The Global Language of Pickleball and Making Cross Cultural Connections

Discover the unexpected charm of pickleball and how it's capturing hearts in Mexico, as we join Chris and Erica for a sun-soaked conversation filled with laughter and the clink of paddles. Chris's recent victory is just the beginning; we unveil the vibrant community that's sprung up around this sport, complete with donations and new clubs. Our dynamic discussion uncovers how social media helps newcomers find a local court and the unique joys of fostering connections through this inclusive pastime.

Navigating the intricacies of an international move can be daunting, but with a bit of patience and a dose of culture, it's an adventure worth taking. Amy Coady, our insightful guest, recounts her own two-year journey settling into the rhythms of Mexico, providing a heartfelt glimpse into the expat experience. From the practicalities of managing bills without a property manager to the often underestimated lifestyle changes and the paramount importance of embracing the local language, we share stories and strategies that resonate with anyone pondering a life abroad.

At the heart of our episode lies a tale of spreading positivity and communal spirit, starting with a simple U.S.-based initiative that's now reached over a hundred countries: painted rocks symbolizing care and connection. We also shine a spotlight on the transformative impact of introducing pickleball to local schools, empowering young girls and fostering inclusivity. 

We are incredibly thankful for engagement and stories from our listeners, who have found their own sense of 'home' across the globe. Stay tuned as we continue to share the wisdom and wanderlust of those who've charted their unique international courses. We'd love to hear your comments and questions. Email them to expatslikeus@gmail.com
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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:01

Okay, go ahead All right?

Speaker 2 0:04

Well, here we are, expats like us all, four expats together. Again, chris and Erica, it's good to see you guys.

Speaker 1 0:11

Good to see you guys, it's nice to see you.

Speaker 2 0:13

I hear you guys took a little road trip recently to Merida.

Speaker 3 0:17

To Merida.

Speaker 2 0:17

What was that all about, chris?

Speaker 1 0:20

Yeah, I was playing in a pickleball tournament there.

Speaker 2 0:22

Really yeah, okay, cool, how'd it go?

Speaker 1 0:25

I got third place in the men's 50-plus division, so pretty good. Still got some work to do, but not bad Cool.

Speaker 4 0:33

So how was Merida? Did you like Merida?

Speaker 3 0:36

It was busy. It was busier than I thought, so we actually ended up staying in Progreso Okay, which is About 30 minutes yeah, about 30 minutes north, and we enjoyed it. Very easy access to the beach walking distance in Progresso Merida was, like I said, it was busy.

Speaker 1 0:57

But it had a lot of nice things, like a big city would add it you know everything available.

Speaker 4 1:01

I guess I had never known anything about Merida until I moved here and we went and visited there you don't think of. There's a city of nearly a million people. What a couple of three hours away, four hours, two hours.

Speaker 1 1:13

Yeah, three, three and a half hours, something like that Very very cool.

Speaker 4 1:16

So you play pickleball. Pickleball is a big thing that I think we all learned when we came here, right? Did you ever play pickleball? Did you play pickleball before you came here?

Speaker 1 1:25

I never played any sports Five or six times in the States and that was it Right.

Speaker 4 1:29

And now you're like super stud pickleball player. I don't know about that but I do enjoy it, and me and Erica we just play pickleball and I just hear about pickleball because I'm the only one that doesn't play pickleball.

Speaker 1 1:45

But that's okay. It's kind of a big thing down in Mexico at least in this area it seems to be, and I heard it's even bigger on the West Coast Right and it's a huge thing in the States now too.

Speaker 4 1:52

Yeah, Last time we went to Sioux City, Iowa, there's pickleball courts everywhere, yeah. So I think the fastest growing sport in North America. They say amazed by that. So there's like businesses.

Speaker 3 2:08

Now, you guys, when you went to back to utah, found a place, that's tell us about that actually, it's the shed, yeah and it's an indoor pickleball court and they have about five courts um, they've got two different locations, but yes, they do, and it's amazing it's grown so much. They are so helpful. They actually donated. We had over 75 pickleball paddles donated for the kids here in the Pueblo in Acomal Okay, cool.

