Back to business

Counting time. Half way through our big adventure already, and twelve days left here at the ranch. Manon, Richard and their kids left yesterday, leaving a big void in our daily life and in our spacious house. Their visit was refreshing and fun for all of us, and they had a grand time – too short.

It surprises me that we are not having more visitors here. This is a prime property on a fully operating ranch, with all kinds of very interesting excursions all around including the nearby town of Izamal – by far the prettiest quaint little town I have ever seen here in the Yucatan peninsula. The price doest not match the package here ($500 for the month). I wish we could share this great finding with more friends.

Back to business, emailing schedules to clients, registrations for afterschool series, invoices, and lining-up some teaching work for myself in the spring. It will be a very busy spring, gearing up for the expansion of Le Petit Atelier in 2011-2012. The plan is on track so far, stepping back before the big push was a healthy and timely move. I never step back completely though… this trip is most definitely part of the expansion plan. I tested my Spanish program, and the management of both businesses from a remote location and extended period of time. Making key contacts, scoping out different locations and communities, and slowly the concept is shaping up for a Spanish language division. Thank God for technology… but in reality it always comes down to having the right people in place. Thank you Steve, Véronique, Manon, and Donna. The right equipment is usually easy to find, but the right people is the real treasure and driving force behind any business (but please allow me… except banks which are operated by computers and staged with ‘hired voices’ to read the screen…). And so I am in no hurry, taking the time to find the right people, one by one.

School is back too, and since I have not heard from the boys teachers in awhile I took the initiative to prepare a number of exercises for Leo and Dylan, and made a daily schedule and program for the next few weeks. Tim will be involved too, he will be the host of the Weekly Quizz, and the arts teacher. Trying to make it fun and lively for them. Communicating with the school will be challenging until we move on to the next house, I put everything on my precious USB key and go to town to connect. On January15 we will be in our new location, in a beach house in Telchac Puerto, with wifi. Very timely for everything – school and business.
Planning some excursions for the next couple of weeks – possibly San Felipe in the Rio Lagarto biosphere reserve. Or maybe check out the booming real estate sensation of El Cuyo… apparently the new and sensational beach community in the state of Yucatan. We’ll see.