Welcome to the expat life!

I'm going on my second international relocation as a wife. We moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, about 3 years ago and now we're moving to Mexico City, Mexico.
As I know very well relocating is not easy but it is a choice. So, even with all the issues we have I'll try to make the best out of it!

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New Year's Celebrations

We're heading to Florida to celebrate New Year. We'll be meeting some friends there.


But how is the New Year Celebrated in Mexico? It is a lot like in Brazil, but Brazil is hot and Mexico is cold this time of the year.


People in both countries are very superstitious. They carry some of the same superstitions too: They use new underwear on this day and the colors are used to attract different vibes - for love, pink; for money, yellow; for peace, white; for passion, red. They also eat 12 grapes at midnight, representing the 12 months of the year. In Brazil they make a wish for each grape they eat. In Brazil, if you're by the beach you also have to jump 12 waves, throw flowers to Yemanja - Saint Barbara - for good luck and eat lentils to have enough money during the year. Most people also dress in white. They never wear black on New Year's eve. I don't know the dress code in Mexico.


Having the whole family and friends for supper on New Year's eve is also a tradition in both countries. Cod fish is a common dish served in both countries (Bacalao in Mexico, Bacalhau in portuguese.) Champagne is also served.


Fireworks are a tradition too. But in Brazil, particularly Rio, the fireworks are unbelievable!


We also spent a New Year in Angra dos Reis, a city in between Rio and Sao Paulo, that has 365 islands. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been to in my whole life. There, if you have a boat - or friends who do - there is a boat procession where people dress up their boats and they follow a boat carrying a Saint form one island to a chapel in the city. It is pretty and fun.


No matter where you are your New Year celebration should be fun.


So, I wish you all a Happy New Year!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Celebrating Christmas Abroad


Hanukkah is celebrated the same way and on the same day in the U.S., in Brazil and in Mexico. But the way Christmas is celebrated is different in the 3 countries.

We all know how it's celebrated in the U.S., but in Brazil the malls and the streets start being decorated around Halloween. That's right! Brazilians don't celebrate Halloween (well, they are starting to celebrate it because they love the party) or Thanksgiving like we do in the U.S., o people get really excited about Christmas. The houses don't have a set date to start being decorated but it usually happens in the beginning of November. They put up the trees, the nativity scene, Santa Claus', and even fake snow. Christmas there happens during summer and, believe me, it is super hot! It is really weird to experience a hot summer. On our first christmas in Brazil my kids asked me: -"Mom, is Santa coming this year? There is no snow outside"! So be ready to spend the holiday by the pool. It will be a unique experience. 

In Brazil they celebrate Christmas eve as well as Christmas day. On Christmas eve there is a big dinner with the whole family, then the kids go to sleep. As soon as the kids wake up, in the next morning, they open the presents. They go wake up the adults and open all the presents without following an order. It is pure excitement. Around noon more family and close friends arrive for Christmas dinner. Usually the dinner is held at the family's matriarch home. The meals are similar on both days but the meat that is served changes form one day to the next. They serve 2 salads, one green and one like a potato salad with more ingredients, white rice, farofa - the brazilian equivalent to our stuffing -, turkey and/or ham, gravy, potatoes (roasted or mashed) and vegetables. There's fruit salad, walnut cake or flan (pudim de nozes), chocolate and coffee - cafezinho - that is served in small cups and almost as strong as an espresso. It is a delicious meal and a great party.

In Mexico the celebration starts 9 days before Christmas, on the 15th of December. Like the Brazilians, Chistmas eve already counts as Christmas. This celebration is called Las Posadas. It has this name because it is a reenactment of Joseph's and Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Their search took 9 days.  Each evening of the posadas, neighborhood residents make their way to a designated home, where they seek food and hospitality. There is singing, readings and celebration. A pinata, filled with Christmas sweets is broken, and everyone enjoys tamales, buneulosand a hot chocolate. For adults who want something with a little more kick, there is a hot punch this is made of blends of seasonal fruits and a shot of wine or spirits. On Christmas dinner the traditional meal is bacalao a la vizcaina - a dish that includes salted cod that has been dried, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, olives, capers and red bell peppers. Like in Brazil, friends and family are invited to the party. And in Mexico people start decorating the malls, the streets and their homes after the celebration of the Dia de Los Muertos - November 2nd, another catholic holiday.  But it is winter there and Mexico City can be pretty cold this time of the year.

So wherever you are, enjoy your Christmas!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Husbands and the Relo

Have you put yourself on your husbands shoes? Of course this whole process is not easy on us, but it is not easy on them either.


First they have the thrill of being offered an oversea assignment, likely with a promotion. The salary increase, the benefits and the pride of having their bosses and companies trusting them to get a tough job done. Yes, overseas jobs are usually tough. But they will have to leave behind the comfort of their current jobs, pack their bags and up route their families. In their minds there is always the taught of "what if this doesn't work?". They know that someone will replace them once they're gone, so they can not tell the company: - "Oops, things didn't work out as I expected so I want to go back". To men this is a huge failure. Do you know any men who is ok with failing at anything? 


Plus, as the providers - even if you have a job you will likely have to quit to relocate - they feel a lot of pressure on making the new job work. And like us, they need to adapt to the new culture and learn the new language. They need to be able to communicate what they expect from their employees who can't speak english sometimes. And getting over the cultural differences is not easy.


In Brazil, for instance, people won't say "no" to you. No no's. They will tell you what they think is what you want to hear. You will only know the truth once things go wrong and no one can fix them. Same in Mexico. And the meetings will also drag on forever. People will arrive late to the meetings, then coffee is served, then water is served, then it is time to ask about how you spent the weekend or if you have plans for the following one, ask about the families and all, and then the meeting start. During the meetings everyone in there think that they need to say something about all the subjects and most time what they say is irrelevant. And there is always more people invited to the meetings who have no business being there. And the offices hours are different too. In Sao Paulo people tend to work late hours. If you ask my husbands it is due to inefficient use of time. But it is what it is.


So on top of that they have the pressure of keeping the family happy. This is not an easy task. 


During this relocation my husband had to be away from the family for a very long time and he had to take care of our dog. He would wake up at 5:30 am to walk the dog on the cold fall of Mexico City, then he would jog and leave to work before traffic got too bad at 7 am. Not an easy task. When he got back home he would have to walk the dog again. It was nice that he had some company but it was also hard work. On top of that he had to learn spanish, hire new people and come up with a plan to start turning profit for his company. Meanwhile, I was taking care of the cats and the kids, but at least on the weekends I could go to the pool with friends. He had nobody to hang out with. So we all had our hard times.


