April 20, 2024 • 35 mins
Discover the unexpected charm of pickleball and how it's capturing hearts in Mexico, as we join Chris and Erica for a sun-soaked conversation filled with laughter and the clink of paddles. Chris's recent victory is just the beginning; we unveil the vibrant community that's sprung up around this sport, complete with donations and new clubs. Our dynamic discussion uncovers how social media helps newcomers find a local court and the unique joys of fostering connections through this inclusive pastime.
Navigating the intricacies of an international move can be daunting, but with a bit of patience and a dose of culture, it's an adventure worth taking. Amy Coady, our insightful guest, recounts her own two-year journey settling into the rhythms of Mexico, providing a heartfelt glimpse into the expat experience. From the practicalities of managing bills without a property manager to the often underestimated lifestyle changes and the paramount importance of embracing the local language, we share stories and strategies that resonate with anyone pondering a life abroad.
At the heart of our episode lies a tale of spreading positivity and communal spirit, starting with a simple U.S.-based initiative that's now reached over a hundred countries: painted rocks symbolizing care and connection. We also shine a spotlight on the transformative impact of introducing pickleball to local schools, empowering young girls and fostering inclusivity.
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
For more information and content, follow Expats Like Us on Facebook and YouTube
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Okay, go ahead All right?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Well, here we are, expats like us all, four expats
together.
Again, chris and Erica, it'sgood to see you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Good to see you guys, it's nice to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I hear you guys took a little road trip recently to
Merida.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
To Merida.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What was that all about, chris?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, I was playing in a pickleball tournament there
.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Really yeah, okay, cool, how'd it go?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I got third place in the men's 50-plus division, so
pretty good.
Still got some work to do, butnot bad Cool.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
So how was Merida?
Did you like Merida?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
It was busy.
It was busier than I thought,so we actually ended up staying
in Progreso Okay, which is About30 minutes yeah, about 30
minutes north, and we enjoyed it.
Very easy access to the beachwalking distance in Progresso
Merida was, like I said, it wasbusy.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
But it had a lot of nice things, like a big city
would add it you know everythingavailable.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
I guess I had never known anything about Merida
until I moved here and we wentand visited there you don't
think of.
There's a city of nearly amillion people.
What a couple of three hoursaway, four hours, two hours.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, three, three and a half hours, something like
that Very very cool.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
So you play pickleball.
Pickleball is a big thing thatI think we all learned when we
came here, right?
Did you ever play pickleball?
Did you play pickleball beforeyou came here?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I never played any sports Five or six times in the
States and that was it Right.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
And now you're like super stud pickleball player.
I don't know about that but Ido enjoy it, and me and Erica we
just play pickleball and I justhear about pickleball because
I'm the only one that doesn'tplay pickleball.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
But that's okay.
It's kind of a big thing downin Mexico at least in this area
it seems to be, and I heard it'seven bigger on the West Coast
Right and it's a huge thing inthe States now too.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, Last time we went to Sioux City, Iowa,
there's pickleball courtseverywhere, yeah.
So I think the fastest growingsport in North America.
They say amazed by that.
So there's like businesses.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Now, you guys, when you went to back to utah, found
a place, that's tell us aboutthat actually, it's the shed,
yeah and it's an indoorpickleball court and they have
about five courts um, they'vegot two different locations, but
yes, they do, and it's amazingit's grown so much.
They are so helpful.
They actually donated.
We had over 75 pickleballpaddles donated for the kids
(02:33):
here in the Pueblo in AcomalOkay, cool.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, yeah.
They did a great job helping usout getting all those collected
from the members of theirorganization that donated them
to them, and then our friendthat's a member of the shed and
their pickleball group broughtthem down on the airpan.
Right so why do you thinkpickleball is so popular?
I think because anybody canplay it.
You know it takes a while toplay it.
Well, but you can play it thefirst day and have a good time.
(02:57):
Yeah, I would agree.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, it seems like there's like maybe a lot of
restaurants and venues that arekind of adding a pickleball
theme to it.
I know there's some franchisesin the States.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, chicken and Pickle.
And when we were in Progresso,actually we were at a place
called Crocodiles and they hadthree pickleball courts there at
the restaurant.
Very cool.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
That's great, so you can go drink, eat wings and play
pickleball Maybe not in thatorder.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
That's like a perfect weekend right, there right.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
It is.
So today's guest is the one whoI think was the recipient of
all those paddles.
Right, she was.
Yeah, yes she was.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
We donated 50 paddles to the program for the
elementary, secondary schoolchildren and she, amy's oh my,
my goodness, amazing, with thesechildren trying just to even
get the donation to them.
The kids were excited, happy.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
But amy, she puts in a lot of time for these children
yeah, excellent, and uh, akamalis going to be featuring a
pickleball club.
Is that what I hear?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
yes they are actually beginning a pickleball club, or
they already are in the processof the pickleball club,
beginning the pickleball cluband they're trying right now.
Um, cause there's a there's notvery many courts in the Pueblo
and it gets really busy, sosometimes you're sitting down
longer than you'd want to, andso they started this pickleball
(04:24):
club and it's and it's in thebeginning steps right now, okay,
and certain times of year it'sbusier too, right yeah?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
high season you get a lot of visitors, so not only do
you have the locals that wantto play, they were playing five
days a week, I don't know ifthey still are.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I think they still are.
They still are Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
So not only the locals who want to play, but
then you get all the visitorscoming in.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
They want to play and so I played this morning and
there's still people I've neverseen before.
They're showing up today.
Yeah, how do they?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
find it?
I mean, it's just likewandering by in the pueblo, or
how do people find a lot of?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
the times people are just walking in the pueblo and
they stop and they start askingquestions.
I did talk to some of the newpeople that were in and they
found it on Facebook.
Oh, okay.
So I get that's a reallypopular place to find pickleball
courts when you're traveling.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Okay, all right, there's even pickleball courts
here on Pulum Country Club thatnobody can use yet Right.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
We get to go by and look at them.
They look pretty sweet.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
And you know, there's a group in Puerto Aventuras.
There's a group in Playa delCarmen.
I played today at a placecalled Ola.
They've got a group there thatplays Groups all over around
here.
Very cool.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So that's one more thing to pack in your suitcase
on vacation.
Now is your pickleball paddle.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
I take mine wherever I go Awesome.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Sounds good.
Well, I can't wait to hear moreabout Amy's pickleball program
and how that all came together.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, today we're going to talk with Amy Cody, and
let's go.
Welcome to Expats Like Usexploring 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
(06:18):
on everything from making yourmove to settling in and living
your dream.
Let's dive in to settling inand living your dream.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Expats Like Us.
I'm Bob Busse.
Along with Erica Kowalski, weand our spouses made the move to
(06:38):
Mexico in the summer of 2021,and today we're talking with Amy
Cody.
Amy is a US expat living up theroad from us in Quintana Roo.
Amy is well known in the areafor her Acomal Rocks Facebook
site, as well as lending hertime to some worthwhile issues.
Welcome to Expats Like Us, amyCody.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Thank you, hello, amy .
It's nice to see you again, youtoo.
So, amy, before you moved toMexico, what was your life like?
What did you do?
Speaker 5 (07:02):
I was a special education teacher and I taught
children with autism for 25years in Philadelphia and South
Jersey.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Okay, how did?
How'd you like that career?
That's a.
I loved it.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
I actually ever.
I loved it every minute of it.
I wasn't didn't think I wasgoing to retire.
When I did, I retired due toCOVID because I think it just
got so crazy the schools, gotcrazy, the expectation so I
moved here a little prematurethan when I thought I was going
to.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Well, it takes a special kind of person to do
that for a living, and so weknow several people who are
special ed teachers here and,yeah, all of them very special
people.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
So when you, when you moved here, um, what inspired
you to move here?
What have you visited before?
Speaker 5 (07:52):
We bought in 2016 as kind of like an investment at
the time.
