Viva la Mami - Latina Motherhood, Modern Parenting, Latina Well-Being

137. Living in Mexico: 5 Things That Shocked Us in Our First Month

• Jessica Cuevas • Season 5 • Episode 137

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In this episode of the "Living in Mexico" series, I'm joined by my husband Alex as we reflect on our first month living in Mexico. 

We discuss the unexpected challenges and surprises we've encountered during the first month of living abroad as second-generation Mexican Americans. Plus, we unpack five key surprises that have reshaped our perspective on life in Mexico. 

Join us as we navigate this new chapter and offer insights for anyone considering a big move abroad.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode137

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Why healthcare in Mexico completely shocked us (in the best way possible)
  • The truth about Mexican private schools and why I've never felt more comfortable dropping my kids off
  • How Mexico is both cheaper AND more expensive than we expected
  • The work-life balance revelation that's changing how I think about integrating family and career
  • Moments when we feel like complete outsiders, despite being fluent Spanish speakers and looking like we belong

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Jessica:

And that's the thing, like this isn't a vacation. This isn't like paradise. When people often think about Mexico, you know, this, we're hustling just like everyone else here in Mexico, like the true Mexicanos here mm-hmm. We're hustling just as if we were in the United States. So it, it's not like we have taken a break. I. Do think though that the essence of time is a lot different. Mm-hmm. And these five different unexpected things that we have experienced so far has been kind of, um, different, I would say, than in the United States. Mm-hmm. But overall, I think that we have transitioned, well, we're doing a good job. Yeah,

Alejandro:

yeah. We're good. Pat ourselves on the back.

Jessica:

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this was,

Alejandro:

everybody thought we were crazy for doing this. I mean, we probably are, but I mean, I feel fine. The kids feel fine.

Jessica:

Yeah. We're all good. Yeah, we're good. We're all good. Welcome to the Viva AMI podcast. I'm your host, Jessica Cuevas, and today I have a very special guest. If you don't know this man, this is my husband Alex, and I decided to bring him on the show today because. This episode is part of our Living in Mexico series, on the podcast and on YouTube. The reason why I wanted to bring Alex here on the show is to share with you all how. Been, it's literally been a month since we moved to Mexico, specifically here in Leon Guanajuato. We are currently in our house that we are renting for this year, and right now our kiddos are sleeping, so this is a great opportunity for us to have this conversation and to share with you all just. What has been going on this whole month, and specifically five things that have been kind of unexpected to us as we have been in this transition and living outside of the United States for the first time. So. Thank you, Alex, for being here on the show. Once again,

Alejandro:

thank you for having me.

Jessica:

yeah, We've been living here for a month now. A little bit over a month, I would say, at least here in this house since we rented it. I don't know about you, but do you think you're out of the honeymoon stage or do you think we're still in the honeymoon stage? I don't

Alejandro:

think it's even fair to call it a honeymoon stage right now. Honestly. Ever since we left Chicago, it even felt like a job, you know? But everything that we had to carry the kids, the cat, the legal processes. Contract that we had to sign the back and forth your grandparents. So no, again, it was no honeymoon.

Jessica:

Yeah. Yeah. I guess I could see your point like, yeah, it's been nothing but logistics. Mm-hmm. It's been nothing but kind of restarting our lives yeah.

Alejandro:

New country. Yeah. And

Jessica:

in a new country. It has been a transition. It has been, yeah. Definitely a big learning curve and. And yeah, I don't necessarily think that it has been a honeymoon. No. I think it, it's just been a learning experience and a very different experience for both of us, and we've definitely learned a lot from this. But now that we have completed our first month, I think I feel this level of. I don't know that we, we feel a little bit settled in, I think. Yeah. You know? Yeah. Everything is unpacked. The kids are in school now, so now they're getting into a new routine. I have a lot of free time, which is nice, but I'm also now being strategic with my time in terms of, you know, with my business and also other side jobs that I have gotten and, you know, being able to have a little bit of free time for myself. And also for you, I mean, nothing has kind of changed in that part.