I remember a family who could not go thru all this. The husband was offered partnership at a company to go to Sao Paulo. The wife was constantly complaining. She never had anything nice to say about Sao Paulo at all. So the husband ended up having to go back home without becoming a partner. His career was jeopardized. Everything he worked so hard to get just slipped thru his fingers. 


So sometimes we just need to take a deep breath and not complain to them about all our problems. We just need to give them a nice kiss and tell them how much we appreciate what they are doing. In the end we all know we are doing this for our families. A happy marriage makes happy kids and happy families. And this is all that matters.

The Decision To Relocate

Is this going to be a nice adventure or is it going to be the biggest mistake of my life?


This is a very tough question to answer. It doesn't matter how much we prepare for this experience, only by living at the new place we will have the answer. And this is something that will affect the whole family.


Usually the pay is good and so are the benefits and many times there is a promotion involved. So it is hard to say no to all of this. Can we not support our spouse?


So what do we do?


We take the look and see trip, we start taking classes of whatever language is spoken on the country we're moving to and we start researching how life can be in this country. So things seem pretty simple when all of this is in place. But no one prepares us for the challenges that will come.


The cultural shock can be huge! Things that are considered normal in a culture are not in another. For instance, in the U.S. people are used to keeping their personal space and to greet with a handshake. In Brazil there is a complete disregard for personal space and people will greet with 1 or 2 kisses on the cheeks. And in Mexico too. There is a respect for people's time in the U.S. - time is money, right? But not in Brazil or Mexico. In Brazil people tend to be late for their appointments, and in Mexico they are even later. It is hard to get used to this. And in Brazil people will respond to your e-mails with accurate answers but not in Mexico. It is extremely hard to get a yes or no answer out of anyone there. Getting directions to get to places are also a problem in Mexico City. A few mexican friends told me that the people are embarrassed to say they don't know the directions for where you're going so they will tell you the first thing that comes to their mind. And this happened with our driver twice in two days. He did not want to tell me he did not know how to get to a development ant to a restaurant so we ended up getting lost and I was late for my appointments - a two in one!


You will have a hard time communicating and adapting to the new culture. But if you can endure it you can have a great time!


The good side is that you may meet some great people, travel to great places, learn a new language and have a good time.


I know people who couldn't survive in this environment for a year, but the vast majority of people I know love having this experience. And I think most of it is because of our attitude. If we are willing to deal with some hardship we can and will survive. But if you just want to compare and complain about everything you will be miserable. And you won't have any friends.


So the best attitude is to just take it as something temporary and look at the glass half full. A positive attitude will only help you. And if you're happy you can make your family happy. After all, it is only for a couple of years and time goes by really fast. So why should you miss an opportunity? 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

My Emotional Roller Coaster

If you've read some of my posts you've probably noticed I've been on an emotional roller coaster ride. There were times when I was very exited and there were times when I was on the verge of a nervous meltdown.


There is a lot of excitement when we face a big move. And there is also quite a bit of frustration. When we decided to move I first taught: Can I do it? Is the company going to help me? Is the school good? Is my husband going to have to travel a lot? Can I be happy in this new place? Since I answered yes to most of these questions, I knew it was time to move to the next step.


The next step is the look and see visit. Well, at least it should be. In my case it wasn't. We had to accept the assignment before I took the trip back in August. During the look and see trip you realize that you will have to compromise - sometimes a lot. There will be things that you taught you could never live without that simply won't be available at the new country. But if the company provides a car that can fit your whole family, a housing allowance that can get you a house equivalent to what you have and if you like the school it is all good.


To me, it was on this second step that things started to go wrong. First, I wasn't too happy with the school choices. Than, for us to rent a house the company had some requirements that no one knew - or wanted to - fulfill. And third, I was used to having 2 armored cars and we were being offered a non- armored car. Sounds silly but if you live in Sao Paulo or in Mexico City this is a necessity.


Transporting all of my pets was also a big deal. The H.R. in Mexico couldn't have cared less about the whole issue. But my pets are part of my family. Until we had this issue figured out I was very stressed out.


On top of that, my husband had to move to Mexico in the middle of September for what we taught was going to be a 45 to 60 day stay - 8 weeks - to get his visa done. It took him 90 days to get the visa ready!! 12 weeks. If you're by yourself taking care of your kids it is a long time!! Ok, I had the housekeeper taking care of the house, but I was the only authority n the house. And it gets really tiring being the sole person to discipline them. And they are kids, so the way they show that they're missing daddy is by acting up. And try keeping them entertained all the time....


Now add to this mix doing all the inspections on the car, painting the house and changing its carpet, canceling the bills, putting the apartment on the market for rent, selling the car, taking care of the paperwork to fire the maid, going to the school recitals and the other school functions and packing the house.  My friends were extremely nice and helped me keep it together. Particularly my best friend from childhood and my friends from Denmark.


So in a way I feel lucky my husband wasn't around. We could be sharing the burden but we could also be arguing a lot. It is inevitable to argue with your husband during the relocation process. I don't know a single couple who hasn't. My husband also took the time he was away to focus on his new job. It would have been hard for him to do so if he had to worry about the family's adaptation and all the other issues. Mine had to hire new staff, learn how to speak spanish and lots of other things. He also had to take care of our dog - remember I brought the dog to Mexico City in October?


Yes, it is not easy on us but it is not easy on our husbands either. And there is nothing like opening a bottle of wine to talk about all the issues we're having. Even if it's over the phone. It gets to be like a long distance date and you end up talking about the issues in a lighter way. So I strongly suggest you try it. If you don't drink wine try doing it with a cup of coffee or tea.


Now I'm sitting at our temporary house, with the whole family reunited - pets and all - waiting for my container to arrive  to our next house so I can make it home. And this is a nice feeling. I think my roller coaster ride is over.





Friday, December 17, 2010

So back to the school subject.


Why do I only want my kids to go to an American school?  It’s because it is the only thing they have to hold on to as we move from country to country. It brings them a connection with home. It’s a place where they celebrate all the American traditions.
4Th of July? Check. Halloween? Check. Thanksgiving? Check. And on the other hand the schools also celebrate the local traditions. In Brazil the kids would celebrate Festa Junina and they loved it!

But why an accredited school? Because this way I’ll know that it is not just a bilingual school pretending to be American. For the schools it is important to be recognized as an American school for the prestige or to fulfill their missions. And for us parents it is important to know that the school is accredited so we know that they will follow the American curriculum and calendar.

