Comparing the Schools

I've been back for a few months and I think now I am ready to make a comparison between the 3 schools I've been talking about the most: The American School Foundation (ASF) in Mexico City, The Graded School ( Graded) in Sao Paulo, and my kids school here in Florida. The reason why I am not talking about Westhill is that I don't know of any expats with kids there and there were no kids from Westhill attending the Graded until the time that I left the school nor attending the school here in Florida. So I feel like I can only express my opinion on the schools above. I also have 2 friends whose children attended ASF help me with this post so I don't mislead anyone. Once again, this is only my opinion, based on my personal experience and my friends experiences. 

So here we go. Which one is the best? If we're just talking academics, there is no doubt, the school in Florida is the best one by far! They are easily, at least one year ahead of the Graded. And the Graded is ahead of ASF by far too. Athletics? ASF is number one. They do have a very strong athletic program, followed by the Graded and then school in Florida. For whatever reason the school in Florida does not have a strong athletic program. And the Graded program is ok. They substituted a bad teacher with another at the lower school and their after school athletic program is really bad, but the kids are exposed to lots of different sports. Arts? Now this is where the Graded excels. The music teachers are amazing! To hear the children there singing  is unbelievable! They sound great! And the art work the kids bring home is also really good. They have a state of the art Art Center. And the kids learn how to draw, paint and sculpt at an early age. Creativity is highly encouraged. During middle and high school they start with drama, video, photography and design classes.  There is a tie for number 2: ASF and the school in Florida. They both have very good programs, but they're not the Graded. Diversity? Tied for the first place: Graded and the school in Florida. Well, it is Florida, so the population is very diverse. Same with the Graded. Both schools have kids from all over the world. ASF has mostly mexican kids. Both my american friend and my mexican friend feel like there is a separation between the majority of mexicans and the minority of foreigners at ASF. For some reason the groups don't mix much. Bullying? Number one: School in Florida. Hands down. They have a strong anti-bullying policy and they enforce it. Number 2: Graded. They still overlook the atrocities some teachers do - like yelling and disrespecting children, but they are changing - kudos to the new Superintendent and Lower School Co-Principal. They started a new anti-bullying policy and the new co-principal of the lower school is enforcing it. Even with the teachers. He fired at least one already.  Number 3: ASF. They don't have a bullying policy in place as of today. So when things happen you don't know what the outcome will be. According to my friends it depends on the kids and teachers involved. Some kids and teachers are more equal than others. We really hope this changes by next year.

So overall, what is my opinion? I would put the school in Florida as number one. Not only it is the best one academically and with the anti-bullying issue but it also has other good things to offer, in spite of what you'll read bellow. Number 2 is the Graded. What it lacks in academic it has on art and in making our kids global citizens. It does teach them non-academic important skills. Graded is also a fully accredited international school, it is on the top 5 list. Number 3 is ASF due to poor academics and falling short on other categories. Maybe this is also the reason why they are not fully accredited. I don't know.


My side note here is about teachers here in Florida. I still don't understand why the teachers at the school here are so serious. My kids call them angry. And angry is how I call the administration at the school here. Luckily my kids are very nice and don't get in trouble often but the teachers here are always yelling at kids telling them not to run, not to yell (hello! what kind of example are you setting?). I rarely see them smiling at school and the kids notice it too. They asked me about it. Most teachers and administration have been at this school for years. The Graded had the same issues with its older teachers. They all seem to have a sense of entitlement. They seem to think that they can do no wrong and even if they do they know that nothing will happen. Besides my first year at the Graded when my kids had the worse teachers in the world, my kids were fortunate enough to get awesome teachers. They would smile all the time, the were very kind and loving. And the kids had a great deal of respect for them. Here my son has a great teacher but my daughter's teacher is not that good - the never smile, angry type. Apparently she used to be a good 4th Grade teacher and switched to a different grade that she is not too fond of. She'll be switching again next year. The kids will be better off.  ASF also has its share of bad teachers. Unfortunately, bad teachers happen everywhere, my problem is the administration enabling this behavior on them. They should be fired. I can't wait for the day when schools are not only going to enforce discipline but also take advantage of positive reinforcement. Praising the kids goes a long way. 


