October 13, 2024 • 30 mins
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to leave a bustling corporate career and find peace in a new land? Meet Erika Weier, an inspiring American expat who traded the hectic life of Chicago's retail management for the tranquil beauty of Tulum, Mexico. In our latest episode, Erika shares her journey of embracing a slower, more meaningful lifestyle, deeply rooted in her Mexican American heritage. She talks about the unexpected joys and challenges of her new life, including her initial plans to open a gym and her eventual evolution into a successful fitness instructor and community organizer.
Erika’s passion for fitness isn’t just about exercise; it's about fostering community and encouraging others to live healthier lives. As we discuss her transition from teaching aqua fitness classes to organizing transformative community events, Erika offers insights into the tools that have empowered her journey. From fitness apps to wearable technology, she shares practical advice for anyone looking to make positive lifestyle changes—no matter where they reside. Listen in as she emphasizes the importance of movement and the small steps that can lead to big changes.
The power of community shines through as Erika details her involvement in establishing a food bank and organizing Tacos and Toys, initiatives that have touched many lives. With gratitude to Erika and our co-host Sherry Bosse, we reflect on the connections and shared stories that enrich the expat experience. This episode is a testament to the idea that home is not just a place; it's a collection of memories and relationships that span the globe. Join us as we explore these global connections and the heartwarming stories that remind us of the power of community building.
We are incredibly thankful for engagement and stories from our listeners, who have found their own sense of 'home' across the globe. Stay tuned as we continue to share the wisdom and wanderlust of those who've charted their unique international courses. We'd love to hear your comments and questions. Email them to expatslikeus@gmail.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Seeing the community building and the relationships
between myself and new peopleand the other people who meet
people through Tacos and Toysand the food bank etc.
It's the branches that reachout has been the best thing.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome to Expats Like Us exploring the world of
US expat life in Mexico.
In each episode we'll meet newpeople and hear their personal
stories.
We'll also learn more about theexpat life and get a few tips
on everything from making yourmove to settling in and living
your dream.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Expats Like Us.
(00:44):
I'm Bob Busse and today I'msharing hosting duties with my
wife, sherry.
One of the recurring themes onExpats Like Us is finding your
purpose in your new home.
Once you get past all the basictasks involved in an
international move things likefurnishing your home, learning
how to pay your bills, gettingresidency, getting a driver's
license and so on it's time tosettle into a routine.
(01:06):
Many of us discover that allthose things that we love to do
on vacation are still fun, butwe just can't be on vacation
every day.
In short, we need to find somesort of purpose in life.
Today we're thrilled to betalking with Erica Weir.
Erica is a friend and neighborwho has done exceptionally well
in finding her purpose in expatlife.
Today we're thrilled to betalking with Erica Weir.
Erica is a friend and neighborwho has done exceptionally well
(01:27):
in finding her purpose in expatlife.
She's a fitness instructor, acoach.
She coordinates an annualholiday event which provides a
meal and toys for hundreds ofchildren in the area and has
helped create a food bank thathelps families in need in the
Tulum area.
Thank you for being with ustoday, erica.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Thanks for having me.
So, erica, we're so excited tohear your story, but let's start
out and just tell us whereyou're from originally.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah, originally I was born in Southern California
Glendale and lived there, butmost recently my husband and I
moved here from Chicago.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Okay, and so tell us what life was like for you
before your move and what ledyou to Mexico.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
I think I probably had the stereotypical American
life of 40 plus hours longcommutes, a lot of work in
corporate America, kind of thehustle, the rat race, I guess,
for lack of a better term.
So that was my typical life.
I spent a career in retail,retail management, and then just
(02:33):
felt like we were ready for achange and, most importantly,
todd was ahead of me in thatdecision process.
But I took a little while toconvince, be convinced that it
was time for me.
But eventually I kind ofthought he might be on to
something and we came to abetter agreement.
His first goal was like Fiji,let's go to Fiji, we'll retire
(02:54):
in Fiji.
And it just seemed so obscureand so far-fetched and so
unrealistic.
But as the years went on and hekept saying let's go to Fiji, I
kind of thought, well, itdoesn't have to be, fiji Could
be somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And, by the way, what language do they speak in Fiji?
Do we even know?
I?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
don't know that answer.
Um, yeah, that's a really goodquestion.
Uh, so exactly, I thought Ineeded something a little more
realistic and Mexico seemed likerealistic for me.
Um, as my parents are MexicanAmerican, it came kind of felt
like coming home culturally orunderstood it.
Um grew up around the languageand things, so it felt like we
could find a place in Mexicothat would make sense for us.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Okay, and so did you come with a plan for how you
were going to spend your timeand what were your expectations
of your life in Mexico and whatwere your expectations of your
life in Mexico?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
The plan was to slow down and find just a slower pace
of life where we could spendmore time together and in that
corporate rat race I was in, Itraveled for the majority of our
relationship, which was liketogether, about 10 years before
coming here.
So we I traveled two to three,even four nights a week.
So slowing down and actuallybeing together was part of the
purpose and part of my plan.
(04:14):
I think at the time, lookingback, we were thinking of
opening a gym or a fitnessstudio.
That has been part of my lifefor a long time.
But then coming here and seeingthat that would require more
work than I was willing to putin I guess, realizing that we
(04:35):
don't necessarily need to do itthat way.
Um, as far as being at the gymevery day of the week and
teaching all the classes andopening in case someone doesn't
teach, or that kind of stuff, wethought maybe I could do it a
different way.
Um, so we I've stayed kind ofwith the plan, but it evolved a
little bit Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Okay, we're back with Erica Weir.
Erica, I think the first timewe met was around four or five
years ago, when you were leadingan exercise class in the pool
in our community.
How has your interest inexercise and nutrition evolved
since your move here?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, it probably was five years ago.
I just celebrated five yearsthis February teaching aqua fit
here in Akamal and it's evolvedyet stayed the same.
I started with the one classthree days a week here,
answering a Facebook ad thatsomeone was looking for an
(05:41):
instructor.
And, believe it or not, I wasin the States at the time that I
read the Facebook ad and I waslike I'm not going to answer
that, I'm not going to say thatI can do that, knowing I could
do it, but do I want to do it?
