Adventures in Mexico, I taught my son to drive!

You know what? I didn’t drive in Mexico for the first four years we lived here because it scared me! You see in Mexico they don’t quite have all the same rules as Canada or the US. In fact driving here can be kind of wild and chaotic. I have learned to embrace wild and chaotic – thus I now drive in Mexico.

Yes seat belts are the law and speeding is ticketed but as for the lines on the road? I think they are considered guidelines only. The idea seems to be to use every possible patch of pavement and having two lanes turn into three or four lanes is not uncommon.

So what did I teach my son besides the regular driving basics? Well a lot of it was informing him of the differences between driving in Mexico and other countries. For instance that you will find “x” driving habit in Mexico but if you go to Canada or the US this will not be allowed.

I taught him to

- Watch for people who may suddenly turn up on your right when you actually have your turn signal on to turn right.

- Watch when you want to turn left because other drivers may think you want them to go around you when you put on your signal so they will pass on your left

- Hesitate before you pull away at a light because someone may be running the other light.

- Watch for turtles crossing when driving in beach towns.

- That you don’t have to drive like dad if you don’t want to.

When he finished my classes, he took six hours of mandatory classroom drivers’ education (where he was taught things like the time it takes your vehicle to stop at various speeds and that no makeup should be put on in a car as an accident could force your makeup applicator into your eye causing serious injury). After that he took his written and practical test and received his own Mexican drivers’ license. Yea!

I also have to say that the Playa del Carmen Department of Licensing had the friendliest, nicest people working there that I have ever encountered. Everything was handled with a smile. The instructor for his classroom education even came and shook his hand as he held his new license.

So look out Playa del Carmen – you now have another new driver - my son.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/

Are you looking for a way to earn money so you can live in Mexico? Maybe these ideas can help.

Would you like to own property in paradise for only $40,000? This is my husband's development in Bacalar, Mexico http://www.losflamboyanesbacalar.com/. We are planning a house there.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – One Stop Real Estate, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Is Mexico safe?

My goodness there seems to have been a lot of negative publicity about Mexico in the US and Canada papers lately – something about Mexico not being a safe place for foreigners to be.

I don’t know about this first hand but I have been receiving numerous enquires about it in my email box. There is also the frustration I hear from friends who have businesses in Mexico that are less than impressed by the fact that tourists are being told to stay away.

Here is my short and sweet response if you were to ask me how safe I feel in Mexico. ….

I feel safer here than anywhere I have been in the world and remember I also have two children here. Would I live here if I felt we were in danger? Never. I do have options.

There are only two reasons not to come to Mexico . . .

1. You are a shady character and plan on getting involved in some illegal activity. If yes, I think you would be in danger anywhere you lived.

2. You are still scared. We attract what we are thinking about so if you fear the worst please don’t come because it may not be safe for you.

Now reasons to come . . . .

I have one hundred and one - starting with the beautiful weather, the beaches, the palm trees, shrimp tacos, the great exchange rate, the change of culture and the beautiful, gracious people.

The final choice is always yours; feel free to comment here. I'll get back to you when I get home from the beach.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/

Mexican New Year

Tonight is New Years Eve and there will be many festivities in town – parties, street parties, fireworks, great food and drinks. It probably sounds a lot like where you live – isn’t it interesting how in every country things can be so different and yet many things are the same?

We will be heading down to the beach again to ring it in. Are you surprised? I’ll be counting my blessings of how fortunate I feel to be able to live in Mexico with my husband and children as I gaze out over the ocean with the distant lights of Cozumel and the twinkling blanket of stars over us. I will probably have no jacket on (Big Smile).

I don’t know how late we will stay there but I do know that whenever we get home the neighborhood parties will still be in full swing. Well if we can’t sleep we can always join them.

By the way, one fun tradition that is observed in Mexico is the eating of 12 grapes - one with each stroke of the chiming bell at midnight. This is to bring good luck for the coming year.

May your New Year be full of fun, love, prosperity and travel.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

Our Mexican Gingerbread House

This is a tradition from Canada that we finally decided to reinstate last year. We did not make a gingerbread house for several years after we moved to Mexico because I was concerned ants would carry it away. Anyone who has lived in or visited a tropical climate will know the validity of my concern. Ants love food, especially sugar!

However last year our gingerbread house was just fine as we built it on a board which we placed on an upside down pie pan in a jelly roll pan. This created room for a moat that we filled with water. Ants can’t swim! Not one ant was found near the house. The only challenge the house encountered was the erosion caused by my 15 year old son slowly eating all the candy!

This picture is our result this year. From our house to yours, Merry Christmas!

