I have decided to take a more journalistic approach to my blog, to capture the day-to-day living in Mexico at this time in our family’s lives, currently here in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
Today began early with my 5:30 a.m. school day wake up to get breakfast and lunch ready for the kids…..that’s code for: make coffee for the husband, tea for myself, fill the water bottles, prepare morning sinus rinses, check on the dog, check to make sure backpacks and all school supplies are ready to go, get my own affairs in order for the day, switch out the laundry, turn on most of the downstairs lights and set the stage so that when I have to wake my babies up when it is still dark and cold out, they will at least be greeted with a warm breakfast and a stimulating cartoon! Fortunately, they get to sleep in until 7….
It was probably one of the coldest mornings we have had since moving here—45 degrees according to the weather report—definitely sock and sweater-worthy weather! Can’t wait for those January 30 degree ones……now won’t that be a change from our hot San Pancho jungle days?
Out the door by 7:45, we made our way through the narrow cobblestone colonial streets and to school by 8 a.m. It would likely be just as fast for us to walk to school, but the car heater is very welcomed on these chilly, high-desert April mornings.
School drop-off’s at Victoria Robbin’s are always such a delight, and allow me the comfort of knowing that my children are in good hands. Mairead and Liam love this school. In fact they have stated several times that it is the BEST school they have ever been to—and they have been to quite a few.
Happy Kids=Happy Mama=Happy Dad=Happy Family…pretty simplistic view of our family recipe for success, but not an exaggerated one at all. No doubt Frank would agree.
Hugs and kisses and a couple of extra ones thrown in while they’ll still let me, I bid Mairead and Liam good day and made my way up Hidalgo Street to Bios Lab for some routine lab work.
One of the many things I love about our new country is the simplicity and efficiency of the medical system. Day before yesterday, I needed to get in to see a doctor. I called in the morning and was seen in the afternoon. Today, no appointment needed, I walked into the lab, paid my reasonable fee, waited 5 minutes, had my blood drawn, and was told to come back tomorrow night at 5:30 to pick up the results. Tomorrow night?! No 6-week turnaround time? No insurance games, no waiting for a call back from the doctor? I’ll take it!
In the year and a half that we have lived in Mexico, we have received excellent and affordable medical care all from the fields of neurology, orthodontics, pediatrics, ENT, general family practitioners. This is a simplistic take on a huge system, but honestly, so much better than the one we experienced in the states.
Being such a chilly morning, a hot cup of tea was next on my agenda and without delay, I made myself to the town’s main plaza—El Jardín—for a hot cup of English Breakfast and watched the buzz of activity through the coffee shop window, enjoying the warmth from inside.
A walk back to our temporary rental was my exercise for the day, and sufficient at that, with all of the inclines of this beautiful, colonial town. Home to rest, eat, write and then back out to pick up the reds at 2:30 when their school day finishes.
One of the highlights of Mairead and Liam’s day is hanging out after school, shooting hoops with the older kids, who are quickly becoming like big brothers and sisters to them. At Victoria Robbins there is this beautifully functioning community of co-learners in a supportive, loving, family-like culture. No wonder there’s so much joyful learning going on.
We are home now, my husband is cooking up something delicious while my daughter Mairead and I hang out in the 3rd floor tower room of this vacation rental, enjoying the spectacular view of our new city, having some Mom and daughter chill time. Liam…? He is downstairs with his dad, watching Spiderman, in Spanish of course.
Hasta pronto,
~Katie
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