So we had five years before weactually moved here, that we
were back and forth a lot.
So that really helped with thetransition because we came at
different times of the year.
We came for different periodsof time.
Sometimes it was two weeks,sometimes it was a month.
I was a teacher, so I had thesummers off, so I was here
(08:12):
during the summer, which is, Ithink, really important, because
that's completely differentthan the fall.
Here it's very hot and it canfix, you can change what your
activities are going to dobecause of the heat, because of
the heat.
So, um, the five years that'swhy I think my transition was a
little easier than a lot ofother people, because I really
was like taking notes andfiguring out different things
(08:35):
before moving here, um, and Ididn't really have the pressure
again.
We bought it as an investment.
So we kind of were like, if welike it, we'll stay, if we don't
, you know, we will move on.
And coming here for the overthe five years, every time I
came I just fell more and morein love with the area, the
people and just really couldn'twait to make this our home.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
So when you moved here, what was the process like
for you?
Did you fly, did you drive?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
So I flew every time I fly out of Philadelphia, so
it's a four-hour flight, whichis not bad at all.
So we gradually through thefive years, brought all our
things here.
So I didn't have like a major,huge move like a lot of people
do.
I feel like it was very gradualand every time we flew I did
(09:21):
not drive, we were planning ondoing it this summer, but we're
going to see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
It's a long trip yeah , yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
So we were lucky enough to be able to fly back
and forth oh, very cool.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
So I would say that we're kind of in the same boat.
I mean so many people that wetalked to about how they moved
here, why they moved here.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
The word covid comes up I think that's a, that's a
universal thing for it was aturning point for a lot of
people for yeah, I mean itreally.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
I like I feel like one day I was teaching and I
loved it and the next day I justknew I was done, like I thought
I had nothing more to give atthis point.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
So, amy, what kind of challenges did you have in
making your move Other thanCOVID?
What were some challenges youfaced?
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I think, just figuring out all the information
.
I thought we did a lot ofresearch before we came, but
finding the resources and thepeople to talk to, to point you
in the right direction fordifferent things like getting
your RFC and making sure youhave all your bills paid and all
of that.
We had a property manager doingit up to that point.
So when we moved down here weeventually had to take over all
(10:37):
of that.
So just kind of navigating.
That was a little bit difficultat times.
But I think if you're just calmand you realize it's a process
and you just kind of have to gothrough the process and some
days it works out and some daysit does not, and I think as long
as you have the mindset thatthis is like an adventure and
you're gonna just keep at it andum, I think I feel, when we
(10:59):
moved here, it was everything'sso fast-paced and we are used to
the fast-paced world and you'rehere, yeah, and it just hits
you, uh, if I didn't get it donetoday, it's okay.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yes, where you have an agenda every day and you're
going so fast, right?
Speaker 5 (11:16):
um, it'll be three years and let me tell you, it
works, yeah, and I think, evenjust at home, I feel like we
always know where to go to findinformation.
Yes, where, I don't think.
Here, you know, one office thatyou think you're going to is
not where you need to go.
So I think, just navigatingthat, trying to find people and
resources that really can helpyou, and just really be
impatient, I mean it really is aprocess and I think as long as
(11:39):
you have that in your mind, Ithink there are days you're
going to get absolutely nothingdone and that's okay.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Yes, and it's okay.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
It's better to be okay because it's absolutely
going to happen.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yes, yeah, so when you got here, what is something
that surprised?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
you, um, I think the pay, I think the pace.
I knew I lived a very full lifeand a very hectic life up in
the United States and I think Iknew I was going to have to slow
it down.
I think I didn't know thereality of what that meant or
looked like until I was actuallyhere.
So I think that my biggestthing I wish I did before I came
(12:15):
here was learn the languagemore.
Thing I wish I did before Icame here was learn the language
more I would have.
I take Spanish lessons onlinenow and I do the Duolingo on the
computer.
In hindsight, I should havestarted that probably two years
ago, even though I didn't knowwhen I was coming.
I knew I was coming.
I think that would have beenreally, really an asset to have.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Yes, I think that some people think and I,
somewhere in my mind, I feltthis way too.
You feel like you're going toabsorb.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Spanish somehow, right, yeah, absolutely.
And everyone says oh, you'lljust pick it up.
And you, you know, in the firsttime you're somewhere and no
one speaks English.
You're like I'm not pickinganything up, right?
Speaker 4 (12:52):
now Nothing absorbs at all, right?
No, it just bounces off you.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
In fact it's more confusing than I thought it
would be.
So that would be, I think, areally good thing for anyone to
just even just the basics.
You don't have to go full on,it's just get, just start, just
start.
So, because when you're hereand you're trying to navigate
everything else, it's one morething that is, it seems
stressful at the time.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yes, I agree.
So how are you adapting?
How long have you been hereagain?
We've been here full time forthree years, and how's it going?
I?
Speaker 5 (13:23):
think it's going well .
I was.
It was funny because I was justtalking about this with
somebody and I said I think ittook me two years to adapt and I
know that sounds like a longtime, but I think the people
that I have talked to thathaven't adapted well or have
actually left already.
They didn't give themselvesthat time.
I said I think the first yearbecause we are in a society in
(13:43):
the United States where we workso much, we really don't have a
ton of hobbies Like.
So I think when you come hereyou're like I have, I want to do
all these things.
So I think the first year I waslike in everything I'm like
I'll try that, I want to trythis.
And I think then the secondyear is kind of like when you
hone in on really what moves youor what you want to actually
put your time into.
So I think it really takes twoyears to really find your groove
(14:07):
.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
That is true.
That's about where I was atlast year, to where I started
painting, which is interestingenough because I met you through
the Akamal Rock, so you're notone that's just gonna like.
You said, you start, you gofull all in so, the Akamal Rocks
Facebook page has what was it?
7,000, over 7,000 followers,and that's how we connected when
(14:31):
we first started seeing eachother and painting rocks
together.
That is amazing.
So what's that whole focus on?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
together.
That is amazing.
So what's that whole focus on?
So I started that actually whenI was teaching in New Jersey.
Like I said, I taught childrenwith autism, so we kind of did
that and started hiding themaround the community and we
would write good notes on themand things like that.
So it really took off there andI got such positive feedback.
I got emails every single weekof people that would find it and
just have had some informationgiven to them that was so sad or
(15:02):
so upsetting.
And then they find this rockand they really changed their
day or changed the way they out.
You know, they felt like thatwas meant to be and I always
think that, like the rock findsthe person, like whoever needs
to find that message, andbecause it was so received, so
well, where I was I when I camehere for over the five years
before I moved here full time, Iwould bring bags with me and
(15:24):
start doing it.
And the same thing the kidshere loved it.
Um, I went to the schools andwe did it.
Um, they would hide it to eachother.
I mean, they, they got a kickout of it because they would
just hide it in the Pueblo andthe kids would find it Um.
So it's just kind of a thingthat all ages can do and it's
just brings the communitytogether.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Maybe if you're just having that kind of day that you
just need someone to say yougot this or you know a message,
that's just simple and so whenwe drove from Utah to Akamal I
had a big bag of rocks andeverywhere we went, yeah'd drop
off a rock, I'd Google andresearch the city and I still
(16:01):
get messages from people thatthey're re-hiding.
But it made their day.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
You are so right and it's so easy and I mean you just
need really a Sharpie.
I mean you don't even needpaint.
If you don't want to, you canjust write a message.
So I think it just brought somuch positivity to where I was
in New Jersey and then here.
It just brought so muchpositivity to like where I was
in New Jersey and then here, um,and we figured out they've been
in every country or every.
There've been over a hundredcountries that the rocks from
Akamal rocks have been in.
(16:26):
So that's crazy.
I mean people, everyone wasexcited to take them on every
vacation they went to.
And it's just, it's such aneasy thing.