I also believe that the reason why the Graded is academically behind is because it would be unfair with the kids who come from all over the world to have a strong academic curriculum. Every year there are kids from several different countries, who can't speak english, joining the school. Or kids who can speak a little bit of english but can't read or write in english. How would they be able to accommodate this kids if the academics were strong? It would be extremely hard on these kids. I've seen in my kids class, kids from Japan, Korea and all over Latin America that join the school without speaking a word of english and in 6 months are speaking as natives. But I mean speaking, because when it comes to writing and spelling... But they are catering to the international community and I need to give them credit for it. There is also a great deal of stress on the kids during the relocation's first months. The Graded sees it. On the plus side, as the kids reach high school the standards are higher and the kids have access to the best universities in the world.


Just to put this whole academic talk in perspective, I considered the schools perform on the National Ranking. The school in Florida is on the 90%. Graded is on the 70%. I could not find the data about ASF, but my friends told me they were told, last year while their kids were attending that they were on the 60%.


So am I happy with the school here? Yes, I am. Would I go back to the Graded? Yes, I would. Would I still consider ASF? No, not at this moment. But if they get their full accreditation I will. I really hope someday all the international schools will have high standards and cater to the growing global community so no matter where we go we will be able to provide the best education to our children.

P.S. Some people are not happy about me saying that ASF is not fully accredited. But they are not and here is the proof. Here is the link to the AdvancED page stating their accreditation status. AdvancED is linked to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and they accredit schools worldwide.

http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=12526

And here is proof the Graded is fully accredited:

http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=31959

Just so you can see the difference.

Apartment For Sale or Rent

Well, if any of you is thinking about buying or renting an apartment in Sao Paulo, in a gated community near the Graded School, let me know. I may just have the right place for you! 
Here is the link:
http://www.c21premier.com.br/imovel-detalhes.aspx?ref=AP5495

Transferring Money

When you're living abroad you may have to eventually transfer money from the country you're working in to a different country. And how can you get this done? 


Let me tell you,if you're in Brazil it is not easy! And it doesn't matter where you're trying to send the money to. It makes no difference. It's your money, right? You've paid your taxes, right? Then why is it so difficult? One word: Bureaucracy! Every penny that leaves Brazil need to go thru the Central Bank and they demand a lot of paperwork to get this done. It can be very frustrating. In our case, bringing money back has been a nightmare. We worked there for a while. We always paid our taxes. We brought money in to invest in the country. But now we can not get it out! And it makes no difference whether it is a lot of money or just a little bit. The bureaucracy is the same. So can you imagine having a relative in a different country who needs money for an emergency and you, having the money, not being able to help? Even if you have an account on Citibank, or Bank of Scotia, or Santander, it won't help. Period. 


In Mexico it is much easier to send money to the US. I don't know how it is to transfer money to other countries. Because of the NAFTA Agreement, the free trade agreement, it is very easy to wire money between these 2 countries. Small amounts, large sums, it doesn't matter. As long as you pay your taxes you can do whatever you want with your money. And I really believe this is how things should be. 

Gay Relocation

We're still struggling with gay rights here in the US. Some states recognize gay marriage and some don't. Some companies are more acceptable than others, specially when we talk about relocation. So what can you expect if you're moving to Mexico or Brazil?


Let me start with Mexico. It is funny, but I haven't seem that many open gays in Mexico City. There's one in my husband's company, but still in the closet afraid that coming out here will ruin his reputation. It doesn't seem like mexicans are very accepting of gays. I find it very contradictory because same-sex marriages and civil unions can be performed in Mexico City. Mexico has the "macho" culture and in my opinion this is why it is so hard for people to be open there.


