The Golden State


Hello everyone, here we are in California. We're still unpacking and my mind is trying to adjust. We are fine, still no routine until the children start school.


1. The road trip. It was beautiful driving along the Oregon coast. I would have rather moving there but I don't think there are tech companies for "el gringo".

2. Cali. Once in California, we stayed with cousins in San Rafael. The truck with our things arrived a couple of days later. The moving day was very intense, boxes, boxes and more boxes. "I don't want more boxes, take them home with you, please", but the movers weren't interested.
I truly thought we had a few things but I was wrong and now I feel like a hoarder even if I'm not one. Although, my husband thinks I have a tendency because I buy too much shampoo. I guess I'll start washing my hair with soap.
This move made me think that we really have too many things, and that's a shame because you don't need all this junk in your life.
Before leaving WA, I donated around ten bags of things to Goodwill and now we have five or so more.
GET RID OF THINGS NOW AND STOP BUYING MORE.

3. The house. We left a hill to come to another one but this is quite a hill. God bless automatic cars because if I had to drive a manual one like I used to, I would have a stroke at the top of the Stop sign two blocks before getting home. A STOP SIGN AT THE TOP OF THE FREAKING HILL!!! Who does something like that?
After the adventure on the hill, you arrive to a lovely pink house on Euclid Ave.  I'm very happy to live on a street with an actual name instead of a number (155th Ave NE, SE, etc.)
The house is old like most of the houses in the area. It smells old too. Cedar blocks are my best friends now, I put them in every cabinet and drawer.
For an old Berkeley house, this one is very nice. It has a garage, a backyard, spacious rooms, nice details and a view... THE VIEW, ladies and gentlemen is beautiful. Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, San Francisco, Marin.
The only complains I have are: a) The master bathroom is tiny. We call it the porta potty and the shower is as big as a coffin. b) The house was filthy, especially the kitchen. We spent a lot of our time and energy cleaning the dirty place.

4. People. They are genuinely nice and open. However, when this same nice people get in their cars they change. They're very unfriendly on the road. "I need to change lanes, damn it! Let me go" and they won't and then, you found the opportunity but the guy behind you honks and raises his hands, and I don't care.
Atención: This is Latino land! I feel like at home which is nice. I had a talk with the kids that now they have to be careful with what they say. We don't have a secret language anymore.

5. Driving. I was used to go down the hill at 40mph, now is 20mph. Local streets 25 mph, and you must drive at 25 mph, because there are radars and policemen behind trees or bushes ready to give you a ticket. I drive a bit nervous because of the crazy drivers, the speed, the pedestrians, the cops... I'm driving in a city now.

6. Job. I have a job at the same school where I used to teach before we left. It's going to be three classes in the second semester. I'm happy because it's a good way to start.


I'll have to start another blog with a different title now that we have moved. I'll think about a good one. I'm open to suggestions.

The time has come, the time is now. Martin K. Mooney, would you please go now?




The moving. It's been a couple of very busy-crazy weeks. Since I'm always organizing the house, I really thought that I had everything under control. Then you start moving things, opening closets and the nightmare starts. It's seems like it doesn't have an end.

Long story short, all our things got packed yesterday and now they're in the truck. 
Our road trip down to California stars tomorrow, we'll make some stops before arriving to destination. One of them is Cannon Beach, and I'm very excited because I've never been there and it looks nice on pictures.



Alaska the last frontier. We spent a week on a cruise to Alaska. I enjoyed sleeping until late, having free time and spending time with friends and their family (all from Cuba)
It's nice to laugh and talk about life and drink mojitos with "gente como uno".
The landscapes were beautiful. I was expecting something very spectacular, like some places in the South of Chile, but they were different. Because it's Alaska and not Chile, of course.



Birthdays. In the meantime, my beautiful boy turned eight years old and I'm having a great time with him.  
Little girl's Birthday is today, July 29th. She's wearing a beautiful dress and she asked me to braid her hair. She's happy having fun with her friends and we'll have cupcakes to celebrate.



And... I'm leaving with so many memories, I'll miss my friends, places, the evergreens, the clouds in spring. I won't miss some other things but I'll be nice and won't say anything about it.

Berkeley, here we come. Friends in California, we'll be happy to attend all the welcome back parties and dinners you're organizing for us, just tell us what to bring  ;)

Goodbyes, Sadness and World Cup  


The time to say goodbye has come. The children finished their school year and it was very sad to know we won't see their teachers anymore. I'm specially fond of Clarita's school, the faculty, the campus the wonderful Montessori methodology.

It makes me sad that I won't see my closest friends often enough, it breaks my heart that my best friend here is moving to New York State with her family.

It makes me sad I'm leaving the trees, those gray/rainy days that make you appreciate the sun, the flowers, the blue sky, the clouds, spring and summer, and other things in life.

I'll miss PCC. Yes, PCC the supermarket. I could make excuses to drive there, get one apple, and then spend the rest of the time checking out everything else. I love that store.

Eli has cried three times already about missing his friends and I think positive and reassure him because I'm the mother and he needs me. I went through the same process when I was his age and I know it's hard; new school, new kids and try to make new friends. I think positive because we lived in Berkeley before and loved it, our friends are waiting for us and we're loved.