Alejandro:

No. The only thing that has changed is just a different location. I'm still stuck in a room doing my doing, you know, my nine to five, but yeah,

Jessica:

yeah,

Alejandro:

yeah.

Jessica:

And that's the thing, right? Like a lot of people have been reaching out to me via dms on my Instagram account, and they've been asking, oh, how's it going? does it still feel like a vacation? Are you still feeling like you're in cloud nine? You know, and, and yes. Even though I, I guess I do share the, the cool things about our life here in Mexico. I mean, I would say that we've definitely had some very challenging times. Mm-hmm. Especially in the transition of moving into a house that. Unfortunately, the landlords haven't been fully,

Alejandro:

yeah. Uh, that's, that can be like a whole nother segment because I think we could probably go like three hours as to like, what's been going on here, but Yeah, yeah, yeah. It hasn't, been the easiest transition to move into this specific spot.

Jessica:

So yeah, and I think it's because of the landlords who, they haven't been very cooperative in terms of maintenance issues and obviously because we are renting. And we did sign a legal contract. And the contract specifically states, you know, the, the things that the landlord el is in charge of and what we are responsible for as, um, renters ass. Mm-hmm. Yes. As s we're learning ins, ins, ENCS, Encino, and, and so yeah, we, we signed a legal contract it's called, which is another way of just making it legal. Um, more legitimate in us renting this. Space. And in fact, we weren't able to sign just us because we don't own property in Mexico. And so we had to get, uh, my grandpa to cosign because he does own land. He has his own house here with my grandma near us, like about an hour away. And so. Uh, he was our, what's it called?

Alejandro:

Co-signer.

Jessica:

Co-signer. Uh, Val Val. Yes. He is our val. So a lot of new language that we're learning. Mm-hmm. And so, so yeah. So that's kind of like a quick snapshot of just like our transition moving into this house. But I think we should definitely, Reserve some time later on for another podcast to share what it's like, you know, to, uh, rent a, a house here in a different country. Yeah. In a different country. Because it's definitely very, very different.

Alejandro:

Super different to the point where you have to have somebody else has collateral just so that you can live in another house. Yeah.

Jessica:

But which is a good thing because that way we're not just any. Americans, even though yes, we are Mexican Americans and now we're dual citizens of both Mexico and the United States. But it definitely gives perspective that perhaps some landlords are not requiring a collateral like what we had to do. And that's what causes gentrification. Um, and gentrification in itself is another episode that we'll definitely talk about, uh, because I've definitely been called that. And I don't know who I am really. So for this specific episode, I think we're definitely going to share five things that have been kind of unexpected to us. And this is part of, also part of your questions that you sent to me on Instagram. And if you have any other questions about our life here in Mexico, please feel free to reach out. In fact, we are thinking about. Creating more content. Mm-hmm. Uh, specifically on YouTube to share with you all just like what it's like living in Mexico, especially as second generation Mexican Americans. So the first thing that. You know, we've been thinking about as we transitioned over, is healthcare and, and how accessible it is here and even affordable here in Mexico. So, Alex, can you tell us a little bit more because you have had a little bit of experience.

Alejandro:

Oh, both of us. But uh, yeah. So when was it? It was like about before the kids started school, they, here in Mexico, obviously way different. So I was very surprised that we had to get. Blood work for both kids, right? Mm-hmm. And then, uh, we took'em and it was what, like$80 of blood work, 80

Jessica:

pistols.

Alejandro:

So it was a lot cheaper than I initially thought, but yeah. 80 pistols for, for each kid, right?

Jessica:

Yeah. It was 79 pistols, but it was like a school special, so. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Alejandro:

Yeah. So it was, it, it was cheap. I couldn't believe it, you know? And, um. Yeah. Some people have this notion that Mexico's a third world country, right? That there's, the technology's not even available here bs. This hospital was like super amazing, right? They had like this infrared camera where you can actually see the veins in the kids' arms. I've never seen that back in the States. Mm-hmm. So that completely blew my mind. No. If anything,

Jessica:

they would like poke them so many times to find the vein, and that causes more. I don't know. Just like anxiety for the little kids.

