by Janet Blaser
Upon our return home, we knew what we had to do. We had to take the leap. We had to make a plan. We had to do what we felt in our hearts we needed to do. We booked plane tickets to return to Mazatlán in late June with the kids in tow. We would do some on-the-ground reconnaissance to see if we could actually, really, truly live in Mazatlán.
Ask any expat and they will tell you: The vacation experience is nothing like the living experience. And so we went, determined to get as much of the living experience as we could. We loved every minute. So much so, that after seeing a few homes, we signed a lease on a family home. When we returned to Chicago, we put our “forever home” on the market, bought five one-way tickets back to Mazatlán and began downsizing.
On October 15, 2016, my family of five boarded an airplane with 10 suitcases, eight carry-on bags, a whole lot of hope, excitement and a bit of trepidation and took off into our new lives as expats living in Mazatlán. We weren’t sure how it would turn out, but what we did know is that we could no longer live wondering, “what if?” We could no longer live according to the rules we were handed. We had dreamed about it, we had prayed about it, it was in our hearts to do it and so, we did.
Upon arrival we quickly busied ourselves settling in; getting appliances, setting up utilities, finding our way around. I’ll admit, for the first month or so, I wondered if we had made a terrible mistake. Tomorrow, I quickly came to realize, never really meant tomorrow; rather, whenever someone could do it, and I became concerned that indeed we would never have internet or gas or clean running water. My husband took it all in stride as he typically does, and helped our family navigate the transition.
Despite my plans to homeschool, when we were introduced to a nearby school that accepted kids as young as three years old, we quickly enrolled our kiddos so they could learn Spanish and we could get some time to work on our businesses. Managing homeschooling and business-building simultaneously just was not my jam. Plus, we figured this would be an excellent opportunity for the kids to acquire a new language and make friends their age. This decision turned out to be just like the decision we made to move to México in the first place: Perfect.
Between futból tournaments, ballet performances, school assemblies, parent-teacher events and online client consults, we were busy bees raising our kids and balancing all that comes along with expat life. As a result of this, we’ve learned to move with more patience, more understanding and to grant others (and ourselves) a bit more grace. Our lives have slowed down, which has given us the opportunity to savor the important moments; something we were unable to do in the States.
As we quickly approach the two-year mark since we embarked on this expat adventure, I look back and realize that this has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in life. My three children, who were just three, four and five when we left, are now fully fluent in Spanish, comfortably holding conversations with adults and kids alike, can read in both languages and are quickly becoming adapted to the cultural norms of those around them. They are true third-culture kids in every sense of the word.
As for my husband and I, we’re living life with more freedom and energy than we did before. We now have time to spend with one another, with the kiddos and with friends. We’re both working in our passion areas and we’re beholden to no one’s timeclock but our own. It’s been liberating and empowering to say the least. Knowing that we have the power to choose has been both a humbling and encouraging experience for us both.
We left America because we wanted more. We left because we knew that there was something out there beyond the everyday. We left because we wanted cultural experiences for our children that we could not provide in the U.S. We left because my Black husband and our two Black sons needed a chance to live without fear for their lives. We left because our freedom, our happiness, our livelihood and our discovery of self was important to us and we knew that we would not find it where we were.
We sought and we found.
But we had to leave America first.
Our family now resides on the beautiful island of Antigua in the West Indies. We are recent transplants, having only been here for three weeks at the time of writing. We have found Antigua to have many qualities and characteristics similar to those of Mexico and for that we are grateful. The people are warm, the beaches inviting, and unlike in the U.S., our children are appreciated, doted on and loved immensely by those around us.
Leaving America has most certainly been a blessing to our family. On the rare occasion we return stateside to visit family, we are often shocked at both the pace of life as well as the materialism we see. Living abroad gives you a different perspective. One that encourages growth, compassion, and a deeper understanding of your truest, highest self. We left America to discover something new and in return we found ourselves.
Gabriella M. Lindsay is a wife, mother of three, serial entrepreneur and a life management expert. A woman of faith, it is her passion and calling to teach women how to live a life by design by stepping into their ultimate purpose and greatness. She does this by employing organizational systems, business development and mindset enhancement strategies through programs, coaching and digital products. Gabriella and her family sold-it-all to move from Chicago, Illinois to the beachside paradise of Mazatlán, México in October 2016. There, her children attended a local school while Gabriella and her husband Vernon ran their entrepreneurial businesses online. She and her family currently reside on the Caribbean island of Antigua. She enjoys cold chai rooibos tea at her favorite oceanfront café and has a penchant for chicken tacos and rum cake. Gabriella and her family are active bloggers and have a vlog channel on YouTube. Learn more about them at https://www.lavidalindsay.com.
Acknowledgments
Nancy, Glen, Carole, Gail, Dianne, Carol—Thank you for always being there for me, with an opinion, a comment, your friendship, and most of all, encouragement, to do this book. It wouldn’t have happened without you all!
Lo de Marcos, Nayarit—The deep joy and healing that came from your beauty and tranquility is immeasurable. I will be forever grateful for my time with you.
About the Author
Janet Blaser has been a storyteller her entire life. She considers herself fortunate that her career as a journalist, editor and publisher involved her with great food, amazing places, fascinating people and unique events. Her work has appeared in numerous travel and expat publications as well as newspapers and magazines in and around Santa Cruz, California.
Originally from New York, she spent most of her adult life in Santa Cruz until moving to Mazatlán, Mexico in 2006. There she started M!, an English monthly magazine, and also founded the Mercado Organico de Mazatlán, a weekly open-air market where local farmers sell their organically grown produce and products.
She currently lives happily in a tiny town on the coast in Nayarit, Mexico, where she writes, gardens, surfs and is practicing the art of relaxation. Janet counts among her many blessings three wonderful children as well as a trio of delightful grandchildren.
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