in on Friday with hubby. I can't wait to see her reaction. I'm the only daughter out of 5 kids. I also happen to be the oldest, blah!

I will have to write another post about this, but I can't leave you hanging - I'm a student AGAIN. More info to come in my next post!!!!

Off to get ready so that I can surprise my momma tonight!!! EEEE can't wait!!!

Suds and Wax

Living in Mexico sure is a different cultural experience. Unfortunately, sometimes in Cancun I don't get to see the "real" Mexico. It even differs from neighbourhood to neighbourhood here. Por ejemplo in my neighbourhood we don't have the guy on his bike selling elote, or the icecream guy, etc... However, in my Suegros' neighbourhood they have it all - the gas trucks driving around blaring their music, the jardinero's, the ladies who iron looking for work, etc....

You know what we do have? Our very own car washer who also happens to serve as our gardener. Now I know allll the neighbourhoods have someone like this, but that's really all we have! You see, about twice a week he comes by the neighbourhood on his bike with a very small trailer attached and comes knocking. It's more like singing - I actually have no idea what he is saying, and hubby doesn't either!! Ni modo.

For $50 pesos he will hand wash the entire car inside and out. For $200 he will do all that and wax it. Now that is a deal. Sometimes nothing beats washing by hand, now does it? This morning he asked me for something to drink so he got an ice cold cerveza. I let him know it was his propina!

There he is ....

How cool is that??

Milestones

Wow a lot can happen in a week. Where to begin....

Hubby is in Calgary and I was just informed moments ago that he did pass his Canadian Citizenship exam, and interview!!! YAY. Would you believe his ceremony is at 1:00 this afternoon?? That's in like 15 minutes Calgary time!!! Family and friends are invited so my parents are headed there and some of his best friends. It's all too cool for my family as they all had to go through this many, many years ago. I am first generation Canadian so have no clue!

What else?? I guess we've been so busy studying, and preparing for the exam we forgot that we passed an anniversary. I moved down to Cancun permanently a year ago last week!!! Most of my blogging friends, and even non-blogging friends who moved down here all remember, and celebrate their dates. Not I, we forgot!! Ooops!

In my year in Mexico (second go at it) I am still learning a lot about myself and Mexico. I do want to shout out a HUGE thank you to all of my followers who I truly, truly do consider friends for all of your patience, and advice!!! Without some of you I would go CRAZY!!!

I can't wait to see what this next year in Mexico is going to bring us, and can't wait to write about it.

Again, gracias amigas/amigos!!!

The greeting!

One thing that I've always pondered is the simple greeting in Mexico. You know, the walk into a room say hello to everyone greeting. Only no, it's not that easy. I swear when moving to Mexico, and/or marrying a Mexican there needs to be a school on greetings for us expats!

In my perfect world the school would have a curriculum that looked something like this:

Lesson 1: The Kiss : on the one cheek not both. Now for a girl like me who comes from a very Croatian family it's both cheeks. A kiss on each cheek, which can be tricky enough - what cheek do you go for? In Mexico I learnt real quick it's just the one, and okay that seems simple enough. I can do this!

Lesson 2: The When: alllll the time. Meaning, every time you go somewhere and it does not matter if there are 2 people or 20 you give them each a kiss. This was a little more tricky as I still catch myself thinking "really, everyone? That could take me a few minutes. What if I forget about someone? How do I get alllll the way around the table to get to them? Pressure. Pressure." Okay, so you must learn to adapt. It's to everyone that is in the house.

Lesson 3: Whom : Okay, we are getting tricky again. Basically what I do is I kiss who ever goes in for it. LOL. Good thing I'm still talking about pecks on the cheek! In reality this is mostly true, but hubby has tried to teach me a few things or two. Family = Always. Friends = Always. Acquaintances = Most of the time. The help = Almost never. To me that is weird.

The acquaintances that I barely know I have to kiss them? However, my cleaning lady who I see every day, never? Not even on her birthday?? I love my cleaning lady.I do realize it would be weird to do daily, but never? Not even special occasions? My yoga teacher is okay, why? I don't know.  Another example? We have a restaurant that we visit a couple times a week. We have made some pretty good friends with the owner, and his stafff. I always kiss the owner on his cheek, and the head waiter. The rest of the staff it depends if they go for the kiss or not. I follow suit. Hubby tells me I don't have to, and all I have to do is extend my hand. How though? How can you escape when they are already leaning in??