Alejandro:

Yeah. Oh yeah. In my personal experience too, I had a appointment with a dermatologist, got me in like that, um, consultation, everything said and done. I paid like$50, which is a copay back in the States. Right. Depending on your insurance coverage. But, um, yeah, I mean, so far healthcare has been pretty easy here.

Jessica:

Yeah. Super

Alejandro:

affordable and, um. Yeah, I mean, I have no complaints. I've just been surprised as to how advanced you can say that this third world country is. Mm-hmm.

Jessica:

Yeah. And obviously we are lucky to live in a city. Mm-hmm. You know, like Leon again, Leon Guanajuato is what, like the sixth largest city in Mexico. So we're very lucky and fortunate to have a lot of options. Mm-hmm. I mean, from clinics to. Even for me, I, it's kind of embarrassing, but I went over to a nail salon to get my nails and my pedicure, and unfortunately the nail tech wasn't able to do my pedicure just because she was like, you're toenails are unhealthy, and she referred me to a clinic that this is literally the title. So it's a clinic specifically for your feet and the health of your feet. So it's not a podiatrist. It's kind of like a medical spa, I would say. And I've never seen that in the United States. And in fact, I have gotten my pedicures in the US and no one has told me anything. And I think I've had this like issue for a very long time. And I mean, TMI, it's like some kind of. Fungal kind of

Alejandro:

that is too much. Yeah.

Jessica:

But it is important, yeah. That, you know, for not just the safety of the, the nail salon where they literally rejected me, but it's also for my health because otherwise I would not be able to grow nails in the future like toenails in the future. So, uh, I found that very interesting that I didn't have to get, like a referral from my PCP mm-hmm. My primary care. Physician to then refer me to a podiatrist. And a podiatrist is only going to give me medications. And what I have gotten are just like topical gels and they do it on site. Like I didn't even, I don't even have to do it. Like it's, it's a five month treatment and every month I have to go. The aspect of healthcare here in Mexico so far, it has been feasible. It has been accessible. Mm-hmm. Now we do have two little boys. We are aware that if they were to break, uh, an elbow or something, then that's something that we're exploring to see whether to get like private insurance, because there is private insurance here in Mexico. Mm-hmm. Uh, but if, because the kids for the most part are in school for the majority of the time. Mm-hmm. Through their school tuition, they automatically get covered if an incident were to occur. So let's say if they're in the playground and Mateo, because they always falls, this kid is very clumsy. If he ends up breaking, I don't know. Which it will happen. Which is stop, no, don't jinx it. Gosh. But let's say if it were to come to like a situation where he has to go to the emergency room, uh, his school already covers that. Oh, well we have to pay, is a deductible. And that's like 600 pesos I believe,

Alejandro:

around there somewhere. Yeah.

Jessica:

And, and he would basically be covered, so.

Alejandro:

600 peles is nothing. It was like what? Like$35,$40?

Jessica:

Yeah. Which is again, another copay. And we don't have insurance here in Mexico, so like it's not just a copay, right? About like in this case, paying the deductible, but we're also not spending an additional amount of money on premiums, on monthly premiums and all of that compared to the us. So it's definitely a lot different

Alejandro:

for sure. Yeah. Agreed. A hundred percent.

Jessica:

So the second thing that has been a little bit unexpected

Alejandro:

is, is the school.

Jessica:

Mm-hmm.

Alejandro:

It's the school here in Mexico.

Jessica:

Yeah. Schools are definitely different here in Mexico than in the US

Alejandro:

and for us, we have both of our kids in private school. Mm-hmm. Um, that was one thing that I did not want to even discuss. I'm just like, I, I, I'm not saying that the public schools are bad, right. But, um. If we're gonna be here, obviously the one, number, one priority for me at least, was gonna be a good education for the kids.