Yes, the curriculum may vary as the methods of teaching also vary, but the general ideas are there.

The Graded School in Sao Paulo is a fully accredited school. There are other fully accredited schools in Brazil. But the 2 schools I looked at in Mexico City are NOT fully accredited now. They are both (ASF and Westhill) accredited under Advisement.

If a school is fully accredited you know that they are meeting all the requirements of the Accreditation Board. It includes, but is not limited to, having a certain number of native teachers (Americans and Canadians), meeting curriculum requirements and scoring enough points on the SAT’s.

Well, the Graded is not the best school in the world. I had plenty of problems there, including a teacher hurting my daughter on the first year we were there. But they’ve changed the superintendent and added a co-principal to the lower school who is very committed to doing what’s best for the children - and by that I mean changing the curriculum and focusing on protecting the wellbeing of the children and not the job stability of teachers who have been hurting (emotionally and physically) kids there for over 15 years. But my kids also had great teachers over there. Teachers who are young, knowledgeable, motivated and who want to make a difference in their student’s lives.

So if all this happened at a fully accredited school can you imagine what could happen at a school that is Accredited under Advisement? Being Accredited  Advisement means that there is a problem with those schools. They won’t tell us what it is. What they say is that they have one or more areas in need of some attention. This was enough to raise my eyebrows.

Oh, I am looking at schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools only.  That’s the association that accredits most of the American schools overseas.

But I'm still not done talking about schools yet.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Driver, The Driving and The Cars

On my way from the airport to the hotel in Mexico City I was chatting with the driver and he told me some fun facts about Mexico City - and yes, the driver does speak english and I observed some things:

  1.  The traffic in Mexico City is really bad in the mornings - between 8 and 10 O'clock - and in the afternoon - between 6 and 9 O'clock.
  2. When we say traffic is really bad, we mean it. When the cars move people drive very aggressively;
  3. Anyone can get a driver's license in mexico as long as they are 18 years old or older;
  4. There is no driving test required for a person to get a license;
  5. There is no eye test either;
  6. Even tough people are required to wear their seat belts only a very small minority does it;
  7. The majority of the cars on the street are really old - 10 + years;
  8. There is a mandatory test for cars older than 3 years to check its level of pollutants;
  9. This test is done every 6 months;
  10. Car insurance is not mandatory, therefore most people don't have it;
  11. If you're in a car crash it is likely that the other person won't be able to afford the repair and other costs if they caused it;
  12. There is a complete disregard for all the traffic laws we're used to - people don't stay in their lanes, no one uses the blinkers, people turn left and right as they please and they honk their horns all the time;
  13. If an ambulance or fire truck is coming your way, watch out. There will be 3 or 4 cars following it to beat traffic.
It is quite an adventure to drive in Mexico City. Even for me, and I'm used to drive in the Sao Paulo traffic. So buy car insurance, pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe and be super careful! then let me know how it goes.


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Getting out of Brazil

Boy, It wasn't easy...
After the Sean Goldman case it is extremely hard to take a child out of Brazil with only one parent. And we did have a very hard time doing so.
At the last day we had several issues.

  1.  The moving company got only authorization for the cats to leave the country;
  2. My daughter needed a notarized document signed by me authorizing her to leave the country with my husband;
  3. My son had the same document but there was a little mistake on it.
So here we go:

  1. The cats had to fly on separate flights - remember the 2 pets per cabin rule? - so we needed 2 authorizations from the Ministry of Agriculture to be able to board the plane. Of course, dealing with all the last minute problems I could not go to the airport to get another copy of this document. The airport in Sao Paulo is an hour away from where we live. I called the moving comp[any, flip-out and demanded that this got done. It was a Saturday and nothing really works in Brazil on Saturdays. They got it done. But my stress level was high.
  2. On Friday we had to go to a Brazilian Cartorio - public notaries there are not like in the U.S. , there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in trying to do things right in Brazil - but the place was totally packed. They told us it would take 6 hours to get the document stamped. We didn't have that kind of time to waste. So we decided to go to the airport together and I would authorized my husband to take my daughter out of the country. Easy, right? But no, they said that I needed a document stamped at the cartorio for that. I was there, saying it was ok, but my word was not good enough. Finally I talked to a Sheriff (delegado) from the Federal Police (Policia Federal) and he stamped the freaking document and said it was ok for them to fly.  Stress level: Super high.
  3. Sunday! My last day in Brazil. I stopped by the pool at our development for the last goodbyes, got back to the hotel, had an awesome lunch with my son and our housekeeper - who cried all day long with saudades, and we'll miss her too! - packed our bags, put the cats in the crate and we were ready to go. As we got to the airport and I showed the damn authorization paper to the Delta representative they said my son couldn't leave the country with that authorization. The phrasing of the notary just wasn't right! Can you believe it? So I tried the federal police and they told me tho go talk to the inspector of immigration. I talked to the guy and he told me that the police had to authorize it. So I was running around with a little boy and 2 cats trying to get the permit to board the plane. About an hour before the plane's departure I just had a melt down. I was crying my eyes out, and so was my son, right outside the police's office. One of the sheriff's there felt sorry for me and started to look into the case. I can't thank this guy enough!! About a minute before check-in was over we got our tickets, we were the last ones to board the plane but we've made it! Stress level: About to have a heart attack!!
So the people from Delta Airlines were not helpful at all. And when we landed in Atlanta we found out that our flight had been cancelled and we would have to wait for 3 more hours and board the next available flight - COACH!! At this point and as stressed out as I was and with one child and 2 cats coach just wouldn't do it!! So I found the one nice person who works for Delta - a manager at the gates in Atlanta and explained my situation to him. I told him I did not want a refund for my ticket but that I needed my seats on business so we could all be accommodated reasonably well. We had to keep the 2 crates under our feet during the flight. But this wonderful guy put us on the wait list and we've made it to Miami.

And you would think that's all right? But no, our luggage didn't show up. But at this point we were all exhausted and we could't care less about the bag. It was time to go home! Even tough I knew I would have to go back to the airport the next day to get the bags. It was time to rest. And try not to end up at the hospital - or a mental institution!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Documents for leaving Brazil

OMG!! I just spent the last 3 days trying to put together all the documents we will need to leave the country. And for our furniture to enter the U.S.. The list is so loooooong. So I'll list them in parts:


For the cats:

  • A letter from the vet saying that their vaccine is current and they are in good health;
  • Vaccination ceriticate;
  • A document from the Ministry of Agriculture saying that they are allowed to leave the country;
For the kids:
  • Their passports
  • A notarized letter authorizing me/my husband to take one of the kids out of the country without the other parent;
For the move:
  • The inventory;
  • Insurance papers;
  • Power of attorney to the moving company;
  • certified copies of documents;
For Hubby and I:
  • Passports;
  • e-tickets.
We've been working really hard but I think we got all done now. And it feels good!



