Editor’s note: This is Part 6 in a continuing series by Amy Conroy. To read the other parts, go here. Although this is the last one from San Miguel de Allende, Amy has promised one more post a few weeks after they’re back home in Los Angeles to share their impressions on their immersion adventure. We hope you’ve enjoyed living vicariously through Amy and her kids as much as we have!
This will be short and sweet as I am sad to leave, but we get on our flight tonight and admittedly, we’re excited about going home too. A beautiful nameplate on the side of a house that encapsulates my feelings about San Miguel…
True, we’re all thrilled by the prospect of living under one roof. My boys have already planned sleepovers with their best friends and we plan to celebrate our homecoming California style ~ on the beach!
But I will bring back mezcal to share along with my plans to return for 6 months in January! It was just too amazing to walk away from. And after you’ve had one of the best meals of your life at a particular restaurant – wouldn’t you go back? And order the same thing? On my honeymoon, I ordered tuna tartare at every meal.
Again, it’s the kids that are the clincher. Their Spanish grew and improved so rapidly that they were astonished, and a bit disgusted, when they needed to translate for me the other day. The schools were lovely – I have nothing but admiration for these teachers and administrators. The kids brim with flourishment – and how could I not want a second cup of that?
So, hasta pronto to Canada de la Virgen…
Hasta la proximo vez al D.F., Mexico City, Tenochtitlan…
The Jardin and Parroquia…
Parque Juarez…
Our beautiful home we’ve shared while here…
The fountains…
History…
La Gruta & hot springs…
Helados, nieves, elote y guacamole…
Thank you to all of our friends who introduced us to the magic here… who brought the warmth of friendship to the new and exciting, and kept it all personal in the exotic and different.
I am grateful to our friends at home for their support of our endeavor, and offer a mil gracias to my husband for all of his miles logged and time spent in LAX customs. Thank you, SpanglishBaby, for indulging my tales and for all of your encouragement.
We are leaving, but we’ll be back. I will be nervous to return I’m sure… because it’s not that I don’t see all the bugs, or smell the uncomfortable stench, or read the papers. This is a country built on passion and not for the faint of heart (i.e. blood and gore are regular aspects of all religious, political, and social life), yet still I am not dissuaded. And still, I am not yet satiated. It’s an Achilles heel…
~ random leftovers from the last 4 months ~
Favorite quotes:
“Why does Daddy speak like an English person?” – Calvin (5) to me, when Daddy pointed out “basura”… uh, bcuz he is American?
“¿Cómo estás, ojo de pescado?” – 5 to 7 year old jokesters after learning about plantars wart
“¡No le toca!” – Cecilia’s first Spanish phrase, that she repeated over & over & over
“If you’re not nice, nobody will want to sleep with you” – me to 3 kids, because we all slept in one bed for the first month. Prophetic, no?
“What is his name? Cowboy?” – new preschool mini-friend asking me Calvin’s name (unusual in Spanish)
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain
Spanish words that, when confused, can be either a) amusing or b) alarming:
- embarazada vs. vergüenza (pregnant vs. embarrassed)
- borracho vs. berrinche (drunk vs. tantrum)
- chulo vs. chula (pimp vs. cute)
Other things we’re bringing back (aside from Spanish):
- new name for a fish: ‘ojo de pescado’
- stronger stomach
- sparkly 10 lb geode found on canyon floor
- baby/individual sized Tajin’s
- ‘Wizard’ costume designed by Jack and hand-sewn
- several pair of cowboy boots
- new appreciation for plumbing and electricity
- laissez-faire attitude toward fireworks
- princess love by Cecilia; my acceptance of said state
- naranjada mineral!!!
- the mexi-dog we’ve always wanted, named “Hola Ricky Fuente”, who followed my kids home one day
http://www.saveamexicanmutt.org/
Thank you so much for sharing your adventures with us!
Dear Amy,
I have read your entire travelogue with relish, admiration, and great anticipation that I too can cobble together an immersion experience for my family.
Your example is both inspiring and encouraging. My husband and I are no strangers to living abroad, but with young school aged kids it just seems to add an extra layer that I’m having a tough time figuring out. My girls are in a Spanish/English dual immersion program here in Pasadena and I really want to take them somewhere, get plugged into a local Spanish speaking culture, and stay for awhile next summer.
When you recover from your re-entry back into CA, which could take a few months, maybe you would have a few minutes to talk practicalities and decision points about your adventure. I don’t mean to be forward, but if you are willing to share some ideas, I’m all ears : )
karlabluestone247@hotmail.com
I would love, love, love to chat with you! I am very interested in finding a bilingual school for my kids and would love to hear about yours… your kids will be so ahead of the ballgame with their language skills, I would imagine that it will be easier to get right down to enjoying wherever you decide to go. Definitely, let’s talk!
