DianaT
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Be careful where you point
Upon our arrival to our new second home in Bahia Asuncion, Shari took us to a number of places to introduce us to the really friendly people there.
It would be very easy to grab her everytime we head over the rise into town, and she would be very willing to go. After a while, however, she might
start looking forward to when we leave town, and we don't want that.
We know we need to venture out alone, learn, stumble make our mistakes --- we did it when we moved to Central America, and here we go again.
I needed some red thread and a needle and we found some in a small tienda. Without my dictionary in tow, I pointed toward the thread and said my
usual, como se dice. Answer was bikini, and there was a strange look on the faces of the mother and daughter proprietors.
Knowing that there are lots of local words, we thought, oh well, bikini sounds strange, but maybe that is what they call thread in these parts. So I
said in my limited
Spanish, I want a red one. Mother and daughter shot wondering looks at each other. She then pulled down the package of men's bikini underwear that
was next to the thread and we gasped---oh no.
We all had a good laugh as John with gestures and some spanish said he was too old for bikini underwear, especially red ones. We bought the thread
instead.
Bahia Asuncion is truly a small town. In less than two weeks we met more people than in five years in Imperial Beach. If someone wanted to hide out
and not be known or found, a fishing village in Baja would not be the place to be. They all know who we are by now.
Gloria, in one of the hardware stores is typical of what we have found there. Once they know we are not just tourists, but have a home there, they
want to help. Shari told us this would be true, and she was correct.
We had purchased several items and they were all bagged, but when we told Gloria we were going to be living there part of the year and wanted to learn
more spanish, out came everything from bag. Then item by item, we were quizzed and taught---cepilla de mano, tornillos, etc. And on return visits,
she insists we stay a few minutes and communicate in Spanish. We love it.
For us, choosing a small town in Baja was the right choice. We think we will have the best of both worlds. There are things about the bigger city
here in the states we love, and then there is the wonderful contrast of the tranquility of Bahia Asuncion, and so much to explore in an area unknown
to us. As John said one evening, life is simple in Bahia Asuncion, somehow more real, but also quite complex, especially with limited language
skills and learning the nuances of the culture.
Just sharing our beginnings in a new space.
Diane
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Roberto
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As I said before - you made a good - great choice. One of the best places on the peninsula to get a home, especially if you're looking for beachfront.
Sounds great! How much time do you plan on spending there?
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Al G
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Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Thank you Diane...with each post we get a little more color....understanding
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Roberto
As I said before - you made a good - great choice. One of the best places on the peninsula to get a home, especially if you're looking for beachfront.
Sounds great! How much time do you plan on spending there? |
Yes, a great choice. We really don't know at this point how much time we will be there. Right now we are thinking maybe 1/2 the year, but maybe more
--- back and forth a month at a time. Just don't know. It was really difficult to leave this time, but we contracted for more work and needed money
Thanks Al---I have been keeping a journal and it really is so different from so many places in Baja.
Diane
[Edited on 6-26-2007 by jdtrotter]
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fdt
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Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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You're gonna be just fine and I'm very happy for you both.
saludos
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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Diver
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Registered: 11-15-2004
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Wonderful stories but NO FAIR !!
The more you describe, the more I want to be there.
Soon.....
And thanks.
The more nice posts like this, the sooner I may convince my wife to make the move !!
.
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danaeb
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Registered: 11-13-2006
Location: San Diego; El Centenario
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Mood: groovy
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OMG Diane - I laughed until tears came to my eyes.
Three weeks ago, I left from San Diego to go to my own, finally-finished house in La Paz to begin getting things in order. Over the last several
months I corresponded with Les, another nomad who lives in the same development, and who had been renting in El Centenario for the last year while his
house was also being completed. So here was the perfect source for all my questions.
When we finally met, I felt like the neighbor from hell: where's the hardware store, where can I get coffee beans, where's the lumberyard???Also,
like you, I knew I would have to stike out on my own, with my long-forgotten high school spanish and find my way around.
One necessity was what I'll call 'the clicker', the thing that starts the fire. Since my new stove doesn't have an automatic pilot, this really was a
necessity for that first pot of coffee.
So after I found the recommended ferreteria, I approached the young woman at the counter. I had practiced what I was going to call this clicker
thingey - 'la cosa para empezar el fuego.' I made the motion of pulling the trigger, but before I could get all the words out she smiled and asked,
'pistola?' We both had a good laugh and then she pointed out the 'encendidores.' It's a word I'll never forget now.
I love this new adventure.
Dana
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake every time you repeat it.
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DianaT
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Diver,
Read our Pulpo y Lobos Marinos and then you will have to change your plans and get there sooner---besides, we just might collect all the arrowheads on
your land---you must protect your interests.  
We have even more stories, and we were only there for a couple of weeks---there will be more!
Dana,
Encendidores---have written it down---it really is an adventure. I remember in Honduras trying to describe a toliet brush---that was fun, but when it
takes 15 minutes and lots of hand language to get what one wants, one remembers the words. La Paz is a great city, have fun!
On edit---Dana, I really know what it is like to practice what one is going to say---get all the words, work on the grammar, and it may still be
wrong---or worse yet, it sounds really good and someone answers back in long sentences that I don't understand.
Diane
[Edited on 6-26-2007 by jdtrotter]
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It is really good to hear this... I am happy for you guys! If it works out for us, we might get down there after the El Rosario festival to see the
place in person... Please keep up the good posts, they confirm everything Shari has been telling us! I guess the bikinis must be for Juan, verdad?
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
It is really good to hear this... I am happy for you guys! If it works out for us, we might get down there after the El Rosario festival to see the
place in person... Please keep up the good posts, they confirm everything Shari has been telling us! I guess the bikinis must be for Juan, verdad?
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Do hope you make it down---we should be there then. It is really a great place, and yes we have left all of the bikinis in the tienda for Juan. Rojo
is just not John's color.
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Iflyfish
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I am really enjoying your adventure. Thank you so much for letting us in on your new life. This ain't practice. What an honor to share in what you are
doing.
Thanks,
I hope one day we will meet in Asuncion!
Iflyfish
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
I am really enjoying your adventure. Thank you so much for letting us in on your new life. This ain't practice. What an honor to share in what you are
doing.
Thanks,
I hope one day we will meet in Asuncion!
Iflyfish |
We have used your famous yellowtail picture to convince our kids that they have to come and visit us down there.
Diane
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BirdDog
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Location: Iowa
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Mood: Desperate to move to Baja
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It all sounds very interesting and exciting. Can't wait until my wife and I are down there stumbling through the same problems. At least we know
someone with experience. Like Diver said your post make us want to be there asap. Some day we'll all be spanish speaking gringo neighbors.
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Iflyfish
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I am flattered! If the ear to ear smiling faces don't do it, maybe the fish will
Love the pics!
Iflyfish
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