We are having our second anniversary of living in Mazatlán in a week, and along with that milestone comes the need for our annual FM3 renewal.  I thought I’d outline the process for people who are wondering about it.  Of course the caveat is that this is the process in Mazatlán, it may be different in other parts of México.  I’m writing here about the renewal, there are a few more papers required for your first FM3, if you need that, just go to Immigración and ask.  There is a tienda with a Coca Cola awning out front one block North where you can get all the forms filled out and pictures taken for a nominal fee.  (We got our pictures for our IMSS insurance there, too.)

First, find your way to Immigración.  It’s on Serdan, about 5 blocks south of Aleman in Playa Sur.  A picture of Paul heading in with our paperwork is at the top of the post.

1.  Sign the book and sit down.  Wait two minutes to be called over to the counter.  (We are lucky that we renew in the summer, it is much more crowded between November to April here.)

2.  Present your FM3 and Passport.  The woman at the counter speaks decent English, but would appreciate Spanish, I’m sure. She will give you a list of things you need to return with, a personal application letter, an official application you will fill out, and a form with your name and information on it to take to the bank when you pay for your FM3.

3.  Ask when you can bring it all back.  She told us we needed to be back before 2 pm.

Here’s the list of what you need to return with: (for each applicant)

1.  Official Application (filled out)

2.  Copy of Official Application

3.  Personal Application Letter

4.  Copy of your Passport, all pages, on letter sized paper

5.  Copy of FM3, all pages, on letter sized paper

6.  One copy of the last three bank statements

7.  Copy of one Phone bill, Electric bill, or Water bill

8.  Your Passport

9.  Your FM3

10.  Bank receipt for payment (ours was 1,296 pesos each)

11.  Copy of the bank receipt

Now you’re ready to head back to Immigración.  Pile the information up for each applicant and the woman at the counter will organize it and give you a date to return and pick it up.  We go back to pick ours up in two weeks.  It’s always two weeks.

We’ve heard on the gringo grapevine that Immigración is visiting the homes of all applicants and renewing FM3 holders before permitting the renewal.  They want to make sure that you live where you say you do, of course.

A helpful hint – I got this from Bliss a while ago – scan in your FM3 and Passport so that you can just print it when you need it. Substitute any changed pages before you print.  Way easier than standing at the copier for ages!

We spent a total of about an hour today with two trips to Immigración, one to the bank, and one to a copy center since our home printer/copier can’t copy legal sized paper.  Pretty slick!

The Highway

We arrived in Seattle at dusk and by the time we were driving North in our rental car it was full-on dark.  We were driving along like kids who’d never seen the city marveling at the brightly illuminated highway.  Five lanes each way, with bright white striping marking the way.  Endless rows of red tail lights in front of us and endless rows of headlights the other way. All so orderly, so lined up and neat.  Blinkers blinking.  Driving at just about the speed limit.  Neat and tidy signage, trucks with their neatly tucked in loads… it felt very surreal.  So that was adjustment number one.

Food

I’m a gardener and vegetarian and I was looking forward to getting back into some comfort food.  And wow, did I!  We went to the Farmer’s Market and I was marveling over all the organic produce, grown locally.  I was the kid in the candy store, buying zuchinni, carrots, vine ripened heirloom tomatoes, basil, green beans, potatoes, peppers, and blueberries.  Oh, and crusty delicious ciabatta bread, too!  Then we headed home and made a fabulous stir fry with all those ingredients (and chicken for some.)  It just made my heart feel good.  We have nice markets here in Mazatlán, but buying organic from the local growers is just the best.  The only berries we find regularly in Mazatlán are strawberries, so I ate blueberries every chance I got!

Shopping

We had a list of things to buy while we were up North, so we got to know the retail areas pretty well.  There is so much choice, and while we did get most things on our list we both became somewhat grossed out by the experience.  I had a hard time finding a cordless phone with two handsets here in Maz, and at Best Buy I saw a row of probably 30 sets.  Wow!  Plus there are so many strip centers with strange entrances and exits, it can be quite frustrating to go from one store to another.  We drove probably 6 blocks to find the entrance to Lowe’s (for graphite and a door peephole) that was just across the street from another strip mall!

Community/Weather

We are in love with our adopted country, and wondered how far our Mexican-ization had changed us.  But several times as we were driving around we said to each other “we could live here.”  Bellingham is a very nice college town, and has a historic flavor downtown that we would find fun to live in.  There are good parks and places to walk.  Of course it also has short summers and long winters!  You never know, maybe sometime we’ll rent up there for a month or two in the summer!