Thursday, December 9, 2010

Last Goodbye Party

I'm getting ready for my last goodbye party. And this will be a big one! We - and by we I mean my family and friends - are very happy we're moving to Miami for at least 6 months!


This afternoon I had my last lunch en-petit-comite. With my brazilian friends. This time it did not feel like a good-bye. All of my brazilian friends go to Miami often and lots of my american and foreigner friends do too. So I know I'll be seeing everybody soon enough. Not too many of our friends would have gone to Mexico City to visit us...


But still, reality is sinking in and I am realizing that I'll be gone in 3 days!


I was a nervous rack for a while. Actually, for quite some time. Not having an answer from the school, not having a house and my husband not having a visa was driving me crazy! Now he has his mexican visa but we don't need to worry about it for the rest of the family because we're move back to the U.S.. And buying or renting a house there will be easy. And the fun of buying a new car! And going to a good PUBLIC school!! And the school has to have a spot for my children. And it is much better than the private american schools in Mexico City.


My life will be so easy there!! Yes, I won't have a driver or a housekeeper but I will have security, good hospitals, good education and the icing on the cake - I'll speak english! Or sort of - it is still Miami!


So now I am getting ready to go have some caipirinhas and say see you soon to all my friends.  Next time we'll be having cosmopolitans!



Sunday, December 5, 2010

American Schools (Lost?) Mission

If you're like me, when you move abroad you need an american school for your kids. And how can we choose the best school for our children?


I don't know, anymore. Long time ago, when the first american schools were founded overseas their mission was to provide american education to the kids of big corporations employees who were expats. These school followed the american curriculum and the american calendar and they were funded by this big companies - like GM, Ford and also the American Chamber of Commerce.


But I feel that sometime along the way the schools became big money makers. The rich people of the countries where there are american schools started putting their kids in there so their kids would have a bi-lingual education. And this turned the school into status symbols. 


Now, most american schools have american kids as a minority group. The schools I researched consisted of 60% locals, 20% americans and 20% of other nationalities. And the 20% americans are passport holders, some of them are not native speakers. 


As I was looking for schools for my kids in both Mexico and 3 years ago in Brazil, I felt like the schools were treating me as if it was a privilege for my kids to join them and not as if these school were my only option. And we were on the top of their wait list - we are an american family being relocated by an american company.


In a way I feel like the american schools abroad are failing us. Instead of catering to people like me, who need to continue my kids education based in the american curriculum because we are going back to the U.S. soon, they are catering to the locals who have other options.


And this is just the beginning of the school problems. There is also the accreditation, bullying policies, special ed and advanced classes... But we'll leave it for later.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Frustrating Times

This relocation has been one of the most frustrating times in my life.


I am not a total control freak but I do like to be in control of my life. When we're relocating we have to hand out some -or most - of this control to HR. If your company has done it before or does it often there are better changes that they know what they're doing and that they will help you and make the transition smooth. That's not the case with us.


The HR director of our company has never done this before. I remember our conversation on the day I met her. She asked me how many times I had relocated and after I answered 5 or 6 times - some times we moved but did not relocate. Here is how our conversation went: 
HR: - "Well, this relocation is going to be really good."
Me: - "Or bad..."
HR: - "How come?"
Me: - "I know what needs to be done. You haven't done this before. I have my check list and I can help you. Just let me know what you need. But I do have high expectations."
HR: - "Well, I know what I am doing..."
Me: - "We'll see... But let me tell you that I need this to work out. And as you know I need to find a school for the kids and a way to bring my pets in asap!"
HR: - "When do you think you can be here?"
Me: - "If it's only up to us and you can get this 2 things figured out I can be here in 2 weeks."


This conversation happened in mid-August. It is december now and I am still in Sao Paulo. She had no idea what she was doing. She hired the worst relocation company to help her and I lost control of my life. I did send her my check-list. I did everything I could with the HR person here in Brazil - a great guy with lots of will to make this work - but nothing got done in Mexico.


What did they need to get done? The visa, rent the house that we had liked and give us clear instructions about the admissions process with the schools so we would have gotten and answer from the schools earlier.


They screwed up the contract of the house. They told us the visa would be done in 30 to 45 days and it took 70 days for it to be done. So they've created false expectations. And they've kept our family apart.


I know that they have no control on the school issue but they should had told me to bring the kids on my look and see trip back in August to be tested. They didn't, so the whole process got delayed. So do bring your kids to Mexico as early as you can if you are thinking of applying for schools there.


Mexico does have a slower pace. People there NEVER rush to get anything done. And this is why I am considering if I can be happy living there. I know lots of people who love living in Mexico. And I know some people who hate it. I would love to be part of the first group. But I think we may end up moving to Miami - this way I will avoid being part of the second group. In the end, I am a firm believer that we were put in this world to be happy. And this is what we're doing. In Mexico or in Miami, it doesn't matter. I just can't continue to live this frustrated.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Are Bad News Good News?

I've got an answer from the school 2 days ago. Finally! But it wasn't good. And it took a while to sink in.


Apparently there was a shoot out right outside a school in Monterrey and lots of companies are transferring families to Mexico City. And guess what?? These kids have the priority on the wait list at school. So there is no spot available for my kids.


My husband decided to take a look at the school that was our second option. He scheduled an appointment with the admissions director.  But she didn't show up. He waited for an hour. So what do we do now?? There are only two accredited schools in Mexico City. Accredited Under Advisement, but still, the ones following the american curriculum.


We're looking into moving to the US and doing the super commute. He can leave to Mexico City on Monday morning and come back on Friday afternoon. Not the best alternative but at least the kids will be at a good school.  


I am extremely frustrated and blaming H.R. and the relocation company! If they had told me, back in August, when I went on my look and see trip, that the test at the school was MANDATORY, I would have taken the children with me and we would have gotten an answer a while back. With enough time to put a plan B in action. Now, my house is packed, the container is ready to go but I don't know where to.


