Ready to move in soon

I can finally post a picture! Mexico and blogger seem to be in sync today.

This is Little S outside our house, though that's not our house in the photo it's the neighbor's posh house. We chose this neighborhood because it was open and Little S could run around and ride his tricycle. Most Mexican houses sit on busy roads and are enclosed by large metal gates for security. We didn't want to feel caged in so we chose a gated community instead with a more open feel on the street.

We spent the weekend working. We have to start cleaning and arranging the house for the movers who should come this week. We also needed to stock up and buy some little things--a draining rack for the sink and washing powder for the machine. It was such a challenge finding the washing powder because it's sold in half pound or quarter pound sacks and the stock takes up a whole wall in the store! All the cleaning powders are sold together too--dishwasher, all purpose, you name it. We just chose Ariel because we recognized it and it had a picture of clothes on it.

Our house is lovely and we're really excited to move in. We ordered a sofa a few weeks ago that should be coming today. We also bought a dining room table (still need chairs for that). The furniture in Mexico is very inexpensive. We payed so little for the two pieces it was almost shocking. The quality isn´t great but it will serve us well while we're here.

Seb is really into tending the tiny backyard and the swimming pool. I hope this trend lasts. The little pool is pretty but it's definitely a hassle. I really wish I could make it disappear because I'd prefer having the space for an outdoor table and a place for kids to play.

The weather is really nice. Yesterday it felt like Florida! It does dip a little in the morning to about 65 degrees F. but all day it's in the high 70's and low 80's. There is zero humidity. What's shocking is how many sweaters and heavy coats the Mexican's pile on this time of year. At breakfast this morning I was shocked. Little S and I are in t-shirts and shorts. Lots of people had on heavy sweaters. There were a few people in large ski coats like in the alps! Seb and I noticed the alpine ski coats when we were in the store this weekend. They were selling them in all the stores along with flannel shirts and gloves. We think it's more of a trend. It can't be possible that they're that cold. I packed all of our ski coats in the attic at our house in France. I reluctantly brought one snowsuit for the baby because with her coming in late fall and early winter I wasn't sure. I've already seen tons of babies in stores wrapped in heavy polar blankets or wearing these snowsuits. Again it's 78 degrees most days. These poor babies must be suffocating!

It's not all roses. Seb's job is difficult and although I can't go to deep into it here, he is really finding things difficult. We've learned the important lesson many expats learn--contracts are often just a piece of paper once you're in the host country. It makes sense that they find European contracts and salaries extravagent and the perks unecessary. Everything in the contract has been ignored, renegotiated or dropped. We've done the legwork on most of the visa paperwork ourselves. Unfortunately once you leave Europe there isn't much you can do except quit your job and sue the company. We have to pay for our own language lessons and do them on our time, meaning Saturday's or late evenings for Seb. Seb still has no cell phone or laptap, something he's always had since he started working and something he needs in order to manage things, and he of course doesn't have the position promised. It´s a long story but it seems they gave his job to someone else here in Mexico in May just after we visited. It´s such crazy stuff.

We might have been just as well to come here on our own and find jobs or to have stayed where we were. I'm really worried about the insurance for the hospital. I'm sure the necessary papers haven't been done. It's got me really stressed out. This is the only thing keeping us from enjoying our new life here in Mexico. Otherwise we´re really happy and things are great.

Apparently this is an expat phenomenon. Often what's in the contract is rosy and exciting but in the host country where the average salary is much lower than Eurpope/The US they don't see the point of honoring all these perks and they become passive agressive about it. They don't know you and to them you are a stranger with no skills. If you are learning the language they don't respect your intelligence very well because you speak poorly (although I must say that Seb is nearly fluent after just a few months). All of this getting to know you and acceptance takes time and meanwhile the person is left floundering saying "what have I done?"

The other day Seb's HR manager told him that they were fed up with our being in the hotel. He asked when we would get out. He said they were tired of paying for our lodging. Seb just looked at him bafffled. Since they neglected our visas. Since they forgot the paperwork for customs and all our stuff has been in hostage in Marseilles and Veracruz and since they didn't secure our house rental way back in May when we visited Seb just shook his head. "I think you need to talk to my wife. She's about ready to give birth in The Holiday Inn. She'd love to talk with you about how fed up you are." How can they be so clueless?