One the one hand, I feel like we haven't done too much since arriving here. When we skype with people I feel like there's usually not much new. We do a lot of reading. But when I think about this past month...Well, I guess I'm wrong.
Not mentioning all the fabulous progress I have made regarding my readings, my application, my thesis, my ideas and methodology in general, and my plans in the PhD and career department, nor the wonderful plans and ideas Cena and I have made, since we arrived in Cozumel we have :
- Met with the realtor and landlord, signed the contract, and moved in to our apartment.
- Ventured all over San Miguel (the city on the island) to find various discount things for our apartment including bed sheets, pillows, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, soap, etc. and got our exercise carrying them back. (We may have caved and gotten a taxi once or twice).
- Found and carried back all the food staples including spices, corn flour, olive oil, eggs, etc. that we can't get at the market.
- Cleaned our musty and dusty man-lived apartment top to bottom.
- Walked across the city to Cablemas to successfully get through the confusion and get our internet hooked up, all in Spanish.
- Tried out all kinds of restaurants, Mexican cuisine, and taco shops.
- Surprised Cena with a private Mexican cooking class in the home of a Mexican former French teacher.
- Braved the local market to start our shopping there.
- Walked 5km (each direction) in the swealtering sun then in the pouring rain to try and find the outdoor mall and market to buy running shoes.
- Explored our first Beach Club, Playa Azul and had a delightful Sunday afternoon lazing under a palm hut drinking lemonades by the turquoise blue sea. Occasionally broken up by some snorkelling and swimming.
- Got ashiatsu massages by an expat of 11 years.
- Got gym memberships to the fabulously air-conditioned gym down the street, as between 11am and 3-4pm it's too hot to do anything outside, let alone anything active.
- Started a strict cleanse and have been following it with minor exceptions until present day.
- Rented an old VW Beetle and toured and explored the island and beach bars all day.
- Solved the crisis of Cablemas disconnecting our internet claiming we hadn't paid the bill, again all in Spanish
- Explored many different cafés, trying to find the perfect one where it's not too hot, not too much A/C, and that have tea actually worth the 2$ price tag.
- Spent an afternoon seeing the Museum of Cozumel, and since we're nerds it did take an entire afternoon.
- Cooked almost every meal at home from scratch for the last 3 1/2 weeks.
- Braved the local Cozumel chiropractor and discovered (to Cena's relief) that he is American trained, and for locals payment is by donation.
- Started a morning routine involving 6am, meditation, journaling, and no communication devices (FB, email, news, etc.) for the first couple hours.
Like I said, quite the list of adventures considering that is not including the at home work and reading! And still so much more to do, see, and explore on the island. New mission for this week: Find t-shirts or tank tops that aren't too touristy (neon and have Cozumel written on them in big letters) or too latina (skin tight with leopard print).
Plus I believe we will have a steady stream of visitors until we leave for Vancouver Island March 12th, the day our visa expires.
Will being the first, staying for a week arriving November 16th. Jasmin, forever TBD of course, but mentioned a week beginning of December. Jasper mentioned possibly a week over Christmas. Garry and Diane are planning a week or two in January. Meaghan (and Saul?) mentioned a week in February. And then we leave!
Time will absolutely fly by. One of the many reasons we are really working on living in the moment. Taking this time to re-balance and re-centre everything, after close to 2 years of travelling country hopping chaos for me, and 1,5 for Cena, and create some good healthy habits before moving back to Canada for a few years. Yes, I actually said moving, not just visiting. But to another island of course, so the transition won't be so bad ;)
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