And again, you know, it doesn'tmatter what age you are.
You know, I've done it witholder people.
I've done it with older people,I've done it with kids, I've
done it with preschoolers, wherethey just paint them.
You know, just paint them andthen don't write.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And it's just, it's cool, it's fun to find when I
find them.
Yeah, I find it.
Look at it.
Take a picture, post.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Yeah, it's just happy , it is it's just an easy thing
that everyone can do.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
That is true.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Absolutely so what do you hope happens when someone
finds a rock?
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I hope they really just get a connection, like with
something like other than.
I mean, if you're having areally bad day and you feel like
this is, you know, you're justjust tired and exhausted and
like it just makes you happy orjust gives you like someone
cares or um, and when you're ina community like Akamal it's a
small community so, like youknow, someone in the community
did it so it kind of just givesyou a feeling of like oh, there
is, there are people that care,or there are people that are
looking out for us it's aninvisible support system for you
(17:27):
.
It really, it really is, and Idon't know who it is but
somebody cares about you.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Yes, exactly, and I think in a small community it's
really cool because they knowit's one of their neighbors did
it.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
So you're involved with that as well, but you're
also involved with the localschool and the sport pickleball.
Yes, this is another thingwhere we were able to come
together and help with thepickleball.
Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
So when I first came down here the first year, I did
the Akamal Rocks and all theschools and that was great and I
kind of felt like once Iintroduced that they can take it
and go with that there was.
I didn't need to keeprevisiting that.
So then the second year we dida weaving project with a factory
that recycled socks.
So they gave us that and weweaved potholders for the
families.
So that was year two.
(18:14):
So then year three, when I wastalking to the principal or the
director of the school, wewanted to come up with something
that we didn't need to keepbuying resources or that I
didn't have to keep going to theUnited States and getting
things to bring back for us tobe able to do something.
So we kind of looked around atthe community and said, like
what do we have here alreadythat we can build upon that?
They don't necessarily need me.
Like I can introduce something,but then the kids can take on
(18:37):
this.
So Pickleball was it.
I mean they have beautifulcourts and it's accessible to
everyone.
So that's kind of where we wentwith that.
So we started figuring out howto get the nets down here and
the paddles, and thank you,erica, because you helped us
tremendously.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
That was a generation the shed from Ogden, utah.
Yeah, all their members are theones that donated their gently
used paddles or they purchasedthem.
It was unbelievable andgrateful for our friend Linda,
who travels to visit us, and shebrought them all in for the
kids.
Yes, it was something I wasvery passionate about.
(19:14):
We wanted to give back to thecommunity and this was a way to
help, but I'm grateful foreverybody.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Yes, it really was, and I feel like going forward.
It's a reasonable thing that wecan.
If we need new things a paddleis not so hard for someone to
bring down, or people don't mindgiving gently used or ones that
you know they upgrade it.
So I feel like far after Idon't you know I if I stopped
doing this.
It's something that the schoolhopefully can continue
themselves or get morevolunteers to help with the
(19:42):
school.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
You do amazing.
When I watched you with thosekids, you're very patient with
them, but you do amazing and Ican see them.
They enjoy themselves, they'reexcited to play, they want to go
and play and I love one thing Ilove many things, but the one
thing the little girls aregetting involved, yes, which in
(20:04):
the tradition little girls don'tdo that they're more taught to
stay at home.
They're taught you have toclean, you have to start doing
women stuff in the house,because they still believe in
that.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
And we saw that in the beginning.
So to see those girls going outthere and trying.
It's amazing.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Yes, when we started, the girls really did not want
to interact at all.
They really didn't want anypart of it.
We almost had tears at onepoint for some of them.
They really just didn't havethat exposure.
They didn't have thatexperience and within three or
four weeks they were complainingabout getting the middle court
or what court they wanted so Isaid like I mean, it was such a
great and they weren't puttingup with it like if it was their
(20:44):
turn on the court.
You know they let everyone, theyspoke up and I thought that's
good.
This is really cool, it is theygot some self self-assurance
they really did yeah wow, verycool so how old are the kids
that are in this?
They're're 12 to 14.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Okay, okay.
Yeah, that's an impressionableage to learn a sport and it's
yeah.
They're probably pretty good atit at that age, you know.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
And they have a lot of energy and when they fall,
they bounce which we all havelost over the years.
We do not bounce back up.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
We see that at pickleball that we play.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Nobody bounces, nobody, nobody bounces.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
I actually watched them, and I think he literally
just bounced back up and didn'tskip a beat.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
So we, we fall Um.
I won't, I won't see you forthe next week.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Exactly, and I need a couple of people to help me yes
.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
So what do you personally get out of Um?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
I think because well, cause we said it, COVID, I
didn't think at the time I wasready to not be with children.
I did that for 25 years.
I really didn't know anythingelse and I love it.
I really love working with kids.
So I think just exposing themto something that they might not
have been exposed to I think iscool and I just love
interacting with them.
I find them very funny.
(21:53):
I find them the energy theyhave is just infectious.
I mean, you know, you go inthere tired and within within
five minutes you're runningaround and they're just so
appreciative, they're sorespectful and I just really
love it.
I love the school and theteachers I work with are there,
are wonderful and so patientwith me.
Um, we do incorporate Englishevery week.
We have vocabulary words thatwe do every week that I emailed
(22:16):
um, emailed the teacher beforewe see them, and I usually email
like a little video clip ofwhat we're going to do.
So, they're aware of what's.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
That was my question, Like how do you communicate
with the kids?
Do they know English enough ordo you know enough Spanish that
you can?
Speaker 5 (22:31):
I.
I feel like it's a little bitof a mix.
So I do give them the words forkind of what the lesson is
going to be.
So it's usually between five toten words a week that they'll
learn of like.
So it was like net and courtand paddle and things that
they're going to hear over andover again.
That, like, if volunteers come,it's kind of like some people
don't have any spanishbackground, so it's kind of like
(22:52):
, if they don't, the kids atleast know the words that we're
talking about for the game.
So I just send everything tothe teachers, usually the day
before, and they go over at themorning before they see me.
So we kind of go from there.
Um, some of these there aresome of the kids are pretty good
.
Um, there are a few bilingualchildren and they really love it
like they, you know, step up,they correct me all the time and
(23:13):
how do you guys say?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
how do you guys call the sport pickleball, because it
literally translates to pelotade pepino.
See where a lot of people arestarting to call it pepino.
Okay, so what do you guys?
We call it pickleball,pickleball, just pickleball yeah
.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
So, um, the kids, like I just said, it's an
american sport, this is whatthey call it, it's and I
explained it was a funny name tous.
Also, it really doesn'tnecessarily make sense to us
either, like it's just kind of,and so they kind of laughed at
it and that's just where we wentwith it.
It's just well.
I thought it was too hard.
I tried to figure out how wewere going to translate it and I
thought it's just easier to saypickleball Right.
(23:49):
So they call it pickleball.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
So with you, you know , having limited Spanish, them
having limited English.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
There does seem to be , and I think this too whenever
I'm around kids around here.
There is something about justhaving joy and fun.
Yes, that's a universallanguage.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
It really is.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
And you understand each other way better than just
a spoken word.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
And I think a sport is so easy because you can show
them as far as, like, if we'rereally having a breakdown, like
I'll actually just show themwhat I'm saying and they're like
oh, and then they'll tell mewhat, all the words I was
missing, and I'm like okay, soit really is a learning for both
of us.
But and that's why I actuallylike this age group, because I
think they understand more thatwe don't understand the language
the younger kids it's a littleharder for them when I say I you
(24:35):
know, I don't know what you'resaying.
So as they get, you know, alittle more upset, but I think
the older kids it's a littleeasier.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
So what, amy, is your vision for the future, for both
the Pickleball Program and forthe Akamal Rocks?
Speaker 5 (25:04):
The Akamal Rocks.
