Notebook editor Teresa Ponikvar breaks down her commitment to expat life by the numbers
Minutes it took to decide to move to Oaxaca after husband lost his job in Hidalgo: 3
All Photos: Ibis Alonso
Properties viewed: 12
Properties with complete houses viewed: 1
Properties with houses with the roof caved in viewed: 1
Properties with unfinished houses viewed: 1
Properties with unfinished houses purchased: 1
Windows installed: 5
Doors installed: 3
Floors tiles installed: lots
Solar panels installed: 5
Times I reminded myself to never, ever, think about “The Ring” while looking down the well: 27
Trips to buy materials stalled by teacher protests in Oaxaca: 3
Trips to buy materials stalled by burro-pulled carts making alfalfa deliveries in Tlacochahuaya: 8
Building code inspections: 0
Locally-owned businesses supported: 10
Friends and family members who donated their expertise and labor: 8
Round trips from Hidalgo to Oaxaca: 5
Households slept in while waiting for house to be finished: 3
Lots for sale nearby: 15
Family members and friends who have expressed interest in buying one of these lots: 6
Number of times I insisted to the neighbor that I didn’t want a puppy: 3
Number of puppies given to me anyway: 1
Sad, mangy dogs evicted from property after the arrival of said puppy: 3
Money left in our bank account in US dollars: $53.74
Nights we’ve slept in new house: 2
Nights we’ve slept insanely well and woken up to the sunrise over the mountains in new house: 2
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6 Comments... join the discussion!
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Cute place
And what a pup!↵ -
This almost made me cry! I’ll be back in Oaxaca on Monday night–we definitely, definitely need to have a noche de chicas with tlayudas! A quick by the numbers (maybe I’ll write a full one a week from now):
Number of ecstatic yelps I’ll let out seeing Jorge at the airport: 20
Bowls of homeade caldo de pollo I’ll eat after arriving: 3
Number of sighs I’ll emit upon eating the first breakfast of chilaquiles verdes: 10The rest remains to be seen.
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Gorgeous! You out by Tlacochahuaya?
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Exactly–right between Tlaco and Lachigolo. Do you live around here?
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Awesome! Are you U.S. expat? I was in Oaxaca about 5 years ago, and read about some bad times there since then. Would love to hear more about your experience.
Suzanne↵