You know that kind of thingAnyway.
So I finally just said messageme or DM me if you'd like to
know more, but I'd be happy toteach the class.
(06:01):
And that's where we met andI've been teaching that class
ever since.
And then I picked up a class inTulum.
So I do a class in Tulum firstMonday, wednesdays and Fridays
and then drive here to Akamaland teach just directly after.
So that evolved just in kind ofdoubling the class and handling
(06:23):
the clientele 25 minutes south,but overall my fitness and kind
of nutrition.
Passion has been part of mylife and passion has been part
of my life.
My first certifications offitness became in 2007, on a
desire that I liked it, but Iwas looking for a second source
(06:45):
of income.
I'd gone through a divorce andthought like there's more bills
than I have income.
And what can I?
How can I make money doingsomething I like?
So I got into fitness andteaching fitness.
At that point I knew I alreadyliked it.
But if I got into fitness andum teaching fitness, at that
point I knew I already liked it.
But if I was at the gym, can Ibe paid to go to the gym and
help others, kind of thing?
Um, and it's evolved from thatpoint where I taught in in
(07:08):
structured gyms and um largegroup fitness classes, big
varieties from Zumba and Piosand all kinds of different
weight classes, step aerobicsback in the day um to just
really right now I teach aquafitness um and do a little bit
of personal training as well.
Um, depending on the clientsand what kind of goals they have
(07:31):
, whether I meet them at theirhouse or my house at the gym or
just kind of get them started.
A lot of my clients here don'thave much experience in fitness
and want to kind of put theirfoot in and have more time on
their hands to be active andlooking for ways to do that
safely.
So I'll help them with that,okay.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Very good.
So there's obvious benefits toexercise and eating a healthy
diet, but that is sometimeseasier said than done.
What's one piece of advice youwould give someone who wants to
make a change?
Maybe someone who had asedentary job before they
retired and moved here?
Or even if they still live backin the States but had a
sedentary job and they ate a lotof fast food because of their
(08:15):
crazy work schedules, but nowthey have more free time and
they want to make a few changes.
What's a piece of advice youwould give them.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I think you said it.
I think it's always easier saidthan done.
Right Like it takes effort.
My piece of advice is to getmoving in some capacity.
I would say it's the singlehealthiest thing any human could
do.
So be more mobile.
My saying goes back to.
(08:43):
It reminds me of your shirtscience, but physics.
A body in motion stays inmotion.
So start moving, get moving,and it's amazing how that
momentum can pick up andcontinue.
If you take it to the nutritionside and someone who's
interested in fat loss or weightloss in particular, I would I
(09:03):
would say a caloric deficit isprobably the single most
important thing.
So looking at what you'reeating and and attacking it on a
caloric deficit, but foranybody, blanket statement I'd
say get moving.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Okay, it seems like we're all tethered to our phones
maybe a little too much already, but there are.
Are there any apps you mightrecommend or that you use to for
people to help track theirprogress or lifestyle changes?
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, um, we are.
I'm definitely tethered to thephone, um, and I use it for
everything I do, including thenutrition and fitness businesses
that I work.
Favorite apps I, I guess, kindof say three things Nutrition
(09:47):
wise, something that again canhelp you get into that caloric
deficit or track and those arelose.
It's my fitness pals, um, Imean, there's countless ones at
various costs help you log yourfood and track how much you're
consuming.
It can be really eye-openingand it's easy to do.
And then a second one I'd say,anything fitness-wise.
There's so much fitness contentout there, whether it's YouTube
(10:10):
or different apps.
Different personal trainershave apps and things.
Peloton has something for $10that you can sign up and just
have a plethora of classes atyour fingertips, which is great
for any at-home fitness typeprograms or to supplement
something you're already doing.
But it's a good way to get ahuge variety of content at a
(10:34):
very, very low cost to help youstay motivated and keep moving.
And then my last third thingI'd say is whether it's an app.
I use Fitbit, so it's an app,but something to count your
steps and count that mobility.
I mean, an old pedometer usedto be and could do the trick too
, but something I know the AppleWatch or the Garmin et cetera
(10:56):
have all that kind of thing too.
But that way you just see, andyou can kind of continue to push
that step, count on mobility alittle more and more each day or
week.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I personally wear a Fitbit, and what I find it's
handy with is if I'm close to mygoal for the day, but I'm not
there.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I can see that, and then I can go out and walk a
little more and reach that goal.
Exactly I think the same thing.
Um, it can get my personality,can get me a little obsessive
and I think I gotta just stayreeled in, but it's a good
guidance.
It really helps, um help youset the targets and get there to
your point Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Yeah Well, fitness is obviously a passion for you,
and you're a good motivator forthose of us that are connected,
but I know another thing thatyou're really passionate about
is tacos and toys, yeah.
So tell us what that is and howdid that all come about?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Oh, wow, that actually came about before the
fitness part of my life here.
So it started in the first oneof tacos and toys was in
December of 2018.
And I started fitness and inthat February of 19.
So just a short little bitafter.
But, um, you know, we wereliving here for just a few short
(12:10):
months and I was trying.
My big goal was to assimilateand be part of the community, um
, and I just felt that they'reon my heart, that I wanted to
bring the community together tocelebrate Christmas, and I
thought, well, let's do it.
We'll have tacos and toys and aSanta and it'll be great.
(12:32):
And that was.
That was the how the visionstarted, um, and my husband said
, well, how are you going to dothat and where are you going to
do that and who's going to payfor it?
So he started asking a lot ofthe why questions or how, and I
just had the idea, um.
So I found a restaurant um,tacos Kuka con right there off
of Kuka con um avenue in Tulum,and it's been a location.
(12:56):
Now this will be year seven.
It's been the same location forall seven years.
So Salvador and his team cookall the tacos, all fresh, and
everyone eats and enjoys theirdelicious tacos and we have toys
and it's evolved in the senselike the first year we had like
a thousand tacos and maybe noteven maybe 800 tacos I'd have to
look back and like 500 toys andnow it's evolved to 35, 3,700
(13:22):
tacos and about 1500 plus toys.