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

One child in Mexican university

When we moved our kids here I had no idea at least one would want to stay in Mexico to go to University. Does it make a difference? Of course not, it is just a surprise that I did not think of it.
It makes perfect sense of course; she is now more comfortable with the expectations and culture of Mexico than of Canada. So she is staying in Mexico, but moving far away from us to go to a Mexican University.

I am proud of her and know she will adapt well no matter where she is and what she decides to do. I think that is a gift moving to Mexico gave our kids – the ability to adapt.

Moving to Mexico with kids? Life is always interesting.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Moving to Mexico - Are you thinking about it?

One of the biggest things that usually stands in the way of and stops us from living many of our dreams is FEAR.

What fear? Let’s see, perhaps it is thoughts like ….. Maybe I can’t, I have never done anything like this before, my neighbors haven’t done this – can I? What if I don’t like it? How can I make everything work? This is scary.….. But you still have this pull from within you to Mexico; you have this inner desire to move - what to do?

My suggestions are: Find the people, who have gone before you, they can be your advisors. Look for proof it can be done - my family did it. Research what you need to know – use the internet, the library, books, maps. . . . Ask the questions. There does not have to be many surprises or any FEAR on your road to Mexico.

Go ahead and do the research. There may be less to fear than you think.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

The Mexican Dream

What is your dream? Is it to travel to Mexico? Is it to live in Mexico? Is it to buy property in Mexico?

If you would like some help and some ongoing positive reinforcement, I have an online coaching club to provide empowerment for living all kinds of dreams and our newest section is focused on how to move to another country. I even have a free trail month as a gift to you. Click here to see the club.

I’m Suzanne Marie Bandick and I help people live their dreams. I started writing books and became a life coach because why should only a few of us have all the fun?

I also moved from Canada to Mexico. The fun continues every day.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

Mexico education for your kids

Do you have a desire to move to Mexico but are just not sure what to do about schooling your children?

The questions keep coming to you . . . . Is the schooling any good? Does anybody speak English? How much does it cost? How do we find out what schools are available to us? What do they do in the school? Will my kids fit in? Is Mexico even safe for the kids?

I know the questions because my husband and I had them all too! We are Canadians who have lived in Mexico with our son and daughter for seven years now. We spent one year in Puerto Vallarta and the rest here in Playa del Carmen. Our kids are now 15 and 17; they started their Mexican experience in Grades 3 and 6 and this year our daughter graduates!

To try to help you if this is your quest, I have written my thoughts and advice on this subject of educating your kids in Mexico in an article for Playa Maya News. You can go here to read the whole article. Feel free to let me know if you have more questions.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

Our Easter in Mexico

Yes, Easter in Mexico is a very important religious time of the year and I respect that very much. However, I sure wish they knew the Easter Bunny!

Do you know how hard it is to find Easter chocolates here? The only thing I can find is Kinder Surprise eggs because they have them available all year long.

I tried making homemade chocolate/ peanut butter eggs one year but they were a little tricky and I had to eat the embarrassing rejects and that was a little dangerous for my figure.

I do have teenage kids so you would think that the chocolate becomes less important – you would think. My son however has impressed upon me how nice chocolate would be!

So the kids may find some Kinder Eggs, some assorted chocolate bars and some books this year. Yep, my Mexican Easter Bunny brings books!

Now to hide the chocolate so that it will not melt . . . . . . .

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/

To live in or visit Mexico - is that your dream?

Are you trying to find a way to make your move to Mexico? Not sure where to turn, what to do or how to make the transition? I understand - I've been there and that is why my new coaching club may be of help!

I even have a surprise. Are you ready? The Live Your Dreams Coaching eClub now costs only $9.95 US to be a member. Yep, you read it right. See, your first dream may have just come true – that was easy!

What is your Dream? Dreams do come true at the club!

The "Live Your Dreams" Coaching Club offers coaching, empowerment, information, support and group interaction on how to live all of your dreams. Say goodbye to any negatives in your life and step into the positive! We have 2 live coaching calls a month, new live your dreams tips and ideas every Monday, a forum to ask questions and discuss concepts and so much more!

Why the great deal? I want to reach more people. The fun thing about dreams is that often everyone wins! I love that! Do you?

Here is what Traci said after a one 1/2 hour coaching session on Friday:

“Hi Suzanne, We had a great weekend !! Not only did I build sand castles but I went IN the ocean on a big pink floaty with my daughter... I never actually get beyond my ankles so it was pretty cool for her (and me).

I have also been practicing my positive thinking and guess what... made a big sale this morning. I guess this stuff really works. We all seemed a bit calmer this weekend with my new attitude.”
Thank you! Traci

My question to you is: Would you like to experiencing being in the flow of life? Where everything seems easy? Because it is possible to live every day like that if you choose to.

Receive the focus, empowerment and encouragement to make your dreams come true by become a member of the Live Your Dreams Coaching Club Master Mind today.

