April 28, 2025 • 41 mins
Where to find Aimee:
- Instagram: @vibrancenutrition
- Nutrition Coaching: vibrancenutrition.com
- Podcast on Nutrition: Blasphemous Nutrition
- Substack on Nomadic Life: NomadicNomMom
Where to find Rebecca:
- Instagram and her life in Paris: @beseriouslyhappy
- Podcast for Interior Design-preneurs: Stuff Interior Designers Need to Know
- Biz Coaching for Interior Designers: seriouslyhappy.com
- Book on Interior Design Psychology: Happy Starts at Home
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Welcome to Bonjola, a podcastabout two women, Amy and
Rebecca, who each moved from theUnited States to Europe to
become expats, Amy to Spain andRebecca to France.
We're here to share the highs,the lows, and the logistics of
this adventure, encourage you tofollow your own move abroad
dreams, and remind you thatyou're not alone when the going
gets tough.
Enjoy.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (00:24):
Amy,
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (00:26):
Rebecca
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (00:27):
You have some breaking news to
share.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (00:33):
is, is that what we wanna call it?
I mean,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (00:36):
Well, it.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (00:39):
yeah.
Yeah.
So I feel like I should addressmy voice first because it's
palpably.
Different than normal.
deeply sensual.
Now that I'm in my forties, I, Ifeel like I sound less like Demi
Moore, who I used to sound a lotlike when I was sick and more
(01:01):
like, I don't know.
Winston Churchill keeps comingto mind.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (01:06):
Yes, dear listeners, we are both
overcoming colds.
Um, you will not hopefully hearus coughing on this episode
because we are good editors, butif you do hear ourselves
sounding extra sultry now youknow why.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (01:20):
Now, you know why?
Yeah.
I actually wasn't sick until,you know, I woke up yesterday
with a mild sore throat.
And when I travel, I alwayscarry, um, this supplement with
me called Wellness Formula.
And it's produced by SourceNaturals.
It's available in the us It's anAmerican company available in
the us.
It's also available in Canadaand the uk.
(01:41):
And in Europe.
I get it through iHerb, so Ialways take it when I travel,
and then have it on hand.
So yesterday I woke up with asore throat and I took a dose in
the morning, and then I cut myday early took a dose in the
evening.
Woke up this morning, my sorethroat is totally gone, but my
voice has changed.
(02:02):
And um, yeah, I just have likethis.
Nasty little phlegm cap on myvoice box
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (02:11):
I feel that our listeners are now
traumatized and they wannaunhear that
la-chingona_1_03-04-20 (02:16):
probably 'cause it's pretty damn
disgusting.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (02:20):
I.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (02:24):
Maybe so.
Maybe so.
so I've been home in the States,um, and this is, you know, heads
up, this is why there's been avery long pause in releasing
episodes.
'cause I typically do the finaledit and then launch.
Um, but I have been in thestates now for almost five
(02:48):
weeks.
Um.
Some news came to me that led meto believe that I, I needed to
come back here and check up onthings and, um, so I've been
kind of here, boots on theground working on, supporting,
family with, uh, with a lot ofdifferent things that.
(03:13):
with decline as we age.
And, um, I don't know to whatextent I want to go into the
details but shortly afterarriving, it did become very
clear to me that, that we needto move back here.
And it's easy for me to say thatwhile I'm here and I'm immersed
(03:36):
in it, and I'm like, there'sthings to do.
There's things I can do.
I'm being given permission to dothings that can create
meaningful change in a positivedirection, just for family, but
also for, for my future and mymy son's future.
(03:56):
now when I get back to Europeand I'm among the gorgeous
architecture and the wonderfulfood and the beautiful
lifestyle, may show up on anepisode weeping inconsolably.
Um, not there yet, but you know,I've, I've had some
conversations about this with myhusband and he's, uh, actually
(04:16):
very.
Very supportive.
I say that as though it's asurprise.
I'm not surprised that he'ssupportive.
He said home, home is with youtoo.
That's where home is, no matterwhere it's at in the world.
He's like, for me it would be alateral move because he's
struggled with languageintegration, which of course
(04:37):
keeps him distanced from theculture and, he's super
introverted, so he doesn't makefriends as easily.
And he said, you know, withregards to his, emotional
wellbeing, he feels at thispoint it would be a lateral move
to come back to the states.
Now we would not be coming backto Seattle.
We would be going to my, myplace of birth, and there is a
(05:01):
lot more of my family here thanthere was when I was growing up.
So it would also be a differentexperience for my child than it
was for me
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (05:10):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (05:10):
regards to connection and community that
I never had here growing up.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (05:16):
this is big deal.
A year and a half ago, you wereplanning for the rest of your
child's education to be inSpain.
So that would've been at leastan eight year journey.
And here you are a year and ahalf.
And because you're raising achild, you've gotta make some
pretty timely decisions'cause ofthe school year, you know, do
you try and make all this happenby the end of the summer?
(05:39):
Do you try and take him outtaschool halfway through the year,
which most parents try to avoid?
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (05:45):
Mm-hmm.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (05:45):
These are not small things that you're
suddenly pivoting on.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (05:49):
Right, right.
We have a year and a half lefton our current visa before we
need to renew.
So we'll either, come back atthe end of this summer, I don't
quite know if it's avoidable.
I don't wanna do this, or wecould try and fulfill the length
of our current Visa and stayuntil October, 2026.
(06:12):
The Visa's approved.
I can pretty much come and go,you know, for the next year and
a half and take care of things.
You know, there are some thingsthat I can take care of from a
distance, but there are somethings that will necessitate
more frequent visits regardless.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (06:30):
While you are pretty sure that you are
going to unex yourself, you'renot sure about the timeline.
la-chingona_1_03-04-20 (06:37):
Correct.
Yeah, that's a, that issomething that I feel warrants a
family meeting and I haven't yettalked to my son about this
development.
I don't know if Shane hasmentioned it.
To him and to what degree, but Iwanted us to have that
conversation in person, allthree of us together to make
that decision.
(06:57):
Uh, You know, I've had, I've hada month to sit with it, process
it.
Well actually no, I have notprocessed it at all.
I have had a month to sit withit, realize it is what has to
happen, then put it in a tinybox and stick it in the back of
my brain.
'cause there's a lot of stuffthat needs to be done here.
(07:18):
My sister came up for a coupleof weeks to help out.
She is looking at transitioningout of her job.
In the next year as well.
so that she's more available, tosupport me.
you know, I don't really wannago into the details.
I know it sounds like, well,that's a huge, like, that's a,
why is everybody, I.
(07:39):
Changing their lives so much foran aging family member.
There's a lot more going on thatI don't quite feel comfortable
talking about on air.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (07:48):
I'm sure anybody listening who has
an aging parent knows howcomplicated that sentence is.
Where do you even begin, right?
Unpacking that stage of life ishuge and there is.
I guarantee you, no judgmentfrom anybody listening, because
anybody who has been through itknows that there's no right
(08:11):
answer.
There is no easy path, and it'sno fun.
And you can only make the rightdecisions for you and your
family, and those decisions mayshift as you're going through
them.
It's like shifting sands underyour feet, and all you can do is
do your best with everydecision.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (08:31):
Right, right.
What has come to light since weleft shifted what needs to
happen
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (08:38):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (08:40):
you know, I think in part some of
this is easier for me to acceptand, and.
Fairly gracefully navigate, um,than it is for my sister because
in one way, shape, or form,being the oldest, I've prepared
for this my entire life.
I've known one day.
(09:00):
One day there's gonna be,there's gonna be a lot of stuff
you have to deal with and theway that it is coming to pass.
Honestly, I'm deeply gratefulfor because you know, I, I feel
like I have a runway that I cantake.
It's not a sudden phone callemergency, drop everything and
(09:24):
take care of things.
I've been blessed with time andsupport.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (09:29):
And it's just another stepping stone
or chapter.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (09:33):
Right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (09:33):
We don't know that this means
you'll never be an expat againbecause
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (09:37):
I'm already looking at logistical
backup plans
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (09:40):
Yeah,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (09:40):
round, like.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (09:42):
you in fact are still young in years
that you'll have your entireempty nest chapter coming before
you know it.
I think that's really what sumsup the expat lifestyle.