We close the streets and we getentertainment and clowns and
candy and it just has a have areally big party for Christmas
in the community and it's reallybeen a blessing to have to be
able to see that grow and thecommunity come together and and
look forward to it.
I'll see I mean it's in myneighborhood where I walk and
(13:46):
get my steps in and I see peopleand they're like it's coming up
, it's coming up.
Yes, stay tuned you know, sothey look forward to it and it's
it's a really nice time.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
So that is a big event.
I mean 1500 toys, 1500 toys howmany?
Tacos 3,700.
Oh my gosh, yeah.
So how do you go about raisingmoney for something of that
scale and how many volunteers?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
It's not just just you?
I know you're organized, it'sdefinitely not just me.
Yeah, how many volunteers arepart of this Throughout the
whole process and the day of Imean I would say 50 to 60
volunteers and the money.
Really the event, like we'reanticipating the event of the
tacos and the toys and the clownand the candy and Santa, and we
(14:35):
have face painters, a coloringstation, et cetera, et cetera.
So it's literally just a bigthree-hour party and tacos cost
about $22,000 US dollars.
And one of the biggest expenseson there that we haven't yet
talked about is we give a foodbag, like a blessing of dry
(14:55):
goods, basically thatincorporated through the food
bank that we also work with, butwe then get to go home and have
that blessing for Christmasweek really.
So they do enjoy the meal withall of us but then get to go
home as well.
So we raise money through acouple fundraisers throughout
(15:17):
the year through a couple offundraisers throughout the year.
We host three or fourfundraisers throughout the year,
um, which is fabulous becauseit brings the community together
and gets um people to know andlearn about tacos and toys and
what we do and other businessesinvolved, um, and then we just
do the hard fundraising, youknow, straight up, pleading help
(15:37):
us raise money, and then we doa silent auction.
So we have great donations forthe silent auction, whether
that's a stay in someone's houseor a nice piece of art.
We've had like a two-night stayin El Cuyo, some really nice
prices, where people can bid onsilent auctions, and that's in
(15:58):
December, just before Tacos andToys, so we'll get that last
push of money right before that.
So it takes a lot of planningand organizing from various
sources, but seems to be workingon year seven and here we go
and you're working on thispretty much year-round.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I mean there's a big push towards the end, when the
holidays are getting closer, butyou are working on this year
round, aren't you?
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yeah, I have a little list and contacts and people
who can kind of help plug in attheir right time, exactly when
we need them and how they canplug in.
So I'm making those contactsand saving those numbers and
going to visit back.
On that, bob, we're going totalk back again about that in
November.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
That kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
All year round, absolutely, but the big push for
Tacos and Toys is certainlylike September, august,
september and through December.
Okay, great.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
And then you mentioned the Tulum Food Bank,
so tell us about the need forthis and how that came about on
top of this event.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Yeah, tulum Food Bank really was not my idea and
probably something we wouldn'thave ever started, but COVID
happened.
So everybody knows COVID andknows that if you were here in
Mexico at the time, wecompletely shut down.
I mean I don't know, we weren'tnowhere else in the world, but
(17:20):
we were here and the tourism atotal halt.
I joke because we could ridefour wide down Beach Road on
bikes and no cars, no people,nothing.
I mean it was very quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet.
So when that happened therewere no tourists, which is the
whole business of Tulum and theeconomy and the local paycheck
(17:43):
comes from that.
So I had somebody reach out tome and say we need to help, we
really need to help.
These people have no work andthey have no food and we need to
help.
And I thought she says do you,can you and Todd run a food bank
?
She says do you, can you andTodd run a food bank?
And I thought, well, no, wecan't, we don't, we've never run
(18:05):
a food bank.
And I remember I was upstairsin my house at the time and um
answering the text and I put myphone down and I thought, well,
if we don't do it, who will?
And why just because we don'trun a food bank doesn't mean we
can't um, and we're capable,smart people that can figure
this out, is kind of what Ithought.
So I went to todd again andsaid we need to start a food
(18:25):
bank and the rest is historythere.
But simultaneously, as thathappened, um, there was like a
radio station advertisement thatsaid we're gathering food,
we're collecting food forvictims not victims, but COVID
and helping families.
And I thought, well, let mecall them and meet them and
(18:47):
maybe they can help me.
And that's kind of how westarted working with somebody
who can help me distribute andreally know that the town and
the people that needed it.
I think every town andcommunity has a need of
underserved or underprivilegedfamilies that go through tough
times and Tulum is no different.
(19:09):
But that's not necessarily forme to say, and I wasn't really
the pulse of knowing who thosepeople are or where to get to
the food, nor did I want that.
It's really not about me, but Iknow I have a knack for
connecting people and helpingtwo things happen.
So that's what I did.
(19:29):
We raised a lot of money and wealways have controlled the food
and the purchasing and all themoney.
And then, now that we know andtrust the distribution people,
we know that the food's goinginto the right place and I've
been on enough runs anddistributions to know that we're
right in there and that's howit worked.
(19:50):
So we still actually run thefood bank today, certainly not
on the scale of the days back inCOVID, but we run bi-monthly
two distributions a month ofabout 50 food bags.
So we help 50 families everytwo weeks in Tulum.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Okay, yeah, and I know we talked on an earlier
podcast.
There was a similar event or afood distribution here in Akamal
and you got that rolling.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah, yeah, it's weird.
Um, what do I call it Big magicwhen things like that happen.
The connections, um fromAquafit that I had, um, a gal
called me to help here in Akamaland I was like, absolutely and
same kind of thing.
She could distribute it, theyhad the families, but you know
who could do the shopping, whocould do the buying, who could
organize the money?
(20:39):
Um, so same same thing.
And um, we had that greatpartnership and still do.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
So how would someone, uh, who's interested in all
this, get involved with eithertacos and toys or the Tulum food
bank?
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Yeah, Um well, I guess reach out to me directly,
that's certainly easy.
But we also are on social, youknow Facebook and Instagram on
Tacos and Toys or Tulum FoodSupport.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Okay, oh, awesome.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Okay, we're back with Erica Weir, who's a fitness
instructor and coordinator ofthe Tulum Food Bank and Tacos
for Toys.
