Yun and I occasionally give spades lessons. We had an opportunity earlier this week to help Matt and Dana improve their game. I was able to show them a more advanced level of Nil Theory with which they were obviously impressed.
We always have a great time when we return to Tucson.
Government offices in Mexico are pure madness. We are at the Social Security office this morning to sign up our new employee for social security benefits. The cost for us is 30% of her monthly salary which we have to pay monthly. Mexico is no less a welfare state than the US it seems. We are also required by law to give a week vacation (and I have to give them a vacation bonus so they have money for the vacation), unlimited sick days (which I have to pay for), and a christmas bonus. Should I wish to fire them, then I have to pay them out for their vacation, there vacation bonus, there christmas bonus, as well as three more months of pay (regardless of reason for termination). So for this reason, employers pay their employees next to nothing.
So Yun was told she was missing one document. We were never told of this requirement the first time, so we had to run to another office to get that document and then return to the social security office. When we got back, we had to wait in line for over an hour. We have to return next week for the next step.
We went to Tucson last Sunday and returned yesterday. It was a nice break. We went to Dunkin Donuts Monday morning for breakfast. So good! I am quite convinced this would do well in Mexico. There’s nothing even remotely close to in existence currently that I can tell. Perhaps a drive through with some coffee would compliment that well.
We found a great place for seafood tacos within walking distance from the house called El Muelle. They are a little pricey, but just one was filling. I was equally impressed by the free round of beer as soon as we sat down. Since Yun doesn’t like beer, that was twice as nice for me.
We found El Muelle after going bowling with Gab and Alejandra. Bowling is fun, but I am absolutely terrible.
A couple weeks ago at church, Yun spotted a couple of people she lived with nearly 20 years ago when she lived here while in college. They were quite nice and invited us out for lunch to Sanborns. After lunch they invited us to their house. It was strange for Yun to see a home she lived in so long ago.
Last weekend we had lunch at Raul and Dana’s. Billy and Esther also joined us. Dana made chiles en nogado which is a traditional meal from the south and quite complex to prepare. Although I am not a huge fan of this meal, Dana’s were quite tasty.
Raul is a federal police officer and before lunch he took me to his office here in town. It is nice to have a friend in this position in the event we ever have any problems.
Billy shared his ambitions to treasure hunt for gold and tried hard to persuade Raul and I to go on an expedition here in Sonora. It was hard to tell if he was serious, but I’d be up for that.
We went grocery shopping at Soriana last night. This is probably my favorite place to shop here in town. They have a pretty decent selection of fruits and vegetables. One of my favorite drinks is jamaica. It is made by soaking hibiscus flowers (like the ones in the photo) in water. We drink a lot of jamaica.
We went to a burger place just up the street last Sunday with our friends Billy and Esther and some others. The place is called Holy Cow. It is the second burger place here that I thought spectacular. Coincidentally, both are within a half mile from the house.
I went with the Juicy Lucy rib eye! It was great.
Abercrombie had its day. Now it’s all about Aerocrombie. I love all the knock off alternatives here.
On the way to Hermosillo from the US, there are a number of signs that say “Hassle Free Zone”. Last trip, we found a side road heading somewhere unknown with a sign that said, “End Hassle Free Zone”. I didn’t go down that road. The sign seemed to suggest some sort of hassle.