Perhaps when school starts we could meet for a coffee?
and thank you for your kind words… it really has been a treat for us all, and a gift to be able to share it with others.
I’ll be in touch in September, but don’t hesitate to email me as well!
all the best y gran abrazos, Amy
Oh great Amy! I’ll look forward to our future chat. This is why I love Spanglishbaby – it builds a community of like-minded families trying to navigate the sometimes bumpy road to bilingualism : )
My girls (1st and 3rd grade) are at Pasadena Unified School District’s dual immersion program housed at the San Rafael campus.http://sanrafael.pasadenausd.org/
Lots of great things happening at school and totally gung ho, committed parents. A short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBQY5yqPIBg
Let’s talk in September : )
Abrazos,
Karla
Wow ! It went so fast !! Maybe not for you, but def. for me !!!
LOVE the dog & can’t wait to meet him !
Will always be so proud of you for doing this !!!
Welcome home !
Or , welcome back !
Alison,Glenn & Ella
I have enjoyed reading your experiences in SMA, I am an expat living with my Mexican boyfriend in D.F. but I am hoping we can move to Oaxaca very soon. I love San Miguel and we go once a month, but whenever I go to Oaxaca I just feel like it is my true home. It is a completely different culture since it was settled by the Zapotecs so there is a totally feel and experience to the city and the state.
When you return to Mexico for 6 months, I hope you and your family will get to spend a week in Oaxaca trying the food (completely different from northern Mexico and completely amazing), going to the different artisan towns, and enjoying everything Oaxaca has to offer.
If you would like any advice about where to eat, what to see, what would be fun for children in Oaxaca, and other such things, don’t hesitate to be in touch. I love talking all about Oaxaca and giving recommendations!
Whitney
yes, yes, thank you! That is first on my list for excursions when we return in January… I’ll definitely be in touch and would be very grateful for any advice/recommendations – mil gracias!
oh, and for the DF, too! clearly 4 days was insufficient, so we’re each looking forward to returning and exploring further…
muchas gracias, Whitney. Please, let’s, stay in touch!
x,
Amy
Terrific, I would love to give further recommendations for Oaxaca and DF. When you return/are planning your trips, shoot me an email or leave a comment on the blog and I will be happy to help!
I also wanted to say – I think it is amazing what you are doing for your children. My family always went on vacations abroad (Europe) but never did what you are doing and I wish we had been more adventurous. Since then, I have gone to university in London and lived around Europe (Paris, France; Sarajevo, Bosnia; Barcelona, Spain) before coming to Mexico, and I haven’t touched down in the US in over 2.5 years. Living abroad and getting a completely new perspective on life is so healthy, I think, since we in the US have such a skewed vision of life pressures and how life should be (I am from NY originally). I think your children will thank you for the experiences you gave them when they grow up.
I look forward to being in touch this autumn!
Whitney
Hi Amy!!
I have enjoyed reading about your endeavors in my home state of Guanajuato. I’m so happy that you enjoy learning about Mexico and our culture.
I was born in Leon, Gto. but grew up in a small town called Cd. Manuel Doblado, then I moved to Guanajuato for 3 years while going to la Prepatoria oficial de la Universidad de Guanajuato. I moved to the USA 12 years ago and have been back a couple of times to visit my family. My American husband and I would love to go again and bring our kids so they can be immersed in the culture and language. BUT, the only thing holding me back is the alarming stories I hear in the news and the things I hear from my family and friends back home. Did you ever feel in danger?
Welcome back to the US!!
Magda
Honestly, never. Never did we once feel in danger. We tried to practice ‘best caution’, of course. For example, we didn’t walk THROUGH the park after dark, but all very normal practices for any city living. We live in Silverlake, CA, and truthfully I would hear of more violence and crime occurring around our home in LA than around SMA. Of course, SMA is not an oasis from crime and people do talk about it, but it is nothing like what is in the news that the U.S. prints or televises.
When somebody from SMA told me that the town used to be much safer and I asked how so, they responded that now they lock their doors at night. ha ha! I lock my doors in LA whenever I enter or exit my house as common practice.
And then when the topic of ‘safety’ comes up in SMA, the conversation usually jokingly concludes with ” o well, let them all think that – more magic for us!”
I do recommend not travellling the highways at night and using all other ‘normal’ safety precautions while in town. But, otherwise, go! you won’t regret it!
happy travels… and how lucky for you to have Gto. as your hometown state
A
Hello to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more
from this website, and your views are pleasant in favor of new people.