Some Things I'll Miss, Others I Won't

These are some of the things I will miss about Mexico.

• The great people that I have worked with for the last twelve years.  I'm not going to attempt a list of names, because I'm sure I'll leave someone important off the list.
• Tacos al pastor from just about any street corner.  The best food in Mexico is not in the expensive restaurants, it's on the street corner!!
• The cool weather.  I don't have to get up at 6:00 am on Saturday to run or ride my bike.  
• Riding my bike in the mountains.  We actually live in a small canyon at an elevation of about 7,700 feet.  I don't climb mountains, but there are plenty of 500-yard to 1.5-mile hills that challenge this old body.
• Susana's tacos dorados and her enchiladas.  (Susana was the maid that prepared my meals until Susan moved here in 2007.)
• The abrazo greeting of my male friends, and the kiss-on-the cheek greeting of my female friends (without fear of a sexual harassment lawsuit). 
• The beautiful views of the volcanoes that are east of the city. 

Some things I won't miss so much:

• The traffic.  True story:  Ashley flew almost 700 miles from Houston in less time than it took Susan and I to drive the 16 miles from our home to the airport.
• Neighbors who think it is OK to play music so loudly that you can hear it for several blocks, and to keep it at this volume level until 4:00 a.m.
• The general culture of exploitation.  The wealthy take advantage of the poor; the poor have no problem in taking what they can from the rich, etc.
• The idea that being courteous means addressing others as 'usted' and not 'tu', while not really caring about others.  (See the point about loud music above.)
• The air pollution that makes the views of the volcanoes a rare occurrence.

My How Things Have Changed

I'm beginning my last two weeks in Mexico. As I pack things and prepare to move back to Houston, I'll be reminiscing a bit. Here is my first set of observations.

When I came to Mexico

• Susan was in her third year of Medical School.
• Bethany was in her Senior year at BYU.
• Ryan was a missionary in Peru.
• Brittany and Ashley were in at Taylor High.
• Carrie was at Memorial Parkway Junior High.
• Lindsey was at Memorial Parkway Elementary.

And I had gray hair.

Today

• Susan is a Board Certified pediatrician.
• Bethany is an OB-GYN, and will be taking her oral boards in November. She is also married and the mother of 3 beautiful daughters.
• Ryan completed an MBA at ASU and is making Chevron more profitable. He is also married and the father of a wonderful son and, in November, will be welcoming a baby girl to the family.
  
• Brittany completed a Masters Degree in Engineering at Penn State and is the Best High School Physics Teacher in the USA!
• Ashley completed a Mission to 'Dirty little Provo', earned a degree in Economics from BYU, and is consultant to major organizations.
• Carrie earned a degree in American Studies at BYU, is married and the mother of 3 great children, the Nashville Cats.
• Lindsey finished her degree in Spanish at BYU, is married and the mother of a not so shrinking Violet.

And I still have gray hair.

Texas Here I Come

Yesterday evening my new boss told me my last day at NXO Mexico would be September 30. Today at noon I broke the news to my co-workers. This afternoon, my new boss was upset with me for telling them. Go figure.

Anyway, Texas, here I come. Be there in October!!!

I Changed Jobs Today

Actually, I didn't change jobs, but NextiraOne Mexico now has a new owner. I put a lot of money in the pockets of the former owners, and I acutally enjoyed working with them. Everyone I knew and worked with at Platinum Equity was very professional. It's a good organization.

What happens next? I still don't know. But the future looks bright to me!!!