Jessica:

Yeah. Yeah. And it also allows for kids who need, uh, public education'cause it is for free mm-hmm. For them to have that access, you know, and for us, we have the choice, right? We have the decision to put them in private school. And so I think definitely a big difference is that there's. Higher standards of education here. I think families, children consider education very seriously. Like it is a privilege to acquire an education, and therefore all the kids are in uniform. And for the most part, a lot of the schools in Mexico, whether they're private or public, kids have to wear school uniforms, and they're very specific on their uniform. Mateo technically goes to Al, which is like daycare. It's kind of like a guerilla, like, uh, a child daycare center, but it, it's pretty much focused on social emotional learning. Mm-hmm., And it's academic based. It's not just someone taking care of your kids. But school in that aspect, it's like, okay, you have to present yourself well. And appreciate your education and, and really be sort of fully integrated in this, environment. Mm-hmm. And I attended the first kind of PTA, I think, I don't know how they call it. I think it's LA at bay FA or something. Um, but it's similar to the school's, PTA and I kid you not, like almost every parent was there. Mm-hmm. And I was very shocked because I was a part of the Diegos PTA in Chicago when he was in pre-K three, and I literally counted how many parents it was like fingers, maybe like four or five, 10 the most. Yeah, in some meetings, but. Yeah, like there is this essence of like, families being very involved and wanting to be involved. We went to a es, you know, a part of, um, cia, the Mexico, and there were so many families. Yeah. And even though they pay for tuition, they were still willing to contribute even more by, you know, paying a little extra for these tickets for the, and so. I think families value education. Not that I'm saying that families in the United States don't value education, but it's almost like we take it for granted. Like we take, um, certain resources for granted, like the PTA, right? That this is your opportunity to voice out your opinions and wanting to make change in the schools, you know, and even dressing up your kids, right? Like, I didn't iron my kids' clothes and now I have to, you know, so there's this like. Different standard in, in the education system. Mm-hmm. And also, one of the things that is a lot different is that our kids don't get to experience shooting drills or lockdowns, that is not even a conversation here in Mexico. Diego did tell me that they did like a fire drill. But that's to that extent. And so the fact that we're sending our kids in a school in Mexico makes me much more like relaxed. I don't get

Alejandro:

comfortable.

Jessica:

Yeah. Much more comfortable. We don't get to worry as much, especially with everything that's going on in in the United States. So I think that gives us definitely a peace of mind

Alejandro:

and appreciation too. For sure.

Jessica:

Yeah. Yeah. The third one is,

Alejandro:

yeah, Mexico is expensive than expected. Yeah, definitely. Um, and not to say that Mexico is like super bougie or whatever, that it's unaffordable. It's just that we came here. Well, at least for me, when, when we came here, I, I was still under the impression that it was gonna be like how we came here and just threw money left and right, right. When we were on vacation. No, it's not like that. Right? Even though yes, it is. Affordable housing is super affordable, the food is super, some food, right? Mm-hmm. It's affordable for the most part. We are spending a lot less money here than we are in the United States, but again. It's still super expensive compared to like Los STOs, right? Where you can basically feed yourself for like two months on like a hundred dollars and here, no, it's not like that. Mm-hmm. Um, one thing for me that I found crazy that it still blows up, man to this day, right? Car maintenance, when we went to Walmart, a quart of oil here is$25 one quart of oil. That just like, and

Jessica:

what, what's it like usually, and in the

Alejandro:

us? In the US obviously it's a little bit different, right? Depending if it's conventional or synthetic. Synthetic in the US is like, what? Like for one quar is like 10,$12 maybe.

Jessica:

Oh wow.

Alejandro:

Roughly, if not a little bit less, but um, yeah. And also too anything that's right. Like anything that's high class, if you will. Is expensive. Clothing, name brand. Clothing is expensive. Shoes, certain shoes. Shoes. Nike's are hella expensive here. Mm-hmm. Um, what else is expensive here?

Jessica:

Gas.

Alejandro:

Gas is insanely expensive. We had, we drive a little, uh, mid-size s SUV v, roughly. It's about a 16 or 17 gallon tank. We go to Costco. We don't leave Costco without spending like at least a hundred dollars to fill it up.

Jessica:

Mm-hmm. When in the United States it would be like$60 equivalent. So.