Speaker 1 2:36

Yeah, yeah. They did a great job helping us out getting all those collected from the members of their organization that donated them to them, and then our friend that's a member of the shed and their pickleball group brought them down on the airpan. Right so why do you think pickleball is so popular? I think because anybody can play it. You know it takes a while to play it. Well, but you can play it the first day and have a good time. Yeah, I would agree.

Speaker 2 2:59

Yeah, it seems like there's like maybe a lot of restaurants and venues that are kind of adding a pickleball theme to it. I know there's some franchises in the States.

Speaker 1 3:07

Yeah, chicken and Pickle. And when we were in Progresso, actually we were at a place called Crocodiles and they had three pickleball courts there at the restaurant. Very cool.

Speaker 4 3:16

That's great, so you can go drink, eat wings and play pickleball Maybe not in that order.

Speaker 1 3:21

That's like a perfect weekend right, there right.

Speaker 4 3:24

It is. So today's guest is the one who I think was the recipient of all those paddles. Right, she was. Yeah, yes she was.

Speaker 3 3:33

We donated 50 paddles to the program for the elementary, secondary school children and she, amy's oh my, my goodness, amazing, with these children trying just to even get the donation to them. The kids were excited, happy.

Speaker 2 3:52

But amy, she puts in a lot of time for these children yeah, excellent, and uh, akamal is going to be featuring a pickleball club. Is that what I hear?

Speaker 3 4:02

yes they are actually beginning a pickleball club, or they already are in the process of the pickleball club, beginning the pickleball club and they're trying right now. Um, cause there's a there's not very many courts in the Pueblo and it gets really busy, so sometimes you're sitting down longer than you'd want to, and so they started this pickleball club and it's and it's in the beginning steps right now, okay, and certain times of year it's busier too, right yeah?

Speaker 1 4:31

high season you get a lot of visitors, so not only do you have the locals that want to play, they were playing five days a week, I don't know if they still are.

Speaker 2 4:40

I think they still are. They still are Okay.

Speaker 1 4:45

So not only the locals who want to play, but then you get all the visitors coming in.

Speaker 4 4:47

They want to play and so I played this morning and there's still people I've never seen before. They're showing up today. Yeah, how do they?

Speaker 2 4:54

find it? I mean, it's just like wandering by in the pueblo, or how do people find a lot of?

Speaker 3 4:58

the times people are just walking in the pueblo and they stop and they start asking questions. I did talk to some of the new people that were in and they found it on Facebook. Oh, okay. So I get that's a really popular place to find pickleball courts when you're traveling.

Speaker 1 5:16

Okay, all right, there's even pickleball courts here on Pulum Country Club that nobody can use yet Right.

Speaker 4 5:23

We get to go by and look at them. They look pretty sweet.

Speaker 1 5:27

And you know, there's a group in Puerto Aventuras. There's a group in Playa del Carmen. I played today at a place called Ola. They've got a group there that plays Groups all over around here. Very cool.

Speaker 2 5:41

So that's one more thing to pack in your suitcase on vacation. Now is your pickleball paddle.

Speaker 1 5:45

Definitely.

Speaker 2 5:46

Yeah.

Speaker 1 5:48

I take mine wherever I go Awesome.

Speaker 2 5:51

Sounds good. Well, I can't wait to hear more about Amy's pickleball program and how that all came together.

Speaker 4 5:57

Yeah, today we're going to talk with Amy Cody, and let's go. Welcome to Expats Like Us exploring the world of US expat life in Mexico. In each episode, we'll meet new people and hear their personal stories. We'll also learn more about the expat life and get a few tips on everything from making your move to settling in and living your dream. Let's dive in to settling in and living your dream. Let's dive in. Welcome to Expats Like Us. I'm Bob Busse. Along with Erica Kowalski, we and our spouses made the move to Mexico in the summer of 2021, and today we're talking with Amy Cody. Amy is a US expat living up the road from us in Quintana Roo. Amy is well known in the area for her Acomal Rocks Facebook site, as well as lending her time to some worthwhile issues. Welcome to Expats Like Us, amy Cody.

Speaker 3 6:53

Thank you, hello, amy. It's nice to see you again, you too. So, amy, before you moved to Mexico, what was your life like? What did you do?

Speaker 5 7:02

I was a special education teacher and I taught children with autism for 25 years in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Speaker 4 7:12

Okay, how did? How'd you like that career? That's a. I loved it.