Experience it all for only $9.95 a month! Prices may later go up - but yours will stay at this for as long as you are a member.

Click here to see all the details. Don't put this aside. Go there now to see the benefits.

I have one request. I would love for you to bring a friend. Yes, you can even bring more than one! In fact I would love to have your help to get the word out by sending this invitation to everyone you know. No prejudging who might be interested in this - how would we really know? Would you do that for me? Thank you in advance! You are wonderful! I hope you already knew that.

When like minds come together, there is no telling to what heights we can reach!

We all have a dream and it may be easier to achieve if we don't feel like we are all alone.
Join the club that can empower you today for only $9.95 US a month!
Don’t forget to spread the word.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/

New Years Eve in Playa del Carmen

How to have fun on New Year’s Eve in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Here are my best top 5 suggestions for enjoying New Years Eve in Playa del Carmen, Mexico:

5) Only drink Coke. If you drink enough cokes you can get quite a buzz! At least I do because I don’t usually drink anything with caffeine. The trick is to avoid the Rum. Then you get the buzz without the hangover.

4) Hang out on the beach – there is nothing quite like bringing in the New Year with your feet in the sand as you gaze out upon the moonlit ocean. Enjoy the people and watching the stars. Also you can drink your cokes there.

3) Find someone who has a house on the beach and get yourself invited there for a party.

2) Walk along 5th Ave. close to midnight. The restaurants seem to have all their clocks set at slightly different times, so you can probably catch at least three different countdowns to bring in the New Year.

1) Plan to go to bed early so that you can go for a New Years Day morning swim in the ocean.

Ah, what a life!

Happy New Year from our tropical holiday hut to yours!

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com

After Christmas in Mexico

How do we all avoid a post Christmas let down once all the gifts have been opened, the turkey has been devoured and all that is left is the clean up? Even in Mexico, we can suffer this fate! This year let’s be prepared!

Plan a day at Xel Ha or Xcaret. If you are not in the Riviera Maya, I’m sure that you can find another adventure park or activity. Then again, you could just come here!

Go to the beach.

Plan a day on a catamaran.

Visit other towns or states in Mexico.

Plan an after party with friends and marvel at how well you managed over the holidays.

Plan a trip to somewhere cold just to be different. Book a ticket to somewhere warm again for the next day as you will probably find it too cold.

Start planning next Christmas! It is never too early to avoid the frenzy.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com

Christmas in Mexico Top 10

Today I’ll share with you my top 10 things to do if you are spending Christmas in Playa del Carmen, Mexico this year.

10) Go to the beach and build Santa’s house out of sand. Paper towel rolls make a great mold for the posts. Don’t forget to add the North Pole sign post. Paper or plastic reindeer are optional, but do add a more realistic look. Skip the candy – too messy with the sand – sand on your tongue is just yucky.

9) Make some pretty red and green margaritas. The green ones are lime and the red ones are strawberry (frozen strawberries of course because we don’t grow strawberries in Mexico!). Drink them while you eat corn chips with a choice of red or green salsa.

8) Put on suntan lotion and go Christmas shopping on 5th Ave. Buy an inflatable pool floaty toy shaped like a palm tree for yourself and towels that say “Playa del Carmen” for everybody else.

7) Rent a kids Christmas movie that you know really well and watch it in Spanish and giggle because the voices are different and sound funny.

6) Take your new palm tree floaty and go for a polar bear swim in the pool – the pools are cold here at Christmas time! Have Abuelita (Spanish for Grandma) brand hot chocolate ready for when you come out. It’s the best - all pre spiced and everything!

5) Decorate a palm tree with twinkle lights and red balls as your Christmas tree.

4) Plan a party and invite mariachis to play the music. This is a good time to serve more red and green margaritas, and your salsa. You can also show off your palm tree.

3) Buy some poinsettias to decorate your place and then after Christmas you can plant them outdoors and they will live!

2) Take a picture of yourself at the beach wearing a Santa hat and send it as a Christmas card to all your friends who live far away. If you want to get creative, take it in front of the Santa house you made out of sand. Very impressive!

1) Last but obviously not least; put tacos out for Santa and chili flavored chips for the reindeer. They look forward to coming to Mexico every year because we have the best snacks!

Merry Christmas to all!

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/

Does it really feel like Christmas in Mexico?

Does it ever really feel like Christmas in Mexico? Well not exactly at this moment. You see I originally come from a land of snow at Christmas. Playa del Carmen does not get any snow.

So, I have the decorations up, and the tree up, but still no special Christmas feeling ... hmm, what to do??

I am thinking the following may help ..... paper snowflakes on the windows, rolls of cotton batting laid out across the lawn, the setting up of a live nativity scene in our yard, creating an outdoor fireplace, twinkle lights everywhere, installing air conditioning so that I can turn it up really high, and playing my Christmas carols full blast every minute of everyday until Christmas.