You do have to take it day byday.
Some days that means you moveback to the states some days
that means you resubmitpaperwork for the umpteenth time
(10:04):
and you, you have to be willingto, what, what do they say?
Like bend with the wind like awillow tree
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (10:11):
right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (10:12):
And that's what this teaches you.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (10:14):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
mean, everybody I've ever spoketo who has lived abroad in
Europe and returned to theStates has not felt good about
it.
You know, even if it was theright decision.
I once had a client who, had toreturn to the United States
(10:36):
because at the time where he wasliving in Europe, to mental
health support was relativelynon-existent, and that was
something that was very wellestablished in the States
brought him back here, but.
As he was telling me that he waslike, I really wish it wasn't
(10:57):
so, and now I don't have thechance to go back.
Um, and that's sort ofconsistently what I hear.
I forgot, and have, you know,have recently remembered that I
do have dual citizenship withMexico.
I don't have a passport.
Yet, but I am registered as aMexican citizen in Mexico, and
(11:17):
that could be a gateway back toSpain in the future.
That may be a little bit easierthan the digital nomad visa,
especially with shiftingpolitical situations with the
United States.
You know, that's a possibility.
You've talked about theinternational investor that you
(11:39):
spoke with helped you getpathway to EU citizenship
through Portugal.
I'll be talking to him once Iunderstand a little bit more
about our future financialsituation will look like, that I
can see what is still availablefor us as a route to EU
citizenship as well.
(12:00):
you know, I am.
Coming back.
My expectation is that I will beneeded here in the States for 10
years is, is my guess, my veryhand wavy estimate, longer.
I feel like I am not onlystepping into safeguard and
(12:26):
support, I.
Everything that, this familymember has, created, but also
preserving my own historybecause it is what I grew up in,
and I feel an equal degree ofnot being able to sit in Europe
and watch back home degrade.
(12:51):
I have equal strength of emotionabout that as I do making sure
my child does not think thatbehavior and education and
everything about the US isnormal.
So I'm hoping after two yearsSpain, he's realized that, and
(13:12):
that he will keep that in hismemory.
And I also am hoping to continueto have frequent travel outside
the country so that becomes adeeply embedded part of his, his
reality.
I think too, being here andbeing among, you know, Mexican
family will also help shield himsomewhat from normalizing some
(13:35):
of the.
Cultural norms of his peers.
but who knows because I'm, youknow, I'm half Mexican, but I'm
pretty damn American.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (13:45):
And Seattle is very different from
Alaska in terms of culture and
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (13:48):
this is
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (13:49):
you know, so yeah, you're gonna have
the opportunity to start anentirely different story.
You guys have lived outside thecountry long enough that that
will have an impact on the lensthrough which everybody sees
everything,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (14:02):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (14:03):
for the better.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (14:04):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (14:05):
Yeah.
Wow.
I mean, I obviously knew this'cause I'm the one that started
off the conversation, but Imean, this is a really big deal.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (14:14):
Yeah, I am fiercely protecting myself
from feeling the feelings.
I'm just very much in practicalchecklist, strategize mode.
Which I'm grateful for.
I'm grateful I can do thatbecause I also can't be here and
do what I need to do here in thetime that I have, which feels
(14:38):
very short.
Like honestly, the longer I'mhere, the more I feel like I
need to be here longer.
There's just, you know, waveafter wave of developments of
different things in differentareas that I'm just like, okay,
crap.
This needs to be taken care of.
That needs to be taken like somuch, so much I'll be flying
(15:00):
into Seattle next week, anddecompressing for about a week
there, picking up some cliffbars for my son to bring back.
And, oh, and chili mango for me.
I cannot forget my chili mangobecause that's one of the main
reasons why I was like, yeah,let's go back to the United
States because my original plan.
And I don't remember if weshared this on air or not, but I
(15:21):
was originally flying back tothe States because I believe we
did talk about the mailboxsituation in Seattle.
I.
Right, and while in Seattle Iwas gonna pick up some chili
mango, and then not a day afterwe recorded that, then I got
some news that was like, yes,you need to go back to the
states, but you should look atchanging your flight to go back
(15:43):
sooner and stay longer and it'snot Seattle you, you need to go
back back.
Alaska.
So, um, so I still don't have mychili mango from Trader Joe's.
And with everything that's beengoing on, I keep forgetting that
I wanna get it.
But I had a dream.
I had a dream the other night.
This is so hilarious.
I had a dream the other nightthat.
(16:03):
I was back in Europe rememberedthat I did not get chili mango
when I was in the States and Iwas furious with myself.
I was so mad and I woke up andthis never happens to me, but I
woke up and it took me.
Probably about two to fourseconds to realize that I was
(16:26):
not actually in Europe, that Iwas still in the States and
there was still an opportunityfor me to get Chile mango.
like I never have thatexperience of waking up and not
knowing where I am.
And so that was, that was afirst for me.
And there was just this palpablerelief when I'm like, no, no,
you're in Alaska.
You can still get the chilimango.
Just make sure you don't forgetabout the chili mango.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190 (16:48):
That's very funny.
The food cravings are so funny.
I just got back from Vegas andmy whole goal when I was there
was to find and eat raisinbrandand.
And so I pretty much spent thelast week eating raisin brandand
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (17:03):
Yes.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (17:04):
I loved every bite I.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (17:09):
Oh, good.
So you didn't get sick of it ina week's time.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (17:12):
No, and unfortunately I actually had
some left.
I bought like the family sizebox, but I didn't have room in
my luggage'cause I also boughtsome clothes and stuff.
But it's okay.
I filled.
I filled the need and I feel Ifeel much satisfied.
I also had some string cheese onyour behalf.
Um, it was interesting though'cause in addition to all the
(17:33):
Raisin brand, I was eating out,I was having some snacks, I was
eating at the conference, I waseating kind of nonstop.
And it was fascinating to mebecause despite all the eating,
I was also constantly hungry.
I was surprised by how quickly Islipped back into the salt and
sugar cycle that defined myexistence in the United States
(17:56):
and how often I was being cuedto eat.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (18:01):
Yes, the
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (18:02):
And
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (18:03):
cues are everywhere.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (18:05):
there they are.
And I was thinking about it, andit's not, yes, there are fewer
food cues in France.
The food ingredients are better,which we've talked about ad
nauseum, but in addition,because the language isn't
English, a lot of the food cuesthat are there, they just kind
(18:25):
of wash over me.
And so I think it's acombination of the French
culture and also that if I werean expat anywhere, I wouldn't be
getting all the marketingmessages because my ears just
aren't tuned into them the sameway they are in English.
It was.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (18:42):
Right.
That's such, um, that's such anobvious, but.
Mm.
Like, that's such an obviousobservation that Oh yeah, of
course.
But yeah, I never thought aboutthat.
You're absolutely right.
And that, you know, that extendsbeyond food cues.
But any, any political talkabout the country that we've
(19:04):
expatriated to is gonna washover us.
We're not gonna be connected tothat until, you know, deep
integration into the society.
Um.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (19:12):
The pharmaceutical ads, same thing.
You, you can,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (19:15):
there aren't pharmaceutical
advertising really, at least not
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (19:19):
there is some, there is some here in
France.
Yeah.
Not to the same extent, but youknow, now that I'm starting, now
that my language skills areimproving, I'm starting to
notice them in a way that Ihadn't earlier,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (19:31):
Okay.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (19:32):
but they still.
It's almost like I'm watchingthem from outside.
I can be a lot more critical andmy logical reasoning skills are
still on.
Whereas when it's in your mothertongue and it's queuing the
nostalgia of your childhood orthe fears of your own culture
and stuff, you're not using yourlogical brain to analyze those
(19:54):
ads anymore.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (19:55):
right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (19:56):
It's really interesting.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (19:58):
Oh man, that's such a powerful
observation, huh?
I've had, I've had kind of theopposite, experience here
because it's been go, go, go,go, go.
I'm, you know, I'm staying in aplace where there's a full
kitchen, but it's not stockedwith anything.
And there's no, there's no timeto cook meals right now.
(20:19):
And so I'm kind of like on onemeal a day plus.
Maybe some snacks before bed soI don't wake up in the middle of
the night hungry, which hashappened multiple times.
