Cultural Respect

As guests in a foreign country, we need to pay particular attention to the cultural differnces that exist. 

Whether we are involved in local culture or events, or choose to isolate ourselves with others just like ourselves, we will all find ourselves in ‘mixed’ company sooner or later.

Friend Joanna, of “Writing from Merida“, recently wrote an EXCELLENT article that was presented on Yucatan Living.com

Embrace the dfferences, revel in the challenge

I hope you will first read Joanna’s article on Yucatan Living, oh and poke around Yucatan Living while you are there!   Then go and see what other fabulous insights Joanna has shared on her blog.

Tatie Update

Tatie, the cat with the kidney failure issues is actually doing OK!..The pain meds really seem to be helping him.

His 2nd kidney function blood tests came back and indicate that his creatinine levels have increased, which is a bad thing.

We are trying more diligently to have him eat the special Renal food but he just doesn’t like it.  Plus the ulcers in his mouth, which we can’t treat because antibiotics are so bad for the kidneys, make him reluctant to chow down on hard crunchy food.  He’s lost quite a bit of weight. And he’s losing lots of fur.

We need to get a special Hills/Science Diet  kd canned food for cats but apparently it’s quite difficult to get here because it seems it doesn’t sell well enough to be regularly stocked.  Our vet is trying to find some.  A friend emailed last night and he has 2 cans, we just need to arrange pickup.

Tatie does seem happier – he comes and talks to us and asks for some attention, he was even running this morning with Tech, and hunting an iguananito in the aloe.

It’s funny though, looking back, it is quite obvious now that he wasn’t feeling well.  He’d go outside and just lay out there all day, he stopped being social, and he wasn’t eating his normal ration.  We just thought is was the heat.  We just weren’t paying attention.

Dame mi Multa

So the other day Tom and I both had some errands to run, he had farther to go so took the car.  I walked to the Super aka grocery store and was going to get the trici taxi back home.

You can read a past post about my local Super, and Enrique here!

After my shopping I went to the exit where the tricis wait and saw my guy, Enrique, pulling away.  He also spotted me and called over a fellow, pointed to me and said some words then left.  The ‘fellow’, tuned out to be his dad, who said for me to wait inside the store where it was a/c’d and Enrique would be right back.  How cool is this!

Well I decided to check if Tom was still out and about to remind him to pick up a bag of ice, we are really going through ice right now.

Tom indicated he was already at home and had not picked up ice.  He said for me to buy a bag and he’d be right over to pick me and the groceries, AND the ice right up. 

I did some splainin to dad, and went in and bought ice; then proceeded to the parking lot exit to wait for Tom. 

It was taking an inordinant amount of time, we only live about 8 blocks from the Super.   Next thing I know, as I am standing in a puddle of melted icewater, here comes Tom walking across the parking lot.  Oh Shit!

Well, seems Tom got pulled over by two cops who told him he hadn’t respected a cross walk and had to pay them 1500mxp in fine.  Tom in his best bad spanish explained he didn’t really understand what they were talking about but that his wife was waiting fo him and she spoke some spanish and that he was gonna go get her.  As he starts walking away, they started getting excited, but he explained he would be back and his car was sitting right there!

So he gets me and as we are pushing our cart over to where the car and cops are, leaving a water trail as  we go he explains what has happened.

As we approach the car the two cops, who are monitoring a crosswalk approach and start explaining.  They are telling me how Tom drove through a crosswalk where there were little kids crossing. 

Well b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t,

We all know Tom wouldn’t be so stupid as to pull through a crosswalk IF there were people in it.  I explained that Tom had said he approached the crosswalk slowly and seeing no one he pulled thhrough and turned into he parking lot.  It went back and forth, them saying he did, us saying he didn’t.  They pulled out their copy of the driving regs, point out the violations and the number of salarios that are the fine (here a fine/multa is indicated by the number of salarios, salarios being whatever is the current minimum wage), they pointed again to the regs he violated, I said he didn’t they said he did, yadda, yadam, yadda. 

Finally I say “Dame un Ticket”.  They look at each other, look at me, and I repeat “Dame un ticket, una multa”. 

Then they start saying they are giving a warning, not a multa.  OK FINE!! Whatever!  Tom tells me the one cop wrote 1500 on his palm and indicated to him that he had to pay the amount to them for the fine. 

I opted to not ask about that,  said Thank you, promised to be very careful in the future, and off we went, with our partial bag of ice!! 