That should help! Does anyone have any pine scent? Wait until my husband gets home!

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit www.LiveYourDreamsCoaching.com

Christmas shopping in Mexico

Christmas shopping in Mexico can be so easy. First, put on lots of suntan lotion .......

Then, if you are on the west coast of Mexico, head to the beach as there you can lounge or have dinner while all the vendors come to you. How much easier can it get? Before you know it, you will have purchased gifts of silver, shells, beads, wooden carvings, kites, candles, blankets, and assorted clothing.

If you are on the east coast of Mexico, vendors are not allowed to come to you on the beach, but don't worry as a stroll along 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen will satisfy all your gift requirements.

Anywhere else in Mexico, just visit the local market and you will find many unique and inexpensive gifts. Remember however you cannot travel with chickens. Best to stick with the local handicrafts and art work.

Now, who gets this awesome sculpture of a monkey carved out of a coconut? Really nobody needs to fight over it - I bought 5!

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit www.LiveYourDreamsCoaching.com

Life in the slow lane of Mexico

Life seems to move more slowly here in Mexico. Do you need to get used to that? Yes, very often I remind myself that it is a good thing. In Mexico, things are usually done at a different pace and can even be looked at with a different level of importance.

Line ups are good because they give you a chance to notice things like what people are wearing and they also give you a chance to write to do lists. When they tear up all the roads at the same time (just visit Playa del Carmen now to experience this wonder) that is good because you cannot go anywhere and you are forced to relax. Of course I work from home, so I relax all the time and don’t usually need to go anywhere.

Some days it can be tough to get anything done, but what really needs to be done anyway? I say relax and enjoy as that is what life should be about! I guess I moved to the right place then.

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Puppies born in Mexico

My friends dog just had puppies at my house! This morning at 5:15 AM the first was born and six hours later number two was born. Will there be a third puppy in six hours more?

Here is the story: My good friend left for four days in Mexico City to visit her mother and left me her dog. She did not know when she booked the trip her dogs due date. When she left me her dog - she was supposed to have 10 days more to go ... but ... well you now know the rest!

The truth is, she could not have given me a more beautiful present. Seeing puppies being born is one of life's miracles and I just got to see that miracle first hand. Thank you my friend.

Shall I stamp the puppies made in Mexico?

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Day of the Dead in Mexico

In Spanish it is called Dia de los Muertos.

When we first moved to Mexico I did not understand this holiday or this concept. As with everything we do not understand, it even scared me a little. Why did Mexicans display skeletons and skulls made out of sugar?

It turns out that the whole emphasis is on celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life; the belief is not that death is the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life. Now this I can get behind.

Alters are made and graves are decorated to celebrate the lives of loved ones passed away. If artistic skeletons are used, they are often adorned with the type of clothes the deceased would have worn. Their favorite food and drink and cherished possessions are put out in hopes their spirits will be enticed to visit.

This special time is celebrated November 1st and 2nd. I better get preparing!

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

A great Mexican house painter

I made my painter feel bad on the weekend. First, let me tell you we have found the best painter you could ever hope to have. He comes from Chiapas and really knows his stuff. He painted the outside of our house just before Hurricane Wilma and we were practically the only people who did not have to repaint their house!

He is here again to paint our wall and gate now, as well as the inside of our house. So what happened? Saturday I arrived home to find the metal on our gate painted orange! Turns out it was only the rust protector coat and black will be painted over top but he saw my initial reaction when I returned home and was so upset that I seemed upset that today when he came to work he brought me a huge container of apple juice as an apology for upsetting me!

Only in Mexico you say? Maybe. All I know is that I feel pretty darn lucky to have found such a great guy to paint our house. Now, how do I apologize to him for making him feel bad?

He is in Playa del Carmen for six months. Let me know if you need a painter!

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com

Holiday from Mexico

How interesting does that sound? We are taking a holiday away from Mexico.

Shawn and I are going to go play in another playground for a week to celebrate our 24th Wedding Anniversary! We are headed to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A holiday is one thing, but we would not want to get too far from a beach and palm trees!

I hope we remember the English language! Not to worry, I hear a lot of people speak Spanish there! Whew! Then I will not be too homesick. Maybe we can even eat some Tex-Mex! You know the stuff with ground beef and sour cream and cheddar cheese. Believe it or not I miss that – you just can’t get it here.

Don’t tell my husband, but I am looking forward to shopping there! I always need baking supplies that you can’t get here and I may also need just a few other things….. like a gift for our house sitters (someone has to take care of our garden!).... and maybe still a few other things....
How many bags can we return with?

Enjoy the Adventure! Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick

P.S. My book: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com