Speaker 5 7:15

I actually ever. I loved it every minute of it. I wasn't didn't think I was going to retire. When I did, I retired due to COVID because I think it just got so crazy the schools, got crazy, the expectation so I moved here a little premature than when I thought I was going to.

Speaker 4 7:34

Well, it takes a special kind of person to do that for a living, and so we know several people who are special ed teachers here and, yeah, all of them very special people.

Speaker 3 7:46

So when you, when you moved here, um, what inspired you to move here? What have you visited before?

Speaker 5 7:52

We bought in 2016 as kind of like an investment at the time. So we had five years before we actually moved here, that we were back and forth a lot. So that really helped with the transition because we came at different times of the year. We came for different periods of time. Sometimes it was two weeks, sometimes it was a month. I was a teacher, so I had the summers off, so I was here during the summer, which is, I think, really important, because that's completely different than the fall. Here it's very hot and it can fix, you can change what your activities are going to do because of the heat, because of the heat.

Speaker 5 8:25

So, um, the five years that's why I think my transition was a little easier than a lot of other people, because I really was like taking notes and figuring out different things before moving here, um, and I didn't really have the pressure again. We bought it as an investment. So we kind of were like, if we like it, we'll stay, if we don't, you know, we will move on. And coming here for the over the five years, every time I came I just fell more and more in love with the area, the people and just really couldn't wait to make this our home.

Speaker 3 8:55

So when you moved here, what was the process like for you? Did you fly, did you drive?

Speaker 5 9:00

So I flew every time I fly out of Philadelphia, so it's a four-hour flight, which is not bad at all. So we gradually through the five years, brought all our things here. So I didn't have like a major, huge move like a lot of people do. I feel like it was very gradual and every time we flew I did not drive, we were planning on doing it this summer, but we're going to see how that goes.

Speaker 3 9:24

It's a long trip yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5 9:26

So we were lucky enough to be able to fly back and forth oh, very cool.

Speaker 4 9:29

So I would say that we're kind of in the same boat. I mean so many people that we talked to about how they moved here, why they moved here.

Speaker 3 9:35

The word covid comes up I think that's a, that's a universal thing for it was a turning point for a lot of people for yeah, I mean it really.

Speaker 5 9:45

I like I feel like one day I was teaching and I loved it and the next day I just knew I was done, like I thought I had nothing more to give at this point.

Speaker 3 10:08

So, amy, what kind of challenges did you have in making your move Other than COVID? What were some challenges you faced?

Speaker 5 10:16

I think, just figuring out all the information. I thought we did a lot of research before we came, but finding the resources and the people to talk to, to point you in the right direction for different things like getting your RFC and making sure you have all your bills paid and all of that. We had a property manager doing it up to that point. So when we moved down here we eventually had to take over all of that. So just kind of navigating. That was a little bit difficult at times. But I think if you're just calm and you realize it's a process and you just kind of have to go through the process and some days it works out and some days it does not, and I think as long as you have the mindset that this is like an adventure and you're gonna just keep at it and um, I think I feel, when we moved here, it was everything's so fast-paced and we are used to the fast-paced world and you're here, yeah, and it just hits you, uh, if I didn't get it done today, it's okay.

Speaker 3 11:11

Yes, where you have an agenda every day and you're going so fast, right?

Speaker 5 11:16

um, it'll be three years and let me tell you, it works, yeah, and I think, even just at home, I feel like we always know where to go to find information. Yes, where, I don't think. Here, you know, one office that you think you're going to is not where you need to go. So I think, just navigating that, trying to find people and resources that really can help you, and just really be impatient, I mean it really is a process and I think as long as you have that in your mind, I think there are days you're going to get absolutely nothing done and that's okay.

Speaker 3 11:44

Yes, and it's okay.

Speaker 1 11:45

It's better to be okay because it's absolutely going to happen.

Speaker 3 11:50

Yes, yeah, so when you got here, what is something that surprised?

