Back to the matter in hand. This particular episode of our lives started thus:
In January issue of the Times Educational Supplement, Mark spotted an advertisement for a teaching post in Mexico City and after quarrying the website of La Escuéla in question, he discovered that the school had an ethos very similar to his own in matters of education and this resulted in many hours of discussion as to the ramifications of considering such an action, and he was eventually moved to apply, with my full support.
In January issue of the Times Educational Supplement, Mark spotted an advertisement for a teaching post in Mexico City and after quarrying the website of La Escuéla in question, he discovered that the school had an ethos very similar to his own in matters of education and this resulted in many hours of discussion as to the ramifications of considering such an action, and he was eventually moved to apply, with my full support.
He subsequently attended an all-day interview in London with several other applicants, held by the School Head on 2nd February this year and came away feeling quite positive about the day, a day which concluded with that momentous ‘phone call.
Since then I have been having a few sleepless nights… it seems a huge leap of faith and yet to have the opportunity of such an ‘adventure’ in such a diverse country when one is being paid for being there is nothing short of exceptional. Yes, I’ve loved travelling but that’s always entailed no more than two or three weeks. This time, to go for a two years’ stay, things are very different and I’m gradually realising the enormity of the task before us. In the early hours of several days, while I’ve been sipping hot milk to calm the nerves, I’ve explored the streets via Google Earth around La Escuela so thoroughly and I seem to know the area as well as our own here in Reading. I’ve discovered streets lined with market stalls piled high with fresh fruit and veg, and found that there are so many small street corner stores that everything needed is within easy reach. However, whether the local 'everything needed' will compare with our own requirements remains to be seen.
I've also come across areas which do not appear so attractive, and the age-old problem of graffiti is as evident there as it is in some areas of Reading.
However, I was fortunate enough to stumble across a Costco within a short taxi ride! Thank Heaven for that… I’ve been hearing and reading about such outrageous things about shopping and the quality (or otherwise) of fresh produce, that I’m delighted that such a familiar store will provide us with at least the usual basics until we can get familiar with the area. One thing which is quite worrying is the fact that water from the tap is not for drinking. And neither should it be used for washing salad veg and fruit, and we are advised that all water used for consumption or washing of foodstuffs, should be either bottled or 'disinfected' and the thought of the latter was just terrible. I imagined that our lettuce would taste of Dettol but have since learned this is not the case and that apparently tasteless tablets are dropped into the tap water which is left to stand for a few hours to make it useable. There's a heck of a lot to come to terms with but then, it will all be part of the overall adventure.
Note to self - check in good time with GP about what requirements are needed in the way of injections.
Since then I have been having a few sleepless nights… it seems a huge leap of faith and yet to have the opportunity of such an ‘adventure’ in such a diverse country when one is being paid for being there is nothing short of exceptional. Yes, I’ve loved travelling but that’s always entailed no more than two or three weeks. This time, to go for a two years’ stay, things are very different and I’m gradually realising the enormity of the task before us. In the early hours of several days, while I’ve been sipping hot milk to calm the nerves, I’ve explored the streets via Google Earth around La Escuela so thoroughly and I seem to know the area as well as our own here in Reading. I’ve discovered streets lined with market stalls piled high with fresh fruit and veg, and found that there are so many small street corner stores that everything needed is within easy reach. However, whether the local 'everything needed' will compare with our own requirements remains to be seen.
I've also come across areas which do not appear so attractive, and the age-old problem of graffiti is as evident there as it is in some areas of Reading.
However, I was fortunate enough to stumble across a Costco within a short taxi ride! Thank Heaven for that… I’ve been hearing and reading about such outrageous things about shopping and the quality (or otherwise) of fresh produce, that I’m delighted that such a familiar store will provide us with at least the usual basics until we can get familiar with the area. One thing which is quite worrying is the fact that water from the tap is not for drinking. And neither should it be used for washing salad veg and fruit, and we are advised that all water used for consumption or washing of foodstuffs, should be either bottled or 'disinfected' and the thought of the latter was just terrible. I imagined that our lettuce would taste of Dettol but have since learned this is not the case and that apparently tasteless tablets are dropped into the tap water which is left to stand for a few hours to make it useable. There's a heck of a lot to come to terms with but then, it will all be part of the overall adventure.
Note to self - check in good time with GP about what requirements are needed in the way of injections.
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