I hope that the children justcontinue it in the Pueblo and I
do see that they do and I'llhelp them, especially with
different occasions, likeValentine's Day.
We did something real cute inthe park and it was just real
impromptu, like I just decidedthat morning I was going to do
it.
So I showed up and we justpainted red rocks and wrote like
I love you, and they thought itwas great and they gave it to
(25:25):
their grandmothers, theirmothers and all that.
So I'll continue with that.
The pickleball I see it growing.
I'm going to need more peopleis what.
I'm going to need more expatsto help, because this year I
really didn't want to overwhelmit, so I kept it to one day a
week and then I decided two daysa week and then I've had two
(25:46):
teachers email me since westopped because the season is
September till March 30th iswhat we decided, and then so we
had two teachers now thatreached out that want to start
it also.
So that would be four days.
So it's like I would be morethan happy to do that, but I
need other people to take someof the days because it just gets
to be a lot.
Yeah, so I just hope it wascontinues, and if it ever
(26:10):
doesn't for some reason, I wouldgive all the materials to the
school and they can also usethem at the school.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Sure, very, very cool .
So what advice would you havefor others who might be
considering an internationalmove?
What should they be thinkingabout that maybe they aren't
thinking about?
Speaker 5 (26:28):
I think the language is definitely something you need
to consider.
I think if you know that there'sa possibility you're going to
move to anywhere that speaksSpanish, you should start
looking into that, even if it'sa word a day or two words a day,
because when you're dealingwith all the other frustrations
that come up, that can at leastcalm you down a little bit, and
I also think people just reallyneed to give themselves a lot of
(26:49):
grace.
Like I said, it took me twoyears and you're going to have
days that it's frustrating andit's different, and I think you
just really need to realize thatyou're not extending the United
States here.
You're living in a differentcountry and it doesn't matter if
it's Mexico or another country.
You're moving to another areathat has a whole different
system that you have to learn.
(27:09):
So you've been somewhere for 40or 50 or 60 years doing it one
way.
You're moving now to somewhereelse.
So if you don't have thetemperament to be able to roll
with it, I think you're going tohave a difficult time.
I think if you realize thatit's an experience and it's an
adventure and you kind of takeit as that, I think you'll be
okay.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
And give yourself a couple of years.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
I think, and I think that's the most important
because I feel like people giveit a year and think you know I
didn't really assimilate to whatI thought it was going to be.
And you don't.
You take everything after thefirst year and you say, okay,
now, what do I want to do withthis?
I?
Speaker 3 (27:45):
think you have to be more open to it, really open to
it, not the idea in your head.
Like I mentioned, it took meabout two years to where we're
here and I speak the language,but I still struggled with the
idea of this.
Is home starting fresh?
Yes, so you have to be reallyopen to it and, like you said,
(28:05):
it's an adventure.
Speaker 5 (28:06):
Yeah and super open.
And I said like I remember theone time I was in Sedrali and I
went food shopping and I justcouldn't do it.
I got there and I had like atotal meltdown because I'm like
I can't translate all this stuff, I can't figure it out, and I
went home with nothing and I wasjust like we're going out to
dinner.
Like you know, and I think youjust have to realize, there are
going to be days that you getnothing done, and in the United
States I don't think we're usedto that.
Like we consider that like sucha bad thing.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Yeah, that's like some kind of big failure here.
That's just another day.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
It is, it happens weekly and you just kind of have
to not, yeah, we're going outto dinner.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Or when we first moved here, we had friends visit
and they were mewling down tome Now is the dumbest little
thing I know, I know it's.
If I can't find it, we don'tneed it, we'll substitute or do
something.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
And you learn all the substitutions.
But, again, that takes youprobably a year to really get
your groove on with cooking,because it's a whole different
cooking experience, I foundmyself speaking Spanglish.
I heard myself cursing a lot.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
I always thought you know, we've had friends that
people will mule back like hardshell taco.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
Hot taco shells.
And taco seasoning, americantaco seasoning, american taco
seasoning.
And it's like people.
I live in a world of tacos.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
I know the tacos are so much better than a lot of
people with salsa, the americansalsa they bring down like right
, it's crazy, it is yes, andeverything here is more fresh.
It is right, and you do reallylearn to substitute and you do
have different tastes after awhile so it's just that is you
really have to just giveyourself a lot of grace and
realize that, and a good senseof humor does never hurt
(29:48):
anything.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
So oh no, that first those first two years.
Like I said, I was juststressed and my husband Chris,
he just laughed and helped.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
That helped me out a lot, it lot, because there's
nothing you can do, and if itdoesn't get done, it just
doesn't get done.
It doesn't get done and it'sokay.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
So what are some of the tips that you would give
people that want to make themove here?
Speaker 5 (30:12):
I would say I was fortunate enough to be have the
place for five years.
That was really um huge for me,because I'm a planner and um
just being dumped here, I wouldhave probably been very upset
and not been able to navigate it.
Um, I, my biggest thing wouldbe rent where you're going to go
or where you think you want tolive, because I think when you
(30:34):
buy, you feel trapped and youthink that, oh my goodness, I
can't leave now.
So I would say, rent um whereyou think you want to go and I
think that, oh my goodness, Ican't leave now.
So I would say, rent where youthink you want to go.
And I think also, come atdifferent times of the year.
If you come every time atChristmastime, that's what
you're going to see.
You're going to see that kindof weather.
Come at different times of theyear, see different weathers,
see different seasons here,because even though it's always
nice and hot, I mean in thesummer it's hot, hot, it's hot,
(30:57):
hot.
So I would think, explore whereyou want to go and if you come
here and you don't like it andyou're renting, then go to
another place.
It doesn't mean Mexico is notfor you, it might just mean,
this area is not for you.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
I agree, Exactly yes.
So one of the traditions thatwe have on this podcast I don't
know if you've listened to it isa thing we call K Padre, K Malo
, and it's one thing that we rewe really love about living here
in this area, and one thingwe're we don't say we hate it,
but it's something that we'restill adapting to.
So, would you have one K Padreand one K?
Speaker 5 (31:29):
Malo, the good is easy.
The people and the community,the people here I have are so
warm and have welcomed me and um, that I just am so grateful for
the, the, um, the, I would say.
the electricity can be a littlebit of a as I live with uh at
wifi for five days now.
(31:50):
Uh, I think electricity andbeing having a sense of humor
with that um can be difficult.
So you just have to realizethat's part of it.
And if you get mad, it's notgoing to change it.
It doesn't change.
So it's just you know they'recoming in 24 hours or maybe a
couple weeks.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Right.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
You know.
You just never know.
People in the States might notrealize what you mean by the
electricity, but we all know.
Yes, yes, you can loseelectricity.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Yes, so that, I think you know, is just again.
It's just part of the adventureand if you take it that way,
you'll be okay.
I agree.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Well, thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Thank you for having me.
We appreciate you taking yourtime.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
And we appreciate what you do with the kids and
the Akamal Rocks is amazing.
Thank you so much, so peoplefind that when do they find
Akamal?
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Rocks.
It's on Facebook, so it's justunder Akamal Rocks, just look up
.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Akamal Rocks yes.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Yeah, very good, and for more on Pickleball, contact
Expats Like Us via email andwe'll talk about, we'll tell you
about Pickleball if you'recoming to the area too.
So, all right, thank you.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Amy, thank you so much.
Don't forget to.
Was that okay?
That was amazing, amy.
It was perfect.
Yes, okay.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
In each episode of Expats Like Us, we're going to
teach you a new Mexican slangword.
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¿ Qué onda?
(33:20):
Qué onda Mexican?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Spanish speakers, today's word is Que onda.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Que onda?
I have heard that word.
The guards, when I pull in,sometimes say que onda to me.
Can you spell that?
Speaker 3 (33:33):
First word Q-U-E, second word O-N-D-A.
