Refrigeration, hot AND cold indoor plumbing, telephone, tomorrow the internet… it’s like living in luxury….

Except for the Rats…

Yup, we’ve moved into the new place as of last Friday. We are almost completely moved in, but after having to search for parts and install them for the propane stove and water heater, wait for the plumber, the telephone guy and registering for school, we’ve not been able to completely move our old stuff out of the motor home and into our very stationary cement apartment….

Finally today the plumber came to repair the kitchen sink (leaks and first no hot water, then no cold water) the bathroom sink (leaks and not hot or cold water- only a mix of hot and cold, depending on the mood of the sink…) the toilet, (accepts deposits, but does not “send them on”) and the huge leak of hot water from our pipes into the store next door. Hopefully after all is said and done, it’ll be done, but in Mexico, one never really knows if the repairs are finished.

The telephone guy came to install the line today- he had to drill through the solid concrete wall to get in, but it’s in… we just need to find a phone that is packed among our stuff either at the motor home or in storage on the US side. So, Lord willing, tomorrow we’ll have internet access and then our US phone with unlimited long distance to US and Canada… that’ll be nice... it’ll be like living in the lap of luxury.

We’re making some good contacts for being so early in the place and so limited in the language. Our landlord speaks a little English, as does his son-in-law. I’ve been able to learn more Spanish by talking with them, and when I’m stuck on a word, they help me out.

Our new home has 4 rooms- 2 bedrooms (1 for the kids and 1 for the parents!) a small bathroom with a tile laden shower (no bathtub, seems to be very few of those here) and a living room/kitchen/dining room. It’s a pretty nice place in a relatively quiet neighbourhood. Being next to the corner store, people drive by and walk by a lot, which gives a chance to be seen in the neighbourhood, which is nice. I get the feeling sometimes, that there is kind of a “there goes the neighbourhood” feeling amongst some folks when they see a family of gringos move in. The Tijuana/ Rosarito area is very different than the rest of Mexico because they see so many North American tourists and retirees that there is almost a “love-hate” relationship with them. They love the money that expands the economy, but not so keen with the cultural changes that have taken place.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the rat…yup, the rat. The other night we were putting the kids to bed when Jacob said to Shar… “I just saw a squirrel in the window”. The window he was referring to opens up from the bedroom into the store in the same building. “A squirrel? Are you sure?” Shar said. After looking at a looooonnnnnngg skinny, bald tail, it was ascertained that the “squirrel” was indeed a rat.

We’re thankful for the place to stay and are doubly thankful that some of the glitches are being worked out. We’ll post pics soon of the place and the donated furniture, etc. that fills our place! Praise God!

Blessings,

Until next time, may all your rats be next door (and stay there!)

Mike and Shar