Speaker 5 11:55

you, um, I think the pay, I think the pace. I knew I lived a very full life and a very hectic life up in the United States and I think I knew I was going to have to slow it down. I think I didn't know the reality of what that meant or looked like until I was actually here. So I think that my biggest thing I wish I did before I came here was learn the language more. Thing I wish I did before I came here was learn the language more I would have. I take Spanish lessons online now and I do the Duolingo on the computer. In hindsight, I should have started that probably two years ago, even though I didn't know when I was coming. I knew I was coming. I think that would have been really, really an asset to have.

Speaker 4 12:36

Yes, I think that some people think and I, somewhere in my mind, I felt this way too. You feel like you're going to absorb.

Speaker 5 12:43

Spanish somehow, right, yeah, absolutely. And everyone says oh, you'll just pick it up. And you, you know, in the first time you're somewhere and no one speaks English. You're like I'm not picking anything up, right?

Speaker 4 12:52

now Nothing absorbs at all, right? No, it just bounces off you.

Speaker 5 12:59

In fact it's more confusing than I thought it would be. So that would be, I think, a really good thing for anyone to just even just the basics. You don't have to go full on, it's just get, just start, just start. So, because when you're here and you're trying to navigate everything else, it's one more thing that is, it seems stressful at the time.

Speaker 3 13:14

Yes, I agree. So how are you adapting? How long have you been here again? We've been here full time for three years, and how's it going? I?

Speaker 5 13:23

think it's going well. I was. It was funny because I was just talking about this with somebody and I said I think it took me two years to adapt and I know that sounds like a long time, but I think the people that I have talked to that haven't adapted well or have actually left already. They didn't give themselves that time. I said I think the first year because we are in a society in the United States where we work so much, we really don't have a ton of hobbies Like. So I think when you come here you're like I have, I want to do all these things. So I think the first year I was like in everything I'm like I'll try that, I want to try this. And I think then the second year is kind of like when you hone in on really what moves you or what you want to actually put your time into. So I think it really takes two years to really find your groove.

Speaker 3 14:08

That is true. That's about where I was at last year, to where I started painting, which is interesting enough because I met you through the Akamal Rock, so you're not one that's just gonna like. You said, you start, you go full all in so, the Akamal Rocks Facebook page has what was it? 7,000, over 7,000 followers, and that's how we connected when we first started seeing each other and painting rocks together. That is amazing. So what's that whole focus on?

Speaker 5 14:40

together. That is amazing. So what's that whole focus on? So I started that actually when I was teaching in New Jersey. Like I said, I taught children with autism, so we kind of did that and started hiding them around the community and we would write good notes on them and things like that. So it really took off there and I got such positive feedback.

Spreading Positivity Through Community Involvement

Speaker 5 14:56

I got emails every single week of people that would find it and just have had some information given to them that was so sad or so upsetting. And then they find this rock and they really changed their day or changed the way they out. You know, they felt like that was meant to be and I always think that, like the rock finds the person, like whoever needs to find that message, and because it was so received, so well, where I was I when I came here for over the five years before I moved here full time, I would bring bags with me and start doing it. And the same thing the kids here loved it. Um, I went to the schools and we did it. Um, they would hide it to each other. I mean, they, they got a kick out of it because they would just hide it in the Pueblo and the kids would find it Um. So it's just kind of a thing that all ages can do and it's just brings the community together.

Speaker 3 15:40

Maybe if you're just having that kind of day that you just need someone to say you got this or you know a message, that's just simple and so when we drove from Utah to Akamal I had a big bag of rocks and everywhere we went, yeah'd drop off a rock, I'd Google and research the city and I still get messages from people that they're re-hiding. But it made their day.

Speaker 5 16:06

You are so right and it's so easy and I mean you just need really a Sharpie. I mean you don't even need paint. If you don't want to, you can just write a message. So I think it just brought so much positivity to where I was in New Jersey and then here. It just brought so much positivity to like where I was in New Jersey and then here, um, and we figured out they've been in every country or every. There've been over a hundred countries that the rocks from Akamal rocks have been in. So that's crazy. I mean people, everyone was excited to take them on every vacation they went to. And it's just, it's such an easy thing. And again, you know, it doesn't matter what age you are. You know, I've done it with older people. I've done it with older people, I've done it with kids, I've done it with preschoolers, where they just paint them. You know, just paint them and then don't write.

Speaker 3 16:43

And it's just, it's cool, it's fun to find when I find them. Yeah, I find it. Look at it. Take a picture, post.