Que onda.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
Que onda.
And what does that mean?
What's up, what's up.
Okay, so that's a greeting forsomeone that you're familiar
with.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yes, que onda.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Yes, all right.
Thank you very much, ericaKowalski from Mi 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
(34:11):
and all of our discussions onour YouTube page.
Follow, like, subscribe andleave us a review.
Thank you to today's guest, amyCody, for sharing her inspiring
(34:33):
life in Mexico with us.
Thanks also to today's co-host,erica Kowalski, and our
producers, chris Kowalski andSherry Bussey.
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
(34:56):
one particular location, but bymemories, events, people and
places that span the globe.
Thank you.
Okay, go ahead All right?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Well, here we are, expats like us all, four expats
together.
Again, chris and Erica, it'sgood to see you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Good to see you guys, it's nice to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I hear you guys took a little road trip recently to
Merida.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
To Merida.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What was that all about, chris?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, I was playing in a pickleball tournament there
.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Really yeah, okay, cool, how'd it go?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I got third place in the men's 50-plus division, so
pretty good.
Still got some work to do, butnot bad Cool.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
So how was Merida?
Did you like Merida?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
It was busy.
It was busier than I thought,so we actually ended up staying
in Progreso Okay, which is About30 minutes yeah, about 30
minutes north, and we enjoyed it.
Very easy access to the beachwalking distance in Progresso
Merida was, like I said, it wasbusy.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
But it had a lot of nice things, like a big city
would add it you know everythingavailable.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
I guess I had never known anything about Merida
until I moved here and we wentand visited there you don't
think of.
There's a city of nearly amillion people.
What a couple of three hoursaway, four hours, two hours.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, three, three and a half hours, something like
that Very very cool.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
So you play pickleball.
Pickleball is a big thing thatI think we all learned when we
came here, right?
Did you ever play pickleball?
Did you play pickleball beforeyou came here?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I never played any sports Five or six times in the
States and that was it Right.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
And now you're like super stud pickleball player.
I don't know about that but Ido enjoy it, and me and Erica we
just play pickleball and I justhear about pickleball because
I'm the only one that doesn'tplay pickleball.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
But that's okay.
It's kind of a big thing downin Mexico at least in this area
it seems to be, and I heard it'seven bigger on the West Coast
Right and it's a huge thing inthe States now too.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, Last time we went to Sioux City, Iowa,
there's pickleball courtseverywhere, yeah.
So I think the fastest growingsport in North America.
They say amazed by that.
So there's like businesses.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Now, you guys, when you went to back to utah, found
a place, that's tell us aboutthat actually, it's the shed,
yeah and it's an indoorpickleball court and they have
about five courts um, they'vegot two different locations, but
yes, they do, and it's amazingit's grown so much.
They are so helpful.
They actually donated.
We had over 75 pickleballpaddles donated for the kids
(02:33):
here in the Pueblo in AcomalOkay, cool.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, yeah.
They did a great job helping usout getting all those collected
from the members of theirorganization that donated them
to them, and then our friendthat's a member of the shed and
their pickleball group broughtthem down on the airpan.
Right so why do you thinkpickleball is so popular?
I think because anybody canplay it.
You know it takes a while toplay it.
Well, but you can play it thefirst day and have a good time.
(02:57):
Yeah, I would agree.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, it seems like there's like maybe a lot of
restaurants and venues that arekind of adding a pickleball
theme to it.
I know there's some franchisesin the States.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, chicken and Pickle.
And when we were in Progresso,actually we were at a place
called Crocodiles and they hadthree pickleball courts there at
the restaurant.
Very cool.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
That's great, so you can go drink, eat wings and play
pickleball Maybe not in thatorder.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
That's like a perfect weekend right, there right.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
It is.
So today's guest is the one whoI think was the recipient of
all those paddles.
Right, she was.
Yeah, yes she was.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
We donated 50 paddles to the program for the
elementary, secondary schoolchildren and she, amy's oh my,
my goodness, amazing, with thesechildren trying just to even
get the donation to them.
The kids were excited, happy.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
But amy, she puts in a lot of time for these children
yeah, excellent, and uh, akamalis going to be featuring a
pickleball club.
Is that what I hear?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
yes they are actually beginning a pickleball club, or
they already are in the processof the pickleball club,
beginning the pickleball cluband they're trying right now.
Um, cause there's a there's notvery many courts in the Pueblo
and it gets really busy, sosometimes you're sitting down
longer than you'd want to, andso they started this pickleball
(04:24):
club and it's and it's in thebeginning steps right now, okay,
and certain times of year it'sbusier too, right yeah?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
high season you get a lot of visitors, so not only do
you have the locals that wantto play, they were playing five
days a week, I don't know ifthey still are.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I think they still are.
They still are Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
So not only the locals who want to play, but
then you get all the visitorscoming in.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
They want to play and so I played this morning and
there's still people I've neverseen before.
They're showing up today.
Yeah, how do they?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
find it?
I mean, it's just likewandering by in the pueblo, or
how do people find a lot of?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
the times people are just walking in the pueblo and
they stop and they start askingquestions.
I did talk to some of the newpeople that were in and they
found it on Facebook.
Oh, okay.
So I get that's a reallypopular place to find pickleball
courts when you're traveling.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Okay, all right, there's even pickleball courts
here on Pulum Country Club thatnobody can use yet Right.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
We get to go by and look at them.
They look pretty sweet.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
And you know, there's a group in Puerto Aventuras.
There's a group in Playa delCarmen.
I played today at a placecalled Ola.
They've got a group there thatplays Groups all over around
here.
Very cool.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So that's one more thing to pack in your suitcase
on vacation.
Now is your pickleball paddle.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
I take mine wherever I go Awesome.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Sounds good.
Well, I can't wait to hear moreabout Amy's pickleball program
and how that all came together.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, today we're going to talk with Amy Cody, and
let's go.
Welcome to Expats Like Usexploring 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
(06:18):
on everything from making yourmove to settling in and living
your dream.
Let's dive in to settling inand living your dream.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Expats Like Us.
I'm Bob Busse.
Along with Erica Kowalski, weand our spouses made the move to
(06:38):
Mexico in the summer of 2021,and today we're talking with Amy
Cody.
Amy is a US expat living up theroad from us in Quintana Roo.
Amy is well known in the areafor her Acomal Rocks Facebook
site, as well as lending hertime to some worthwhile issues.
Welcome to Expats Like Us, amyCody.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Thank you, hello, amy .
It's nice to see you again, youtoo.
So, amy, before you moved toMexico, what was your life like?
What did you do?
Speaker 5 (07:02):
I was a special education teacher and I taught
children with autism for 25years in Philadelphia and South
Jersey.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Okay, how did?
How'd you like that career?
That's a.
I loved it.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
I actually ever.
I loved it every minute of it.
I wasn't didn't think I wasgoing to retire.
When I did, I retired due toCOVID because I think it just
got so crazy the schools, gotcrazy, the expectation so I
moved here a little prematurethan when I thought I was going
to.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Well, it takes a special kind of person to do
that for a living, and so weknow several people who are
special ed teachers here and,yeah, all of them very special
people.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
So when you, when you moved here, um, what inspired
you to move here?
What have you visited before?
Speaker 5 (07:52):
We bought in 2016 as kind of like an investment at
the time.
So we had five years before weactually moved here, that we
were back and forth a lot.
So that really helped with thetransition because we came at
different times of the year.
We came for different periodsof time.
Sometimes it was two weeks,sometimes it was a month.
I was a teacher, so I had thesummers off, so I was here
(08:12):
during the summer, which is, Ithink, really important, because
that's completely differentthan the fall.
Here it's very hot and it canfix, you can change what your
activities are going to dobecause of the heat, because of
the heat.
So, um, the five years that'swhy I think my transition was a
little easier than a lot ofother people, because I really
was like taking notes andfiguring out different things
(08:35):
before moving here, um, and Ididn't really have the pressure
again.