So I feel like I'm actuallyeating quite a bit less.
I'm certainly moving a lot less.
My goodness, I walked all threemalls in town because I was
(20:39):
bored one day and just kind ofneeded to get away and
decompress.
So walked all three malls thatare available in this, in this
town.
And I ended up at the end of theday with 9,000 steps, which is
on the low end of what I getwalking around living my normal
(21:02):
life in Spain.
And that was just sodisheartening'cause I felt I was
trying so hard and achieving solittle.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (21:12):
Our country not.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (21:14):
Not at all.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (21:15):
To eat whole foods, to walk
regularly.
You have to work so hard forthat in America that it, it
feels impossible when you'realso trying to live the rest of
your life.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (21:29):
Right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (21:30):
Yeah, that's, I'm, I'm so worried
about you going back to the.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (21:36):
me too.
Me too.
I'm gonna become like diseasedand decrepit and and anxious.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (21:44):
Oh, I hope not.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (21:46):
No, I, I mean, paranoid and anxious
maybe.
But,, you know, one of thethings that I did when I
realized what was happening andhow long I was going to be away
is I immediately a gym in the,you know, in, in the general
vicinity.
That was a reasonable distancefrom.
(22:07):
Both where I was staying and youknow, where, where I've been
working and they have a punchcard, uh, 10 visits for$85,
which is super reasonable.
I went and bought a punch cardand it's valid for a year, which
is great because this is notgonna be my last trip back.
(22:28):
And so, and I found a personaltrainer in case I wanted one.
which I haven't, you know, Ihaven't utilized.
But I, you know, I immediately,when I realized what was
happening, I immediately wentinto, how do I take care of my
health?
How do I take care of my son'seducation?
Which is, um,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (22:50):
deal,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1004 (22:51):
I wanna avoid using all of my
naughty words here, but.
Alaska ranks 47th out of 50states in terms of quality of
education, and the currentgovernment is wanting to cut the
budget to education.
Um, I looked at private schools.
All of the private schools arereligiously affiliated.
(23:14):
We are not a religious family.
And then, as my sister told me,she's like, you know, if you put
him in a religious school thatisn't necessarily gonna protect
him from all of the things thatyou're concerned about public
school kids doing.
If anything, Catholics andChristian adolescents rebel
hardcore during that.
During that age.
(23:35):
Yeah.
So I am really worried about hisquality of education, but I'm
like, well, at the latest hewill be going into 13 years of
age.
looked it up.
And at age 16 he can take.
Um, you know, basically theequivalent of A-G-D-D-G-E-D and
transition out if he wants toget out of the public system,
(23:59):
completely complete his, youknow, his high school diploma do
something else with his life,which I would fully support
because I went to school in thistown and if I wasn't so
terrified that my parents wouldkill me in my sleep, I would've
dropped out.
It was just a terribleexperience overall.
Um.
(24:21):
Oh God, yeah.
There's some really bad teachersup here.
And this was in the nineties, sooverall national education has
gotten much worse since thenineties.
So I, I'm, I am very, veryconcerned about that and, you
know, don't have time to dofurther investigation until it
becomes more urgent to do so.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (24:40):
Yeah.
And those are two very differentthings.
Your health, you have so muchmore control over.
It's a choice.
Am I gonna make time to go tothe gym?
Am I gonna take time to go for ahike?
But the education part so muchof it is out of your control By
design.
You're supposed to allow yourchild to go off to school and
learn how to be an independenthuman, but you want them to do
(25:02):
that in a healthy environment.
And that can be really harddefined in today's education
system in America.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (25:08):
Yeah.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
He's fairly self-motivated, sohomeschool may be an option when
he's a teenager, but he reallyneeds the social aspect of life
deeply, deeply, deeply.
So I'm hesitant to even do that,and I, um, I don't know that we
as his parents can him dojustice with overseeing his
(25:32):
education from a homeschoolingperspective.
Um.
It's easier to go into a PTAmeeting as a tiger mom than it
is to manage your own child'scurriculum.
rebecca_1_03-04-202 (25:46):
Definitely.
It's interesting because theseconversations are so aligned
with the conversations we hadwhen you were originally
thinking about moving to Spain.
It's all the same questions.
I mean,'cause Alaska really iskind of like a whole nother
country when you think about it.
You're just ex padding again.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (26:03):
That's true.
That's very true.
In fact, Alaska is so much likeanother country that,, when I
was growing up, you could go toEurope with an Alaska.
Alaska flag on and, and or the,the state on your sewn onto your
backpack.
And they would not recognize youas an American citizen because
(26:23):
like you say, you're fromAlaska.
Oh, wow.
And they don't even think thatyou are from the US because
Alaska is like, you know, on themap, it doesn't look like it's
even part of the us.
Right.
Yeah.
And the culture here is, is, isa bit different.
I will say.
I am stunned.
I am stunned by how niceeverybody is up here.
(26:47):
I have people open doors for me.
I'm not pregnant and they'reopening doors for me.
That was the only time, onlytime I ever had somebody open
doors for me was when I waslike, so, so incredibly pregnant
that they were concerned for mywellbeing.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (27:01):
You were living in Seattle where
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (27:03):
yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025 (27:04):
Femininity means let me do everything for
myself.
Don't you dare suggest that Imight be a delicate flower, and
all the men are afraid of yougetting really angry at them for
considering you as a delicateflower.
So I'm not entirely surprised tohear that.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (27:17):
Yeah.
But it's not just men though.
It's men and women.
Like people open doors for eachother here, which is super cool.
It's like, hi human, I see you,I recognize you.
Here, let me do this.
And, and like engaging in, inthe public, in transactional
situations, whatever people arechatty, they're, they're
friendly.
And is February in Alaska, likegrowing up, this is the worst of
(27:44):
the worst months, where in mymemory, people were the most
contracted, the most.
Angry the most.
Like, let's just get throughthis hell and get it over with.
Now I say that this winter hasbeen way, way different.
There was hardly any snow uphere this winter.
The first week I was here, itwas, between zero and eight
(28:07):
degrees.
Then it rapidly warmed up toabove freezing.
So the little snow that was hereis largely gone now.
it's like.
42 degrees.
It's terrifyingly warm.
Like if you want to have a trueglobal warming experience, to
(28:29):
Alaska.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (28:31):
Well, the glaciers have receded to
almost nothing.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (28:33):
They have, I noticed that last summer
when I was here.
I, I dunno if we talked aboutit, but we went to a glacier
that I'd gone to as a child andthe glacier had gone all the way
up to the visitor center
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (28:44):
Yeah,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (28:45):
we had to take a boat to go see the
glacier.
Now because it's receded a mileand a half since the 1980s.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (28:53):
yeah.
Whether or not.
We caused it is not really thequestion anymore.
It has happened.
It is happening.
It is changing.
Now we have to decide what's,what do we do from here?
What's really striking me'causeI grew up in the military and so
I left places a lot and I almostalways fell in love with every
place I lived.
It's just my nature.
(29:15):
But as a result, I never reallyliked going back to places.
You know, they say you can't,you can't go back home.
And I always found that to betrue because the, the pillars
that you remember, thetouchstones that you remember
change, it's really nice to kindof flip that script and realize
that it can also change for thebetter.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (29:35):
Right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (29:36):
You were not thrilled the idea going
back to Alaska, so.
Some of the silver linings andrainbows, because I think you're
gonna need that.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (29:46):
Oh, a hundred percent.
Absolutely I do.
Absolutely I do.
Didn't really kind of evenentertain a woe is me.
This sucks mentality.
Because I mean, over the years Ihave come to see that this place
is different than when I wasgrowing up.
Um, global warming will work inmy favor because the, the bitter
(30:11):
cold of the winters were, wasreally, really horrible when I
was a teenager.
Um, the couple of weeks that itwas cold when I first arrived
did not impact me, but.
You know, it was two weeks ofit.
It wasn't months of it.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (30:28):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (30:28):
know, certainly change for the
duration.
I, I really need to be a herefull winner to see how it
impacts me.
Again, we have lots of familyhere that has moved into the
state that wasn't here when Iwas growing up, so that is a
wonderful thing.
And I have had, breaks from theconstant.