Speaker 5 16:51

Yeah, it's just happy, it is it's just an easy thing that everyone can do.

Speaker 3 16:56

That is true.

Speaker 4 16:57

Absolutely so what do you hope happens when someone finds a rock?

Speaker 5 17:05

I hope they really just get a connection, like with something like other than. I mean, if you're having a really bad day and you feel like this is, you know, you're just just tired and exhausted and like it just makes you happy or just gives you like someone cares or um, and when you're in a community like Akamal it's a small community so, like you know, someone in the community did it so it kind of just gives you a feeling of like oh, there is, there are people that care, or there are people that are looking out for us it's an invisible support system for you.

Speaker 5 17:28

It really, it really is, and I don't know who it is but somebody cares about you.

Speaker 4 17:32

Yes.

Speaker 5 17:33

Yes, exactly, and I think in a small community it's really cool because they know it's one of their neighbors did it.

Speaker 3 17:39

So you're involved with that as well, but you're also involved with the local school and the sport pickleball. Yes, this is another thing where we were able to come together and help with the pickleball. Tell us a little bit about that.

Speaker 5 17:53

So when I first came down here the first year, I did the Akamal Rocks and all the schools and that was great and I kind of felt like once I introduced that they can take it and go with that there was. I didn't need to keep revisiting that. So then the second year we did a weaving project with a factory that recycled socks. So they gave us that and we weaved potholders for the families. So that was year two.

Speaker 5 18:14

So then year three, when I was talking to the principal or the director of the school, we wanted to come up with something that we didn't need to keep buying resources or that I didn't have to keep going to the United States and getting things to bring back for us to be able to do something. So we kind of looked around at the community and said, like what do we have here already that we can build upon that? They don't necessarily need me. Like I can introduce something, but then the kids can take on this. So Pickleball was it. I mean they have beautiful courts and it's accessible to everyone. So that's kind of where we went with that. So we started figuring out how to get the nets down here and the paddles, and thank you, erica, because you helped us tremendously.

Speaker 3 18:54

That was a generation the shed from Ogden, utah. Yeah, all their members are the ones that donated their gently used paddles or they purchased them. It was unbelievable and grateful for our friend Linda, who travels to visit us, and she brought them all in for the kids. Yes, it was something I was very passionate about. We wanted to give back to the community and this was a way to help, but I'm grateful for everybody.

Speaker 5 19:20

Yes, it really was, and I feel like going forward. It's a reasonable thing that we can. If we need new things a paddle is not so hard for someone to bring down, or people don't mind giving gently used or ones that you know they upgrade it. So I feel like far after I don't you know I if I stopped doing this. It's something that the school hopefully can continue themselves or get more volunteers to help with the school.

Speaker 3 19:42

You do amazing. When I watched you with those kids, you're very patient with them, but you do amazing and I can see them. They enjoy themselves, they're excited to play, they want to go and play and I love one thing I love many things, but the one thing the little girls are getting involved, yes, which in the tradition little girls don't do that they're more taught to stay at home. They're taught you have to clean, you have to start doing women stuff in the house, because they still believe in that.

Speaker 5 20:17

Yeah.

Speaker 3 20:17

And we saw that in the beginning. So to see those girls going out there and trying. It's amazing.

Speaker 5 20:23

Yes, when we started, the girls really did not want to interact at all. They really didn't want any part of it. We almost had tears at one point for some of them. They really just didn't have that exposure. They didn't have that experience and within three or four weeks they were complaining about getting the middle court or what court they wanted so I said like I mean, it was such a great and they weren't putting up with it like if it was their turn on the court.

Speaker 5 20:45

You know they let everyone, they spoke up and I thought that's good. This is really cool, it is they got some self self-assurance they really did yeah wow, very cool so how old are the kids that are in this? They're're 12 to 14.

Speaker 4 20:59

Okay, okay. Yeah, that's an impressionable age to learn a sport and it's yeah. They're probably pretty good at it at that age, you know.

Speaker 5 21:07

And they have a lot of energy and when they fall, they bounce which we all have lost over the years. We do not bounce back up.

Speaker 4 21:14

We see that at pickleball that we play.

Speaker 2 21:15

Nobody bounces, nobody, nobody bounces.