Tell us, Erica, what does thefuture look like for both of
these programs?
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Wow, the crystal ball , huh, well, I see them
continuing.
We've been steady funding-wiseas far as the Tulum food bank,
so that feels really good to tomaintain that, I mean maintain
(21:55):
those 50 bags every two weeksand the distribution there.
I'm sure we'll see how thatgoes.
But the tacos and toys I seegrowing and staying in the same.
As far as the event, if anyonehas been there really can't go
toys not, you know, or latedonations, or we're.
We're able to help, kind of someother things that the church,
(22:32):
that, um, we use to distributethrough the food bank.
That's how we got that going.
We've been two years buyingpizzas for their christmas party
, um, and they don't really dotoys, but we bought the food
which aligns exactly with whatwe do.
So we're able to help anothersmall Christmas party in Tulum
and I don't think there's anyoverlap, I don't think that even
(22:54):
if there were oh well, right,but I don't think it's the same
kids I think it's able to kindof feel that Christmas spirit in
two different groups.
We do the same with Akumal andcoming through Gillies.
We bring toys through thatevery year and set toys aside to
bring that.
Ours is always before Gillies.
Gillies is on the 24th andwe're on the 9th.
Well, our date changes, butwe're the Thursday before
(23:16):
Christmas Eve, so that datechanges, but it's always before.
So we kind of set that aside sowe're able to grow kind of more
on satellite things in thatcapacity.
Um.
And then in the food bank Ialready kind of mentioned we
just additional funds andcontinuing to do that through Um
.
So I see them in their futureum asking me in December, in
(23:41):
January, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm,tired, tired.
But like I mentioned earlier,I've always been in retail.
So this time of year has alwaysbeen busy for me and I don't
know how I found or chose orfell on my lap, but the same
thing, I'm very busy this timeof year.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Well, clearly your work benefits a lot of children
and a lot of families in thisarea, not just at Christmas, but
year round.
But what do you personally getout of all the hard work you put
in?
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Yeah, I didn't know it would come.
I didn't know what I would getout of it and nor was I looking
for that.
But the truth is I say it whenwe have these fundraisers and I
say it about this it's not aboutthe tacos, it's not about the
toys, it's about buildingcommunity and I love seeing that
(24:34):
at the event, but I see itthroughout the year.
So now I've built my communitythrough Aquafit and through the
nutrition and tacos and toys.
All these are, like you said,intertwined and I really enjoy
that and that makes my hearthappy.
So that's what I get out of itseeing the community building
(24:56):
and the relationships betweenmyself and new people and the
other people who meet peoplethrough tacos and toys and the
food bank, et cetera, and theother people who meet people
through tacos and toys and thefood bank, et cetera.
It's the branches that reachout.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
It's been the best thing, so kind of transitioning
here.
So one of the little thingsthat we started with expats like
us is a game that we call QuePadre, que Malo.
Okay, so it's just.
Basically it started out withlike a fun way for us to discuss
, you know, our lives in.
Mexico.
But we're going to ask you forone thing that you think is
(25:41):
really cool about life in Mexico.
That's your Que Padre.
And then what's somethingthat's maybe been hard to get
used to, or you kind of missfrom the States?
You know it's not here inMexico.
That would be your que malo.
So let's start.
What's your que padre?
Erica Weir, which is so cool.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Wow, wow, what is so cool?
Everything there's so is socool, everything there's so much
so cool.
I love the street food, thestreet tacos and the margaritas
(26:18):
Right, the social Cultural piece, and I just Love the ease
cultural piece and I just lovethe ease.
Not everything's easy, but asthe K-Malo's coming, but the.
I guess, like I said, the paceand the ease, the mañana Relax,
(26:44):
nothing's in a big hurry, sothat's a really good thing for
me.
Yeah, especially after the ratrace, relax, it's more laid back
.
Yeah, nothing's in a big hurry,so that's a really good thing
for me.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, especially after the rat race.
Right, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
And I don't think patience was ever a strength of
mine, so I brought that.
This lesson has brought that tome and it's been really nice to
settle into that.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Okay, and so what's the K-Malo?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Oh man, I guess the days that it just feels like
nothing's working um orsomething else broke Right.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Um.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I mean some of that's homeownership in general, I
think, but it seems likehomeownership in Mexico is is a
whole different a wholedifferent animal.
So I say K-Malo to that I don'tknow, a leak, the garage, any
electrical air conditioning, andit always seems to break when
(27:35):
you have the guest in there oryou have visitors or you're
really busy with other things.
That it just doesn't seem.
So those are the K-Malos and mybiggest K-Malo, you know it,
there's no Target.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
I mean, I love a Target.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
A girl's got to shop A girl's got to shop.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
When I travel, the time difference helps me.
I'm also an early morningperson, but I go visit family in
LA so I have two hours, orsometimes three, depending on
our time zone.
So I'm up very early in LA timeand I am at Target waiting for
them to open those doors at 8am.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I know, I think we both take each other pictures of
our Target.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Whenever we've gone back to the States, we've always
gone to a Target.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Exactly, exactly.
I mean, I like Target when Ilived there, but I really love
Target now.
There's just nothing like it.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
All right, I think that's all we have for you.
Well, thanks so much.
Thank you, erica Weir, fortaking time from your extremely
busy schedule.
I should mention she came overhere to do this seconds after
getting done with Aquafit.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Wet hair and all.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
But thank you for coming and sharing your story
with us today.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Yeah, I appreciate you guys having me Okay, great
opportunity.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Thanks.
In each episode of Expats LikeUs, we're going to teach you a
new Mexican slang word.
This is something you may notfind in your phrasebook or your
online Spanish class or yourSpanish app or wherever you're
learning your Spanish.
Instead, this is a term usedprimarily by Mexican Spanish
speakers.
Today's word is Orale Orale.
(29:15):
I think I know what that onemeans.
I hear that a lot.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Yes, it's basically in agreeance with.
Yes, let's go, sounds good.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Okay, I've always thought of it as cool.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Cool is another way to use it Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Very good Orale.
