Oh Mexico...

Well, the days and weeks drag on with no noticeable change to our situation.  We're still unemployed, which is creating a bit of anxiety for both of us.  Luke was supposed to have an interview on Tuesday with a local non-profit - exactly the kind of work he wanted to be doing.  They cancelled the interview at the last minute, though, because of scheduling issues.  Supposedly they will reschedule at some point.  It's a bit frustrating, because we were both hoping that would turn into at least a part-time position.  Now, who knows when he'll be able to meet with them.

I continue my search for piano students.  Yesterday was a slightly more fruitful day than most.  I posted some ads around the park that's close to our house - Parque Espana.  I also went back to a bookstore I had found over the weekend, because I had noticed that they have a piano in their cafe.  I asked about coming in to play sometime and they said "Sure!  Whenever you want!".  So.  That means I just have to find some piano music and a piano to practice on.  I will hopefully have at least one of those things by the end of the week.

We're both having moments of wishing we were back home, which we try not to dwell on.  We want to do everything we can to make this work, since we put so much time and effort into getting here in the first place.  It's hard sometimes, though.

So, to counter our frustrations and feelings of discouragement, I've come up with a list of comforting and wonderful things from the past week (and one for the coming week).

1. We got to see our good friends, Claudia & Humberto, while they were in town for a wedding.

2. We spent a wonderful Saturday with Humberto's parents, who took us to "El Bazaar del Sabado" - a huge market featuring local arts and crafts.

3. A 3-day weekend!  Monday was a holiday, commemorating Benito Juarez (Mexico's 26th president and the first full-blooded indigenous Mexican president).  Mexico City on a normal day (weekday or weekend) is busy and very noisy.  Mexico City on a holiday weekend (when everyone apparently goes to Acapulco) is heavenly.  The roads are empty, you can take a quiet walk along virtually any street - I'm a big fan.  Anyone know when the next national holiday is?

4. I signed up on meetup.com, for an expat group that's meeting next week.  I'm looking forward to meeting some more English-speakers and, hopefully, making at least one new friend!

5. Luke came back from his Spanish lesson the other night with 2 white roses for me :-)  That spells happiness, no matter which part of the world you're in.

So, off I go for another day of searching and exploring...

(P.S. I promise we'll have some pictures to post soon.)