Still alive...

Well it has been over almost a year and a half since I posted anything. Nothing is new. Just kidding. A lot has changed.
My best friend and roommate, Juan, decided he didn't want to be friends anymore and stopped talking to me and moved out very suddenly.
My boyfriend, Fernando, moved in to help me with the cost of rent.
We have had 4 different roommates move in and out of the other bedroom in the apartment. I swear, it is not us. They have all left for different reasons, and I believe them. Maybe naively.
I have 3 cats now. Kimbo, Balam, and Gago. They are beautiful and so fun and loving.
I turned 30! Even got my name on the big screen at Dady O at the party. So VIP!
Work this year has been a little strange. We have had 5 teachers/administrators come and go so it has not necessarily been a smooth year. Luckily the changes didn't affect me all that much, but it did help me decide to officially resign from my job in Chelmsford and stay here longer term. I started the first ever cheerleading team here and they are fantastic. I was also named head of the math and science departments. Currently I am figuring out how to construct a brand new science lab on the 3rd floor of the school. It has been busy and tiring, but it is my passion.
I recently bought a condo here too. It is undergoing renovations right now and hopefully Fernando and I will be moved in by July 1st!
He and I are moving forward... thinking and even talking about marriage and kids. I think getting the condo was the first step. Meeting his family in Mexico City will be the next one.
All is well overall in Cancun. Still missing my family and shopping, but I know this is where I am supposed to be - for now at least.

Long time no post

Well I am finally ready to start posting on here again. And I will eventually go back and try to post old, funny or exciting stories, but I had to post what is happening now. Apparently International American Schools, no matter what city, have pretty high turnover in general. Cancun, as a city, is a transition city, so many people come here for just a short time and leave. I knew these things before I moved here. but I just wasn't prepared for one of my very close friends to leave, and so soon. Kayla, from Vancouver, has been living here in Cancun with her boyfriend, who is Mexican. He has an opportunity to move back to Canada for work, but he must act quickly as it is quite difficult for Mexicans to get work abroad. So she, not wanting to be in Cancun by herself, is moving back to Canada with him.

When I first heard the story, I was upset. Upset that my friend is leaving, upset that our group of friends is being broken, upset for our students who will now need a new teacher, upset for other teachers who will need to pick up the slack, upset that this bomb was dropped on me so suddenly, upset that our fun night out tonight is actually a going away party - that I helped to plan! But mostly I am just sad. I am sad that I am now wondering if a stable life is ever really possible here. I am wondering if I would ever be able to get used to people - good friends - coming in and out of my life so quickly. I am questioning raising a family in this type of environment. Or is it even possible to start a family in this environment?

I can only now enjoy what little time I have left with her and hope that we stay in touch. Thank God for Facebook! And I will continue to lean on my other friends here. We will all miss her very much!

More Pictures

Here are some more pictures. In order from top to bottom: Dos Playas, the cafeteria at school, my classroom, and the snake that popped out of the books in the library at school.

Pictures!

Here is a picture of my school. My classroom is in the corner on the second floor. Our air conditioning broke this week... very HOT! The other picture is the living room in my new apartment. It is huge and beautiful and furnitureless. I love it though.

Discovering more every day...

After discussing some health issues with a colleague, she prompted me to go to Hospiten, where she goes to see a doctor. It was very nice, almost like an airport actually. The doctor and all employees spoke English and were very nice. I was able to make an appointment in one day and the cost for my visit was only $60. This is amazing to me! And in case you are concerned, I am fine. My body is just having a hard time adjusting to the change in location...

Today is my first day with my students. So far I have only had one class with the 11th graders, but they seemed really nice and full of life. One of my students is actually from my hometown! Small world. I am anxious to meet my other students this afternoon.

Some colleagues invited me to a soccer game this weekend, so I might meet up with them. And I also think I am going to splurge and buy myself a television and get cable. Ah, big weekend plans...

Playa del Carmen

So today I ventured down the coast about an hour to Playa del Carmen, which is a small town that has been growing and growing over the last 10-15 years. A friend and her family are there for a week so I decided to go down and meet with them for a coffee. So I walked about 2 blocks north from my apartment to the Centro bus station and bought a round trip ticket (cost was about $7.20). The bus was air conditioned and played a movie (en espanol). When I arrived in Playa, I took a taxi to a little mini-community within it called Playacar, which is where my friend was staying. We met at Starbucks and talked for awhile. It was nice to speak to someone from home.
When we were finished I just hopped back in a taxi (which was $5 each way) and got back on the bus and headed home to Cancun. I am so proud of myself for actually going on this trip. I actually thought about just staying in today because I was nervous. But I practiced a little Spanish today too, which was great, and I saw some new parts of the Yucatan - on my own.
In other news, I went to pick up my laundry this morning, but it wasn't ready yet. This week I will bring my laundry in Thursday or Friday. Saturday seems to be a very busy day for them. I met a new friend for dinner tonight too. I have to say it was a good day.

2 weeks and counting...

So I have been in Cancun now for just about 2 weeks. So much has happened - I don't even know where to start. When I initially got here, my friends, Miguel and Gustavo, met me at the airport and brought me back to their apartment where I stayed for just about a week. They both work all the time and are never home so I ended up sitting there alone without internet access watching Spanish television.

Luckily before I left to come here a girl had posted on a Cancun website that she had a room to rent in a good location and it was in my price range. So I had emailed her and she sent me a text while I was on the plane down here. I met up with her towards the end of my first week and agreed to take the room. The room and the entire apartment are gorgeous. My room is huge and air conditioned with a built-in desk and bureaus. I share a bathroom with Fiko, who lives in the other single room in the apartment. The common area is really spacious, but empty. No one wants to get any furniture for it because they all think they will only be here temporarily. The kitchen is stocked with supplies though, so I was actually able to cook for myself this week. The other room is a master suite that is shared by a couple. They have their own bathroom and walk-in closet. He is German and works as a chef in Playa del Carmen. She is Mexican and works at an architect here in Cancun. There is also a pool in the back that looks great.

The girl who rented me the place is awesome too. Grace is from England and works here editing wedding photos for her mom's business. She was moving out of this apartment to move back with her mom because she and the step-dad just separated. We have hung out a couple of times. She is so nice and we have a lot in common. Mostly I like that she is white and blond and doesn't speak any Spanish and has lived here for 4 years. Oh yeah and it completely sarcastic which I enjoy.

School is great too. I am stressed because of the workload but I am sure it will all work out once the kids come to school next week. There was a snake in our library the other day. That was pretty exciting.

And I now I am psyched because I have internet access at home, so I will be able to update this blog a lot easier - and they won't take as long to write - or read.