Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

Terror is being replaced by lists

March8

First let me say YES YES YES I will be taking my laptop and continuing to blog.  I can’t promise it won’t be boring but I will post at least a couple of photos each day.  I wouldn’t leave you all hanging like that!  And someone commented that there is a bagel shop in Antigua – hallelujah!  I love a good bagel with a cup of coffee in the morning (especially since I can’t have a cigarette with the coffee anymore).   

This morning I am starting to feel some excitement instead of just terror.  Of course that could have something to do with the thought of waking up to blue skies and warm sunshine instead of 15 degrees and snow on the ground.  Or it could have to do with my coming into work early to attend a meeting at my boss’s request only to find that the meeting was moved to 1pm.  Or it could have to do with waking up every morning to the face of my beautiful little girl.  The thought that in a month I will be picking up our daughter and never handing her back to a stranger fills my heart with joy (and a little additional terror knowing this is it – I’m a mommy hehe). 

Last night after my consignment sale success, I did some online shoe shopping.  My agency director and now many agency clients swear by a particular sports sandal as being a life saver on the cobblestones.  I have issues spending $100 on an ugly ass pair of shoes (a pair of killer boots would be another story entirely) especially when I can’t try them on first so I’ve been thinking about some less expensive options that offer the same features. I would really like to try them on but it is hard to find sports sandals at this time of year in this area of the country.  I figured this weekend I would try some of the big sporting goods stores in hopes of find some in stock that I can try on.  So in lieu of buying shoes, I followed the sage advice of some other moms and ordered an inflatable tub for Sabrina, an inexpensive baby monitor, and The No Cry Sleep Solution book to take with me.  I’m hoping that the book means neither of us will be reduced to tears at bedtime.

I’ve been making lists. I’ve mentioned my proclivity for list making in the past and moving to a foreign country apparently requires the list to end all lists.  I’m going to start making lists of my lists soon.  My latest list is a list of questions. 

Do I need to take sheets and blankets?  Or does that depend on where I live? Oh God, where am I going to live?
Should I take my own towels?  Someone said the apartments often have towels but they suck.
Kitchens are stocked decently?  Should I bring some sharp knives?  I can’t imagine trying to cut up pineapple with a dull knife.
I love to cook – should I bring some spices or can I buy what I need/want there?
Is the frig/freezer a normal size?  Are there ice cube trays or can I buy some somewhere?
Can I buy a bouncy seat and pack n play there?  Will it cost me a kidney to do so?
Are dairy products safe to drink/eat?  I need milk in my coffee and ice cream.
Is all of the food okay as long as you are aware of fruit/veggies needing washed or peeled?
Where do you do laundry?  Are there Laundromats?  I can’t imagine lugging Sabrina and laundry through town.
Any ATM or credit card problems? 
Are there normal stores where I can buy odd things?  Say I want a pitcher to make iced tea – is there some where to buy something normal like that? 
How hot does it get?  With no a/c am I going to be really uncomfortable if I am still there in June or July?
How rainy is the rainy season?  Does it just rain for a few hours a day or does it rain for days on end?
What if one of us gets sick?  Sabrina’s doctor is in Guatemala City.  Are there English speaking (and maybe US trained) doctors in Antigua in an emergency?

That is just a sampling of my questions list.  You should see the full version.  There is just so much to think about!

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