Now, Brazil. It is just the opposite of Mexico. People are not afraid to come out of the closet and be openly gay. There is not much prejudice at all. But the government won't legalize gay marriage. The Supreme Court will accept civil unions but not marriage. A little bit hypocrite, if you ask me. But if one partner is sick the other does have the right to stay at the hospital and have rights to inheritance. The right to pension is still being discussed.  At most company's function the partner will be welcome. The "macho" culture is still big in  a few companies, but not in most companies.


I hope the day when everyone will be treated equally is not far from us. We're all equal and should have the same rights, no matter what country we live in.


UPDATE:
Last week the Brazilian Supreme Court started recognizing same-sex civil unions. What a great step towards equality for all. Way to go, Brazil!


UPDATE 2:
As of this Monday, The Brazilian Supreme Court started granting Permanent Resident Visas to the same sex partner of a brazilian citizen. Another step!

Comcast Sucks!!

Oh my God!!
Can you believe I am still having issues with Comcast?? Now they are charging me for the installation that was supposed to have been free. So far I had poor costumer service and misleading advertisement. Directv here I come!! Before we moved to Brazil we had Directv for 10 years and never had a problem. Why did I try Comcast now?? seriously, what was I thinking?? That they would care about losing a costumer? They don't. Because they know there is only one other option here in Florida.
Getting Net in Brazil and Cablevision in Mexico was a breeze compared to this! Right charge, check. Installation on the day scheduled, check. Yes, they were late, but they were polite and got the job done at the price agreed upon.
I am going to cancel it now!! I rather have no TV, Cable and Internet than have to deal with them.
Just had to vent!! Some times we get frustrated with this things while overseas but unfortunately they happen at home too.


Update: Problem Solved! Thanks to Mike, I got a call and the issue is resolved. I really hope not to have any more problems...

Where To Relocate To??

Don't you also have the feeling that bad things are happening all over the world? Middle-East crisis, tsunami and earthquake in Japan, mudslide and floods in Brazil, drug cartel wars in Mexico, Chavez taking away the rights of the people in Venezuela, economic crisis in the US and Europe...


And then the company asks us to relocate? So where can and should we move to? Tough questions to answer. We never know what wait for us. We will have to up route our whole lives which is already something difficult to do but putting our families in an unsafe situation is every expat worse nightmare!


I had to draw the line a couple of times. There are some countries I would never move to. They may be exactly what other people would want but they are not for me. It's not that some countries are better than others. It's just that I know I can adapt to certain cultures better than others. 


Staying within the americas seems like it's been the best for us. I can speak portuguese and some spanish. My husband learned both languages very easily. He is fluent in both. Brazil and Mexico are also not too far from the US. There are daily flights between these countries. There isn't a big cultural difference. It was easy to adapt.


There are some countries in Europe I would like to move to. I would also like to move to Hong Kong. Or to New Zealand. My dream relocation would be to Australia. But there are some countries I would never, ever move to. I really don't think I would adapt to the culture. Same for my husband. So why bother?


We were once offered an assignment in a country we had no desire to move to. We were in Brazil, during our first expat assignment when we were offered two possibilities. Moving back to the US and getting a normal job or moving to this other country and getting a bigger promotion. We took the first option. And we don't regret it. Neither one of us think we could have been happy in that country. And we were ready to start our family. And recently there were talks about a future assignment for us that I am not interested in. So as I was asked, in a casual conversation, how did I feel about that particular country I answered with a joke that got my point across. Everybody laughed and I know that this particular country won't be in our future anymore. 


So you really need to weight your possibilities. Not taking an assignment may be better than taking one that you're not going to enjoy. I already mentioned the family who only stayed in Brazil for 9 months and the cost it had. Think about it. Now mix it with the world uncertainties and come up with your answer. You're the one relocating, after all. 