Alejandro:

So gas is definitely expensive over there. Yeah,

Jessica:

it is. And so it ends up balancing itself. I mean, would you say that our money?

Alejandro:

Yes, definitely. Mm-hmm. It definitely does. Yeah.'cause we can go out basically like almost every day and we still have. The metal leftover. Yeah. Right.

Jessica:

But we definitely don't do that.

Alejandro:

Yeah. No.

Jessica:

Yeah. And we've been intentional of like buying groceries at, uh, a marketplace. So we go to and Mercado Ab Bastos, which is like pretty well known for, merchants supplying. The food to local restaurants mm-hmm. And businesses. And so it's like a direct to consumer type of, market. So we definitely get the food pretty cheap. Mm-hmm. Um, compar, if we were to go to the local grocery store is la HEB, you know? Mm-hmm. Uh, or Walmart. And, and unfortunately, with having these. Type of, chains like you're missing out on, like going to El Mecado and, you know, getting things for significantly less in amount. And so we're really fortunate to, have known of this place through my friend, who we met here in Leone. She's also from the United States, and her husband's from Leone. We have connected with them and they have been showing us around as far as where to get the, the best deals specifically for food, because I would say that food can get pricey depending on where you Yes. Buy it from.

Alejandro:

Yeah, for sure. Like it was definitely a shocker for me when we first went to the grocery store. I was thinking, oh, it's gonna be dirt cheap. Right. No. We walked out of there the first day we were like, we spent like$150,$160 on groceries.

Jessica:

Yeah. Which is. Still a little cheap compared maybe like, what,$60 cheaper than what we would traditionally Yeah. Spend, I think it's hasn't been as expensive.

Alejandro:

Yeah. Significantly cheaper. Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

Jessica:

Yeah, and we'll definitely talk more about that. I think that this is an important topic about, uh, just like the cost of living here in Mexico and how that impacts us. I've definitely received a lot of questions about work, so I think that that in itself is going to be another episode because We are lucky that because we are landlords ourselves. Mm-hmm. So we own property in Chicago, whatever we get left over from the rent, it goes essentially back to this rental that we're living in here, in this house. And you have a US

Alejandro:

job. Yeah.

Jessica:

Yeah. And, and I found a contract, uh, work and as well as freelance work, so it. You can find your way around living here in Mexico, but it just depends on what your job requires. And if you have any additional side money, like real estate, then that's another way to get through.

Alejandro:

And there's plenty of jobs here too. Mm-hmm.

Jessica:

Yes. Like

Alejandro:

there, there's no shortage of jobs here. No. Um, it just really depends on what you want your lifestyle to be. Mm-hmm. Uh, like for us, obviously they. We have two kids, right. Private school. There's no way for me to leave my job even though I want to, but No. Um, but you

Jessica:

might, you never know. You might find something here and, and we're both Mexican citizens, right? And, but everyone keeps telling us no res. Mm-hmm. It's much better. Which

Alejandro:

true in a way, but

Jessica:

I get, but again, it all depends.

Alejandro:

Yeah. Because like your situation. Again, like for me, like how I mentioned in the beginning of this video, it, it hasn't really changed for me. Right. Work routine. I wake up, I'm stuck until here until three o'clock. Right? So that's almost a whole day gone. Just working. So, and here, I mean I can't speak on how it is to have a job here, but from what I see people, it's definitely a lot more lenient than it is in the States. Mm-hmm.

Jessica:

Which that segues to work life balance.

Alejandro:

Work life balance. Yeah. Something I know nothing about.

Jessica:

I know you're still living the American life, man. Yeah. But. And again, this was something that we talked about and so we're trying this out for a year. Mm-hmm. And then, you know, where can tell him to, where do his own pizza place, like a Chicago style pizza place?

Alejandro:

Something that is not here.

Jessica:

No, no. Pizza's a lot different. We can talk about food. Yeah, sure, for sure. Specifically pizza.

Alejandro:

We just found a decent pizza place here. Napoleon style pizza. But yeah, we'll save that for another segment.

