Ten years ago today, in the community of Jesús María, we were having a big Independence Day celebration! There were all kinds of activities and carnival-type games. Even a contest to see who could eat the most hot peppers (“Who is most ‘Mexican'”?).
Here’s one of the pictures from the day – two lovely Mexican ladies… Cathy Fry and Hannah Cottrill!
(Actually, you can see a video of the activities right here – Independence Day Fiesta 2012!)
Some of you, via social media or our email update, may have heard about our recent adventures with the hot water tank.
I got up one morning and found water simply pouring out of the bottom of the tank. As you can see, the tank didn’t really owe us anything. In fact, from what the plumber told me later, it probably lasted a lot longer than any tank has a right to.
Anyway, as you guessed from the above paragraph, we called the plumber. Being an expert, he noticed that something was probably not right, and so we went to a local store to pick up a new tank – basically a newer model of the same thing. Apparently, prices on tanks have skyrocketed the last few years. But what prices haven’t?
So, by the end of the day, a new tank was installed.
But we soon noticed that there was a menacing drip coming from the bottom of the tank. Not from any connection to the pipes, just from the bottom of the tank itself. So, we called the plumber again. An internal leak, he said. So, back to the store we went.
The store doesn’t take returns, but told us to call the manufacturer. I had all the phone numbers on the original documentation, so I contacted them. They said they would send out a technician, but it was a long weekend, so it would be the following Tuesday.
Tuesday morning I contacted them again, and was told that the tech would be around between 3 and 6pm. I believe it was closer t 8:30pm when he actually came, so he looked over the tank with much difficultly in the dark, and came to his expert conclusion. An internal leak.
So he gave us the official documentation so that we could bring it back to the store and have it replaced.
So that’s week #1. Just so you know, the new tank was still connected all this time, and so yes, we did have hot water. We just had to keep emptying the bucket from the leak.
We had guests over the weekend, so it was actually the end of week #2 when I contacted the plumber again.
Beginning of week #3, I was waiting for the plumber. The appointment was 10am. Then along came 11am, 12pm… you still coming? Yes, he came, late afternoon. He was backlogged, I think, because of car trouble. So he arrived on his bike, and removed the old new tank, and we went together to the store.
I talked to the clerk, and I was told to talk to customer service. I went around the the side of the store, and was told that customer service was on its way. So we waited, and waited, and finally the security guard went to find someone.
Finally someone came – the same person I had talked to last time. Except I’m pretty sure his hair was now a different colour. Anyway, same guy – that’s a good sign. Well, maybe not. I was reminded that they don’t take returns. I was supposed to call the manufacturer.
I had! Showed him the paperwork. Hmmmmm…. hawwwwwww….. I don’t think we can take returns. Let me see the tank. Hmmmm… looks like it was “maltreated”. (Actually, it was in good shape, but dirty on the top because it was installed where it’s semi-outdoors, and it had experienced a heavy rain or two. But wait – apparently the company was paying for this replacement, and it was already approved, so who cares if it’s dusty on top anyway?)
So he went to talk to someone. It was good that the plumber was there… not just to back me up, but also to roll his eyes with me. I taught him the English saying “like pulling teeth”.
After some time of discussion and negotiation, they agreed to replace the tank. But they scribbled a name (“Juan Luis”) and a phone number on a piece of paper – this is the person you should really call if you have problems again. (Never mind calling the actual company number on the official guarantee. Who in the world is Juan Luis anyway??)
So, to make a short story long, or to end a long story quickly, at the beginning of week #3 the plumber installed the new new tank, and we have hot water, and no leak. Well, yeah we have leaks, but not from the hot water tank.
The other day I went to ship a package, and before I left the clerk wanted to make sure I had a copy of this:
This is a list of some of the things, mostly food items, that you can now ship out of Mexico. Actually, this has been the case for a few years, but maybe some of the information is new.
Anyway, I just thought you might be interested in the list:
That’s the list! And there’s a reminder on the bottom that, sadly, you can’t ship chickens or yogourt or sausages. And very sadly, no cheese. Mexican cheese is something I always miss in Canada.
For a variety of reasons, we have a lot of catching-up to do. I’m talking about personal, practical matters. For example, some van maintenance, and the regular emissions check that we have to do here in Mexico City. And Nathanael is finding school work a particular challenge.
But there are also some medical issues that need to be dealt with, whether that means dealing with actual health issues, or regular check-ups.
And every once in a while, we’re reminded that we’re in Mexico, and not everything goes down the way it might in Canada. Of course, we’re used it it, but since you may not be, I sat down to write.
For example, I went to the doctor recently, and was prescribed the apparently obligatory 4 medications. But he also “prescribed” something that I have never had prescribed in Canada – a regular diet of chicken feet.
Actually, I think chicken feet are pretty good, if they’re cooked right. But I’ll let you try them for yourself and draw your own conclusions. But they are apparently excellent in protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats, good for the immune system, and good for your skin, joints, and blood pressure. So you might want to go and get some right away.
Shari had a different experience going to our dentist’s office the other day. She discovered that it wasn’t there. A helpful sign explained that the office had moved, and gave the regular office number.
An office number that has not worked for us in the past – but Shari tried again. Nope. So she tried the dentist’s cell phone number, which she happened to have.
The dental assistant answered, and explained that the new office -*crackle**—- * was located just *****pop— ***crackle-*** by the *—-popopcrack-* [disconnected]
So, Shari tried messaging, and the dentist or her assistant sent the location.
A short drive later, Shari discovered that the location was not exact – it seemed to point to a private gated street. No signs anywhere. Ummm….
Finally, someone from a nearby drycleaner’s came to her rescue (apparently there were regularly bewildered people standing out on the street for her to help). She pointed Shari to a big black door, which had a doorbell.