Speaker 5 21:18

I actually watched them, and I think he literally just bounced back up and didn't skip a beat.

Speaker 3 21:22

So we, we fall Um. I won't, I won't see you for the next week.

Speaker 5 21:26

Exactly, and I need a couple of people to help me yes.

Speaker 4 21:30

So what do you personally get out of Um?

Language and Cultural Adaptation in Mexico

Speaker 5 21:33

I think because well, cause we said it, COVID, I didn't think at the time I was ready to not be with children. I did that for 25 years. I really didn't know anything else and I love it. I really love working with kids. So I think just exposing them to something that they might not have been exposed to I think is cool and I just love interacting with them. I find them very funny. I find them the energy they have is just infectious. I mean, you know, you go in there tired and within within five minutes you're running around and they're just so appreciative, they're so respectful and I just really love it. I love the school and the teachers I work with are there, are wonderful and so patient with me. Um, we do incorporate English every week. We have vocabulary words that we do every week that I emailed um, emailed the teacher before we see them, and I usually email like a little video clip of what we're going to do.

Speaker 5 22:21

So, they're aware of what's.

Speaker 3 22:23

That was my question, Like how do you communicate with the kids? Do they know English enough or do you know enough Spanish that you can?

Speaker 5 22:31

I. I feel like it's a little bit of a mix. So I do give them the words for kind of what the lesson is going to be. So it's usually between five to ten words a week that they'll learn of like. So it was like net and court and paddle and things that they're going to hear over and over again. That, like, if volunteers come, it's kind of like some people don't have any spanish background, so it's kind of like, if they don't, the kids at least know the words that we're talking about for the game. So I just send everything to the teachers, usually the day before, and they go over at the morning before they see me. So we kind of go from there. Um, some of these there are some of the kids are pretty good. Um, there are a few bilingual children and they really love it like they, you know, step up, they correct me all the time and how do you guys say?

Speaker 3 23:14

how do you guys call the sport pickleball, because it literally translates to pelota de pepino. See where a lot of people are starting to call it pepino. Okay, so what do you guys? We call it pickleball, pickleball, just pickleball yeah.

Speaker 5 23:28

So, um, the kids, like I just said, it's an american sport, this is what they call it, it's and I explained it was a funny name to us. Also, it really doesn't necessarily make sense to us either, like it's just kind of, and so they kind of laughed at it and that's just where we went with it. It's just well. I thought it was too hard. I tried to figure out how we were going to translate it and I thought it's just easier to say pickleball Right. So they call it pickleball.

Speaker 4 23:52

So with you, you know, having limited Spanish, them having limited English.

Speaker 2 23:57

Yeah.

Speaker 4 23:57

There does seem to be, and I think this too whenever I'm around kids around here. There is something about just having joy and fun. Yes, that's a universal language.

Speaker 2 24:06

It really is.

Speaker 4 24:07

And you understand each other way better than just a spoken word.

Speaker 5 24:12

And I think a sport is so easy because you can show them as far as, like, if we're really having a breakdown, like I'll actually just show them what I'm saying and they're like oh, and then they'll tell me what, all the words I was missing, and I'm like okay, so it really is a learning for both of us. But and that's why I actually like this age group, because I think they understand more that we don't understand the language the younger kids it's a little harder for them when I say I you know, I don't know what you're saying. So as they get, you know, a little more upset, but I think the older kids it's a little easier.

Speaker 4 24:57

So what, amy, is your vision for the future, for both the Pickleball Program and for the Akamal Rocks?

Speaker 5 25:04

The Akamal Rocks. I hope that the children just continue it in the Pueblo and I do see that they do and I'll help them, especially with different occasions, like Valentine's Day. We did something real cute in the park and it was just real impromptu, like I just decided that morning I was going to do it. So I showed up and we just painted red rocks and wrote like I love you, and they thought it was great and they gave it to their grandmothers, their mothers and all that. So I'll continue with that.

Speaker 5 25:29

The pickleball I see it growing. I'm going to need more people is what. I'm going to need more expats to help, because this year I really didn't want to overwhelm it, so I kept it to one day a week and then I decided two days a week and then I've had two teachers email me since we stopped because the season is September till March 30th is what we decided, and then so we had two teachers now that reached out that want to start it also. So that would be four days. So it's like I would be more than happy to do that, but I need other people to take some of the days because it just gets to be a lot. Yeah, so I just hope it was continues, and if it ever doesn't for some reason, I would give all the materials to the school and they can also use them at the school.