I'll have a tough day ahead of me trying to find a solution that will be good for the whole family. But let's be honest. After 3 years living abroad moving back to the US sounds pretty sweet! But keeping the kids and myself away from my husband doesn't feel that good. Even if it's only during the week.


Now my priority is to keep the family happy and together!! Time to think, talk to the right people and find a solution to this HUGE problem.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Packing

I was just talking to my housekeeper and she was asking how many times I have moved since I got married. I moved 10 times in 12 years!! This is a lot!! Put this way, I feel like an expert!! She has been thru moves with me before. Right after she started working for me our container arrived from the US and she helped - a lot! - with the unpacking. Then we moved to a different building in our development. She helped pack and unpack. And now we are packing again! She is used to work for expat families so she knows exactly what to do.  And here are a few tips:

  • Separate all the important documents you need to bring with you and put them in a safe place;
  • Do the same with your jewelry;
  • Pack your clothes and other personal items before the movers arrive;
  • Remember that your container is not going to arrive for a while so think about what you will need and bring it - or send it on your air shipment;
  •  Pack some toys, games, paper and crayons for the kids;
  • You will need the charger for all your electronics - cell phone, DS or PSP, lap-top...
  • Empty your safe and keep its key with you;
  • Ask the movers to start packing the living room and dinning room first. The bedrooms and kitchen should always be the last places to be packed;
  • Make sure that the movers will pack  your plasma TVs and pictures in a wood box;
  • Keep an eye on the movers while they pack fragile items - and keep a closer eye when they unpack them.
Always ask your company to allow you to bring an air shipment and a large container - 40' High Cube. 

And one fact about moves: No matter how careful you are or how good the moving company is, things will break and/or disappear during the move. So make sure you list all the items that are important to you on the insurance paper and take pictures of them, if possible.

Now it is time for me to go supervise the movers.

Monday, November 29, 2010

If You Are An Expat Wife We Know You're A Special Woman!

This is for all the husbands out there!!


Your wife decided to go on an expat assignment?? Run to her favorite store right now and buy her a great gift!!

Actually first ask her and yourself if she really believe she can handle it. It is going to be a big roller coaster ride. Weight all the good and the bad that can come out of this experience. It can be fun but it can also be very hard. You will leave your old life behind... And what about the other members of the family. Can they handle it?


Moving abroad still is a family decision. Some families are adaptable and some are not! And if they are not don't even go there. Everybody will be miserable. Trust me, I've seen this happen many, many times.


Are you willing to learn at least the basics of another language? Are you willing to try different food? Deal with lack of security in some cities? Find out that the school curriculum is behind but realize that the kids are learning skills at the international school that they wouldn't be learning at their current school? Want to visit exotic places? Meet some other fun and adventurous people? Deal with packing and unpacking?


But be honest with yourself when you answer this questions. And be aware that by lying you will only hurt yourself and your family. It is better to say no to all this questions, stay where you are and be happy than to move and be unhappy. Lots of marriages will get dissolved along the way. But many other marriages will grow stronger - all this challenges also bring families together.


After the move, the husband has the new job, the kids have the new school but what about us?? What do we have??


Learning how to navigate this new life is not easy. We have to completely rely on other people - and it's not easy. It can be very frustrating! We don't know them so how can we trust their judgment.


We have lots of responsibilities. We need to cook - and the first visits to the supermarket are not easy -, find doctors, learn how to get to places and more... Not being able to speak the new language. Do you guys have any idea how hard this is?? We need to ask new friends and co-workers for help all the time.


I felt like I was completely stupid on my first visit to the supermarket. You can't order a quarter pound of turkey breast, for instance. You need to order things in grams. And until you get used to it, you will get as much or as little as the person who's cutting it wants you to buy. Milk is also sold in a different container, so is heavy cream. Little things like this can drive us crazy!! So we will need help.


So to all the husbands out there, be sympathetic to your wife and listen to her complaints without judging her. She's making a sacrifice so be patient and supportive and you will have a good time as an expat!

And Off We Go

So it began...


The movers are here and along with them came a feeling of emptiness and joy. Emptiness from all the memories and friends we are leaving behind. We did have some ups and downs during the 3 years we've been living here but we have the feeling that we came and we conquered!


And the joy is for what the future holds. It is time to just focus on what's ahead. And realize that more often than not change is for the best. It's the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.


We accomplished a lot in the last 3 years. The kids learned how to speak portuguese. The transition to spanish will not be so bad for them. And the hard work was rewarded with this new job. Of course going back to the US would have been better, but the way the economy is we can't complain. Once you become an expat you know you are taking chances and may not go back to your country of origin any time soon. And that's what happens most of the time. First, the company give your job away - they need to fill the position - and second, after you have international experience you feel like you deserve a promotion when you get back. And depending on the size and structure of your company, this jobs are not easy to get! So going on a second assignment may be a good option.


If your company is considering sending you overseas on a second term you should take it as a compliment. It is very expensive for companies to send people abroad. They have to pay for housing, schooling, car, language training, home leaves, tax consultant... But is it worth it? Only you would know.


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Saying Goodbye

This has been a dreaded moment. We all know this is going to happen but I have a hard time doing so.


I've been in Brazil for 3 years. After our arrival we made some really good friends. We moved to a big development filled with expats. We moved in June, and this is winter time in Brazil. We had just had a very long winter in the US in 2007 and the kids were eager to enjoy the tropical weather. So, what was perceived as winter weather down here - 68 F and 20 C - was summer for my kids. And for the danish kids too. They were the first friends my kids made - all the brazilian kids were wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts and our kids were wearing bathing suits. So we ended up meeting the whole family and we all became friends. After 3 years I can say we became best friends. They told us about another american family that lived in the neighborhood and introduced us. More close friends. School started, more friends. And friends of friends also became friends.


Some have already left - Denmark, Rome, US... - and it was hard to say goodbye - but we were staying with other friends, so we kind of had our own support group. And now I am the one leaving... No friends in Mexico yet. And I do have a hard time saying goodbye.


So about a month and a half ago my friends started to organize some lunches. Once a week, at someone's house with food from their native country. It's been great! It's such a nice way to spend time together and enjoy each other's company. And it also take the pressure - and pain -of having a big Goodbye Party out of all of us. And we've been meeting at the pool every weekend so the kids can spend some time together.


When we start living the expat life we know that this will happen. And we also know that we won't see some friends ever again. And it is not easy to accept this fact. After all, this friends were like family during the time we've been here. We counted and depended on one another. 