We bought it as an investment.
So we kind of were like, if welike it, we'll stay, if we don't
, you know, we will move on.
And coming here for the overthe five years, every time I
came I just fell more and morein love with the area, the
people and just really couldn'twait to make this our home.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
So when you moved here, what was the process like
for you?
Did you fly, did you drive?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
So I flew every time I fly out of Philadelphia, so
it's a four-hour flight, whichis not bad at all.
So we gradually through thefive years, brought all our
things here.
So I didn't have like a major,huge move like a lot of people
do.
I feel like it was very gradualand every time we flew I did
(09:21):
not drive, we were planning ondoing it this summer, but we're
going to see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
It's a long trip yeah , yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
So we were lucky enough to be able to fly back
and forth oh, very cool.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
So I would say that we're kind of in the same boat.
I mean so many people that wetalked to about how they moved
here, why they moved here.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
The word covid comes up I think that's a, that's a
universal thing for it was aturning point for a lot of
people for yeah, I mean itreally.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
I like I feel like one day I was teaching and I
loved it and the next day I justknew I was done, like I thought
I had nothing more to give atthis point.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
So, amy, what kind of challenges did you have in
making your move Other thanCOVID?
What were some challenges youfaced?
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I think, just figuring out all the information
.
I thought we did a lot ofresearch before we came, but
finding the resources and thepeople to talk to, to point you
in the right direction fordifferent things like getting
your RFC and making sure youhave all your bills paid and all
of that.
We had a property manager doingit up to that point.
So when we moved down here weeventually had to take over all
(10:37):
of that.
So just kind of navigating.
That was a little bit difficultat times.
But I think if you're just calmand you realize it's a process
and you just kind of have to gothrough the process and some
days it works out and some daysit does not, and I think as long
as you have the mindset thatthis is like an adventure and
you're gonna just keep at it andum, I think I feel, when we
(10:59):
moved here, it was everything'sso fast-paced and we are used to
the fast-paced world and you'rehere, yeah, and it just hits
you, uh, if I didn't get it donetoday, it's okay.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yes, where you have an agenda every day and you're
going so fast, right?
Speaker 5 (11:16):
um, it'll be three years and let me tell you, it
works, yeah, and I think, evenjust at home, I feel like we
always know where to go to findinformation.
Yes, where, I don't think.
Here, you know, one office thatyou think you're going to is
not where you need to go.
So I think, just navigatingthat, trying to find people and
resources that really can helpyou, and just really be
impatient, I mean it really is aprocess and I think as long as
(11:39):
you have that in your mind, Ithink there are days you're
going to get absolutely nothingdone and that's okay.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Yes, and it's okay.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
It's better to be okay because it's absolutely
going to happen.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yes, yeah, so when you got here, what is something
that surprised?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
you, um, I think the pay, I think the pace.
I knew I lived a very full lifeand a very hectic life up in
the United States and I think Iknew I was going to have to slow
it down.
I think I didn't know thereality of what that meant or
looked like until I was actuallyhere.
So I think that my biggestthing I wish I did before I came
(12:15):
here was learn the languagemore.
Thing I wish I did before Icame here was learn the language
more I would have.
I take Spanish lessons onlinenow and I do the Duolingo on the
computer.
In hindsight, I should havestarted that probably two years
ago, even though I didn't knowwhen I was coming.
I knew I was coming.
I think that would have beenreally, really an asset to have.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Yes, I think that some people think and I,
somewhere in my mind, I feltthis way too.
You feel like you're going toabsorb.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Spanish somehow, right, yeah, absolutely.
And everyone says oh, you'lljust pick it up.
And you, you know, in the firsttime you're somewhere and no
one speaks English.
You're like I'm not pickinganything up, right?
Speaker 4 (12:52):
now Nothing absorbs at all, right?
No, it just bounces off you.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
In fact it's more confusing than I thought it
would be.
So that would be, I think, areally good thing for anyone to
just even just the basics.
You don't have to go full on,it's just get, just start, just
start.
So, because when you're hereand you're trying to navigate
everything else, it's one morething that is, it seems
stressful at the time.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yes, I agree.
So how are you adapting?
How long have you been hereagain?
We've been here full time forthree years, and how's it going?
I?
Speaker 5 (13:23):
think it's going well .
I was.
It was funny because I was justtalking about this with
somebody and I said I think ittook me two years to adapt and I
know that sounds like a longtime, but I think the people
that I have talked to thathaven't adapted well or have
actually left already.
They didn't give themselvesthat time.
I said I think the first yearbecause we are in a society in
(13:43):
the United States where we workso much, we really don't have a
ton of hobbies Like.
So I think when you come hereyou're like I have, I want to do
all these things.
So I think the first year I waslike in everything I'm like
I'll try that, I want to trythis.
And I think then the secondyear is kind of like when you
hone in on really what moves youor what you want to actually
put your time into.
So I think it really takes twoyears to really find your groove
(14:07):
.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
That is true.
That's about where I was atlast year, to where I started
painting, which is interestingenough because I met you through
the Akamal Rock, so you're notone that's just gonna like.
You said, you start, you gofull all in so, the Akamal Rocks
Facebook page has what was it?
7,000, over 7,000 followers,and that's how we connected when
(14:31):
we first started seeing eachother and painting rocks
together.
That is amazing.
So what's that whole focus on?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
together.
That is amazing.
So what's that whole focus on?
So I started that actually whenI was teaching in New Jersey.
Like I said, I taught childrenwith autism, so we kind of did
that and started hiding themaround the community and we
would write good notes on themand things like that.
So it really took off there andI got such positive feedback.
I got emails every single weekof people that would find it and
just have had some informationgiven to them that was so sad or
(15:02):
so upsetting.
And then they find this rockand they really changed their
day or changed the way they out.
You know, they felt like thatwas meant to be and I always
think that, like the rock findsthe person, like whoever needs
to find that message, andbecause it was so received, so
well, where I was I when I camehere for over the five years
before I moved here full time, Iwould bring bags with me and
(15:24):
start doing it.
And the same thing the kidshere loved it.
Um, I went to the schools andwe did it.
Um, they would hide it to eachother.
I mean, they, they got a kickout of it because they would
just hide it in the Pueblo andthe kids would find it Um.
So it's just kind of a thingthat all ages can do and it's
just brings the communitytogether.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Maybe if you're just having that kind of day that you
just need someone to say yougot this or you know a message,
that's just simple and so whenwe drove from Utah to Akamal I
had a big bag of rocks andeverywhere we went, yeah'd drop
off a rock, I'd Google andresearch the city and I still
(16:01):
get messages from people thatthey're re-hiding.
But it made their day.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
You are so right and it's so easy and I mean you just
need really a Sharpie.
I mean you don't even needpaint.
If you don't want to, you canjust write a message.
So I think it just brought somuch positivity to where I was
in New Jersey and then here.
It just brought so muchpositivity to like where I was
in New Jersey and then here, um,and we figured out they've been
in every country or every.
There've been over a hundredcountries that the rocks from
Akamal rocks have been in.
(16:26):
So that's crazy.
I mean people, everyone wasexcited to take them on every
vacation they went to.
And it's just, it's such aneasy thing.
And again, you know, it doesn'tmatter what age you are.
You know, I've done it witholder people.
I've done it with older people,I've done it with kids, I've
done it with preschoolers, wherethey just paint them.
You know, just paint them andthen don't write.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And it's just, it's cool, it's fun to find when I
find them.
Yeah, I find it.
Look at it.
Take a picture, post.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Yeah, it's just happy , it is it's just an easy thing
that everyone can do.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
That is true.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Absolutely so what do you hope happens when someone
finds a rock?
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I hope they really just get a connection, like with
something like other than.