Speaker 4 26:17

Sure, very, very cool. So what advice would you have for others who might be considering an international move? What should they be thinking about that maybe they aren't thinking about?

Speaker 5 26:28

I think the language is definitely something you need to consider.

Speaker 5 26:31

I think if you know that there's a possibility you're going to move to anywhere that speaks Spanish, you should start looking into that, even if it's a word a day or two words a day, because when you're dealing with all the other frustrations that come up, that can at least calm you down a little bit, and I also think people just really need to give themselves a lot of grace.

Speaker 5 26:50

Like I said, it took me two years and you're going to have days that it's frustrating and it's different, and I think you just really need to realize that you're not extending the United States here. You're living in a different country and it doesn't matter if it's Mexico or another country. You're moving to another area that has a whole different system that you have to learn. So you've been somewhere for 40 or 50 or 60 years doing it one way. You're moving now to somewhere else. So if you don't have the temperament to be able to roll with it, I think you're going to have a difficult time. I think if you realize that it's an experience and it's an adventure and you kind of take it as that, I think you'll be okay.

Speaker 4 27:27

And give yourself a couple of years.

Speaker 5 27:29

I think, and I think that's the most important because I feel like people give it a year and think you know I didn't really assimilate to what I thought it was going to be. And you don't. You take everything after the first year and you say, okay, now, what do I want to do with this? I?

Speaker 3 27:45

think you have to be more open to it, really open to it, not the idea in your head. Like I mentioned, it took me about two years to where we're here and I speak the language, but I still struggled with the idea of this. Is home starting fresh? Yes, so you have to be really open to it and, like you said, it's an adventure.

Speaker 5 28:06

Yeah and super open. And I said like I remember the one time I was in Sedrali and I went food shopping and I just couldn't do it. I got there and I had like a total meltdown because I'm like I can't translate all this stuff, I can't figure it out, and I went home with nothing and I was just like we're going out to dinner.

Speaker 5 28:18

Like you know, and I think you just have to realize, there are going to be days that you get nothing done, and in the United States I don't think we're used to that. Like we consider that like such a bad thing.

Speaker 4 28:27

Yeah, that's like some kind of big failure here. That's just another day.

Speaker 5 28:35

It is, it happens weekly and you just kind of have to not, yeah, we're going out to dinner.

Speaker 3 28:39

Or when we first moved here, we had friends visit and they were mewling down to me Now is the dumbest little thing I know, I know it's. If I can't find it, we don't need it, we'll substitute or do something.

Speaker 5 28:53

And you learn all the substitutions. But, again, that takes you probably a year to really get your groove on with cooking, because it's a whole different cooking experience, I found myself speaking Spanglish. I heard myself cursing a lot.

Speaker 4 29:09

I always thought you know, we've had friends that people will mule back like hard shell taco.

Speaker 3 29:16

Yes.

Speaker 4 29:18

Hot taco shells. And taco seasoning, american taco seasoning, american taco seasoning. And it's like people. I live in a world of tacos.

Speaker 5 29:26

I know the tacos are so much better than a lot of people with salsa, the american salsa they bring down like right, it's crazy, it is yes, and everything here is more fresh. It is right, and you do really learn to substitute and you do have different tastes after a while so it's just that is you really have to just give yourself a lot of grace and realize that, and a good sense of humor does never hurt anything.

Speaker 3 29:48

So oh no, that first those first two years. Like I said, I was just stressed and my husband Chris, he just laughed and helped.

Speaker 5 29:58

That helped me out a lot, it lot, because there's nothing you can do, and if it doesn't get done, it just doesn't get done. It doesn't get done and it's okay.

Speaker 3 30:07

So what are some of the tips that you would give people that want to make the move here?

Speaker 5 30:12

I would say I was fortunate enough to be have the place for five years. That was really um huge for me, because I'm a planner and um just being dumped here, I would have probably been very upset and not been able to navigate it. Um, I, my biggest thing would be rent where you're going to go or where you think you want to live, because I think when you buy, you feel trapped and you think that, oh my goodness, I can't leave now. So I would say, rent um where you think you want to go and I think that, oh my goodness, I can't leave now. So I would say, rent where you think you want to go.