Yes, we have e-mails, phones, facebook, but we also have busy lives. And I really try to keep in touch with friends. I am still very close to some friends who are already gone. I am not good at writing e-mails - I like to call my friends. There is something about listening to their voices... And with vonage and skype a phone call won't break the bank. 


The tears will start falling soon but we already have plans to meet in the future. A family vacation in Cancun, a Girls Trip to London, a wedding in New Zealand, Thanksgiving trip to New York... Let's just hope we can all make it!! 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Count Down and Check List

The movers are coming on Monday. We still don't have a house in Mexico - the relocation company hasn't closed the deal yet and God knows why! My husband still doesn't have his visa - even tough he's been in Mexico City since mid September and was told it would take between 30 and 45 days for it to be done. He doesn't have a letter allowing him to leave the country either - we don't want to start the visa process all over again because he can not get paid in Mexico until his visa is ready - but someone is working on that. I think. And we still don't have a final answer from the school we chose. Nice, uh?!


But the movers are coming on Monday... We also need the visa so our container is allowed to leave the country.


And now, a week away from moving to a hotel I have lots to do. From both ends: Sao Paulo and Mexico City. This are the things I need to get done:


From Mexico City:



  •  Hire a driver to take us around when we first get there - not only traffic is crazy but I don't know the city yet;
  • Buy a cell phone;
  • Rent a house;
  • Sign-up for school;
  • Find  pediatrician, a family doctor and a dentist;
  • LEARN HOW TO SPEAK BASIC SPANISH!!
From Sao Paulo:

  • Sign out at school;
  • Sell my car;
  • Rent our apartment;
  • Cancel the cell phone, phone, cable and internet services;
  • ask for all the mail to be forwarded to my husband's work;
  • Change the carpet in the apartment
  • Find a handyman to do some touch-up in the apartment after the move is done;
  • Get the medical records from the pediatrician;
  • Separate all the passports and important documents;
  • Get all the records for the cats so they can travel;
  • Go to the vet to get the documents ready for the cats to travel 3 days prior to our departure;
  • Fire the housekeeper;
  • Confirm the reservations for plane tickets and the temporary housing;
  • Pack the suitcases - clothes and toys;
  • SAY GOODBYE TO GREAT FRIENDS!! Again!!
As you can see there is a lot to be done... I've being running around like a chicken with its head chopped off. I must have forgotten to put some items on the list, so feel free to add up. The level of stress is unbelievable. But I do need to look at the bigger picture.


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Cost of Living

Compared to where?


If I am going to a restaurant Mexico City is cheaper than the US, but if I am buying a car it is more expensive. Sao Paulo is still more expensive then both. For almost everything!


The cars in Mexico city cost about 25% more then they cost in the US, from what I've seen so far. In Brazil  cars cost at least double than what they cost in the US. But if you're going to armor your car it will cost you  50 thousand dollars in Mexico and 25 thousand dollars in Brazil, but as I said before, the level of armoring is different in the 2 countries. Some companies will buy you the armored car. Ask them!


Rent is also expensive in Mexico City. Most houses have 3 bedrooms and the average rent in Polancos, Reforma, Santa Fe, Interlomas and Bosques de Las Lomas is 6 thousand dollars. And this will get you a very nice house. It is really hard to find a house with four bedrooms.


Restaurants are cheaper and groceries are cheaper too. You will find very nice restaurants with food from all over the world at a very reasonable price. A meal for 2 adults and 2 kids with wine at a very nice restaurant in Polancos costed 75 dollars. Not bad! In Sao Paulo the same meal would have costed 200 dollars. So goodbye cost of living adjustment!


The electronics are also more expensive then in the US.


I can not compare the taxi fares. In Sao Paulo, just like in New York, there is a meter and you know exactly how much you should pay. In Mexico City you need to negotiate with the driver. And do not hail a cab on the street, it is very dangerous.


Clothes, from american brands, are also a bit more expensive in Mexico city, but at least you will find american brands.


I haven't gone to a hair salon there so I still don't know how the prices will compare. I'll let you know later.


I also still don't know how the utilities compare but I'll figure it out soon. I've asked the relocation company for this costs many, many times but I can not get an answer out of them. So I am a little concerned.


Oh, and last but not least, housekeeper and driver. I'll honestly feel embarrassed  to pay them so little. I used to pay the cleaning lady in the US 100 dollars to clean my house once a week, and she did it in 3 hours. Here the salary is 200 dollars for the whole month. Yeah, the whole month, 6 days a week!! Usually they are live-ins so you cover the cost of food, housing, etc, but still... The driver gets paid more, 450 dollars. He works from 6 a.m. until around 8 p.m....

Monday, November 22, 2010

Healthcare. What will I get?!

We all know it is very easy to buy medicine in Mexico without a prescription, but what is their healthcare like? I really don't know!


When we moved from the US to Brazil we knew we had access to the some of the best doctors and hospitals in the world. Hard to believe? Yes, Brazil is a third world country but when it comes to  medical care it is considered one of the best. This, of course, if you have a good coverage from your insurance company.


Most expats do get the best coverage from the best insures so we have access to Albert Eintein Hospital, Hospital do Coracao and Hospital Sirio e Libanes. Theses hospitals are just as good as Cedars Sinai, Johns Hopkins Hospitals or the Mayo Clinic. In fact most of the Brazilian doctors from the hospitals above do some training at the american hospitals I just mentioned. And yes, most doctors do speak english. And you will find good doctors by asking your friends and co-workers.


The doctors in Brazil do take their time during your consultation. The average consultation is 45 minutes long. They examine you from head to toe and are not afraid to ask for some exams - like ultra-sound, MRI, blood test - if they think it is necessary. And the insurance companies have to pay for them. It's the law. If you are pregnant here you will have a 3D ultra-sound every time you visit your doctor's office. They have all the equipment there. A lot different then what I had in the US. We do have to pay for all the visits and it is expensive - around 200 dollars - but the insurance company will reimburse us.


While I was in Mexico City I did take a tour at one of their top hospitals, ABC. I wasn't particulary impressed by it. My mexican friends - for now I only have about 10 - get their medical treatment done in the US because they work for multinationals and have health insurance with international coverage. They all believe that american hospitals and doctors are much better. But there are good and bad doctors everywhere. I just hope I am lucky enough to find good doctors in Mexico.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Finding a Gas Station

So, the car is bought. Now where do we fill the tank??


There aren't that many gas stations in Mexico City. It seems like there is only one chain who has the monopoly, Pemex. The price of gas is not too bad, compared to the price in Brazil and in the US.