In the meantime, I've been very busy watching the World Cup. I've enjoyed every minute of it. Every four years you get to watch great fútbol (I refuse to use "soccer". What kind of word is that? It makes me think of "sucker", and I don't like that word either)
Since husband works from home we've been watching some games together. It's been a bonding experience, as well.
Ah, fútbol! the players running from one side to the other one, controlling the ball, trying to score, pass the ball, the goalie jumps trying to catch the ball, he misses... GOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL

And Chile goes back home. I cried. I'm sad. Las pasión del fútbol. VIVA CHILE!!

Packing? You love to ask that question. Well, the moving company is packing for us, which means I can comfortably sit on the couch and watch fútbol.

Mi casa es su casa

After the Open House during Memorial Day Weekend, our house sold in a matter of days. I think we had four offers; not bad.
In the meantime, we kept looking for a place to rent in Berkeley. As you can imagine, it's not easy to rent something from far away, but Josh kept looking on Craigslist and then I joined him. He flew three times to the Bay Area to visit Open Houses. We wanted something in South Berkeley because that's where we lived before, and liked it very much.
It was a thought search but yesterday Joshua came back home from CA with a house to move in July.
The house is in North Berkeley, Berkeley hills. It's beautiful and has nice views. It's a 20 min. walk to shops down the hill.
We have a house. Wow. This is real. We're moving back to Berkeley.

Joshua, you did a great job. It was time and energy consuming. 

One less thing to worry about. 


Frequent Q&A

1. Do you have a house in CA? Yes.
2. Are you packing? No, when I do, I let you know.
3. Have you sold your house? Yes.
4. When do you move? July 30th-31st (write it down)

                                           Memorial Day Weekend



On Memorial weekend the four us left for a trip to the Peninsula. It was our Open House and we didn't want to escape each time people wanted see the house.

After putting half of our things away, we left for Port Townsend.
What a nice town! It's one of one those places you're happy to have discovered. We enjoyed the restaurants, the farmers market and I loved the antique stores.

After two nights in Port Townsend, we continue our trip to the Olympic National Park. The driving was nice, so green and calm. We stopped in Lake Crescent for lunch. I think that it's one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen, and let me tell you that were I come from there are some amazing ones. I could have stayed there forever admiring its clear water and the green hills on the back.

After lunch we continued to our final destination: Lake Quinault. Another wonderful lake and landscape. The children were very happy, and Joshua and I very relaxed (something we were craving for)

It was fantastic to have traveled to these magnificent places, but at the same time I was sad to have discovered them so late in our life in Washington. Because we're moving, you know that.
Hopefully we'll go back to the peninsula in the future; I'm sure there's so much more to see.


Frequent Q&A

1. Do you have a house in CA yet? No, we still don't.
2. Are you packing? No, I still need my towels and plates. When I do, I let you know.
3. Have you sold your house? Yes, details coming up.
4. Are you excited? No, I'm not. I'm very stressed out but in control.
5. When do you move? July 30th-31st (write it down)

Moving again, anxiety, and please hide those chips and cookies.

In August it will be eight years since we move from the Bay Area. It was very difficult, I had a new baby, postpartum depression, we didn't know anyone in the area but it was a smart move for husband's career.

The first winter was horrendous: snow and wind storm. I hated husband for six months, I hated him so badly, the poor guy.
Things started to improve and with time I made some very good friends. I started getting used to the weather, who needs an umbrella?, hiking under the rain?... sure! Another gray day?, let's bake!

All these years we have been living in the suburbs, which for me, snob-city- girl, was the worst experience that could have happened to me. OMG, I have to drive EVERYWHERE, this is like the country side, no wait... it's worse. Where is the people!!
But again, I got used to it. Not entirely, but I'm less angry about it.

When husband told me that the company in California he was having interviews with wanted to hire him, I had mixed feelings. Moving to the city in Seattle was something we had talked about. There's a difference between crossing the bridge with all your belongings, and changing city, state, house and life style... again.
It's been a hard process to accept the change, and in the middle I've hated-loved-hated the man one more time.

If you're thinking that going back to were we came from is not a big deal, you're wrong. Those six years in Berkeley have been my happiest ones in the USA. We didn't have children and I had a great job with kids that weren't mine. Now, we'll start a new life with two little ones and I worry about them. They're very excited and want a dog, and a backyard with flowers and they think it will barely rain.

I'm so overwhelmed thinking about our things being packed in two months, going through papers,toys, etc. we don't need, preparing the house for the sale, trying to find a house to rent in Berkeley, enrolling the kids in the school, and the everyday life that doesn't stop to get THOSE things done. I want to sleep for three months and wake up with (no, not a kiss from husband) a cocktail in my hand in Bora Bora.

Here are some common Q&A for all of you:

1. Do you have a house yet? No, we don't. We're still looking.
2. Are you packing? No, I still need my towels and plates.
3. Have you sold your house? No, Open House coming on Memorial Day weekend.
4. Do you a have school for the kids? Yes, we do and they're going to public school.
5. Would you like a hug? Yes, please.