Thank you, erica Kowalski fromMi Vida Margarita.
We'd love to hear your thoughtson today's topic.
Just look up Expats Like Us onFacebook or send us an email at
expatslikeus at gmailcom.
You can also see the videoversion of today's discussion
(29:51):
and all of our discussions onour YouTube page.
Follow, like, subscribe andleave us a review.
Thank you to today's guest,erica Weir.
Thanks also to my co-host,sherry Bussey, and thanks to our
co-producers from Mi VidaMargarita.
(30:11):
Most of all, thank you fortuning in to Expats Like Us and
thank you for interacting withus on social media.
Next time we'll bring you morefirsthand information about your
international move.
Until then, remember, our homesare not defined by geography or
one particular location, but bymemories, events, people and
places that span the globe.
Seeing the community building and the relationships
between myself and new peopleand the other people who meet
people through Tacos and Toysand the food bank etc.
It's the branches that reachout has been the best thing.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome to Expats Like Us exploring the world of
US expat life in Mexico.
In each episode we'll meet newpeople and hear their personal
stories.
We'll also learn more about theexpat life and get a few tips
on everything from making yourmove to settling in and living
your dream.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Expats Like Us.
(00:44):
I'm Bob Busse and today I'msharing hosting duties with my
wife, sherry.
One of the recurring themes onExpats Like Us is finding your
purpose in your new home.
Once you get past all the basictasks involved in an
international move things likefurnishing your home, learning
how to pay your bills, gettingresidency, getting a driver's
license and so on it's time tosettle into a routine.
(01:06):
Many of us discover that allthose things that we love to do
on vacation are still fun, butwe just can't be on vacation
every day.
In short, we need to find somesort of purpose in life.
Today we're thrilled to betalking with Erica Weir.
Erica is a friend and neighborwho has done exceptionally well
in finding her purpose in expatlife.
Today we're thrilled to betalking with Erica Weir.
Erica is a friend and neighborwho has done exceptionally well
(01:27):
in finding her purpose in expatlife.
She's a fitness instructor, acoach.
She coordinates an annualholiday event which provides a
meal and toys for hundreds ofchildren in the area and has
helped create a food bank thathelps families in need in the
Tulum area.
Thank you for being with ustoday, erica.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Thanks for having me.
So, erica, we're so excited tohear your story, but let's start
out and just tell us whereyou're from originally.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah, originally I was born in Southern California
Glendale and lived there, butmost recently my husband and I
moved here from Chicago.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Okay, and so tell us what life was like for you
before your move and what ledyou to Mexico.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
I think I probably had the stereotypical American
life of 40 plus hours longcommutes, a lot of work in
corporate America, kind of thehustle, the rat race, I guess,
for lack of a better term.
So that was my typical life.
I spent a career in retail,retail management, and then just
(02:33):
felt like we were ready for achange and, most importantly,
todd was ahead of me in thatdecision process.
But I took a little while toconvince, be convinced that it
was time for me.
But eventually I kind ofthought he might be on to
something and we came to abetter agreement.
His first goal was like Fiji,let's go to Fiji, we'll retire
(02:54):
in Fiji.
And it just seemed so obscureand so far-fetched and so
unrealistic.
But as the years went on and hekept saying let's go to Fiji, I
kind of thought, well, itdoesn't have to be, fiji Could
be somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And, by the way, what language do they speak in Fiji?
Do we even know?
I?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
don't know that answer.
Um, yeah, that's a really goodquestion.
Uh, so exactly, I thought Ineeded something a little more
realistic and Mexico seemed likerealistic for me.
Um, as my parents are MexicanAmerican, it came kind of felt
like coming home culturally orunderstood it.
Um grew up around the languageand things, so it felt like we
could find a place in Mexicothat would make sense for us.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Okay, and so did you come with a plan for how you
were going to spend your timeand what were your expectations
of your life in Mexico and whatwere your expectations of your
life in Mexico?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
The plan was to slow down and find just a slower pace
of life where we could spendmore time together and in that
corporate rat race I was in, Itraveled for the majority of our
relationship, which was liketogether, about 10 years before
coming here.
So we I traveled two to three,even four nights a week.
So slowing down and actuallybeing together was part of the
purpose and part of my plan.
(04:14):
I think at the time, lookingback, we were thinking of
opening a gym or a fitnessstudio.
That has been part of my lifefor a long time.
But then coming here and seeingthat that would require more
work than I was willing to putin I guess, realizing that we
(04:35):
don't necessarily need to do itthat way.
Um, as far as being at the gymevery day of the week and
teaching all the classes andopening in case someone doesn't
teach, or that kind of stuff, wethought maybe I could do it a
different way.
Um, so we I've stayed kind ofwith the plan, but it evolved a
little bit Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Okay, we're back with Erica Weir.
Erica, I think the first timewe met was around four or five
years ago, when you were leadingan exercise class in the pool
in our community.
How has your interest inexercise and nutrition evolved
since your move here?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, it probably was five years ago.
I just celebrated five yearsthis February teaching aqua fit
here in Akamal and it's evolvedyet stayed the same.
I started with the one classthree days a week here,
answering a Facebook ad thatsomeone was looking for an
(05:41):
instructor.
And, believe it or not, I wasin the States at the time that I
read the Facebook ad and I waslike I'm not going to answer
that, I'm not going to say thatI can do that, knowing I could
do it, but do I want to do it?
You know that kind of thingAnyway.
So I finally just said messageme or DM me if you'd like to
know more, but I'd be happy toteach the class.
(06:01):
And that's where we met andI've been teaching that class
ever since.
And then I picked up a class inTulum.
So I do a class in Tulum firstMonday, wednesdays and Fridays
and then drive here to Akamaland teach just directly after.
So that evolved just in kind ofdoubling the class and handling
(06:23):
the clientele 25 minutes south,but overall my fitness and kind
of nutrition.
Passion has been part of mylife and passion has been part
of my life.
My first certifications offitness became in 2007, on a
desire that I liked it, but Iwas looking for a second source
(06:45):
of income.
I'd gone through a divorce andthought like there's more bills
than I have income.
