Here are a few reflections on our new life as I drink my morning coffee (which is getting better but still not perfect):
1. There are rarely two experiences that are the same here. Ask a question on the expat forum on FB and you will get a different answer from each person. From exchanging electronics to crossing the border to getting a driver’s license, no one has the same experience. Which also means you should not accept the first answer you get. Keep asking.
2. We are living much more moment-to-moment here. I have no idea what we’ll have for dinner tonight. I have no idea how we will get to or back from Spanish school today. We will figure those things out about an hour (or a few minutes) before we have to do them.
3. Everything takes longer – and you need your passport. Mailing a little package to a friend in the USA? Passport please. Picking up luggage? Passport. Getting a pass for the pool in the resort? Passport. And that last one is a three day process.
4. If you are walking or even driving, it is your responsibility not to get hit, not the other driver’s. If they hit you it’s probably your fault.
5. Just because you had an experience yesterday does not mean you’ll have it today. The luggage place opened on time yesterday but we can’t count on that next time. The place we went for dinner on Saturday was not open for lunch yesterday but might be today. You just don’t know.
6. Just because it’s on the menu doesn’t mean they have it. Or just because it’s not on the menu doesn’t mean they DON’T have it. Have a back up choice, and ask questions.
I’m sure there’s more but that’s all for now!
Leave a Reply