Wife Working Abroad

Another difficult topic. This varies from country to country and from corporation to corporation. If you're thinking of working as an expat spouse you'll have to do lots of research before you can figure out if it will be possible. All I can tell you is that it is possible but it won't be easy. So where do we get started?


First and foremost you have to find out what kind of visa you're getting. Many countries limit the amount of work visas.  You will probably get the family visa. Governments don't want foreign companies bringing an unlimited number of employees to take the job of their local people. Therefore they will only allow one work visa per household. If you apply for a permanent visa the rules may change. But most companies will aply for a temporary work visa for its employee and the family will have the visa by association. It is easier to get the visa this way and it's also cheaper. If your spouse is on an expat assignment long enough you may qualify for a work visa.


That being said, some companies have policies that support working expat spouses and will hire good lawyers to try to get them the work visa. If there is this possibility in the country you're moving to. And if this is agreed up front. 


If you want to open your own business and invest in that particular country your chances of getting a work visa will improve a lot. Lots of countries welcome foreign investment and will reward the investors with the visa. But be prepared to deal with all the bureaucracy to open the business and to get the visa. I know this is not easy in Brazil and in Mexico. Not only there is the bureaucracy but there's also the corruption. And you can find yourself in a catch 22: If you give in to corruption you may risk not opening the business, if you get caught you won't get the visa. And if you don't pay off you risk not opening the business. I know for a fact that this is not easy.


Another option: you can work illegally. But once agin, you're taking a big risk. And this one can also cost your spouse his or her visa. Not likely, but a possibility. One way to succeed this way is if you're a photographer, a tutor, a personal trainer or have any kind of job that doesn't require an employer. This could be something to consider. You can work for other expats and locals without the need to establish a company or provide receipts. I am not advising anyone to take the illegal route, I am just keeping it real. I have a friend who's a great cook and she started catering dinners to friends. It is working out really well.


Or you can keep you job abroad. I have another friend who's a journalist and she kept her job. But she has to split her time between 2 countries and she spends a lot of time away from her family. This is not the best solution if you have small children. But this is not her case. Still, she's very happy with her decision and travel schedule. She talked to her boss and they agreed on the flexible schedule. And she also gets to do some work as a correspondent when she's in Brazil.


Maybe you can get your employer to transfer you. This would qualify you for a work visa. If you think your company would do it, this would be your best bet. But this is expensive for the company and many employers won't agree to do it. The problem is not only the cost of the visa but also all the labor laws in foreign countries. But I've seen this happen. It it worked out really well not only for the companies but also for the couples.


And you can also consider a sabbatical. It may not be too bad. Or do some volunteer work. There's a lot to choose from. The Newcomer's Club and The American Society can help you find a volunteer opportunity.

The bottom line is, if you want to work abroad you will need to do your homework before you agree with your husband to take the expat assignment. Talk to HR of your company and of your husband's and find out if they will help you. Get this answer in writing. Go to the embassy or consulate of the country you're considering and ask questions. Talk to your colleagues working in that country. Talk to your husband. Ask everyone what can be done. Find out who can help you. Decide what you really want. This will avoid lots of frustration later on. And if you're a reader of this blog you know there'll be plenty of frustrating times...

Libya and Iran

I have a few readers from Libya and Iran. And I extend to you my wishes for better days. My thoughts and prayers are with you too.


I lived in Brazil when I was a teenager and there was a dictature there too. So I know how it feels to live under these circumstances. I know I need to be careful with the words I choose not to have my blog blocked. There were things we were not allowed to talk on the phone because the phone could be taped. You're likely going thru a lot more. But I really hope that the issues you're having will be done soon and that the people's will will prevail. There will be better days ahead. I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart.

Japan Update

Just like other companies, our company just told the expats to evacuate Tokyo and is also offering help to their local employees. I know Apple is doing the same. And I also know most people are being taken care of, either by the government or by local charities.