Shari tried the doorbell, and waited. And waited. Looked around. No sign anywhere. No indication that anything tooth-related was going on around here. She went back to the drycleaner’s. This is the place – right? Yup.
Finally someone came and let Shari in. This was a house similar to ours, apparently converted into a medical facility. It looked like there might be more than one office here, all sign-less of course. But she finally found someone dentist-related and got the business done that she needed to get done. Mission accomplished!
Anyway, we’ll be extra-busy over the next few weeks with some of these issues, and as always we appreciate your prayers, even if they’re for the “mundane” practical parts of life.
And yes, we do have some chicken feet in our freezer. If nothing else, they will add some of their nutrients to a delicious broth before you know it.
Of course, we don’t believe in coincidences. If things “just happen”, then there’s really no reason to worry about right or wrong or the past or the future because nothing really matters.
But after last evening’s earthquake in Mexico, the memes of “Wake me up when September is over” were flying all over social media.
Of course, the Mexico City earthquake by which all others are still measured is the quake of ’85. It was the 19th of September. And it seemed that everyone knew someone who died.
In 2017, a massive quake hit on the 7th of September, shaking Mexico City enough to close some buildings until they could be assessed for damage. But of course for the big city the most memorable quake was later the same month – on the anniversary of the 1985 quake – once again on the 19th of September.
Which actually was a mercy, because there had just been an annual quake drill that same morning, so everyone knew where to go and what to do.
Although we have experienced other quakes through the years, the earthquake last night does rate as one of the strongest we’ve felt, although this time there was no (noticeable) damage in our house. It’s strange how different quakes move things in different ways – back and forth, up and down – and it’s hard to predict what kind of damage it will do. Thankfully, this one – although rated as a 7.1, and very close to Acapulco – did very little damage.
We actually received other earthquake warnings last night – one about an hour before this one hit – but this was the only one we felt. We went outside to join the neighbours in the (light) rain.
Knowing that we were in the Lord’s hands, we were even able to be amazed by “earthquake lights”. Earthquake lights refer to a rare and not completely explained phenomenon when you see lights (or even balls of fire) during a quake. Although we’ve seen video of these from past quakes, this time we had a good view. The power quickly went out, and it was dark. And in the sky were brilliant flashes of blue/green light – similar in colour to northern lights, if you’ve seen those. Quite beautiful, actually! If you do a search on social media, you’ll likely be able to find some video. And various related conspiracy theories, no doubt.
The power was off for three hours or so, leading to the challenge of trying to remember which lights we had left on in the house, before going to bed. We almost had them all right – we left one light on, and for some inexplicable reason the TV came on when the power came back on.
The social media crowd also pointed out another coincidence – yesterday was the day in which the supreme court in Mexico decided to decriminalize the murder of babies in the womb, proclaiming that criminalizing some types of murder is “unconstitutional”. Well, I think that these days God could pick any day He wanted to remind us that His final judgement is coming, and it would have been a fitting day. But Mexico City is especially jittery – the day before the quake some areas had drastic floods – floods that literally swept cars down the street.
As you may know, Mexico has also been affected by this year’s hurricane season, destroying homes closer to the coast.
Little reminders to look up, and think about who God is, and listen to Him for a change. And yet, so many talk about the “end times” – but get on with their God-rejecting lives as quickly as possible.
Anyway, we are thankful that those that we know of are safe here. With all utilities functioning today, it was a normal work day for us! So I’d better get back at it.
Thanks to those of you who prayed for our trip and for Nathanael’s visa renewal this past week.
It was a stormy, rainy day when we set off for the immigration office, which made the roads a bit of an adventure. However, we were already in the city of Toluca – otherwise we would have been traversing Mexico City early in the morning, which would have been – well, perhaps a disaster.
But we arrived on time.
The immigration office is now a strange mix of strict security, and strict security due to COVID-19 restrictions. Usually, only one person would be allowed to enter the property. However, because I had to sign for Nathanael’s renewal, and because we had a lawyer, all three of us could enter – but poor Shari was left behind. (Well, maybe not so poor, as you’ll see…)
Except, that only got us onto the property. Next, only one person was allowed to enter the building, and that was our lawyer. So, for the next two or three hours, Nathanael and I were out in the cold (yes, it was cold – especially for Nathanael, who was only wearing a sweater). And for the first part, we were literally out in the rain, but thankfully it went to a drizzle and then stopped.
After the lawyer gave all the paperwork to the officials, we were all out in the cold (there were a whole bunch of nice, warm comfy seats inside, just — empty. Poor seats, with no one to sit in them…).
Did I mention that there was no bathroom that we could use – on the property or in the building? No worries. Just walk back to the front gate, and talk to the security guard. Explain that you’re just going to the bathroom (so that you don’t have to sign out, and then sign back in). Go across the muddy street, and through the big gate. Walk through the field, around the non-descript building. You’ll find a little hole-in-the-wall office in a back room. On the side of the office is an outhouse-quality bathroom (well, a flush toilet. But no sink or anything). After you’re done, you can pay someone in the office room about 30 cents for the use of the facilities.
Then, out of the little office, around the building through the field through the gate across the muddy street – hope the security guard remembers you – and back onto the property, where you still have to wait outside in the cold, because they’re not ready for you yet.
Finally, it was our turn. Everything is fancy electronic inside. No ink-pad for fingerprints, just an electronic pad (back in my day…..). Then this screen rooooooollls down from the ceiling behind you, and a picture is taken. Wait a couple of minutes – and your visa is ready right there. So all that part was actually a lot more efficient than it was in “my day”.
So thanks for your prayers! We had a safe (but precarious due to more rain) ride home, with a shiny new visa. Which can be turned into a permanent visa when Nathanael turns 18.