Jessica:

He's got a lot to say. Oh

Alejandro:

yeah,

Jessica:

yeah. But it's specifically about worklife balance, I think. The way that La Cultura here in Mexico, it's all centered around people's lives and family. And so I find it very interesting, and I'm sure that you already know this, especially if you've gone to Mexico or anywhere in Latin America and even Spain because I remember seeing this get. You know, that's what, 3:00 PM to like 6:00 PM or sometimes it's as early as 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Just depends. But a lot of businesses close and that way families can focus on their families and they get to eat together and beat together for that amount of time, and then they can reopen their businesses until close. So that's something that has been very interesting in in witnessing. and so for you, I know that we always think about work life balance, like having this extra time aside mm-hmm. Besides your nine to five. But I feel like here, work life balance, you're integrating that. Mm-hmm. You know, like if you have a job, you're integrating this like schedule into your family or into your kids' schedule, and that's what surprised me specifically about the kids' school is that. You see so many parents picking up their kids. Mm-hmm. Like it's not the nanny, or even though I have seen that, but it's the parents, like I seen them dropping them off and then they're picking them up and they're in professional work year. Mm-hmm. Compared to the United States where you're trying to find, you know, who's gonna pick up my, you know, PTO time or you, you are using your PTO time, or you're probably using your lunch hour. And so that's what makes it interesting, um, that there is true work-life balance. And I'm, I'm seeing it in a way that it is fully like, kind of like integrated, I would say. Mm-hmm. Within your personal professional life, instead of just separating the two. Yeah, for, if that

Alejandro:

makes sense. And it also depends too, on the company.

Jessica:

Alright. And then the fifth unexpected thing that we've experienced so far here in Mexico is that there are moments when we feel like outsiders. So by that, how would you define that?

Alejandro:

Um, definitely the language for me. We grew up as Spanish speakers. Both of my parents, they only speak Spanish at home. I thought that my Spanish was good, until we got here to the city. I've had the dermatologist call me out. I'm like, how do you know? She's like, I'm like, ah, okay. The maintenance guy here says that. I have a weird accent. It is been a few people that have commented on the way I speak Spanish. So that was kind of hurtful, but, so that's when I felt like an outsider.

Jessica:

But even like for me, I think your Spanish is. S

Alejandro:

better than yours? No. No it's not. I'm sorry,

Jessica:

but you do have an accent and that's fine. But yeah, it, it does make it interesting, like, oh my gosh, like today when I went to the gym, I saw kettle bells and I was like. Are these in pounds or in kilograms? And the reason why I wanted to know this was so that I can track that in, in an app that I have. And so I went to the front desk and I was like. And then they looked at me weird. They were like, ah, now I, we know where you're coming from. Mm-hmm. So even like the conversions, right? Mm-hmm. Like for the kids' school, they were asking how tall the kids were, how much do they weigh? Well, we can't say that they are 40 pounds. Mm-hmm. Or that they are three feet tall. Right. Because that's not used here. And I think that that is such an unfortunate part, especially coming from the United States. That that is not a universal language, like in terms of measurements and, uh, weight and all of that. Like, no one is gonna get you unless you're from the United States. Um, so I think that's when I feel like an outsider where, That's when I don't feel like. I'm a part of this, country. Yeah. Because of the way that we were taught. Unfortunately,

Alejandro:

another big debt giveaway for us is our license plate. Yes.

Jessica:

Yeah.

Alejandro:

People know that we're outsiders just by looking at the car.'cause we used have Chicago license plates. We don't know what was gonna, what's gonna happen yet with that truck, but, mm-hmm. We'll see.

Jessica:

Yeah. Yeah. Right now we have the permit, the tip. Uh, but yeah, we have until January and we're gonna revisit this in November and figure out if our car is, if we're able to re, well. Most likely we'll renew it again, or we can legalize it if we wanna be here long term or if we wanna keep the car here. Yeah. Because Or whenever we come back, but yeah, I think as far as the feeling like an outsider, that has been a big. Component, just like the language and even the way that people articulate themselves is a lot different. Mm-hmm. You know, I wish that, the words can come out easily, but there are definitely times when I'm like, oh, how do I describe this? Like, and so, and people get it. They understand we're not the only foreigners here. Yeah. You know, but that makes us feel like. Decia. Mm-hmm. We look like we are from here. Right. We're brown folks once they hear us talk. Yeah. Or once they see us drive

Alejandro:

our

Jessica:

truck. Like

Alejandro:

it's almost

Jessica:

he was told that.