But as a pet lover cant help but wonder: what's happening to all the animals victims of this catastrophe? Where are they going to? Who's caring for them? How can I help them?


If anyone have this information please let me know. I would love to help out with the pet efforts.


All of my friends know that I am not a believer in donating money to big charities, like the Red Cross. I think that most of the money donated to them goes to pay the large salaries of their executives. Remember what happened to all the money donated on 9/11? So my approach is to help individuals or donating food and other supplies to the local animal shelters. But I do like to help and I am looking forward to do something for these pets who are going thru so much - radiation, losing their families, their homes, their food... They also need our help.

Japan Expats

Our friends, who are expats in Tokyo, just arrived in the U.S. safe and sound. I hope more expats have the same chance to get back to their countries soon. It is really sad to see what's happening now but we're lucky enough to be able to leave and go to a place we call home. I know must flights are completely booked and there are wait lists for flights to the U.S. and Europe. Some companies are using their private jets to bring their expats back. I think they should extend the courtesy to their japanese employees and fly them to a safe place.


But I keep on hoping that the situation there will get better. Once again my thoughts and prayers are with the people from and in Japan.

Pets Update

It's been a while since I talked about my pets. The poor things had a tough time during this move. First the hotel, then the flight(s), temporary housing and now, finally, they have a home! And how are they doing?


Well, after being flown from Brazil to Mexico and then to the US my dog had some skin rashes. Stress rashes. But he loved to be back in a house rather than an apartment or a hotel room. And he was also missing having his family with him. He was so happy to see the kids. And to play with them. His skin is already better. He loves the new backyard. He can run free and lay down in the sun. And now that we don't need to drive armored cars anymore he is enjoying the car rides with the open window. He never gets tired of the wind on his face.


The cats were also stressed with the move. My persian cat is the one who adapted the easiest. He's happy just to be around us. We're his 3rd family, so I am sure he's just happy to have not been left behind. His hair got super matted during the first weeks after our arrival so we gave him a lion cut and he looks good. It is also one less thing for me to worry about right now. Less hair, less work for me and less shedding - aka less hair on the floor. My white cat started losing some hair out of her belly. Also stress related. But now she's happy and settled, her hair is growing and she's back to protecting the house. She loves to walk around the perimeter to make sure everything is ok. And she also loves to spend time in the backyard. My black cat got some white hair. He's the one with the heart problem but his heart is ok. He is also enjoying the outdoors but his favorite place to stay is by the front gate, observing what is going on at our street. 


They all seem to be adjusting well. It is funny but the one who's been having the hardest time adjusting is my daughter. And she always seemed to be the most adaptable one. But, this is another story...

Japan

My husband and I have a friend from our company who's an expat in Japan.


We know Tokyo was not affected very much by this tragedy and that his family is ok. 


But our thoughts and prayers are with the people in Japan. Expats or not.

More About The Move

I am completely exhausted. And overwhelmed. Tackle a 40'HC container is no easy task. Can someone remind me why did I put myself in this situation again??


So far I think I've done 20 loads of laundry. About 20 more of dishes. But I am not even close of being done. Everything that came out of the container needs to be washed. And I mean everything. This things have been in boxes since the beginning of December. My things are smelling like mold. And my asthma can not handle it.


Today, again, I had the help of the Professional Organizer. And we had 8 large garbage bags filled with things to donate. We also had 4 more bags of garbage. I am really committed to get rid of the clutter in my live and I've been letting go of a lot more than I ever taught I would be able to. And the kids joined me and let go of lots of clothes and toys they have already outgrown. It feels good! We still have a big task ahead of us. We need to de-clutter the playroom. After years of living abroad we became professional toy hoarders. It was so hard to find nice and inexpensive toys in Sao Paulo that every time we came to the US we felt like it was christmas and we shopped for as many toys as we could. But now it is time to donate the ones we don't use anymore and trash the ones that are broken or have missing pieces. But it's easier said then done. We'll also have to pick some toys to bring to Mexico. It will help have the house there feeling more like a home.


