What I would miss (and not miss)...

What I would miss:

My parents and nieces
Friends
Patriots games
Dance class
Going on vacation to Cancun

What I would not miss:

Driving (including traffic, commuting, and potential speeding tickets)
Snow and cold weather
Pantyhose, hats, mittens, scarves, etc.

People think I am crazy...

After seeing some old friends and making some new ones this weekend and sharing my story about the potential move to Cancun, I am finding that most people think I am absolutely crazy! I actually really don't care. Does that sound awful?

I don't feel like going through the whole explanation... how I have been traveling to Cancun with my family since I was 9 years old, how it feels like a second home to me, how I have always wanted to live and work in a Spanish culture, how this "idea" has been an idea for about 10 years now and it is not just some whimsical daydream.

Part of me wants to do this to show all of these people that I am NOT crazy and can actually make it in a foreign country, where they speak another language, and I can do it all on my own.

Working Girl

Well I have had some great luck this week. I set up an appointment to meet with a man who runs hos own travel company in Cancun. He agreed to meet with me for an "interview" so he could make recommendations to me and to companies looking to hire someone to sell timeshares. (8am appointment! Clearly he does not know that I am not a morning person.)

Then I heard back from one of the schools I sent my resume to - a school to teach English to both students and professionals. The woman sent me all of the requirements for the job and it sounded fine, so we set up an interview while I am there as well.

But the last place I heard from really excites me. It is another school, but I would be teaching math - in English - to students in uniforms! But the best part were all of the benefits that were laid out in the job description. Reimbursement for flights for foreign teachers, medical insurance, 2/3 of rent paid for plus help finding a suitable space to live in, bonuses, etc. It sounds amazing.

Additionally, this is not a school that is just looking for just any breathing body. They require at least a Bachelor's Degree, and prefer graduate degrees and experience, which I can certainly offer them.

I was happy when the woman asked for references almost right away! Jobs don't ask for references unless they are serious about you. Come to find out, she contacted all of my references within 24 hours! We then scheduled an interview, and I am so excited to meet her and the staff and see the school. I have so many questions.

The most thrilling part by far is that all of this information made my parents feel a little better about this adventure. They even joked that maybe they should apply to this dream school in Cancun. My father did say say that he and my mom were already thinking about times when they would come down to visit. I am so glad to have their support. It means more to me than anything else.

There are a lot of things to do in the next couple of months - finish my Master's, work 2 full-time jobs, dance class, weddings, move out of my apartment... it will be a whirlwind, but I am ready for it!

Homecoming

In preparation for the trip, I am moving out of my apartment and into my father's mother's home. She is in a nursing home and not able to live alone again and the house has been sitting there empty for about 9 months. This relieves a lot of pressures:

Financially - my father has been maintaining the house anyway and will charge me minimal rent and/or utilities. There is also enough room for me to store everything I own in the house so I won't need to rent a storage facility.

Cat - now I don't need someone to adopt Neuman or for my parents to open their home to him, which they wouldn't anyway.

Personal space - moving back home with my parents again would be difficult - for them and me.

The house is right down the street from my parents and in my hometown, so I have friends and family right here too. I think it is a good plan. I am moving May 1st.

Flight Prices

I cannot believe how much it costs to fly to Cancun! Luckily I have a free flight voucher (and I have signed up for every frequent flier program on earth to earn points for later flights) but still - it is so expensive. How are people going to be able to travel with me, or to visit me while I am there, if the flight prices are so high? I guess it is the rising cost of fuel, but come on...

My new potential roommate called me yesterday. I was glad to hear her voice. She seems normal. I am going to call her back today so we can have a real conversation.

And I have had tremendous luck applying for jobs in Cancun. I have heard back from 3 schools and a couple of resorts. Very uplifting. And I have made solid plans to meet with an owner of a travel company when I am there in April. Can't wait to go... especially since it is snowing here today - again!

Meeting Friends Online

I have made "friends" with a girl that I met on a 'moving to Cancun' message board. She seems really nice, but she is only 20, but again, very nice. She and I have been emailing back and forth about moving and potentially sharing an apartment. I am nervous about this although I think it would be good to have a roommate there.
But what if in real life she is actually a moron, or a cokehead, or "Single White Female"-esque? I did feel a little better after seeing her myspace page, but I am still anxious.
I wish I had some kind of magic power where I could tell if people were truthful or not right away. It would have made so many things so much easier in my life. But what fun would that be, right?

Update

I work for the best school department in the world. I knew this before today but it was reiterated with a phone call from a woman in the administration office today. They are allowing me go to Cancun next month to make a decision about taking a leave of absence from my job. And with the leave of absence I am guaranteed to have a job when I return in a year. What school department would do that? I am extremely lucky.

Since I am having a hard time finding an adoptive parent for Neuman, my cat, it looks like he might be making the trip with me. Some small fees will be necessary but not too much paperwork. Completely doable.

Now I am just having a hard time finding someone to go to Cancun with me in April. The resort where we will be staying is so inexpensive, but the flights from here are ridiculous. Plus I need to go there with someone who won't mind and will be capable of getting home alone at night. Not that I frequently leave my friends up the creek without a paddle, but some people would have a real problem with that. Some people are checking their finances and whatnot and letting me know. I hope they tell me soon.

Obviously moving there would be completely different than vacationing there, and I need someone to vacation with. Let's see what happens...

The Truth Comes Out

I had the big conversation with Mom today about moving to Cancun. After she questioned the money and why I even bothered getting my Master's degree, and amidst her tears, the truth came out... she said, "What if you don't come back?"

While my plan is to only stay abroad for a year, it is a real possibility. She said she thinks I will meet someone and never come back and she will be too afraid to travel to see me, especially if something were to happen to my father.

So many "ifs" in this scenario though, and I am not a big "if" person. Honestly I could go down to Cancun in April and meet with some of these contacts and decide this really isn't such a good idea after all. Or I could go thinking this is a good idea but be home by Thanksgiving. Or I could go and love it. There is just no way to tell until I make this move.

Thank God I went to church today and the message spoke to me directly, as it usually does... "live your life like you mean it." Now that I can do and I think moving to Cancun is part of my journey. I am scared, but knowing that my mother is scared but also supportive makes a huge difference.