You feel like always need to stop by to fill your tank when you see a gas station because you never know when you will run out of gas and where the next gas station will be. In Sao Paulo there are gas stations everywhere. Just outside of our development there are two - one of a brazilian chain called Ipiranga and one of the Shell chain. 


I counted only 6 gas stations when I was there - 1 in Polancos, 1 in Reforma, 1 in Santa Fe, 1 near ASF school and 2 near Six Flags. That's it. 


The driver told us to always keep a full tank. The relocation company agent also told me that there weren't too many gas stations out there too. I hope I am wrong and there are more gas stations out there that I just haven't found...


Thursday, November 18, 2010

Buying a Car

Armored or non-armored??


Yes, this is a weird question but when you live in cities like Sao Paulo and Mexico City this is the first question that comes to mind. If you're going to buy an armored car you will need an SUV. If it is non-armored, it doesn't matter. You can buy a sports car, a mini-van, a coupe, whatever suites you best.


The reason for the armored SUV is the weight. It weights a ton! Even tough the materials have been getting lighter, the armoring still weights a lot. When you're buying an armored car you need it to have the whole cockpit and the tires armored. It is better if the car does not have a sunroof because this can be a soft point. And the suspension needs to be able to handle the weight, and this is why a 4x4 SUV is your best option.


There are different levels of armoring and the higher the number, the more protection you get. In Brazil the norm is a level III. In Mexico they use levels V and VI. They have bigger machine guns in Mexico so the armoring has to be heavier.


Your car will also need a big engine so you can drive fast and be able to escape if necessary. SUV again. Taking some Defensive Driving Classes is a must, whether your car is armored or not.


Buying an armored car is like buying insurance. You buy it not to use it. But you something happens you're glad you have it. A couple of friends had some incidents in Sao Paulo and it was very nice to have the armored cars.  I've been driving one here in Sao Paulo. It does make me feel safe, but I'm always alert. Now we have a decision to make. 




Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Transition For The Kids

You must be wondering how are the kids during this time. I know I've been talking a lot about the pets...


The kids are very excited!! They've been missing their dad - they haven't seeing him in 5 weeks - but they are looking forward to Mexico City. They had a hard time adjusting to Brazil, but now that they've done it before they think they are ready to do it again.


Their main concern is the school. They ask me all the time "are we going to an american school, mommy"? And since the answer is yes they are ok with it. They also want to know if there will be other expats on the development we are moving to. So we are looking for a house on places where there is an expat community. 


Of course I don't complain - too much - in front of them. Sometimes I can't help myself.  But most of the time I talk to them about how good this move will be for the whole family. And how much closer we're getting to the US. They always tell me they want to move back to the US some day. And we do too. So it's all good!


I have a don't ask, don't tell policy, also. If they don't ask me questions about the move, I don't bring up the subject. My experience with them is that when they want to know something they'll ask. But sometimes I need to talk to them about certain things.


Last Sunday I took them out to a nice restaurant for lunch. As we were there I put a calendar over the table and we discussed the dates of the move. I told them when the movers are going to come, when dad is arriving, when we're moving to the hotel, when the last day of school is and when we will be arriving in Mexico. Putting it there, in front of them, made them feel more at ease. 


Keeping our kids happy is our main goal. And living overseas is a great adventure for them. And also an opportunity for learning and growth. If they are happy, we're happy. And this is all that matters.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Taking the Kids and the Cats to Mexico

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post and the reason is that nothing relevant happened during this time. Except for more planning.


I'm working on getting things ready here in Brazil and so far I have the moving scheduled and I'm trying to buy the plane tickets. Remember I have to take 3 cats along with me!! In-cabin. We're waiting for the airlines confirmation on this issue.


My silly husband just wanted me to take care of the whole move and he would just come to Brazil one day and leave to Mexico the next day with a child and a pet. This is not happening! He needs to come one week before the move to help out with the kids, the packing and all the other things that come up when one is moving to another country. So, in order for him to come we had to find a place for my dog to stay at while my husband is traveling. And by this time you already know me and know that the average kennel just will not make the cut. My husband's assistant asked around and found a place for my 4 legged baby to stay. There is a hosting facility where a couple take pets in for long stays. The pets have a big yard to play in and they sleep in the office rather than in cages. Not the ideal situation but my husband will visit the place and let me know of his impressions. Here in Sao Paulo my baby stays with a lovely lady called Christiana. She has a small farm where the dogs can run around free. She cares for them as a grandmother. They can sleep in bed with her if they want to. She also adds carrots to their meals and gives them lots of love... She's the best!


Back to the cats, I found out that I am not allowed to bring more than 2 pets at once to Mexico. And also most airlines only allow 2 pets per cabin. So my husband, one cat and one of the kids are flying one day and I am flying the next day with one child and two cats.


There are a few reasons why the cats have to fly in-cabin with us:
1) The age - they are all around 10 years old;
2) One of them has heart murmur;
3) The others are persian cats. Persian cats are just like dogs with short noses. They have difficulties controlling their body temperature during flights. All airlines have some kind of ban on short-nosed breeds. I am not a vet so I don't know the exact reasons why. But I love my pets and I am not willing to take any chances!!


Oh, and we're still homeless in Mexico. There is no solution for the house yet. The landlords won't provide a receipt and our employer requires one. So we'll see how this goes...




P.S. - I just got an e-mail from Delta Airlines confirming that the cats can fly in-cabin with us. We will have to fly to Atlanta and then Mexico City. But my kitties will be safe and sound! Thank you, Delta!!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Mexico for Kids

Surprisingly - at least to me - Mexico City is a very kid friendly city. There are lots of things to do with children and people don't look funny at you on nice restaurants if your kids are being loud.


There is a Zoo in Chapultepec park that's very nice and the park is also a great place for the kids. It has two lakes and a very nice restaurant. The park seemed very safe. And also dog friendly. There is also a Zoo Safari about an hour and a half drive from Mexico City, near the ruins that's nice.


Closer to the city there is a Six Flags with some sea animals where you can swim with the dolphins. We did it as a family and it was a great experience. The trainers spoke english and were extremely nice. The kids wanted to go back there everyday.


In Santa Fe there is a mall called "Centro Comercial" that has movie theaters, and arcade and Ciudad de Los Ninos. Ciudad the Los Ninos is amazing! The kids had a great time there playing and learning. They even made me a burger at McDonalds!