I honestly think that it will take a month before I can make our new home livable. But I'll do my best to get it done sooner.


Oh, and talk about costumer service, I still don't have comcast installed. Yes, no cable, no internet and no phone! And I'm in the US!! Comcast has been even worse than NET, out provider in Sao Paulo. And this says a lot. See, there are things in the US that are awful too. I've been waiting for over a week for this to get done. I'm totally going to call Directv tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Day 3 of the Move

The container is unpacked. Not a single box left. Can you believe?


I did not think it would be possible but everything is out of the boxes. The kitchen is fairly organized. All the dishes and cups are clean. I still need to clean the pots and pans but at least they are inside the cabinet. The bathrooms are almost done. There are still a few things in the counter but the bathroom is clean. I washed lots of towels and some bed sheets. I made huge progress.


The moving crew was great. They were on time, very professional, hard working and polite. The guys were committed to finish unpacking and they did not damage anything. Of course a few things got damaged along the way, but nothing big.


The handy-man came over to put some things together and hang some pictures but did not finish the job. He couldn't assemble some items and he did not take his time to try to figure it out. But he's coming back tomorrow and I'll have him fix what he did not do. And finish his job.


I am exhausted and ready to have a good night of sleep. I'll have another big day tomorrow. 

Day 2 of the Move

OMG!!!


I am exhausted, my feet are swollen, my back is hurting... Sound familiar?


I am doing this move almost all by myself. There are the movers, unloading the container and opening boxes. Yesterday I had the cleaning people help me out doing the dishes before they could be put away today, but that was it. Today I had a professional organizer, Catherine, who help me organize the kitchen and one bathroom. She'll be back next week to help me with the rest. And tomorrow the cleaning people - a couple - will be back to do some laundry. I will need clean sheets and towels.


We still need to unpack 30% of the boxes. And then put things away. And figure out where the furniture will be placed. And assemble it. Hang the mirrors and pictures. Take the air shipment from our temporary house and bring it to our home. Organize the closets... I get tired just thinking about it. 


It was funny to see how impressed the movers were with my knowledge about moves. I had a system they taught was very efficient. Post it notes everywhere, marking the boxes, getting the right parts together. I've done it enough times to know exactly what to do.


And have I told you my husband is not around? He had some meetings in New York that could not be cancelled. No, he did not do it on purpose.  And I can't complain. I couldn't be happier. We agreed that this is going to be our home no matter what. We will keep this as a home base. Whether we decide to move to Mexico in July, if we find a good school for the kids or decide to take another international position in a few years. I must admit that I would be happy to settle down and stay right here forever.

My Container Just Arrived!

Finally!! My container arrived today.

I spent all day with the movers. They brought 6 of the twelve crates. We only unpacked less than 10% of the boxes. The moving company was planning on getting everything done in 2 days. It is not going to happen. Tomorrow we'll have more people helping. Today there were only two guys plus two maids I hired. The maids were washing the dishes and cleaning the house. There was no place to sit to have lunch.

We're all exhausted. I could go for a margarita now, knowing tomorrow and  thursday there'll be more work to get done.

The Super Commute

At first, the super commute seemed like the craziest idea ever! Splitting the family, traveling all the time, two homes, two or three cars, how the kids are going to react, etc, etc, etc...


So is it worth trying? Why should it even be considered? How can it work out?


Once again, I don't have all the answers. But I do have lots and lots of questions. The main one is: What will be the best for my family? And what do I consider to be the best for them? A good education for the kids and for my husband to continue to enjoy his job and advance his career. As for me, I want to have some time to enjoy myself. And maybe start a career as a Relocation Expert and Consultant.


So, if this is a consideration for you, as it is for us, the one thing you should keep in mind is this: Flexibility. You and your spouse will need to learn how to live with a flexible schedule and away from each other for a certain period of time.