Money

The biggest contrast I felt had to do with economics.  People have SO MUCH!  Living here has made me much more aware of the economic differences between households, but the lower end of the economic scale is so much lower here in México! Parking lots are full of newer cars.  Stores are full of shoppers.  It just feels like too much to me!  I know that we have much more than so many people here in Mazatlán, and there really is nothing I can do about that.  Every store we went to just made me embarrassed to be buying things.  I will have to think about that a bit more, but it felt kind of like a feeding frenzy sometimes – or was it just that I am unused to retail in the USA?

People

I expected more differences between people, but aside from the general whiteness of the population, it didn’t feel too different.  Although when we were walking the dog I noticed that people working in their garages or gardens didn’t look up and say hello like would happen in México. People walking dogs did, though!  And while I know that México has a terrible obesity problem, we saw way more morbidly obese people in the US than you do down here.

Housing

Our son lives in a neighborhood of detached homes, and most homes have fenced backyards.  I’ve lived in quite a few neighborhoods with a similar setup.  But after living in our old Mexican house with its inner courtyards for two years I felt a little bit like I was in a fishbowl.  When we’re at home we are only aware of what’s going on outside if there is noise that brings us to the front of the house to look out – otherwise we are in our own little world.  I’m not saying one style is better than the other, but I did really notice the difference.

Travel

We traveled home on September 11.    I found it quite moving to be flying along thinking of all of those souls whose lives ended that day.  It made me reach out to Paul, hold his hand and feel grateful for our lives together.  Wherever we live.

 

Erica, Paul & Owen playing Wii

Paul and I just got back from 9 days in the US.  We flew into Seattle and headed North in our rental car to Bellingham, where son Phil and his family live.  We hadn’t seen them since the previous November, when they had all come to México to attend a wedding.  That seems like such a long time, especially since the kids are maturing so fast!

Owen, Paul & Erica playing Wii

Erica is 13 and Owen will be 10 next week.  They are funny, smart, helpful, wonderful kids.  Erica gave us a cello recital.  Owen showed us his baseball awards.  They both demonstrated their dog training skills with the tricks they’ve taught their black labrador puppy, Lexie.

Lexie

We did all kinds of fun stuff.  Walked the dog. Played Xbox and Wii.  Went to the farmer’s market.  Ate some awesome Indian food (at India Flavors.)  We went for a walk at Whatcom Falls while the kids played tennis.  We  were introduced to their RV, an older vehicle purchased from family that they have already broken in camping around the state several times.  (My son can even back their boat into the water using the RV, amazing to me since I am backing-up-impaired.)

 

Chinese Lanterns at the Farmer’s Market (I used to grow these…)

It rained several times and was warm – then chilly – then warm – then rainy – just like it does in the Pacific Northwest.  The leaves were just starting to turn and the bit of crispness to the air at night made sleeping heavenly.  Well, maybe part of the good sleeping is that our old bed now lives in their guest room!

Phil and Lexie at Whatcom Falls Park

Back when my kids were young I always took them out to breakfast on their birthdays and on the first day of school.  Phil has kept up the tradition, so on Tuesday we all headed out to Ihop for breakfast.  More blueberries for me!  It was great to hear all about their first day of school and get some sense of the family routine.

First day of school

The following day Paul and I headed South.   After a stop (and a replacement iPod) at the Apple Store we headed for Tacoma. Dinner that night with my sister and her husband at Indochine had both Paul and me moaning with pleasure.  I had Dancing Buddha, described as “Crispy tofu in caramelized sweet chili and hoisin sauce, further blessed with basil and served over fresh spinach.”  Fantastic.  I’d seen my sister in April when she came to Mazatlán for a visit, so it felt like we could just pick up the conversation where we’d left off.  Her daughters had just gone back to college for their sophomore year a couple of days before.

Then the next day Paul went to a lunch meeting with the people he used to work with (when he worked full time) and works with now (part time from Mazatlán.)  He enjoyed seeing everyone again and catching up a little.    After his meeting my sister, Paul and I drove to Chehalis to visit my aunt and uncle in their new place.  It is sort of assisted living – they have one side of a duplex (I think there are around 20-25 duplexes in all) and all the landscaping, etc. is taken care of.  They can go to meals in the “big house” if they want to (they don’t) and many of their friends live in the same place.  So it is nice for them to have a social life with people they have known a long time, and I know Dick enjoys his weekly golf games.

My Aunt Jean with her paper maché bouquet

 

That night we hung out with my sister and her husband, cooking on the BBQ and eating outside in the warm evening air.

 

My sister and brother in law

I guess you can tell it was just a wonderful trip.  Especially since on our way back we splurged $50 each on an upgrade and flew first class!  I had never had the pleasure before so I am thoroughly spoiled now!

A charming couple

My next post will be our impressions of this and that North of the Border.