I mean, if you're having areally bad day and you feel like
this is, you know, you're justjust tired and exhausted and
like it just makes you happy orjust gives you like someone
cares or um, and when you're ina community like Akamal it's a
small community so, like youknow, someone in the community
did it so it kind of just givesyou a feeling of like oh, there
is, there are people that care,or there are people that are
looking out for us it's aninvisible support system for you
(17:27):
.
It really, it really is, and Idon't know who it is but
somebody cares about you.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Yes, exactly, and I think in a small community it's
really cool because they knowit's one of their neighbors did
it.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
So you're involved with that as well, but you're
also involved with the localschool and the sport pickleball.
Yes, this is another thingwhere we were able to come
together and help with thepickleball.
Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
So when I first came down here the first year, I did
the Akamal Rocks and all theschools and that was great and I
kind of felt like once Iintroduced that they can take it
and go with that there was.
I didn't need to keeprevisiting that.
So then the second year we dida weaving project with a factory
that recycled socks.
So they gave us that and weweaved potholders for the
families.
So that was year two.
(18:14):
So then year three, when I wastalking to the principal or the
director of the school, wewanted to come up with something
that we didn't need to keepbuying resources or that I
didn't have to keep going to theUnited States and getting
things to bring back for us tobe able to do something.
So we kind of looked around atthe community and said, like
what do we have here alreadythat we can build upon that?
They don't necessarily need me.
Like I can introduce something,but then the kids can take on
(18:37):
this.
So Pickleball was it.
I mean they have beautifulcourts and it's accessible to
everyone.
So that's kind of where we wentwith that.
So we started figuring out howto get the nets down here and
the paddles, and thank you,erica, because you helped us
tremendously.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
That was a generation the shed from Ogden, utah.
Yeah, all their members are theones that donated their gently
used paddles or they purchasedthem.
It was unbelievable andgrateful for our friend Linda,
who travels to visit us, and shebrought them all in for the
kids.
Yes, it was something I wasvery passionate about.
(19:14):
We wanted to give back to thecommunity and this was a way to
help, but I'm grateful foreverybody.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Yes, it really was, and I feel like going forward.
It's a reasonable thing that wecan.
If we need new things a paddleis not so hard for someone to
bring down, or people don't mindgiving gently used or ones that
you know they upgrade it.
So I feel like far after Idon't you know I if I stopped
doing this.
It's something that the schoolhopefully can continue
themselves or get morevolunteers to help with the
(19:42):
school.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
You do amazing.
When I watched you with thosekids, you're very patient with
them, but you do amazing and Ican see them.
They enjoy themselves, they'reexcited to play, they want to go
and play and I love one thing Ilove many things, but the one
thing the little girls aregetting involved, yes, which in
(20:04):
the tradition little girls don'tdo that they're more taught to
stay at home.
They're taught you have toclean, you have to start doing
women stuff in the house,because they still believe in
that.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
And we saw that in the beginning.
So to see those girls going outthere and trying.
It's amazing.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Yes, when we started, the girls really did not want
to interact at all.
They really didn't want anypart of it.
We almost had tears at onepoint for some of them.
They really just didn't havethat exposure.
They didn't have thatexperience and within three or
four weeks they were complainingabout getting the middle court
or what court they wanted so Isaid like I mean, it was such a
great and they weren't puttingup with it like if it was their
(20:44):
turn on the court.
You know they let everyone, theyspoke up and I thought that's
good.
This is really cool, it is theygot some self self-assurance
they really did yeah wow, verycool so how old are the kids
that are in this?
They're're 12 to 14.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Okay, okay.
Yeah, that's an impressionableage to learn a sport and it's
yeah.
They're probably pretty good atit at that age, you know.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
And they have a lot of energy and when they fall,
they bounce which we all havelost over the years.
We do not bounce back up.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
We see that at pickleball that we play.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Nobody bounces, nobody, nobody bounces.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
I actually watched them, and I think he literally
just bounced back up and didn'tskip a beat.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
So we, we fall Um.
I won't, I won't see you forthe next week.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Exactly, and I need a couple of people to help me yes
.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
So what do you personally get out of Um?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
I think because well, cause we said it, COVID, I
didn't think at the time I wasready to not be with children.
I did that for 25 years.
I really didn't know anythingelse and I love it.
I really love working with kids.
So I think just exposing themto something that they might not
have been exposed to I think iscool and I just love
interacting with them.
I find them very funny.
(21:53):
I find them the energy theyhave is just infectious.
I mean, you know, you go inthere tired and within within
five minutes you're runningaround and they're just so
appreciative, they're sorespectful and I just really
love it.
I love the school and theteachers I work with are there,
are wonderful and so patientwith me.
Um, we do incorporate Englishevery week.
We have vocabulary words thatwe do every week that I emailed
(22:16):
um, emailed the teacher beforewe see them, and I usually email
like a little video clip ofwhat we're going to do.
So, they're aware of what's.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
That was my question, Like how do you communicate
with the kids?
Do they know English enough ordo you know enough Spanish that
you can?
Speaker 5 (22:31):
I.
I feel like it's a little bitof a mix.
So I do give them the words forkind of what the lesson is
going to be.
So it's usually between five toten words a week that they'll
learn of like.
So it was like net and courtand paddle and things that
they're going to hear over andover again.
That, like, if volunteers come,it's kind of like some people
don't have any spanishbackground, so it's kind of like
(22:52):
, if they don't, the kids atleast know the words that we're
talking about for the game.
So I just send everything tothe teachers, usually the day
before, and they go over at themorning before they see me.
So we kind of go from there.
Um, some of these there aresome of the kids are pretty good
.
Um, there are a few bilingualchildren and they really love it
like they, you know, step up,they correct me all the time and
(23:13):
how do you guys say?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
how do you guys call the sport pickleball, because it
literally translates to pelotade pepino.
See where a lot of people arestarting to call it pepino.
Okay, so what do you guys?
We call it pickleball,pickleball, just pickleball yeah
.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
So, um, the kids, like I just said, it's an
american sport, this is whatthey call it, it's and I
explained it was a funny name tous.
Also, it really doesn'tnecessarily make sense to us
either, like it's just kind of,and so they kind of laughed at
it and that's just where we wentwith it.
It's just well.
I thought it was too hard.
I tried to figure out how wewere going to translate it and I
thought it's just easier to saypickleball Right.
(23:49):
So they call it pickleball.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
So with you, you know , having limited Spanish, them
having limited English.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
There does seem to be , and I think this too whenever
I'm around kids around here.
There is something about justhaving joy and fun.
Yes, that's a universallanguage.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
It really is.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
And you understand each other way better than just
a spoken word.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
And I think a sport is so easy because you can show
them as far as, like, if we'rereally having a breakdown, like
I'll actually just show themwhat I'm saying and they're like
oh, and then they'll tell mewhat, all the words I was
missing, and I'm like okay, soit really is a learning for both
of us.
But and that's why I actuallylike this age group, because I
think they understand more thatwe don't understand the language
the younger kids it's a littleharder for them when I say I you
(24:35):
know, I don't know what you'resaying.
So as they get, you know, alittle more upset, but I think
the older kids it's a littleeasier.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
So what, amy, is your vision for the future, for both
the Pickleball Program and forthe Akamal Rocks?
Speaker 5 (25:04):
The Akamal Rocks.
I hope that the children justcontinue it in the Pueblo and I
do see that they do and I'llhelp them, especially with
different occasions, likeValentine's Day.
We did something real cute inthe park and it was just real
impromptu, like I just decidedthat morning I was going to do
it.
So I showed up and we justpainted red rocks and wrote like
I love you, and they thought itwas great and they gave it to
(25:25):
their grandmothers, theirmothers and all that.
So I'll continue with that.
The pickleball I see it growing.
I'm going to need more peopleis what.