So you're considering the super commute?
Here are a few things to consider:
1) The flight schedule;
2) Your work schedule;
3) Whether your company accept this option and still give you some benefits;
4) Your marriage situation;
5) The cost.


The flight schedule is number one on the list because keeping the job is a big consideration. You can't be on a place where getting to your job will be difficult. It is better to be on a place where if you miss a flight there will be another one on the same day, so you don't risk missing a important meeting for example.


There are several work schedules that can be considered. Regular work schedule and come back home on the weekends; work a few days per week at the office and some days at home;  work two weeks at the office and two weeks from home... It all depends on your company's culture and your boss' opinion.


About the company, you can find out if there are/were other people on this situation. Would your boss be ok with this alternative? You will have to present the company a strong reason to support your decision not to move and still take the job. You will have to calculate the cost of housing and other benefits and see if it will cover the cost of housing plus plane tickets - you will need a smaller place to live - at the place where your new position will be. Plane tickets can be very expensive. How about health insurance? Do you have international cover for your family? Would the company be willing to provide it?


Now the marriage. Are you or is your spouse jealous? Insecure? If you answered yes then don't even think about the super commute. Your life will be a living nightmare. If you answered no, great! How are your views on parenting? You will still have to consider that you will have to live as a single parent during part of the month.  So you will need to support each other more than ever. You will have to be consistent with the kids behavior and education. And both of you will have to take care of a house - do laundry, go to the supermarket, cook dinner... You can also use the time apart in a constructive way or not. It is your choice. How about watching movies or soap operas your husband doesn't like? Listening to pop radio stations? And the husband can watch all the baseball games without being disturbed. And listen to all the sports podcasts he wants. But I am not going to start giving relationship advices now. Each relationship is unique and only you will know if your marriage can endure the distance. Most of all, you will have to learn how to make the time together count. Do fun things and enjoy each other's company.


And now the cost. You will have to plan all your expenses and see if it's worth it. Are your kids at a private school or a public school? Can you use the money from the school to pay for the plane tickets? How is the cost of living at the city you're relocating to compared to the one you are considering staying at or moving to? What about the shipping costs to move your belongings? What extra expenses are you planning on having? I know you'll have lots of expenses, but you can save some money if you take a few weeks vacation where your spouse works during the school break. No need to pay for a hotel!


There is so much to be considered... It is not easy to make this decision. But it can work out really well.

Managing Life in 3 Countries

It's hard to believe but we're living between 3 countries: Mexico, U.S. and Brazil. And, man, it is difficult to manage it.


We still have our apartment up for rent in Brazil, so we have to pay the condo fees, taxes, water, gas and power there. So we still have to have a bank account there. I also have to work with realtors to make sure that we're having showings and all. But in Brazil they don't have a unified listing and realtors hate to have to split the commission. This hasn't been an easy task. And being so far away there is not much I can do. We really need to rent this apartment soon. So I need to keep working on it.


In mexico, my husband just moved to a smaller apartment closer to work. He needed to simplify his life. His new car is finally ready and work has been keeping him super busy. And I need to make sure he has everything he needs there too. I like to take care of him even from far away.


And, here in the U.S., I am getting ready to move to our permanent address. We bought a house that we can keep even if we have to move again in 3 years. We decided that it would be good for the kids to have a place to call home no matter where we end up later. So I have to manage this move, school, after school activities, pets...


We are starting to plan what to do during the vacations. We have to put together the calendars - the school and the mexican holidays - to try to figure out how we can spend some extra time together. Take a few trips in Mexico with my husband without him missing work. We also have to go to Brazil to pick up my husband's government pension money. So we'll have to be there for at least a week. It will be good to see some friends.


So we'll be juggling between countries for a while. Maybe when it's all done and we settle in one place we'll miss all this craziness. I'll let you know.