Who Controls the Schedule?

The past week has provided a lot of challenges to my personality regarding schedules and appointments.  In the past I have been almost anal regarding the importance of being on time and achieving deadlines, however down here in Mexico, well it is just not the same.  Here are just a couple of recent examples.

First I have been dealing for two weeks in trying to get our plumber and electrician to come out to do a final days work.  This work is starting to get in the way of completing our landscaping project and the construction of the new garage.  We call and make appointments, but alas no one shows.  We will keep on trying.

Second, I had a doctor appointment last Wednesday.  I showed up on time (well within the norm for Mexican on time) and there was no one at the office.  I waited for a couple of minutes and then called my doctor on his cell.  He told me that he had an emergency at the local hospital and that his secretary was suppose to call me, but she had not nor was she there to reschedule my appointment.

Third, last Thursday we were told that the movers who were shipping our furniture from the US were going to be at our place in the afternoon to unload.  We were excited and got everything ready and waited.  By five in the afternoon we were deflated and called again to find out what was happening, well we were told that because it was the Day of the Dead, that the driver decided not to complete the drive and that they would have to come on Friday.  That was fine, but could someone please have called us.

Finally, on Saturday we were suppose to met the person who we are going to buy two horses from.  She is a trainer and gives lessons on riding but when we showed up there were two lessons going on and several people trying to talk with her.  To say the least we just decided to reschedule to a less hectic time so we could talk about the horses and complete the deal.

But there are also things that make living in Mexico even for a schedule fanatic like me.  Last Tuesday we had to go to a lab in Querétaro for a special test and we had never been to this place.  Well the road was under a lot of construction and we got lost.  We called the lab and told them where we were and guess what, they sent someone over to show us the way to the lab.  Have you ever heard of something like this in the US.

So living in Mexico the schedules and appointments are a bit more fluid and subject to change.  However the people are so friendly and supportive, you just have to laugh and enjoy the day.  But isn't that what life is all about?