Alejandro:

Yeah.

Jessica:

So, yeah. It, it does make you still feel like you're not a part of this. And, and even my grandma, like, you know, my grandparents have been here for 20 plus years. They retired, they built their house here in Mexico, in El Rancho, and. She still sometimes struggles, like she remembers the first time she asked her crazy glue and she literally asked the clerk like, oh, s crazy glue. And so she described it and he was like, oh. But she didn't know that that was the brand or the word, you know? And, and so yeah, so it, it has been an adjustment, I would say. Is there another. Way that you're feeling like an outsider.

Alejandro:

No language. That's pretty much language. Just a language. That's pretty much it. That is pretty much it for me. I already feel like home, honestly. It is pretty, me personally, it's pretty easy for me to adapt.

Jessica:

Yeah.

Alejandro:

So, yeah. Yeah.

Jessica:

I think overall, like we're out of that honeymoon phase, even though it didn't feel like a honeymoon, there

Alejandro:

was no honeymoon phase

Jessica:

here. No. It was just like, you gotta go to work. And that's the thing, like this isn't a vacation. This isn't like paradise. When people often think about Mexico, you know, this, we're hustling just like everyone else here in Mexico, like the true Mexicanos here mm-hmm. We're hustling just as if we were in the United States. So it, it's not like we have taken a break. I. Do think though that the essence of time is a lot different. Mm-hmm. And these five different unexpected things that we have experienced so far has been kind of, um, different, I would say, than in the United States. Mm-hmm. But overall, I think that we have transitioned, well, we're doing a good job. Yeah,

Alejandro:

yeah. We're good. Pat ourselves on the back.

Jessica:

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this was,

Alejandro:

everybody thought we were crazy for doing this. I mean, we probably are, but I mean, I feel fine. The kids feel fine.

Jessica:

Yeah. We're all good. Yeah, we're good. We're all good. And, and just take this as a sign, like if you've ever wanted to, Move outside of the country or try something different with your family. Like this is your opportunity to do que I. We've definitely gotten a lot of, um, just like. Words of wisdom from those that have always wanted to move to Mexico but never did because of X, Y, Z. And so they see this as a way for us to feel inspired by what they probably missed out on. And vicariously, experiencing this with us. And so just do it. Just do it. Yeah.

Alejandro:

Yeah,

Jessica:

just do it.

Alejandro:

For sure.

Jessica:

Well, Alex, you're here on the show. Any final words of advice?

Alejandro:

Uh, not advice, but I'll just say we will definitely try to bring you guys more content as far as YouTube goes. It is just very difficult to kids. Mm-hmm. I mean, again, just like how Jess said, we're hustling every day. Right. Routine hasn't changed. Mm-hmm. The only thing that has changed is just the country. But, um, yeah, we'll definitely try to, you know, just record what we do every day here. A typical day in the life of a. Family of four in Mexico.

Jessica:

Mm-hmm. Yes.

Alejandro:

But, um,

Jessica:

yeah, and let us know if there are any specific questions. I am answering dms and I'm answering dms through this platform, through the podcast, YouTube. And so if you have any specific questions about. Anything related to our Vida here in Mexico, please ask away because I think it's not just for us to showcase you what our lives are, but it's also to inspire you to consider a change like this. Because you never know. Like life is too short.

Alejandro:

Exactly. It is always better to know what is instead of what could have been.

Jessica:

Mm-hmm.

Alejandro:

So

Jessica:

there you go.

Alejandro:

You have any interest in moving somewhere else? Like the Nike Science says, just do it.

Jessica:

You've mentioned Nike a lot. This is not sponsored by Nike,

Alejandro:

but they can.

Jessica:

All right, Ami, well thank you so much for listening and I'll catch you in the next episode.

Peace.