And what can I?
How can I make money doingsomething I like?
So I got into fitness andteaching fitness.
At that point I knew I alreadyliked it.
But if I got into fitness andum teaching fitness, at that
point I knew I already liked it.
But if I was at the gym, can Ibe paid to go to the gym and
help others, kind of thing?
Um, and it's evolved from thatpoint where I taught in in
(07:08):
structured gyms and um largegroup fitness classes, big
varieties from Zumba and Piosand all kinds of different
weight classes, step aerobicsback in the day um to just
really right now I teach aquafitness um and do a little bit
of personal training as well.
Um, depending on the clientsand what kind of goals they have
(07:31):
, whether I meet them at theirhouse or my house at the gym or
just kind of get them started.
A lot of my clients here don'thave much experience in fitness
and want to kind of put theirfoot in and have more time on
their hands to be active andlooking for ways to do that
safely.
So I'll help them with that,okay.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Very good.
So there's obvious benefits toexercise and eating a healthy
diet, but that is sometimeseasier said than done.
What's one piece of advice youwould give someone who wants to
make a change?
Maybe someone who had asedentary job before they
retired and moved here?
Or even if they still live backin the States but had a
sedentary job and they ate a lotof fast food because of their
(08:15):
crazy work schedules, but nowthey have more free time and
they want to make a few changes.
What's a piece of advice youwould give them.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I think you said it.
I think it's always easier saidthan done.
Right Like it takes effort.
My piece of advice is to getmoving in some capacity.
I would say it's the singlehealthiest thing any human could
do.
So be more mobile.
My saying goes back to.
(08:43):
It reminds me of your shirtscience, but physics.
A body in motion stays inmotion.
So start moving, get moving,and it's amazing how that
momentum can pick up andcontinue.
If you take it to the nutritionside and someone who's
interested in fat loss or weightloss in particular, I would I
(09:03):
would say a caloric deficit isprobably the single most
important thing.
So looking at what you'reeating and and attacking it on a
caloric deficit, but foranybody, blanket statement I'd
say get moving.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Okay, it seems like we're all tethered to our phones
maybe a little too much already, but there are.
Are there any apps you mightrecommend or that you use to for
people to help track theirprogress or lifestyle changes?
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, um, we are.
I'm definitely tethered to thephone, um, and I use it for
everything I do, including thenutrition and fitness businesses
that I work.
Favorite apps I, I guess, kindof say three things Nutrition
(09:47):
wise, something that again canhelp you get into that caloric
deficit or track and those arelose.
It's my fitness pals, um, Imean, there's countless ones at
various costs help you log yourfood and track how much you're
consuming.
It can be really eye-openingand it's easy to do.
And then a second one I'd say,anything fitness-wise.
There's so much fitness contentout there, whether it's YouTube
(10:10):
or different apps.
Different personal trainershave apps and things.
Peloton has something for $10that you can sign up and just
have a plethora of classes atyour fingertips, which is great
for any at-home fitness typeprograms or to supplement
something you're already doing.
But it's a good way to get ahuge variety of content at a
(10:34):
very, very low cost to help youstay motivated and keep moving.
And then my last third thingI'd say is whether it's an app.
I use Fitbit, so it's an app,but something to count your
steps and count that mobility.
I mean, an old pedometer usedto be and could do the trick too
, but something I know the AppleWatch or the Garmin et cetera
(10:56):
have all that kind of thing too.
But that way you just see, andyou can kind of continue to push
that step, count on mobility alittle more and more each day or
week.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I personally wear a Fitbit, and what I find it's
handy with is if I'm close to mygoal for the day, but I'm not
there.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I can see that, and then I can go out and walk a
little more and reach that goal.
Exactly I think the same thing.
Um, it can get my personality,can get me a little obsessive
and I think I gotta just stayreeled in, but it's a good
guidance.
It really helps, um help youset the targets and get there to
your point Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Yeah Well, fitness is obviously a passion for you,
and you're a good motivator forthose of us that are connected,
but I know another thing thatyou're really passionate about
is tacos and toys, yeah.
So tell us what that is and howdid that all come about?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Oh, wow, that actually came about before the
fitness part of my life here.
So it started in the first oneof tacos and toys was in
December of 2018.
And I started fitness and inthat February of 19.
So just a short little bitafter.
But, um, you know, we wereliving here for just a few short
(12:10):
months and I was trying.
My big goal was to assimilateand be part of the community, um
, and I just felt that they'reon my heart, that I wanted to
bring the community together tocelebrate Christmas, and I
thought, well, let's do it.
We'll have tacos and toys and aSanta and it'll be great.
(12:32):
And that was.
That was the how the visionstarted, um, and my husband said
, well, how are you going to dothat and where are you going to
do that and who's going to payfor it?
So he started asking a lot ofthe why questions or how, and I
just had the idea, um.
So I found a restaurant um,tacos Kuka con right there off
of Kuka con um avenue in Tulum,and it's been a location.
(12:56):
Now this will be year seven.
It's been the same location forall seven years.
So Salvador and his team cookall the tacos, all fresh, and
everyone eats and enjoys theirdelicious tacos and we have toys
and it's evolved in the senselike the first year we had like
a thousand tacos and maybe noteven maybe 800 tacos I'd have to
look back and like 500 toys andnow it's evolved to 35, 3,700
(13:22):
tacos and about 1500 plus toys.
We close the streets and we getentertainment and clowns and
candy and it just has a have areally big party for Christmas
in the community and it's reallybeen a blessing to have to be
able to see that grow and thecommunity come together and and
look forward to it.
I'll see I mean it's in myneighborhood where I walk and
(13:46):
get my steps in and I see peopleand they're like it's coming up
, it's coming up.
Yes, stay tuned you know, sothey look forward to it and it's
it's a really nice time.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
So that is a big event.
I mean 1500 toys, 1500 toys howmany?
Tacos 3,700.
Oh my gosh, yeah.
So how do you go about raisingmoney for something of that
scale and how many volunteers?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
It's not just just you?
I know you're organized, it'sdefinitely not just me.