I'm going to need more expatsto help, because this year I
really didn't want to overwhelmit, so I kept it to one day a
week and then I decided two daysa week and then I've had two
(25:46):
teachers email me since westopped because the season is
September till March 30th iswhat we decided, and then so we
had two teachers now thatreached out that want to start
it also.
So that would be four days.
So it's like I would be morethan happy to do that, but I
need other people to take someof the days because it just gets
to be a lot.
Yeah, so I just hope it wascontinues, and if it ever
(26:10):
doesn't for some reason, I wouldgive all the materials to the
school and they can also usethem at the school.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Sure, very, very cool .
So what advice would you havefor others who might be
considering an internationalmove?
What should they be thinkingabout that maybe they aren't
thinking about?
Speaker 5 (26:28):
I think the language is definitely something you need
to consider.
I think if you know that there'sa possibility you're going to
move to anywhere that speaksSpanish, you should start
looking into that, even if it'sa word a day or two words a day,
because when you're dealingwith all the other frustrations
that come up, that can at leastcalm you down a little bit, and
I also think people just reallyneed to give themselves a lot of
(26:49):
grace.
Like I said, it took me twoyears and you're going to have
days that it's frustrating andit's different, and I think you
just really need to realize thatyou're not extending the United
States here.
You're living in a differentcountry and it doesn't matter if
it's Mexico or another country.
You're moving to another areathat has a whole different
system that you have to learn.
(27:09):
So you've been somewhere for 40or 50 or 60 years doing it one
way.
You're moving now to somewhereelse.
So if you don't have thetemperament to be able to roll
with it, I think you're going tohave a difficult time.
I think if you realize thatit's an experience and it's an
adventure and you kind of takeit as that, I think you'll be
okay.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
And give yourself a couple of years.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
I think, and I think that's the most important
because I feel like people giveit a year and think you know I
didn't really assimilate to whatI thought it was going to be.
And you don't.
You take everything after thefirst year and you say, okay,
now, what do I want to do withthis?
I?
Speaker 3 (27:45):
think you have to be more open to it, really open to
it, not the idea in your head.
Like I mentioned, it took meabout two years to where we're
here and I speak the language,but I still struggled with the
idea of this.
Is home starting fresh?
Yes, so you have to be reallyopen to it and, like you said,
(28:05):
it's an adventure.
Speaker 5 (28:06):
Yeah and super open.
And I said like I remember theone time I was in Sedrali and I
went food shopping and I justcouldn't do it.
I got there and I had like atotal meltdown because I'm like
I can't translate all this stuff, I can't figure it out, and I
went home with nothing and I wasjust like we're going out to
dinner.
Like you know, and I think youjust have to realize, there are
going to be days that you getnothing done, and in the United
States I don't think we're usedto that.
Like we consider that like sucha bad thing.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Yeah, that's like some kind of big failure here.
That's just another day.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
It is, it happens weekly and you just kind of have
to not, yeah, we're going outto dinner.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Or when we first moved here, we had friends visit
and they were mewling down tome Now is the dumbest little
thing I know, I know it's.
If I can't find it, we don'tneed it, we'll substitute or do
something.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
And you learn all the substitutions.
But, again, that takes youprobably a year to really get
your groove on with cooking,because it's a whole different
cooking experience, I foundmyself speaking Spanglish.
I heard myself cursing a lot.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
I always thought you know, we've had friends that
people will mule back like hardshell taco.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
Hot taco shells.
And taco seasoning, americantaco seasoning, american taco
seasoning.
And it's like people.
I live in a world of tacos.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
I know the tacos are so much better than a lot of
people with salsa, the americansalsa they bring down like right
, it's crazy, it is yes, andeverything here is more fresh.
It is right, and you do reallylearn to substitute and you do
have different tastes after awhile so it's just that is you
really have to just giveyourself a lot of grace and
realize that, and a good senseof humor does never hurt
(29:48):
anything.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
So oh no, that first those first two years.
Like I said, I was juststressed and my husband Chris,
he just laughed and helped.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
That helped me out a lot, it lot, because there's
nothing you can do, and if itdoesn't get done, it just
doesn't get done.
It doesn't get done and it'sokay.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
So what are some of the tips that you would give
people that want to make themove here?
Speaker 5 (30:12):
I would say I was fortunate enough to be have the
place for five years.
That was really um huge for me,because I'm a planner and um
just being dumped here, I wouldhave probably been very upset
and not been able to navigate it.
Um, I, my biggest thing wouldbe rent where you're going to go
or where you think you want tolive, because I think when you
(30:34):
buy, you feel trapped and youthink that, oh my goodness, I
can't leave now.
So I would say, rent um whereyou think you want to go and I
think that, oh my goodness, Ican't leave now.
So I would say, rent where youthink you want to go.
And I think also, come atdifferent times of the year.
If you come every time atChristmastime, that's what
you're going to see.
You're going to see that kindof weather.
Come at different times of theyear, see different weathers,
see different seasons here,because even though it's always
nice and hot, I mean in thesummer it's hot, hot, it's hot,
(30:57):
hot.
So I would think, explore whereyou want to go and if you come
here and you don't like it andyou're renting, then go to
another place.
It doesn't mean Mexico is notfor you, it might just mean,
this area is not for you.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
I agree, Exactly yes.
So one of the traditions thatwe have on this podcast I don't
know if you've listened to it isa thing we call K Padre, K Malo
, and it's one thing that we rewe really love about living here
in this area, and one thingwe're we don't say we hate it,
but it's something that we'restill adapting to.
So, would you have one K Padreand one K?
Speaker 5 (31:29):
Malo, the good is easy.
The people and the community,the people here I have are so
warm and have welcomed me and um, that I just am so grateful for
the, the, um, the, I would say.
the electricity can be a littlebit of a as I live with uh at
wifi for five days now.
(31:50):
Uh, I think electricity andbeing having a sense of humor
with that um can be difficult.
So you just have to realizethat's part of it.
And if you get mad, it's notgoing to change it.
It doesn't change.
So it's just you know they'recoming in 24 hours or maybe a
couple weeks.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Right.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
You know.
You just never know.
People in the States might notrealize what you mean by the
electricity, but we all know.
Yes, yes, you can loseelectricity.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Yes, so that, I think you know, is just again.
It's just part of the adventureand if you take it that way,
you'll be okay.
I agree.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Well, thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Thank you for having me.
We appreciate you taking yourtime.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
And we appreciate what you do with the kids and
the Akamal Rocks is amazing.
Thank you so much, so peoplefind that when do they find
Akamal?
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Rocks.
It's on Facebook, so it's justunder Akamal Rocks, just look up
.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Akamal Rocks yes.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Yeah, very good, and for more on Pickleball, contact
Expats Like Us via email andwe'll talk about, we'll tell you
about Pickleball if you'recoming to the area too.
So, all right, thank you.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Amy, thank you so much.
Don't forget to.
Was that okay?
That was amazing, amy.
It was perfect.
Yes, okay.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
In each episode of Expats Like Us, we're going to
teach you a new Mexican slangword.
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¿ Qué onda?
(33:20):
Qué onda Mexican?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Spanish speakers, today's word is Que onda.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Que onda?
I have heard that word.
The guards, when I pull in,sometimes say que onda to me.
Can you spell that?
Speaker 3 (33:33):
First word Q-U-E, second word O-N-D-A.
Que onda.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
Que onda.
And what does that mean?
What's up, what's up.
Okay, so that's a greeting forsomeone that you're familiar
with.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yes, que onda.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Yes, all right.
Thank you very much, ericaKowalski from Mi 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
(34:11):
and all of our discussions onour YouTube page.
Follow, like, subscribe andleave us a review.
Thank you to today's guest, amyCody, for sharing her inspiring
(34:33):
life in Mexico with us.
Thanks also to today's co-host,erica Kowalski, and our
producers, chris Kowalski andSherry Bussey.
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
(34:56):
one particular location, but bymemories, events, people and
places that span the globe.
Thank you.
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