Life is good!

Matt the Catt

As you know from reading my blog we brought with us from Colorado two fat sassy cats.

Today (May 15, 2010) we had to have the oldest cat, Matt, at age 25 put down. 

 You can read Tom’s lovely tribute to Matt here

or cut n paste this link in to your url     http://tomkuhn.blogspot.com/2010/05/our-cat-named-matt.html

Adios Amigo

 

It’s finally warm enough for the Pool

  

 This is our pool.  I haven’t been in it for months because it’s been cold.   Yesterday was my first time in; Oh it was wonderful.  Tom spends so much time keeping it clean and pretty, and it was pure bliss to enjoy. 

In fact it was so pleasant I went in again today, I could get used to this!   

 

 

 

 

I’ve mentioned to Tom many times that he should get help with some of the pool work.   I decided to start interviewing potentials.  This fellow caught my eye, he’s a super hard worker, wait, what was I thinking, saying, why is he here!!!!

Emergency Medical Spanish

             

 

A fellow blogger, living in Jocotepec, has written what I think is a very good resource for non-spanish speakers living or travelling in Mexico.  

 It is an English -  Spanish Emergency Medical Spanish book.

 

 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SPANISH is a 65 page E-Book, written in mirror form – Spanish/English, that will enable you to communicate in Spanish if you are involved in a medical emergency. This handy – and potentially lifesaving – reference book will take you from making the call for help with the authorities to conversing with the paramedics, doctors, and nurses to ensure you receive appropriate medical care.

 You can read all about the book here, which comes complete with a link where you can buy the book.    I get absolutely nothing for plugging this book, except for the good karma in passing on what I feel is a valuable resource. 

Be Well, and if you are not well, know how and what to say!

Another kitten in need of a home

 

Friend Nancy took in a kitten.

 She can’t keep it but wants to get it off the mean streets.

 It’s been to the vet and they think its maybe 3-5 weeks old, male, and in fairly good condition.

 He hasn’t been away from mom long and so is just learning to suck up wet mushy food, and to drink from a water bowl. He uses the litter box.

 He still has blue eyes and doesn’t see distinctly yet, just shapes and light and dark.

 Check out his pretty markings 

 

He is small, as you can see,

here he is in a 2 cup measuring cup

He loves to be held and to get ear rubs

(or as we say, Umoks)

 Please, if you’ve been thinking about adding some love to your life consider this little trinket, he’s adorable!

 Nancy has not been able to take the kitten back so he is still here with us –

Merida cel 999-227-5329

Vonage 719-219-6882

email tdk6874 at yahoo dot com

I have hives…

but not the kind from which you can get honey.

And that is really sad, cuz I’d much rather be getting the honey.

On Monday evening we were at a friends house and all was well – but Tuesday morning when I got up my right hand was feeling very odd, I thought it was the arthritis there acting up.  But then my 2 big toes were itchy, as the day progressed other itchiness occured.   I went to lunch with friends about 2 and the back of my neck at hairline was going crazy.

When I got home from lunch I was in agony; everyplace where clothing was close and tight was inflamed and itching like crazy, welts started to appear and I could no longer keep from scratching.  I had no clue what was going on and had to resort to internet research to find out -

I started taking Diphenhydramine(antihistimine)  It helped a bit with the itching.  Tuesday evening at bedtime I took 50mg Diphenhydramine and anti-inflammatory and slept pretty good.

Wednesday morning and the rash was still apparent – I did some internet research and discovered that what I do have are hives, but I still don’t know from what.  What we’ve been eating is stuff I made, stuff we’re accustomed to…

I took Diphenhydramine on Wednesday morning but was busy and neglected to follow up through out the day.  I went to friend Joanna’s at 2 and by the time I left at 5:30 I could barely keep my hands off myself!   Yipes!   It’s spreading – hairline, behind left ear, torso, back, arms, hands, thighs, behind knees, shins, feet…. Oh my gosh it’s horrible.   Before bed I took 750mg Diphenhydramine and another anti-inflammatory.

What else can I doooooooo – according to the internet  nothing – I’m doing all I can, just need to wait it out!

So I am slathering myself with Tiger Balm because it’s loaded with camphor, breathing Roman Chamomile through out the night using my diffuser, alternating with lavendar oil inhalations and rubbing it on myself,  oh but nothing is really working.

Today I got up and it’s better,  I’ll try to follow up throughout the day with more Diphenhydramine, and lots of lotion.