Yeah, how many volunteers arepart of this Throughout the
whole process and the day of Imean I would say 50 to 60
volunteers and the money.
Really the event, like we'reanticipating the event of the
tacos and the toys and the clownand the candy and Santa, and we
(14:35):
have face painters, a coloringstation, et cetera, et cetera.
So it's literally just a bigthree-hour party and tacos cost
about $22,000 US dollars.
And one of the biggest expenseson there that we haven't yet
talked about is we give a foodbag, like a blessing of dry
(14:55):
goods, basically thatincorporated through the food
bank that we also work with, butwe then get to go home and have
that blessing for Christmasweek really.
So they do enjoy the meal withall of us but then get to go
home as well.
So we raise money through acouple fundraisers throughout
(15:17):
the year through a couple offundraisers throughout the year.
We host three or fourfundraisers throughout the year,
um, which is fabulous becauseit brings the community together
and gets um people to know andlearn about tacos and toys and
what we do and other businessesinvolved, um, and then we just
do the hard fundraising, youknow, straight up, pleading help
(15:37):
us raise money, and then we doa silent auction.
So we have great donations forthe silent auction, whether
that's a stay in someone's houseor a nice piece of art.
We've had like a two-night stayin El Cuyo, some really nice
prices, where people can bid onsilent auctions, and that's in
(15:58):
December, just before Tacos andToys, so we'll get that last
push of money right before that.
So it takes a lot of planningand organizing from various
sources, but seems to be workingon year seven and here we go
and you're working on thispretty much year-round.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I mean there's a big push towards the end, when the
holidays are getting closer, butyou are working on this year
round, aren't you?
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yeah, I have a little list and contacts and people
who can kind of help plug in attheir right time, exactly when
we need them and how they canplug in.
So I'm making those contactsand saving those numbers and
going to visit back.
On that, bob, we're going totalk back again about that in
November.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
That kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
All year round, absolutely, but the big push for
Tacos and Toys is certainlylike September, august,
september and through December.
Okay, great.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
And then you mentioned the Tulum Food Bank,
so tell us about the need forthis and how that came about on
top of this event.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Yeah, tulum Food Bank really was not my idea and
probably something we wouldn'thave ever started, but COVID
happened.
So everybody knows COVID andknows that if you were here in
Mexico at the time, wecompletely shut down.
I mean I don't know, we weren'tnowhere else in the world, but
(17:20):
we were here and the tourism atotal halt.
I joke because we could ridefour wide down Beach Road on
bikes and no cars, no people,nothing.
I mean it was very quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet.
So when that happened therewere no tourists, which is the
whole business of Tulum and theeconomy and the local paycheck
(17:43):
comes from that.
So I had somebody reach out tome and say we need to help, we
really need to help.
These people have no work andthey have no food and we need to
help.
And I thought she says do you,can you and Todd run a food bank
?
She says do you, can you andTodd run a food bank?
And I thought, well, no, wecan't, we don't, we've never run
(18:05):
a food bank.
And I remember I was upstairsin my house at the time and um
answering the text and I put myphone down and I thought, well,
if we don't do it, who will?
And why just because we don'trun a food bank doesn't mean we
can't um, and we're capable,smart people that can figure
this out, is kind of what Ithought.
So I went to todd again andsaid we need to start a food
(18:25):
bank and the rest is historythere.
But simultaneously, as thathappened, um, there was like a
radio station advertisement thatsaid we're gathering food,
we're collecting food forvictims not victims, but COVID
and helping families.
And I thought, well, let mecall them and meet them and
(18:47):
maybe they can help me.
And that's kind of how westarted working with somebody
who can help me distribute andreally know that the town and
the people that needed it.
I think every town andcommunity has a need of
underserved or underprivilegedfamilies that go through tough
times and Tulum is no different.
(19:09):
But that's not necessarily forme to say, and I wasn't really
the pulse of knowing who thosepeople are or where to get to
the food, nor did I want that.
It's really not about me, but Iknow I have a knack for
connecting people and helpingtwo things happen.
So that's what I did.
(19:29):
We raised a lot of money and wealways have controlled the food
and the purchasing and all themoney.
And then, now that we know andtrust the distribution people,
we know that the food's goinginto the right place and I've
been on enough runs anddistributions to know that we're
right in there and that's howit worked.
(19:50):
So we still actually run thefood bank today, certainly not
on the scale of the days back inCOVID, but we run bi-monthly
two distributions a month ofabout 50 food bags.
So we help 50 families everytwo weeks in Tulum.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Okay, yeah, and I know we talked on an earlier
podcast.
There was a similar event or afood distribution here in Akamal
and you got that rolling.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah, yeah, it's weird.
Um, what do I call it Big magicwhen things like that happen.
The connections, um fromAquafit that I had, um, a gal
called me to help here in Akamaland I was like, absolutely and
same kind of thing.
She could distribute it, theyhad the families, but you know
who could do the shopping, whocould do the buying, who could
organize the money?
(20:39):
Um, so same same thing.
And um, we had that greatpartnership and still do.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
So how would someone, uh, who's interested in all
this, get involved with eithertacos and toys or the Tulum food
bank?
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Yeah, Um well, I guess reach out to me directly,
that's certainly easy.
But we also are on social, youknow Facebook and Instagram on
Tacos and Toys or Tulum FoodSupport.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Okay, oh, awesome.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Okay, we're back with Erica Weir, who's a fitness
instructor and coordinator ofthe Tulum Food Bank and Tacos
for Toys.
Tell us, Erica, what does thefuture look like for both of
these programs?
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Wow, the crystal ball , huh, well, I see them
continuing.
We've been steady funding-wiseas far as the Tulum food bank,
so that feels really good to tomaintain that, I mean maintain
(21:55):
those 50 bags every two weeksand the distribution there.
I'm sure we'll see how thatgoes.
But the tacos and toys I seegrowing and staying in the same.
As far as the event, if anyonehas been there really can't go
toys not, you know, or latedonations, or we're.
We're able to help, kind of someother things that the church,
(22:32):
that, um, we use to distributethrough the food bank.
That's how we got that going.
