There are many reasons for the Newbom family to move to the beach. The short list includes
1) We want to be close to the brewery so that we can both be involved in getting it open
2) The house in the city is way too big and too expensive. Believe it or not, the beach house costs about 35% what the San Salvador house costs, and has land for things like chickens, or a garden. Other costs there are lower as well.
3) Andy refuses to study Spanish, but forced to live where nobody speaks English, and where Spanish teachers bang on the door looking for work…I have hopes.
4) Its the freakin beach, and since we are on a fixed income, I want to have lived at the beach at some point in my life before the poverty that results from rash decisions fully sets in. Or before the millions appear from the brewery!
The reasons not to move are convincing too…
1) The temperature is much cooler up in the city. The coast is freakin steamy.
2) The security at the little beach house leaves much to be desired.
3) If we get attached to that location, there are major hurdles to leap in keeping Emme´s education rolling.
4) Rats, Ants, Mosquitos, Giant Beetles (though I love the lizards)
But the REAL reason I am terrified of the move is shown in the pictures below.
Just a few of the Bici crew
Every afternoon this roving band of 10 kids terrorizes the residencial, arguing, misusing the landscape, telling on each other, and not telling on each other. Five of them are girls of the same size, who fight over who will lead the train of five bicycles around while shouting directions at the boys, who are already strangely obedient. The vigilantes dont know what to do…protect the cars, yell at the kids when they rip up the plants, or just give up, knowing the storm normally passes at dinner time
Chistoso
Emme got off to rough start adjusting to life here, learning the language and some of the culture. As a mother I would prefer to stay in this very same residencial long term, now that she has her confidence back, and has a solid group of friends to play and fight with.
Tomorrow as I head back to the beach to change the rat traps, its not the lack of an air conditioner, washing machine or TV that stresses me out. It´s Emmes social survival. Regardless of the dangerous elements of the area, I’m not as worried about criminals as other forms of insecurity.
For me, the move shows signs of being pleasant. I’ve always been pretty flexible about the “stuff” part of my standard of living. I just hope Emme can forgive us for moving her again, and move on into what will probably be a very different social environment with yet another set of rules to learn.
The huge positive message of this post is that Emme is truly part of the children´s network at the residencial. She is fully accepted, there are no visible barriers to her social participation here, and the wonderful situation we are leaving is a great example of how much can be accomplished with an open face and patience. Yes you CAN move your English speaking child to Latin America and expect him or her to weave completely in, given the right blend of education, and acceptance, and a little bit of time to make mistakes and get over them.
Next week we are off to the beach for good. May the Bici gang play on and on. Im my mind I have trouble imagining not coming back to this place. Some times we leave good things behind.
May 29, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Where is the beer making unit area you are going to?
May 30, 2012 at 5:27 pm
We have a little coffee shop, restaurant, microbrewery starting up in Playa El Tunco. We are not open yet…struggling to get that done!!
May 30, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Good luck to all in the family at the new beach home. Maybe Emme will start her own "bici" gang there.
June 4, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Hi Nanelle, I enjoyed reading this post and the one about Emme and fishing. Pretty sweet! I had to move a lot as a kid and I remember how easy it was to make friends. I think it gets harder as you get older, or maybe we get more particular and less adaptable? I'm impressed that you're headed to El Tunco. How cool!!! I wish you and your family the best with the transition and look forward to reading about your new adventures!
June 9, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Good luck!!!!! Sending you positive vibes and hope to be able to visit the new place when i’m in E.S. again hopefully this winter.
Aline from Montreal, Canada
June 18, 2012 at 9:27 am
Just found this blog! It's really interesting to read how an American expat lives and feels about living in El Salvador! I am from New York but I will soon be traveling to my families home near La Libertad. I wonder if your little restaurant will be open by them! Do you have a name for it yet?
June 19, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Yes! We are now open in Playa El Tunco. We are Brew Revolution and are located in front of Mopelia!
July 15, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Hi Nanelle,
If you can't find a school you like in the beach area ( I have stayed a few times at a house in Xanadu) then you might want to look up the Florida Virtual School (K-12, international kids accepted) It is all online and then you can have the child socialize with other events/activities. That is what we would do with our granddaughter (we are raising her) if we ever start living at Xanadu ( 6 months a year) after we retire in 2013. The virtual school even has many courses in Spanish. Cez in Gainesville Florida
July 15, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Nanelle,
Here is the link to the Florida Virtual School Global….
http://www.flvs.net/global/Pages/default.aspx
August 11, 2012 at 6:10 am
Hola mi nombre es Maritza soy Salvadorena pero ya tengo varios anos viviendo en San Jose California. Estaba buscando algo interesant de mi paiz y me incontre con su pajina y me encanto saber de una familia tan interesante como lo son ustedes lei casi todo lo de su pajina y la parte q mas me gusto fue donde esplica las tres cosas q no les gusta de El salvador me iso reir mucho lo felicito muy buen escritor sabe esplicar lo bueno,lo barato, lo bonito y lo feo. q Dios los bendiga q difruten lo q yo undia disfrute.
September 12, 2012 at 8:00 pm
I feel your pain with trying to set things up – my hubby spent so much time running around with rep tape to open a salon in El Tunco. El Tunco is a great place to have your kind of business! I think that food and drink are the best types of business' to have there. I am having a hard time placing where Mopelia is – is that to the right of Tunco Lodge? Good luck!
February 1, 2013 at 6:24 am
Headed to La Libertad soon with my daughter and might even buy a local surf resort with some friends if we like the area. Thanks for this amazing site and all the info. I can't wait to visit the restaurant!