Learning, strategizing,logistically, navigating plan,
(30:50):
creating aspect of this trip tohave dinner with and aunts I
have a friend from high schoolwho's still here.
And she took me on stressrelieving weightlifting dates
when I first arrived that wecould, we could both benefit
from lifting some heavy shit.
(31:10):
That was wonderful.
She knows and likes Shane reallywell, and she's like, when you
come back, we'll do monthly gamenights.
And I'm like, that would be soperfect for us.
So we're coming into anenvironment that feels.
More supportive than as I wasgrowing up, and that's made all
of this a lot easier.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (31:31):
I think that's beautiful I know
you weren't sure when you wantedto share this news with our
listeners, but I'm really gladyou're sharing.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (31:37):
answer was never, I never wanted to
talk about this.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (31:42):
But you know, it's such a common
thing to have happen.
Either you find thatcircumstances say you can't be
an expat anymore, or you justemotionally decide, I don't want
to be an expat anymore.
So I think it's.
Kind of a, a lovely gift thatyou're giving to me and to the
(32:02):
other listeners of, okay, what'sthe unex padding journey going
to look like
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (32:08):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (32:10):
and what is the reintegration start
to feel like?
So thanks for taking us fullcircle.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (32:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean the majority of peoplewho expatriate do end up
returning to their home country
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (32:26):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04- (32:27):
worldwide.
Like
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (32:28):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04- (32:29):
worldwide, right?
Like how many Mexicans come tothe US to work and then they go
home.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (32:33):
Yeah.
And for so many reasons.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (32:36):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (32:37):
But you have to be open to that
happening because you know, asthey say in, well, as the Smart
Buddhist meditation, Zen, peoplesay resistance is where pain
comes from, right?
You have to roll with it.
la-chingona_1_03-04 (32:52):
Absolutely.
And that's really just kind ofan important quality to, to
accrue to live life is to beable to be fluid and navigate
things without.
To hold, to hold things in yourhands softly and not grip them
too tightly.
(33:14):
I used to be part of a, uh,acrobatic troop when I lived in
San Diego and the director.
Had like list he was creatingcalled 10 Rules of the Circus
and they have been so incrediblyhelpful throughout my life.
(33:36):
rule number one is don't panic.
It is literally a lifesavingrule when you are holding people
up in the air by one hand beingtossed across a room, doing
insane balancing acts, superimportant no matter what.
Do not panic.
And that's one that I havereally deeply integrated into
how I approach everything inlife.
Because the minute we panic, westop being able to think.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (33:59):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (34:00):
It's from a place of reaction and
panic that we make some of theworst mistakes,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:07):
I talk about that in my decide
course where when we're afraidor uncertain and things are
unfamiliar, we choose thedefault choice,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (34:16):
right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (34:17):
does not mean it's the right choice.
The choice, we wanted a healthychoice.
It's just, it feels like thesafe, easy choice in the moment.
Not a place we wanna be makingdecisions from.
la-chingona_1_03-04- (34:27):
Absolutely not.
Yeah.
You need a clear head and inorder to have a clear head, you
cannot panic.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (34:33):
Yeah,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (34:33):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:35):
but you also touched on the idea of
holding things lightly, so I'mguessing that's one of the
circus rules too.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (34:40):
No, no, not at all.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:42):
No.
Oh, well then they should, Ithink they should integrate
that.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (34:45):
Hold things lightly.
No.
When you've got, when you are a,like a base at the bottom and
you're holding somebody up inthe air, you, you really don't
wanna hold them lightly.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:54):
Go ahead and cut off that
circulation.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (34:57):
you wanna have a good firm grip on
somebody, even if you're digginginto their hip bones, like it's,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:04):
I do love that concept of holding
things lightly, though for me,that touches on the serenity
prayer
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (35:09):
Mm-hmm.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:09):
the things we can control and the
things we cannot.
I am just this week crossing myone year anniversary living in,
in France.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (35:18):
Oh
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:19):
Is the big thing, but that is the
big thing it's teaching me ishow to hold on a little bit more
loosely.
I hate every minute of it.
Do not get me wrong today when Ifound out that my paperwork
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (35:35):
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold on.
You hate every minute of what?
I know it's not living inFrance.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:42):
I love living here, but learning
to hold on loosely is not in mynature.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (35:48):
okay.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:49):
And when you find out that you paid
money to send somethingcertified to the French
government, and then you got theproof that it was received, and
nonetheless, you stand at thatwindow going, well, it's just
not in the system.
You're gonna have to submit itand wait two months again, like
every.
Fiber of my being wants to throwa tantrum, but
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (36:12):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (36:13):
it won't do any good.
So I'm having to learn what Ican control and what I can't,
and breathe through it and it,it is a real, conscious act for
me.
I am still learning it.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (36:26):
Yeah, and it may be something that you
never fully accept because youknow it can be different and
better.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (36:34):
Well that's true, but knowing
something should be betterdoesn't mean that anything is
going to change.
Boy, that's thinking thatapplies to so many things.
Yes.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (36:47):
Yes.
Yes it does.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (36:48):
My mom and I have been talking
about that a lot.
She was able to come out andvisit me in Vegas while I was
there.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (36:54):
Oh, nice.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (36:55):
With everything that's happening in
the world we really talk a lotabout the serenity prayer.
What can you control and whatcan't you?
And the idea of the sphere ofinfluence.
Most things are outside of mysphere of influence,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1004 (37:08):
A hundred percent.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (37:09):
but I can choose how I treat my
neighbors and my friends and myclients, and myself and my
family.
And while they are smallereffects, if we all take care of
those things, we will all bebetter together.
la-chingona_1_03-04 (37:28):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
And I think those interpersonalrelationships.
Are going to be absolutelyessential in the future.
You know, they were soincredibly difficult to
cultivate in Seattle and I.
I am really, really glad thatthat's not my home state and
(37:51):
that's not where I'm returningto.
Gosh, I'm so glad.
Never, never, never, peoplenever in my life did I think I
would ever say, thank goodnessI'm going back to Alaska and not
Seattle, because it took me like20 years to overcome the trauma
of growing up in this Godforsaken state and.
(38:13):
You know, 25 years to realizethat at least for me, Seattle
had degraded into a completelyunlivable, super expensive
hellhole.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (38:24):
Never say never you, you just
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (38:27):
seen Never say never.
Life can change and shift inways completely.
Unimaginable and,, you couldstep into a new reality that you
never thought was possible.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (38:43):
And not only that you never thought
was possible, but it can besomething that you.
I would've sworn up and downwould be a nightmare.
And it turns out to be the bestthing that ever happened.
My divorce was like that.
That was one of the darkestperiods of my life, I didn't see
how I would ever dig myself outof that.
Emotional well.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (39:02):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:03):
And here I am in a marriage that is
straight out of a fairytale thatnobody would believe if I wrote
it in a fairytale, living inParis.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (39:11):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:12):
I think if I were gonna leave our
listeners with something today,it really would be whatever
you're going through, whateverleft turn life just handed you.
It may feel dark and it may feelheavy, but it may turn out to be
the most wonderful change.
(39:32):
Keep taking one step forwardthrough the darkness if that's
where you're at, because thereis light at the end of it, I
guarantee it.
As long as you keep taking onestep forward every day.
la-chingona_1_03-04 (39:42):
Absolutely.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:44):
And don't hesitate to reach out to
us guys because we're here tosupport you through all of these
ridiculous life changes.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (39:52):
Well, should we, uh, wrap up with
that, Rebecca?
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:56):
I think that's a pretty nice place
to leave it.
And Aimee, I'm really glad thatyou shared that with all of us
because it is part of thejourney.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (40:04):
It is, it is.
I mean, there's so much I couldshare, but, um, one, it's not my
story to tell.
And, and two, yeah, privatethings need to say private, but.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (40:18):
We that unfold as you choose for
it.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (40:22):
And, uh, yes, yes, I'm sure.
I'm sure additional details willcome out in the future, but for
now, that's all I'm willing tosay.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (40:31):
Thank you for joining us dear
listeners today.
Um, until the next time.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1004 (40:37):
I don't, what do I even say?
Do I say goodbye?
Do I say o wago?
What do I even say?
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19 (40:44):
Mexican and you guys are practicing your
Spanish, we can.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (40:49):
Okay.
