Destination Paradise

I'm guessing it's not normal for a newly married couple to spend nearly 2 months of their first 7 in separate countries, but such is our reality. Anyway, it hasn't been terrible. I (Amy) have had the chance to see all the family and friends I've been missing over these past months. Carlos has been able to hang out with "just the guys" without anyone having to worry about leaving me out. Christmas was an incredible adventure filled with food, food, and more food, along with the joy of being with family. So far every time I drive, it's in typical Chicago winter weather involving high-velocity winds, freezing rain/ice/sleet/blowing snow, etc. For someone who hadn't driven in 4 months, that was initially a shock but after a few minutes you get back into Chicago Driving Mode. Carlos told me that driving here was going to seem like driving in a park after what happens on the roads in Monterrey. I thought he was exaggerating, but boy was he right. Even ...

So even after 2 months, there are things that still take getting used to... 1)Wearing short sleeves and sunglasses in December 2)Green GRASS in December! Pic taken during my leisurely walk home from work the other day... 3) Monterrey's fascination with soda (Exhibit A: best-selling cola, Big Cola, which tastes like Coke and sells for cheaper. And also comes in a 3.3 Liter bottle.) 4) The amount of meat and unhealthy agents they manage to pack into a single dish here. Take the innocent baked potato. Here we present a Monterrey variation that includes three cheeses, cream, steak, and I don't even remember what else. (Don't worry, this was the first and only time Carlos tried it) I'd say the tray weighs about 5 pounds. 5) The way that people from here are really FROM here. This city is a labrynth of unfamiliar streets, incomprehensible traffic, and hard-to-find services. Those from here find no trouble navigating all this. But even Carlos, born in this city, never e...

This post is just to celebrate that after a month of working in Mexico, our bank account is loaded with Mexican pesos. We are now buying groceries, paying bills, and living off money made right here in Mexico, so now our US savings can grow good interest and we don't have to keep paying international transaction fees to use it. We find that very exciting. We are finally settled. In other news, 19 days until Amy lands in Chicago for Christmas!!!!!