We've been two years buyingpizzas for their christmas party
, um, and they don't really dotoys, but we bought the food
which aligns exactly with whatwe do.
So we're able to help anothersmall Christmas party in Tulum
and I don't think there's anyoverlap, I don't think that even
(22:54):
if there were oh well, right,but I don't think it's the same
kids I think it's able to kindof feel that Christmas spirit in
two different groups.
We do the same with Akumal andcoming through Gillies.
We bring toys through thatevery year and set toys aside to
bring that.
Ours is always before Gillies.
Gillies is on the 24th andwe're on the 9th.
Well, our date changes, butwe're the Thursday before
(23:16):
Christmas Eve, so that datechanges, but it's always before.
So we kind of set that aside sowe're able to grow kind of more
on satellite things in thatcapacity.
Um.
And then in the food bank Ialready kind of mentioned we
just additional funds andcontinuing to do that through Um
.
So I see them in their futureum asking me in December, in
(23:41):
January, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm,tired, tired.
But like I mentioned earlier,I've always been in retail.
So this time of year has alwaysbeen busy for me and I don't
know how I found or chose orfell on my lap, but the same
thing, I'm very busy this timeof year.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Well, clearly your work benefits a lot of children
and a lot of families in thisarea, not just at Christmas, but
year round.
But what do you personally getout of all the hard work you put
in?
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Yeah, I didn't know it would come.
I didn't know what I would getout of it and nor was I looking
for that.
But the truth is I say it whenwe have these fundraisers and I
say it about this it's not aboutthe tacos, it's not about the
toys, it's about buildingcommunity and I love seeing that
(24:34):
at the event, but I see itthroughout the year.
So now I've built my communitythrough Aquafit and through the
nutrition and tacos and toys.
All these are, like you said,intertwined and I really enjoy
that and that makes my hearthappy.
So that's what I get out of itseeing the community building
(24:56):
and the relationships betweenmyself and new people and the
other people who meet peoplethrough tacos and toys and the
food bank, et cetera, and theother people who meet people
through tacos and toys and thefood bank, et cetera.
It's the branches that reachout.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
It's been the best thing, so kind of transitioning
here.
So one of the little thingsthat we started with expats like
us is a game that we call QuePadre, que Malo.
Okay, so it's just.
Basically it started out withlike a fun way for us to discuss
, you know, our lives in.
Mexico.
But we're going to ask you forone thing that you think is
(25:41):
really cool about life in Mexico.
That's your Que Padre.
And then what's somethingthat's maybe been hard to get
used to, or you kind of missfrom the States?
You know it's not here inMexico.
That would be your que malo.
So let's start.
What's your que padre?
Erica Weir, which is so cool.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Wow, wow, what is so cool?
Everything there's so is socool, everything there's so much
so cool.
I love the street food, thestreet tacos and the margaritas
(26:18):
Right, the social Cultural piece, and I just Love the ease
cultural piece and I just lovethe ease.
Not everything's easy, but asthe K-Malo's coming, but the.
I guess, like I said, the paceand the ease, the mañana Relax,
(26:44):
nothing's in a big hurry, sothat's a really good thing for
me.
Yeah, especially after the ratrace, relax, it's more laid back
.
Yeah, nothing's in a big hurry,so that's a really good thing
for me.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, especially after the rat race.
Right, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
And I don't think patience was ever a strength of
mine, so I brought that.
This lesson has brought that tome and it's been really nice to
settle into that.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Okay, and so what's the K-Malo?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Oh man, I guess the days that it just feels like
nothing's working um orsomething else broke Right.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Um.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I mean some of that's homeownership in general, I
think, but it seems likehomeownership in Mexico is is a
whole different a wholedifferent animal.
So I say K-Malo to that I don'tknow, a leak, the garage, any
electrical air conditioning, andit always seems to break when
(27:35):
you have the guest in there oryou have visitors or you're
really busy with other things.
That it just doesn't seem.
So those are the K-Malos and mybiggest K-Malo, you know it,
there's no Target.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
I mean, I love a Target.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
A girl's got to shop A girl's got to shop.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
When I travel, the time difference helps me.
I'm also an early morningperson, but I go visit family in
LA so I have two hours, orsometimes three, depending on
our time zone.
So I'm up very early in LA timeand I am at Target waiting for
them to open those doors at 8am.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I know, I think we both take each other pictures of
our Target.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Whenever we've gone back to the States, we've always
gone to a Target.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Exactly, exactly.
I mean, I like Target when Ilived there, but I really love
Target now.
There's just nothing like it.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
All right, I think that's all we have for you.
Well, thanks so much.
Thank you, erica Weir, fortaking time from your extremely
busy schedule.
I should mention she came overhere to do this seconds after
getting done with Aquafit.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Wet hair and all.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
But thank you for coming and sharing your story
with us today.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Yeah, I appreciate you guys having me Okay, great
opportunity.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Thanks.
In each episode of Expats LikeUs, we're going to teach you a
new Mexican slang word.
This is something you may notfind in your phrasebook or your
online Spanish class or yourSpanish app or wherever you're
learning your Spanish.
Instead, this is a term usedprimarily by Mexican Spanish
speakers.
Today's word is Orale Orale.
(29:15):
I think I know what that onemeans.
I hear that a lot.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Yes, it's basically in agreeance with.
Yes, let's go, sounds good.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Okay, I've always thought of it as cool.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Cool is another way to use it Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Very good Orale.
Thank you, erica Kowalski fromMi Vida Margarita.
We'd love to hear your thoughtson today's topic.
Just look up Expats Like Us onFacebook or send us an email at
expatslikeus at gmailcom.
You can also see the videoversion of today's discussion
(29:51):
and all of our discussions onour YouTube page.
Follow, like, subscribe andleave us a review.
Thank you to today's guest,erica Weir.
Thanks also to my co-host,sherry Bussey, and thanks to our
co-producers from Mi VidaMargarita.
(30:11):
Most of all, thank you fortuning in to Expats Like Us and
thank you for interacting withus on social media.
Next time we'll bring you morefirsthand information about your
international move.
Until then, remember, our homesare not defined by geography or
one particular location, but bymemories, events, people and
places that span the globe.
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