Now another important thing to take note of  is most men in Mexico don't kiss the cheeks of one another. It would really have to depend on whether they are family or not, or compadres....you know mi brother. Women, we kiss the cheeks of both men and women.

Could you even imagine....

Okay, so Lesson 4 would have to be about avoiding the kiss, and extending the hand. This is where I'm really lost and have no clue. Someone else will have to fill in that part of the lesson for me!!!

Ohhh and we can't forget Lesson 5 - How long inbetween visits: How long after seeing that person does that first kiss last? An hour? The day? A few hours? To me it doesnt' last that long. In my world I'm safer just giving the extra beso rather than unintentionally insult someone. That would be my word of advice to you.

So yeah, there you have it. I think I much preferred my world of hand shaking with a hug here or there. Also, I am a firm believer that germs won't be passed off so much. I dont' want to get sick! I don't want any cold sores! Nor do I want to get any one else sick. Maybe I over think the whole thing, but to me I'm just not the biggest fan!!!

However, I do have to admit that I am getting much better at this kiss on the cheek meet and greet. I appreciate the fact that it is about being polite, and acknowleding someone. It is a bit nicer than not even saying hello like some people do back home.

I love my hubby, and I do love Mexico. I will not be the odd man out, and I will continue to do as they do. Kiss, kiss! Ooops...I mean kiss. Just one :)

Security and Sleep

Hubby and I have an ADT alarm system in our home. We also have electrical wires surrounding our entire home's perimeter. Does this sound a bit much? It used to, but not anymore. In our neighbourhood every single home has this type of security. That and VERY noisy dogs which usually keep the neighbourhood awake.

Our electrical wiring

It is very common to have people honk their horns outside your neighbour's house at 6am, 7am, they don't care that you could be asleep. It's not that I think they are intentiionally unaware, but I believe they don't even think about it. It is just a way of life here, so that I have got to get used to. The barking dogs who are not told to shut it, the honking of horns all hours of the day, the loud music, the broken mufflers, etc....

Last night we were awoken by a neighbours alarm going off in their house. Hubby went to check if everything was alright - they weren't home. This was around 1 in the morning. The alarm didn't shut off until just past 6:30 today. Where was ADT? Where were the police? That is what we'd really, really like to know. It really was that loud.

We can get past all of the other noise, actually I've grown to appreciate it somewhat. Less by-laws. Where I come from we joke that there are by-laws for by-laws. It really can get out of hand.  Too many, or not enough. A perfect compromise would be great. Like Switzerland!

Ahhh.....One can only dream :)

Hope you all had a better sleep!!!!

Before the weekend

I thought I'd write a quick post before the weekend. I just got back from a wonderful breakfast with my dad, step-mom, aunt and uncle, and the in-laws. I treated myself to a cafe americano for the first time in weeks today, and wow can I feel it.

My aunt and uncle are leaving this afternoon and decided we needed to rush home so that they could have one last dip in the pool. Crazy. The pool water is so cold we haven't been in it in months, literally. Last time I was in there was either October, or late September. They are far braver than we are!!!

I am sad to see them go, but it sure was nice having them around. There is nothing like family, is there?

On another note, hubby received his exam date for his Canadian Citizenship!!! He already has his Residence card, but this is the golden ticket we've been waiting for. Don't get me wrong, he is a very proud Mexican, but this is going to open much more opportunities for him, and for us!!

Hubby booked his plane tickets last night, and will be spending 6 days away with his best buddy in Calgary. I'm really sad that I won't be going with him, but it just wasn't worth spending all that money right now. The tickets were very expensive as they were booked last minute. We were only given notice the other day, unfortunately. However, I will be in Calgary in late March for my mom's big 5-0!!

I am so proud of hubby as he has been busy studying and really knows his stuff. A bonus? He speaks French as well so he can opt to write the exam in either French, or English. Aww.... I'm so proud :)

Oh Canada!

Do you know how much easier this will be for us when we travel?? A Canadian passport will make things much simpler for both of  us. Yay! Especially since we are planning a trip to France this summer for a friends wedding, and then a wine tour with my family for my big 3-0!!! Ahhh..... !!! It's not that I'm excited to turn 30, but heck, on a vineyard is the way to do it!!!

Okay, well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!! Stay warm wherever you are, and have some fun!! We are headed to Isla Contoy tomorrow, and plan on having a blast ourselves. Then football games on Sunday!! Since my Patriots played like crap last week, I now by default must cheer for the Steelers...

Most of the gang heading out tomorrow :)

What are your plans??