We hope you enjoyed this episodeof Bonjola.
If you did, the best thing youcan do is share it with another
person brave enough to moveabroad.
See you next time!
Welcome to Bonjola, a podcastabout two women, Amy and
Rebecca, who each moved from theUnited States to Europe to
become expats, Amy to Spain andRebecca to France.
We're here to share the highs,the lows, and the logistics of
this adventure, encourage you tofollow your own move abroad
dreams, and remind you thatyou're not alone when the going
gets tough.
Enjoy.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (00:24):
Amy,
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (00:26):
Rebecca
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (00:27):
You have some breaking news to
share.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (00:33):
is, is that what we wanna call it?
I mean,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (00:36):
Well, it.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (00:39):
yeah.
Yeah.
So I feel like I should addressmy voice first because it's
palpably.
Different than normal.
deeply sensual.
Now that I'm in my forties, I, Ifeel like I sound less like Demi
Moore, who I used to sound a lotlike when I was sick and more
(01:01):
like, I don't know.
Winston Churchill keeps comingto mind.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (01:06):
Yes, dear listeners, we are both
overcoming colds.
Um, you will not hopefully hearus coughing on this episode
because we are good editors, butif you do hear ourselves
sounding extra sultry now youknow why.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (01:20):
Now, you know why?
Yeah.
I actually wasn't sick until,you know, I woke up yesterday
with a mild sore throat.
And when I travel, I alwayscarry, um, this supplement with
me called Wellness Formula.
And it's produced by SourceNaturals.
It's available in the us It's anAmerican company available in
the us.
It's also available in Canadaand the uk.
(01:41):
And in Europe.
I get it through iHerb, so Ialways take it when I travel,
and then have it on hand.
So yesterday I woke up with asore throat and I took a dose in
the morning, and then I cut myday early took a dose in the
evening.
Woke up this morning, my sorethroat is totally gone, but my
voice has changed.
(02:02):
And um, yeah, I just have likethis.
Nasty little phlegm cap on myvoice box
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (02:11):
I feel that our listeners are now
traumatized and they wannaunhear that
la-chingona_1_03-04-20 (02:16):
probably 'cause it's pretty damn
disgusting.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (02:20):
I.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (02:24):
Maybe so.
Maybe so.
so I've been home in the States,um, and this is, you know, heads
up, this is why there's been avery long pause in releasing
episodes.
'cause I typically do the finaledit and then launch.
Um, but I have been in thestates now for almost five
(02:48):
weeks.
Um.
Some news came to me that led meto believe that I, I needed to
come back here and check up onthings and, um, so I've been
kind of here, boots on theground working on, supporting,
family with, uh, with a lot ofdifferent things that.
(03:13):
with decline as we age.
And, um, I don't know to whatextent I want to go into the
details but shortly afterarriving, it did become very
clear to me that, that we needto move back here.
And it's easy for me to say thatwhile I'm here and I'm immersed
(03:36):
in it, and I'm like, there'sthings to do.
There's things I can do.
I'm being given permission to dothings that can create
meaningful change in a positivedirection, just for family, but
also for, for my future and mymy son's future.
(03:56):
now when I get back to Europeand I'm among the gorgeous
architecture and the wonderfulfood and the beautiful
lifestyle, may show up on anepisode weeping inconsolably.
Um, not there yet, but you know,I've, I've had some
conversations about this with myhusband and he's, uh, actually
(04:16):
very.
Very supportive.
I say that as though it's asurprise.
I'm not surprised that he'ssupportive.
He said home, home is with youtoo.
That's where home is, no matterwhere it's at in the world.
He's like, for me it would be alateral move because he's
struggled with languageintegration, which of course
(04:37):
keeps him distanced from theculture and, he's super
introverted, so he doesn't makefriends as easily.
And he said, you know, withregards to his, emotional
wellbeing, he feels at thispoint it would be a lateral move
to come back to the states.
Now we would not be coming backto Seattle.
We would be going to my, myplace of birth, and there is a
(05:01):
lot more of my family here thanthere was when I was growing up.
So it would also be a differentexperience for my child than it
was for me
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (05:10):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (05:10):
regards to connection and community that
I never had here growing up.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (05:16):
this is big deal.
A year and a half ago, you wereplanning for the rest of your
child's education to be inSpain.
So that would've been at leastan eight year journey.
And here you are a year and ahalf.
And because you're raising achild, you've gotta make some
pretty timely decisions'cause ofthe school year, you know, do
you try and make all this happenby the end of the summer?
(05:39):
Do you try and take him outtaschool halfway through the year,
which most parents try to avoid?
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (05:45):
Mm-hmm.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (05:45):
These are not small things that you're
suddenly pivoting on.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (05:49):
Right, right.
We have a year and a half lefton our current visa before we
need to renew.
So we'll either, come back atthe end of this summer, I don't
quite know if it's avoidable.
I don't wanna do this, or wecould try and fulfill the length
of our current Visa and stayuntil October, 2026.
(06:12):
The Visa's approved.
I can pretty much come and go,you know, for the next year and
a half and take care of things.
You know, there are some thingsthat I can take care of from a
distance, but there are somethings that will necessitate
more frequent visits regardless.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (06:30):
While you are pretty sure that you are
going to unex yourself, you'renot sure about the timeline.
la-chingona_1_03-04-20 (06:37):
Correct.
Yeah, that's a, that issomething that I feel warrants a
family meeting and I haven't yettalked to my son about this
development.
I don't know if Shane hasmentioned it.
To him and to what degree, but Iwanted us to have that
conversation in person, allthree of us together to make
that decision.
(06:57):
Uh, You know, I've had, I've hada month to sit with it, process
it.
Well actually no, I have notprocessed it at all.
I have had a month to sit withit, realize it is what has to
happen, then put it in a tinybox and stick it in the back of
my brain.
'cause there's a lot of stuffthat needs to be done here.
(07:18):
My sister came up for a coupleof weeks to help out.
She is looking at transitioningout of her job.
In the next year as well.
so that she's more available, tosupport me.
you know, I don't really wannago into the details.
I know it sounds like, well,that's a huge, like, that's a,
why is everybody, I.
(07:39):
Changing their lives so much foran aging family member.
There's a lot more going on thatI don't quite feel comfortable
talking about on air.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (07:48):
I'm sure anybody listening who has
an aging parent knows howcomplicated that sentence is.
Where do you even begin, right?
Unpacking that stage of life ishuge and there is.
I guarantee you, no judgmentfrom anybody listening, because
anybody who has been through itknows that there's no right
(08:11):
answer.
There is no easy path, and it'sno fun.
And you can only make the rightdecisions for you and your
family, and those decisions mayshift as you're going through
them.
It's like shifting sands underyour feet, and all you can do is
do your best with everydecision.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (08:31):
Right, right.
What has come to light since weleft shifted what needs to
happen
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (08:38):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (08:40):
you know, I think in part some of
this is easier for me to acceptand, and.
Fairly gracefully navigate, um,than it is for my sister because
in one way, shape, or form,being the oldest, I've prepared
for this my entire life.
I've known one day.
(09:00):
One day there's gonna be,there's gonna be a lot of stuff
you have to deal with and theway that it is coming to pass.
Honestly, I'm deeply gratefulfor because you know, I, I feel
like I have a runway that I cantake.
It's not a sudden phone callemergency, drop everything and
(09:24):
take care of things.
I've been blessed with time andsupport.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (09:29):
And it's just another stepping stone
or chapter.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (09:33):
Right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (09:33):
We don't know that this means
you'll never be an expat againbecause
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (09:37):
I'm already looking at logistical
backup plans
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (09:40):
Yeah,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (09:40):
round, like.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (09:42):
you in fact are still young in years
that you'll have your entireempty nest chapter coming before
you know it.
I think that's really what sumsup the expat lifestyle.
You do have to take it day byday.
Some days that means you moveback to the states some days
that means you resubmitpaperwork for the umpteenth time
(10:04):
and you, you have to be willingto, what, what do they say?
Like bend with the wind like awillow tree
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (10:11):
right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (10:12):
And that's what this teaches you.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (10:14):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
mean, everybody I've ever spoketo who has lived abroad in
Europe and returned to theStates has not felt good about
it.