The food is also excellent there and you can find food from all over the world. Mexican food was, of course, delicious. We also went to restaurants with food from the following countries: Italy, France, Argentina, China and Japan. There are also lots of american chains there - TGI Friday's, Rainforest Cafe,
California Pizza Kitchen, Pizza Hut, Strbucks, Coldstone Creamery and more. Oh, and the cereal isle at the supermarket!! What an improvement from Sao Paulo!! I felt like I was back in the US.


Did I mention there's also a Saks Fifth Avenue?? For those of us who have been living abroad for a while This is great!!


I know there is a lot more to do with kids in Mexico City and we can not wait to have more time to explore.


Monday, October 25, 2010

Things the Relocation Company won't tell you

I did manage to take my dog to Mexico in-cabin and he arrived safe and sound! He was the big attraction at the plane for the flight attendants who told me he behaved much better than most passengers. And it's true, he was extremely well behaved. Never barked and never bothered! The kids were also very well behaved during the long flight. Once again I can't thank AA and it's crew enough!!


Well, we got to Mexico. And now the adventure starts. And this are the things the relocation company people haven't told me:

  • The kids NEED to be tested at school;
  • Renting a house here is not easy.
When I went on my Look-and-See trip I did not take my kids thinking it was not necessary. BIG MISTAKE! The school has a mandatory test for all the kids who are applying for a spot there. For ALL the kids! I didn't know it so I had to take my kids this time to make sure they'll have a place in their grades. And no one told me about this! But this time they took the test and we'll see if they'll be accepted.

And renting a house is a big ordeal! Anywhere else in the world you go with the relocation company and a realtor to search for houses, you find one within your budget, the landlords are happy they are renting the house to a multinational company, they negotiate the deal and it's done! In mexico, not that easy!!

First you find a house, then you negotiate in which currency the lease will be in, US Dollars or Mexican Pesos. Then there is the inflation index that need to be used every year. Anyone would think that if your contract is in US Dollars you will use the CPI US and if it is in Mexican Pesos then CPI Mexico it is, right? No, you're wrong. They want the rent in dollars and the CPI Mexico. They make a lot more money this way.

And how about getting a receipt for the payments with the SSN equivalent so the company can justify how they're spending this money? The landlords will NOT provide a receipt! Absolutely not! And what if your company, like mine, doesn't work this way? Then good luck finding a house! I'm back on the market looking for one right now.

The reason why they don't provide receipts is because under mexican laws if you buy a house to live on it you get tax benefits. If you rent the house and the government finds out about it they will tax the owner big time when they sell the house. So the landlords refuse to write receipts. No matter what your budget is this is the situation. You're not even allowed to change the utilities bills to your name. The landlords need to keep the house as if he's leaving there.

Bad news is that most multinational companies won't cheat on their taxes.  Now I have to try to figure this out and find a new place to live.



Saturday, October 9, 2010

My Dog is flying with me!

Yesterday was a very stressful day. I had to wait until 8 O'clock at night for the confirmation from the airline for my dog to fly in-cabin. Thank you American Airlines!! They were supposed to have an answer by 5 p.m. so the wait was nerve wrecking. But we got the special permit and we couldn't be happier!
So what's next? Getting all the documents ready for The dog to leave Brazil and enter Mexico without more problems.
So, from Brazil I'll need:
  • International Health Certificate (CZI) issued 3 days before traveling;
  • A certificate of vaccination against rabies;
  • A certificate issued by the pet veterinary stating that the dog is in good health within 7 days from traveling.
And the documents required for him to enter Mexico are:
  • A certificate issued by the pet veterinary stating that the dog is in good health within 7 days from traveling;
  • Proof of vaccines against rabies and distemper administered at least 15 days before the pet's arrival.
I have all the documents thanks to the moving company and my wonderful vet who made sure everything was done right. The CZI is issued at the airport and the moving company had to send a person there to take care of it. It takes a whole day for this document to be ready. In two months I'll have to go thru all this again to take the cats to Mexico with me.
Now I have to worry about the kids. My husband is already working in Mexico so I'll be traveling with our kids by myself. But leaving Brazil with the kids by myself is not an easy task.
Brazilian Laws don't allow a person to board a plane with minors without a notarized letter from both parents/legal guardians of this children. So I will need a letter from my husband authorizing me to take the kids out of the country. Luckily we were aware of it and he already sent me this letter. But it took a week for the consulate to notarize the letter. He had to overnight it. But overnighting in Mexico means it takes 3 days to get here. Just saying...
So we're good to go! Wish us luck!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Geting Ready to Leave

I've been meeting with realtors. They take some pictures of the apartment, ask a few questions and that's it! The only thing they care about is their commission. They don't really add value giving advices like in the US. Actually, the realtors here are nothing like the ones in the US. But, they may bring in the tenants, so we have to go thru them.
I'm also with the handyman at home. He's touching up the paint, changing some lightbulbs and fixing small things to make sure the apartment will be ready for our tenants.
And the relocation company from Mexico hasn't contacted me in 2 weeks. It seems like time goes by much slower over there.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Checklist

I almost have the pets situation figured out!!
In two days we will have an answer. On the mean time I need to get all the permits for my 4 legged baby to leave Brazil and enter Mexico. So it's one problem solved and one more to go...
Next on the list:
  • Put our apartment in Brazil for rent;
  • Sell our car;
  • Rent the house in Mexico;
  • Hire a driver in Mexico;
  • Schedule an interview with the schools in Mexico.
So, today I was contacting realtors to rent our apartment. I also here in Brazil we need more than one realtor. They don't work with an unified listing. You need to list your apartment or house with lots of brokers if you want it to rent quickly. You will also need to use different brokers if your looking to rent something.
To sell the car I'm talking to people at my husband's company, advertising on the school newspaper and in our development.
And now the fun part: Renting the new house!
Well, at least I have an idea of where I want to live in Mexico. I talked to some friends who lived there and got some ideas. On my "look-and-see" trip I also visited some nice houses in gated neighborhoods where some other expats live. Now it is time to make a decision.
Hiring the driver is a necessity. I don't know my way around the city and traffic there is beyond crazy. And coming from someone who lives in Sao Paulo, that says a lot!
The interview will be interesting because I can not speak spanish! I'll need help to translate everything. maybe I'll get lucky and one of the candidates will be able to speak some english.
I will only interview people who have been recommended by someone trustworthy - co-workers, friends, Newcomers' Club, school, etc... I was advised against hiring someone thru an agency or without recommendations.
And time for the kids to visit the schools. I really hope they like it and meet some nice kids. They will have to take a test and I hope they do well. Wish us luck!