Speaker 5 30:41

And I think also, come at different times of the year. If you come every time at Christmastime, that's what you're going to see. You're going to see that kind of weather. Come at different times of the year, see different weathers, see different seasons here, because even though it's always nice and hot, I mean in the summer it's hot, hot, it's hot, hot. So I would think, explore where you want to go and if you come here and you don't like it and you're renting, then go to another place. It doesn't mean Mexico is not for you, it might just mean, this area is not for you.

Speaker 4 31:08

I agree, Exactly yes. So one of the traditions that we have on this podcast I don't know if you've listened to it is a thing we call K Padre, K Malo, and it's one thing that we re we really love about living here in this area, and one thing we're we don't say we hate it, but it's something that we're still adapting to. So, would you have one K Padre and one K?

Speaker 5 31:29

Malo, the good is easy. The people and the community, the people here I have are so warm and have welcomed me and um, that I just am so grateful for the, the, um, the, I would say.

Speaker 5 31:45

the electricity can be a little bit of a as I live with uh at wifi for five days now. Uh, I think electricity and being having a sense of humor with that um can be difficult. So you just have to realize that's part of it. And if you get mad, it's not going to change it. It doesn't change. So it's just you know they're coming in 24 hours or maybe a couple weeks.

Speaker 1 32:06

Right.

Speaker 4 32:07

You know. You just never know. People in the States might not realize what you mean by the electricity, but we all know. Yes, yes, you can lose electricity.

Speaker 5 32:17

Yes, so that, I think you know, is just again. It's just part of the adventure and if you take it that way, you'll be okay. I agree.

Speaker 4 32:25

Well, thank you so much for joining us today.

Speaker 1 32:27

Thank you for having me. We appreciate you taking your time.

Speaker 4 32:29

And we appreciate what you do with the kids and the Akamal Rocks is amazing. Thank you so much, so people find that when do they find Akamal?

Speaker 5 32:37

Rocks. It's on Facebook, so it's just under Akamal Rocks, just look up.

Speaker 4 32:40

Akamal Rocks yes.

Speaker 5 32:41

Okay.

Speaker 4 32:42

Yeah, very good, and for more on Pickleball, contact Expats Like Us via email and we'll talk about, we'll tell you about Pickleball if you're coming to the area too. So, all right, thank you.

Speaker 3 32:52

Amy, thank you so much. Don't forget to. Was that okay? That was amazing, amy. It was perfect. Yes, okay.

Speaker 4 33:00

In each episode of Expats Like Us, we're going to teach you a new Mexican slang word. This is something you may not find in your phrasebook or your online Spanish class or your Spanish app or wherever you're learning your Spanish. Instead, this is a term used primarily by Mexican Spanish speakers. Today's word is¿ Qué onda? Qué onda Mexican?

Speaker 3 33:21

Spanish speakers, today's word is Que onda.

Speaker 4 33:23

Que onda? I have heard that word. The guards, when I pull in, sometimes say que onda to me. Can you spell that?

Speaker 3 33:33

First word Q-U-E, second word O-N-D-A. Que onda.

Speaker 4 33:38

Que onda. And what does that mean? What's up, what's up. Okay, so that's a greeting for someone that you're familiar with.

Speaker 3 33:46

Yes, que onda.

Expats Like Us

Speaker 4 33:48

Yes, all right. Thank you very much, erica Kowalski from Mi Vida Margarita. We'd love to hear your thoughts on today's topic. Just look up Expats Like Us on Facebook or send us an email at expatslikeus at gmailcom. You can also see the video version of today's discussion and all of our discussions on our YouTube page. Follow, like, subscribe and leave us a review. Thank you to today's guest, amy Cody, for sharing her inspiring life in Mexico with us. Thanks also to today's co-host, erica Kowalski, and our producers, chris Kowalski and Sherry Bussey. Most of all, thank you for tuning in to Expats Like Us and thank you for interacting with us on social media. Next time, we'll bring you more firsthand information about your international move. Until then, remember our homes are not defined by geography or one particular location, but by memories, events, people and places that span the globe. Thank you.