You know, even if it was theright decision.
I once had a client who, had toreturn to the United States
(10:36):
because at the time where he wasliving in Europe, to mental
health support was relativelynon-existent, and that was
something that was very wellestablished in the States
brought him back here, but.
As he was telling me that he waslike, I really wish it wasn't
(10:57):
so, and now I don't have thechance to go back.
Um, and that's sort ofconsistently what I hear.
I forgot, and have, you know,have recently remembered that I
do have dual citizenship withMexico.
I don't have a passport.
Yet, but I am registered as aMexican citizen in Mexico, and
(11:17):
that could be a gateway back toSpain in the future.
That may be a little bit easierthan the digital nomad visa,
especially with shiftingpolitical situations with the
United States.
You know, that's a possibility.
You've talked about theinternational investor that you
(11:39):
spoke with helped you getpathway to EU citizenship
through Portugal.
I'll be talking to him once Iunderstand a little bit more
about our future financialsituation will look like, that I
can see what is still availablefor us as a route to EU
citizenship as well.
(12:00):
you know, I am.
Coming back.
My expectation is that I will beneeded here in the States for 10
years is, is my guess, my veryhand wavy estimate, longer.
I feel like I am not onlystepping into safeguard and
(12:26):
support, I.
Everything that, this familymember has, created, but also
preserving my own historybecause it is what I grew up in,
and I feel an equal degree ofnot being able to sit in Europe
and watch back home degrade.
(12:51):
I have equal strength of emotionabout that as I do making sure
my child does not think thatbehavior and education and
everything about the US isnormal.
So I'm hoping after two yearsSpain, he's realized that, and
(13:12):
that he will keep that in hismemory.
And I also am hoping to continueto have frequent travel outside
the country so that becomes adeeply embedded part of his, his
reality.
I think too, being here andbeing among, you know, Mexican
family will also help shield himsomewhat from normalizing some
(13:35):
of the.
Cultural norms of his peers.
but who knows because I'm, youknow, I'm half Mexican, but I'm
pretty damn American.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (13:45):
And Seattle is very different from
Alaska in terms of culture and
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (13:48):
this is
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (13:49):
you know, so yeah, you're gonna have
the opportunity to start anentirely different story.
You guys have lived outside thecountry long enough that that
will have an impact on the lensthrough which everybody sees
everything,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (14:02):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (14:03):
for the better.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (14:04):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (14:05):
Yeah.
Wow.
I mean, I obviously knew this'cause I'm the one that started
off the conversation, but Imean, this is a really big deal.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (14:14):
Yeah, I am fiercely protecting myself
from feeling the feelings.
I'm just very much in practicalchecklist, strategize mode.
Which I'm grateful for.
I'm grateful I can do thatbecause I also can't be here and
do what I need to do here in thetime that I have, which feels
(14:38):
very short.
Like honestly, the longer I'mhere, the more I feel like I
need to be here longer.
There's just, you know, waveafter wave of developments of
different things in differentareas that I'm just like, okay,
crap.
This needs to be taken care of.
That needs to be taken like somuch, so much I'll be flying
(15:00):
into Seattle next week, anddecompressing for about a week
there, picking up some cliffbars for my son to bring back.
And, oh, and chili mango for me.
I cannot forget my chili mangobecause that's one of the main
reasons why I was like, yeah,let's go back to the United
States because my original plan.
And I don't remember if weshared this on air or not, but I
(15:21):
was originally flying back tothe States because I believe we
did talk about the mailboxsituation in Seattle.
I.
Right, and while in Seattle Iwas gonna pick up some chili
mango, and then not a day afterwe recorded that, then I got
some news that was like, yes,you need to go back to the
states, but you should look atchanging your flight to go back
(15:43):
sooner and stay longer and it'snot Seattle you, you need to go
back back.
Alaska.
So, um, so I still don't have mychili mango from Trader Joe's.
And with everything that's beengoing on, I keep forgetting that
I wanna get it.
But I had a dream.
I had a dream the other night.
This is so hilarious.
I had a dream the other nightthat.
(16:03):
I was back in Europe rememberedthat I did not get chili mango
when I was in the States and Iwas furious with myself.
I was so mad and I woke up andthis never happens to me, but I
woke up and it took me.
Probably about two to fourseconds to realize that I was
(16:26):
not actually in Europe, that Iwas still in the States and
there was still an opportunityfor me to get Chile mango.
like I never have thatexperience of waking up and not
knowing where I am.
And so that was, that was afirst for me.
And there was just this palpablerelief when I'm like, no, no,
you're in Alaska.
You can still get the chilimango.
Just make sure you don't forgetabout the chili mango.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190 (16:48):
That's very funny.
The food cravings are so funny.
I just got back from Vegas andmy whole goal when I was there
was to find and eat raisinbrandand.
And so I pretty much spent thelast week eating raisin brandand
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (17:03):
Yes.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (17:04):
I loved every bite I.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (17:09):
Oh, good.
So you didn't get sick of it ina week's time.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (17:12):
No, and unfortunately I actually had
some left.
I bought like the family sizebox, but I didn't have room in
my luggage'cause I also boughtsome clothes and stuff.
But it's okay.
I filled.
I filled the need and I feel Ifeel much satisfied.
I also had some string cheese onyour behalf.
Um, it was interesting though'cause in addition to all the
(17:33):
Raisin brand, I was eating out,I was having some snacks, I was
eating at the conference, I waseating kind of nonstop.
And it was fascinating to mebecause despite all the eating,
I was also constantly hungry.
I was surprised by how quickly Islipped back into the salt and
sugar cycle that defined myexistence in the United States
(17:56):
and how often I was being cuedto eat.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (18:01):
Yes, the
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (18:02):
And
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (18:03):
cues are everywhere.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (18:05):
there they are.
And I was thinking about it, andit's not, yes, there are fewer
food cues in France.
The food ingredients are better,which we've talked about ad
nauseum, but in addition,because the language isn't
English, a lot of the food cuesthat are there, they just kind
(18:25):
of wash over me.
And so I think it's acombination of the French
culture and also that if I werean expat anywhere, I wouldn't be
getting all the marketingmessages because my ears just
aren't tuned into them the sameway they are in English.
It was.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (18:42):
Right.
That's such, um, that's such anobvious, but.
Mm.
Like, that's such an obviousobservation that Oh yeah, of
course.
But yeah, I never thought aboutthat.
You're absolutely right.
And that, you know, that extendsbeyond food cues.
But any, any political talkabout the country that we've
(19:04):
expatriated to is gonna washover us.
We're not gonna be connected tothat until, you know, deep
integration into the society.
Um.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (19:12):
The pharmaceutical ads, same thing.
You, you can,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (19:15):
there aren't pharmaceutical
advertising really, at least not
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (19:19):
there is some, there is some here in
France.
Yeah.
Not to the same extent, but youknow, now that I'm starting, now
that my language skills areimproving, I'm starting to
notice them in a way that Ihadn't earlier,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (19:31):
Okay.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (19:32):
but they still.
It's almost like I'm watchingthem from outside.
I can be a lot more critical andmy logical reasoning skills are
still on.
Whereas when it's in your mothertongue and it's queuing the
nostalgia of your childhood orthe fears of your own culture
and stuff, you're not using yourlogical brain to analyze those
(19:54):
ads anymore.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (19:55):
right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (19:56):
It's really interesting.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (19:58):
Oh man, that's such a powerful
observation, huh?
I've had, I've had kind of theopposite, experience here
because it's been go, go, go,go, go.
I'm, you know, I'm staying in aplace where there's a full
kitchen, but it's not stockedwith anything.
And there's no, there's no timeto cook meals right now.
(20:19):
And so I'm kind of like on onemeal a day plus.
Maybe some snacks before bed soI don't wake up in the middle of
the night hungry, which hashappened multiple times.
So I feel like I'm actuallyeating quite a bit less.
I'm certainly moving a lot less.
My goodness, I walked all threemalls in town because I was
(20:39):
bored one day and just kind ofneeded to get away and
decompress.
So walked all three malls thatare available in this, in this
town.
And I ended up at the end of theday with 9,000 steps, which is
on the low end of what I getwalking around living my normal
(21:02):
life in Spain.