But what’s a girl to do??????   Anyone have any suggestions!

So here is what one arm looks like, and this is sort of close to what a lot of me looks like!

What are you doing for Earth Hour, Earth Day?

Earth Hour 2010: Saturday March 27, 8:30 PM

In September 2008 I posted Apagon Mundial - There were a few nay sayers, but apparently it is now a part of Earth Day celebrations arond the world.

Blogs.com  has a pretty good post about today’s Earth Day event of outing your lights, and other electronics as well.  It also includes links to some pretty cool other sites.

From the Blogs.com site – On March 27, 2010, millions of people will turn off their lights for an hour, at 8:30 PM local time, to celebrate Earth Hour. “Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour’s non-partisan approach has captured the world’s imagination and became a global phenomenon,” says Earth Hour’s official U.S. site. “Nearly one billion people turned out for Earth Hour 2009–involving 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents. Last year, 80 million Americans and 318 U.S. cities officially voted for action with their light switch, joining iconic landmarks from around the world that went dark for Earth Hour”–like the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Las Vegas Strip, Big Ben, and Sydney’s Opera House. Check out Earth Hour social media tools here and also at the Earth Hour Blog; bloggers are encouraged to blog about Earth Hour, and many are already doing so.

Go to blogs.com ‘s post on the EVENT - check it out

What are you doing for Earth Hour?

HOSTAL ZOCALO BEACH PALAPAS

The son of some friends of ours, has a friend, whose family owns and operates Hostel Zocalo and Hostel Zocalo Beach Palapas.   The friends recently suggested to a group of us that we rent the 4 palapa/cabanas, each of which has 2 sleeping rooms, bathroom, and screened sitting area.  So this past weekend 16 of us converged on the Hostel Zocalo Beach Palapas that are located between Telchac Puerto and San Crisanto.

So, on Sunday morning we all started arriving at the beach.  Tom and I took Tech.  Yes, our puppys first big overnighter.   Some other friends brought their dog as well, but I’m not sure you can count Buddy as a dog since he only has eyes for his daddy.  He wouldn’t play with Tech at all.  Poor Tech had to content herself with the attention of 16 people.

The palapa/cabanas are slightly rustic, not quite as clean as they could be,  but overall are quite nice.   I really like the design, you enter a screened in area that has sand floor, plenty of seating,  a hammock or two… you  pass through a short hallway to 2 bedrooms and the bathroom.  Each bedroom has a double bed.  The bathrooms have running water, but no hot water.  The cabanas are not right on the beach as there is a natural barrier wind break between them and the beach.  This is nice because it is so windy close to the beach. 

Here’s our palapa/cabana

Here’s the seating area

 and the passage to the bedrooms

and the doors to the bedrooms

and one of the bedrooms

here’s the bathroom

Happy Running Puppy

View of the beach just outside the cabanas 

Group of old fogeys, drinkin, eatin,  laughin…

Party Puppy playing with a coconut

Here she is taking advantage of Barry

We all brought snacks to share.  We talked and played catch football, walked the beach and collected shells.  It was very windy and quite cool.  Everyone had long pants and shirts and sweatshirts on.  You could buy beer there, at 10 pesos a glass, the cabanas are/were 500mxp.  We opted to have them prepare our meals for us; the evening meal which was whole fried fish, shrimp, salad, and risotto for 90 pesos each.  Numerous bottles of wine were  present.   Breakfast was eggs, chorizo, toast, fruit and yogurt and of course coffee, all  for 40 pesos.

A good time was had by all and Tech did really well overall.  We had issues with her barking, she is quite timid, and her fear manifests with tail tucking and barking. And she wanted to be in bed with us!  I did mention double beds didn’t I?  LOL!.  We’re sure things will get better as her exposure to new people and situations continues.

Here we are waiting for a sunset

The Hostel Zocalo,  is  located on the main plaza  in what was once the home of the poet José Peón Contreras.   HOSTAL ZOCALO BEACH PALAPAS  advertise bonfires on the beach, fresh seafood dinners, flamingo tours, and offer 11 am pick up daily at Hostal Zocalo on the main plaza. Tel. 930-9562.       hostal_zocalo@yahoo.com.mx

I would recommend the palapas to anyone – we really enjoyed our time.   I sure would have appreciated a little bigger bed, but only because Tom and I are both tall, by local standards…  We did take our own pillows, we also took mosquito coils, and I would suggest to bring your own towels and washcloths.