life in limbo

oh you know. just me y
mi "biker" tattoos
:)

Hola mis amigos. Just wanted to check in and let everyone who is wonderin’ know how the little gringo and I are doing. We are still living and breathing and even having some laughs here and there.  Trying to be positive and look for the silver linings. Life moves on and I believe that the last few months have helped shape and change us both, in positive ways. Thank you so much for all the messages, comments on my blog, emails, texts and phone calls; I don't have the words to describe how much they mean to me. It's been a rough couple of months, and your words of support have had a huge impact on me. Muchas gracias. Estoy muy agradecida.

HA, I'm not unemployed! I'm the official family babysitter.
these are just a few of my nieces and nephews.

Caden is doing very well. He is really flourishing in his new school and received his first progress report. A’s in everything except for math, but he’s related to me, so I’ll give him a pass on that. He had a tough first morning, because he’s got a touch of social anxiety (got it straight from his momma). A few tears that morning -from him, too- but he came home laughing and happy at the end of his first day, so there’s that.  He is overjoyed to get to hang out with his cousins on the daily and doesn’t even really notice me unless he’s hungry.

He’s happy. I’ll take it.

first day of school with his best
friend and cousin

Caden and Jacob with their uncle Joshy
after a cub scouts derby race

               bookworms


Me….I’m doing alright. Moving upwards and onwards. I’m still in limbo with what’s next for us and exploring all my options. No job yet, but I just attended substitute orientation for Caden’s school district, so I’ll substitute and tutor for awhile, until I figure it out. Sitting in a boardroom, surrounded by fellow teachers and thinking about being back in the classroom next week really made me miss my little mexicanos back in Durango. It’s going to be hard for any new class to live up to those kiddos.

I’ve been job searching and contemplating going back to school for my master’s degree in social work. Aiming for the Seattle area, but with me, ya never really know. I’ve had a couple of recruiters contact me about jobs in China and Korea, but I think I’m going to put the brakes on the international teaching for now. Unfortunately, the excitement I originally felt at those opportunities has waned. I hate to let this one experience water down my enthusiasm and interest, but at this point, that is how I feel.

forearm yoga stand!

Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to fill my time by getting back into my running routine. I was a regular runner before I moved to Mexico, but didn't do anything active for the months I was there, so things started out a bit rough, but I'm up to nine miles now, and have my sights set on participating in a 1/2 marathon.  I hope I don't die.

little dude tries, too

Started experimenting with yoga. In the process, was reminded that I'm not an indestructible teenager anymore. I've had a couple of falls that Caden found quite hilarious.

 That being said, I am getting better and really enjoying it.

I made rajas con queso!

I’m also on a never-ending quest for GOOD Mexican food. Tex-mex just doesn’t suffice after living in Durango. I pop in any authentic looking Mexican supermarket, restaurant or taco truck I see, with mild success. I also have tried to replicate some of the recipes….it’s been, uh….interesting in my kitchen lately.
I did find a phenomenal taco truck that is near my brother's house. I figured out it might be okay because every time I pass it, it is swarmed with Mexicans and reminded me so much of Durango. I even got to practice my broken Spanish with the lady who works the window.

chili relenos…nom nom nom

I have no words to describe how impossibly happy I am to find
this taco truck. BEST. GORDITAS. EVER.

So that’s it for me…..for now.  I know that many of you want me to address the developments, or lack thereof, in Durango and what happened, but I just don’t have anything constructive to say about that, and nothing new has happened. I honestly don’t think he will ever be held accountable, and there just isn’t much I can do about it, at this point. I’ve passed on the information to parents and administrators. No one who has any authority has contacted me and as of this moment, have STILL not been paid for my last month of work. A former coworker at ASD told me that the director said he'd quit if they paid me my last month's salary. My recruiters have dropped the school and will no longer recruit teachers for him, but other than that, I don’t expect much else to happen. Although, there is always karma. 

Many of you sent me personal messages in the form of comments on the blog; I didn’t post those because of the nature of some them, but I have no way to respond to you because you posted it as a comment and didn't include your email address; please, if you’d like to discuss something with me or ask a personal question, email me at laurenandcaden@gmail.com and I will be happy to answer you.  I am very appreciative and humbled at the amount of support I received. Saying that, I was also shocked at two very nasty messages, attacking me, personally. I realize that the world is full of bullies and people who hide behind computer screens in the world of modern technology, but in my naivety, I assumed everyone would be behind me and believe my words. I never thought I’d have to defend my character and although I know I should brush it off and not let it sink in, some of the things that were written did hurt. The idea that anyone would ever think I was a bad person, or a liar, or evil,  just floored me.  Granted, there were only two, but to you who sent those messages….did you ever meet me? Did you ever have a conversation with me? I mean….did you read any of my blog? At all? I wonder how you came up with your observations about me, because you obviously don't know me. It's hard to accept that someone has a negative opinion of me, but I just have to let it go. I know how manipulation works, now, and for those who are or were friends with the director, I understand that what I wrote wasn't an easy thing to read or accept. But that doesn't make it less true.  

As always, I miss you, my little readers at ASD and thank you to everyone who has read and kept up with our journey.

hugs and stuff



-Lauren