And that was just sodisheartening'cause I felt I was
trying so hard and achieving solittle.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (21:12):
Our country not.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (21:14):
Not at all.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (21:15):
To eat whole foods, to walk
regularly.
You have to work so hard forthat in America that it, it
feels impossible when you'realso trying to live the rest of
your life.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (21:29):
Right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (21:30):
Yeah, that's, I'm, I'm so worried
about you going back to the.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (21:36):
me too.
Me too.
I'm gonna become like diseasedand decrepit and and anxious.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (21:44):
Oh, I hope not.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (21:46):
No, I, I mean, paranoid and anxious
maybe.
But,, you know, one of thethings that I did when I
realized what was happening andhow long I was going to be away
is I immediately a gym in the,you know, in, in the general
vicinity.
That was a reasonable distancefrom.
(22:07):
Both where I was staying and youknow, where, where I've been
working and they have a punchcard, uh, 10 visits for$85,
which is super reasonable.
I went and bought a punch cardand it's valid for a year, which
is great because this is notgonna be my last trip back.
(22:28):
And so, and I found a personaltrainer in case I wanted one.
which I haven't, you know, Ihaven't utilized.
But I, you know, I immediately,when I realized what was
happening, I immediately wentinto, how do I take care of my
health?
How do I take care of my son'seducation?
Which is, um,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (22:50):
deal,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1004 (22:51):
I wanna avoid using all of my
naughty words here, but.
Alaska ranks 47th out of 50states in terms of quality of
education, and the currentgovernment is wanting to cut the
budget to education.
Um, I looked at private schools.
All of the private schools arereligiously affiliated.
(23:14):
We are not a religious family.
And then, as my sister told me,she's like, you know, if you put
him in a religious school thatisn't necessarily gonna protect
him from all of the things thatyou're concerned about public
school kids doing.
If anything, Catholics andChristian adolescents rebel
hardcore during that.
During that age.
(23:35):
Yeah.
So I am really worried about hisquality of education, but I'm
like, well, at the latest hewill be going into 13 years of
age.
looked it up.
And at age 16 he can take.
Um, you know, basically theequivalent of A-G-D-D-G-E-D and
transition out if he wants toget out of the public system,
(23:59):
completely complete his, youknow, his high school diploma do
something else with his life,which I would fully support
because I went to school in thistown and if I wasn't so
terrified that my parents wouldkill me in my sleep, I would've
dropped out.
It was just a terribleexperience overall.
Um.
(24:21):
Oh God, yeah.
There's some really bad teachersup here.
And this was in the nineties, sooverall national education has
gotten much worse since thenineties.
So I, I'm, I am very, veryconcerned about that and, you
know, don't have time to dofurther investigation until it
becomes more urgent to do so.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (24:40):
Yeah.
And those are two very differentthings.
Your health, you have so muchmore control over.
It's a choice.
Am I gonna make time to go tothe gym?
Am I gonna take time to go for ahike?
But the education part so muchof it is out of your control By
design.
You're supposed to allow yourchild to go off to school and
learn how to be an independenthuman, but you want them to do
(25:02):
that in a healthy environment.
And that can be really harddefined in today's education
system in America.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (25:08):
Yeah.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
He's fairly self-motivated, sohomeschool may be an option when
he's a teenager, but he reallyneeds the social aspect of life
deeply, deeply, deeply.
So I'm hesitant to even do that,and I, um, I don't know that we
as his parents can him dojustice with overseeing his
(25:32):
education from a homeschoolingperspective.
Um.
It's easier to go into a PTAmeeting as a tiger mom than it
is to manage your own child'scurriculum.
rebecca_1_03-04-202 (25:46):
Definitely.
It's interesting because theseconversations are so aligned
with the conversations we hadwhen you were originally
thinking about moving to Spain.
It's all the same questions.
I mean,'cause Alaska really iskind of like a whole nother
country when you think about it.
You're just ex padding again.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (26:03):
That's true.
That's very true.
In fact, Alaska is so much likeanother country that,, when I
was growing up, you could go toEurope with an Alaska.
Alaska flag on and, and or the,the state on your sewn onto your
backpack.
And they would not recognize youas an American citizen because
(26:23):
like you say, you're fromAlaska.
Oh, wow.
And they don't even think thatyou are from the US because
Alaska is like, you know, on themap, it doesn't look like it's
even part of the us.
Right.
Yeah.
And the culture here is, is, isa bit different.
I will say.
I am stunned.
I am stunned by how niceeverybody is up here.
(26:47):
I have people open doors for me.
I'm not pregnant and they'reopening doors for me.
That was the only time, onlytime I ever had somebody open
doors for me was when I waslike, so, so incredibly pregnant
that they were concerned for mywellbeing.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (27:01):
You were living in Seattle where
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (27:03):
yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025 (27:04):
Femininity means let me do everything for
myself.
Don't you dare suggest that Imight be a delicate flower, and
all the men are afraid of yougetting really angry at them for
considering you as a delicateflower.
So I'm not entirely surprised tohear that.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (27:17):
Yeah.
But it's not just men though.
It's men and women.
Like people open doors for eachother here, which is super cool.
It's like, hi human, I see you,I recognize you.
Here, let me do this.
And, and like engaging in, inthe public, in transactional
situations, whatever people arechatty, they're, they're
friendly.
And is February in Alaska, likegrowing up, this is the worst of
(27:44):
the worst months, where in mymemory, people were the most
contracted, the most.
Angry the most.
Like, let's just get throughthis hell and get it over with.
Now I say that this winter hasbeen way, way different.
There was hardly any snow uphere this winter.
The first week I was here, itwas, between zero and eight
(28:07):
degrees.
Then it rapidly warmed up toabove freezing.
So the little snow that was hereis largely gone now.
it's like.
42 degrees.
It's terrifyingly warm.
Like if you want to have a trueglobal warming experience, to
(28:29):
Alaska.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (28:31):
Well, the glaciers have receded to
almost nothing.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (28:33):
They have, I noticed that last summer
when I was here.
I, I dunno if we talked aboutit, but we went to a glacier
that I'd gone to as a child andthe glacier had gone all the way
up to the visitor center
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (28:44):
Yeah,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (28:45):
we had to take a boat to go see the
glacier.
Now because it's receded a mileand a half since the 1980s.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (28:53):
yeah.
Whether or not.
We caused it is not really thequestion anymore.
It has happened.
It is happening.
It is changing.
Now we have to decide what's,what do we do from here?
What's really striking me'causeI grew up in the military and so
I left places a lot and I almostalways fell in love with every
place I lived.
It's just my nature.
(29:15):
But as a result, I never reallyliked going back to places.
You know, they say you can't,you can't go back home.
And I always found that to betrue because the, the pillars
that you remember, thetouchstones that you remember
change, it's really nice to kindof flip that script and realize
that it can also change for thebetter.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (29:35):
Right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (29:36):
You were not thrilled the idea going
back to Alaska, so.
Some of the silver linings andrainbows, because I think you're
gonna need that.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (29:46):
Oh, a hundred percent.
Absolutely I do.
Absolutely I do.
Didn't really kind of evenentertain a woe is me.
This sucks mentality.
Because I mean, over the years Ihave come to see that this place
is different than when I wasgrowing up.
Um, global warming will work inmy favor because the, the bitter
(30:11):
cold of the winters were, wasreally, really horrible when I
was a teenager.
Um, the couple of weeks that itwas cold when I first arrived
did not impact me, but.
You know, it was two weeks ofit.
It wasn't months of it.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (30:28):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (30:28):
know, certainly change for the
duration.
I, I really need to be a herefull winner to see how it
impacts me.
Again, we have lots of familyhere that has moved into the
state that wasn't here when Iwas growing up, so that is a
wonderful thing.
And I have had, breaks from theconstant.
Learning, strategizing,logistically, navigating plan,
(30:50):
creating aspect of this trip tohave dinner with and aunts I
have a friend from high schoolwho's still here.
And she took me on stressrelieving weightlifting dates
when I first arrived that wecould, we could both benefit
from lifting some heavy shit.
(31:10):
That was wonderful.
She knows and likes Shane reallywell, and she's like, when you
come back, we'll do monthly gamenights.
And I'm like, that would be soperfect for us.
So we're coming into anenvironment that feels.
More supportive than as I wasgrowing up, and that's made all
of this a lot easier.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (31:31):
I think that's beautiful I know
you weren't sure when you wantedto share this news with our
listeners, but I'm really gladyou're sharing.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (31:37):
answer was never, I never wanted to
talk about this.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (31:42):
But you know, it's such a common
thing to have happen.
Either you find thatcircumstances say you can't be
an expat anymore, or you justemotionally decide, I don't want
to be an expat anymore.
So I think it's.
Kind of a, a lovely gift thatyou're giving to me and to the
(32:02):
other listeners of, okay, what'sthe unex padding journey going
to look like
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (32:08):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (32:10):
and what is the reintegration start
to feel like?
So thanks for taking us fullcircle.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (32:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean the majority of peoplewho expatriate do end up
returning to their home country
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (32:26):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04- (32:27):
worldwide.
Like
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (32:28):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04- (32:29):
worldwide, right?
Like how many Mexicans come tothe US to work and then they go
home.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (32:33):
Yeah.
And for so many reasons.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (32:36):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (32:37):
But you have to be open to that
happening because you know, asthey say in, well, as the Smart
Buddhist meditation, Zen, peoplesay resistance is where pain
comes from, right?
You have to roll with it.
la-chingona_1_03-04 (32:52):
Absolutely.
And that's really just kind ofan important quality to, to
accrue to live life is to beable to be fluid and navigate
things without.
To hold, to hold things in yourhands softly and not grip them
too tightly.
(33:14):
I used to be part of a, uh,acrobatic troop when I lived in
San Diego and the director.
Had like list he was creatingcalled 10 Rules of the Circus
and they have been so incrediblyhelpful throughout my life.
(33:36):
rule number one is don't panic.
It is literally a lifesavingrule when you are holding people
up in the air by one hand beingtossed across a room, doing
insane balancing acts, superimportant no matter what.
Do not panic.
And that's one that I havereally deeply integrated into
how I approach everything inlife.
Because the minute we panic, westop being able to think.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (33:59):
Yeah.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (34:00):
It's from a place of reaction and
panic that we make some of theworst mistakes,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:07):
I talk about that in my decide
course where when we're afraidor uncertain and things are
unfamiliar, we choose thedefault choice,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025 (34:16):
right.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (34:17):
does not mean it's the right choice.
The choice, we wanted a healthychoice.
It's just, it feels like thesafe, easy choice in the moment.
Not a place we wanna be makingdecisions from.
la-chingona_1_03-04- (34:27):
Absolutely not.
Yeah.
You need a clear head and inorder to have a clear head, you
cannot panic.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (34:33):
Yeah,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (34:33):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:35):
but you also touched on the idea of
holding things lightly, so I'mguessing that's one of the
circus rules too.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (34:40):
No, no, not at all.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:42):
No.
Oh, well then they should, Ithink they should integrate
that.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (34:45):
Hold things lightly.
No.
When you've got, when you are a,like a base at the bottom and
you're holding somebody up inthe air, you, you really don't
wanna hold them lightly.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (34:54):
Go ahead and cut off that
circulation.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (34:57):
you wanna have a good firm grip on
somebody, even if you're digginginto their hip bones, like it's,
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:04):
I do love that concept of holding
things lightly, though for me,that touches on the serenity
prayer
la-chingona_1_03-04-202 (35:09):
Mm-hmm.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:09):
the things we can control and the
things we cannot.
I am just this week crossing myone year anniversary living in,
in France.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (35:18):
Oh
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:19):
Is the big thing, but that is the
big thing it's teaching me ishow to hold on a little bit more
loosely.
I hate every minute of it.
Do not get me wrong today when Ifound out that my paperwork
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (35:35):
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold on.
You hate every minute of what?
I know it's not living inFrance.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:42):
I love living here, but learning
to hold on loosely is not in mynature.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (35:48):
okay.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (35:49):
And when you find out that you paid
money to send somethingcertified to the French
government, and then you got theproof that it was received, and
nonetheless, you stand at thatwindow going, well, it's just
not in the system.
You're gonna have to submit itand wait two months again, like
every.
Fiber of my being wants to throwa tantrum, but
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (36:12):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (36:13):
it won't do any good.
So I'm having to learn what Ican control and what I can't,
and breathe through it and it,it is a real, conscious act for
me.
I am still learning it.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (36:26):
Yeah, and it may be something that you
never fully accept because youknow it can be different and
better.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (36:34):
Well that's true, but knowing
something should be betterdoesn't mean that anything is
going to change.
Boy, that's thinking thatapplies to so many things.
Yes.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (36:47):
Yes.
Yes it does.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (36:48):
My mom and I have been talking
about that a lot.
She was able to come out andvisit me in Vegas while I was
there.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_10 (36:54):
Oh, nice.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19045 (36:55):
With everything that's happening in
the world we really talk a lotabout the serenity prayer.
What can you control and whatcan't you?
And the idea of the sphere ofinfluence.
Most things are outside of mysphere of influence,
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1004 (37:08):
A hundred percent.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (37:09):
but I can choose how I treat my
neighbors and my friends and myclients, and myself and my
family.
And while they are smallereffects, if we all take care of
those things, we will all bebetter together.
la-chingona_1_03-04 (37:28):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
And I think those interpersonalrelationships.
Are going to be absolutelyessential in the future.
You know, they were soincredibly difficult to
cultivate in Seattle and I.
I am really, really glad thatthat's not my home state and
(37:51):
that's not where I'm returningto.
Gosh, I'm so glad.
Never, never, never, peoplenever in my life did I think I
would ever say, thank goodnessI'm going back to Alaska and not
Seattle, because it took me like20 years to overcome the trauma
of growing up in this Godforsaken state and.
(38:13):
You know, 25 years to realizethat at least for me, Seattle
had degraded into a completelyunlivable, super expensive
hellhole.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (38:24):
Never say never you, you just
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (38:27):
seen Never say never.
Life can change and shift inways completely.
Unimaginable and,, you couldstep into a new reality that you
never thought was possible.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (38:43):
And not only that you never thought
was possible, but it can besomething that you.
I would've sworn up and downwould be a nightmare.
And it turns out to be the bestthing that ever happened.
My divorce was like that.
That was one of the darkestperiods of my life, I didn't see
how I would ever dig myself outof that.
Emotional well.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (39:02):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:03):
And here I am in a marriage that is
straight out of a fairytale thatnobody would believe if I wrote
it in a fairytale, living inParis.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (39:11):
Yeah.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:12):
I think if I were gonna leave our
listeners with something today,it really would be whatever
you're going through, whateverleft turn life just handed you.
It may feel dark and it may feelheavy, but it may turn out to be
the most wonderful change.
(39:32):
Keep taking one step forwardthrough the darkness if that's
where you're at, because thereis light at the end of it, I
guarantee it.
As long as you keep taking onestep forward every day.
la-chingona_1_03-04 (39:42):
Absolutely.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:44):
And don't hesitate to reach out to
us guys because we're here tosupport you through all of these
ridiculous life changes.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (39:52):
Well, should we, uh, wrap up with
that, Rebecca?
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (39:56):
I think that's a pretty nice place
to leave it.
And Aimee, I'm really glad thatyou shared that with all of us
because it is part of thejourney.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_100 (40:04):
It is, it is.
I mean, there's so much I couldshare, but, um, one, it's not my
story to tell.
And, and two, yeah, privatethings need to say private, but.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_190456 (40:18):
We that unfold as you choose for
it.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1 (40:22):
And, uh, yes, yes, I'm sure.
I'm sure additional details willcome out in the future, but for
now, that's all I'm willing tosay.
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_1904 (40:31):
Thank you for joining us dear
listeners today.
Um, until the next time.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_1004 (40:37):
I don't, what do I even say?
Do I say goodbye?
Do I say o wago?
What do I even say?
rebecca_1_03-04-2025_19 (40:44):
Mexican and you guys are practicing your
Spanish, we can.
la-chingona_1_03-04-2025_ (40:49):
Okay.
We hope you enjoyed this episodeof Bonjola.
If you did, the best thing youcan do is share it with another
person brave enough to moveabroad.
See you next time!
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