I went to visit friends here in Texas over the Labor Day w/e and while bemoaning my burned-out state, not havingstopped working since I arrived in Texas, I told them that the caveat to my experience of being overworked is that I have loved meeting the Latino men I study. I love their way of life, their culture, the concerns they have, etc.- I am fascinated by the impact of some of the cultural mores, such as collectivism, machismo, etc.that embody who they are. While we were talking, my host excused himself from the table and came back with a copy of Lost & Found in Mexico. A retired physician, with a ranch in Texas, he has been visiting San Miguel for the last 10 years, and just bought a house there in June. He told me a little bit about SMA just after I arrived in Texas in 2007, and although I was immediately enamored when I read the local paper he gave me and searched the Internet, I haven’t been there yet. When he heard my story on this last visit, he went right to his office to get the film. I couldn’t believe what I read in the liner notes and could not wait to get home to watch it.

I watched your film 3 times - I just couldn’t get enough of it. It ‘nailed’ what I have been thinking and feeling - I had to buy a copy for myself. I also shared it with a friend of mine, a psychologist working in San Antonio, who also struggles with this issue. He bought a copy too.
Lorrie

I am a former “gringa” who lived in SMA from 1993 until 2007, having visited annually following my mother’s settling there in 1978. Very soon after my introduction to many expats who were living there back then, maybe 1500 of them, I came up with the phrase to describe what SMA was then, i.e. “The Haven for Runaway Senior Citizen Hippies”! Many of them had achieved significant recognition in a variety of areas - art, music, writing - but were not prone to tout those achievements and were just “real” people. They did not impress me as wanting or needing to have available at their whim all of the products, services, or expectations of what had been taken for granted in the U.S.

And so it was for a number of years. Then the publicity started through travel and retirement publications and word of mouth from visitors which generated more and more exposure. As the numbers of expats who decided to make SMA their home grew, changes also began. Of course, there have been very positive benefits as a result, especially for the locals in regard to educational, job, and health care opportunities along with economic growth, and availability of many services and things the expats had taken for granted in the U.S.

So, my answer to jeanne is, Yes, there has been - and probably will continue to be - more “Americanization” of San Miguel de Allende. I will confess, however, that I do miss my life there in spite of the changes. For so many years my Stateside friends would ask why I liked San Miguel. I attempted to list the various reasons, only to get a blank look with obviously no real understanding. Finally, I would say, “Because down there, the people think I am normal.” And they understood!

Linda

We both would like to move to the Patzcuaro area in 5 years and either build a home or refurbish an old one. As a “gringo”, I have been blessed with being fully realized and complete in my work and life in Dallas, where I have lived all my life. I grew up in University Park — my dad was dean of Perkins School of Theology at S.M.U. from 1960-1981 — and now live in Oak Cliff with Jorge and Sonny, our beautiful Golden Retriever. We are avid gardeners at home and at the elementary school and were even filmed by a DISD crew on June 2nd for a video to be shown to the teachers at a kick-off event for the 2008-2009 school year. When I move to Mexico with Jorge, I will not so much be finding myself but rather enriching my life and honoring Jorge’s wish to return to is homeland. I speak Spanish fluently — Jorge boasts I speak it better than some natives, to which I smile and agree with…sometimes! — and am working on reviving my Portuguese to at least near-fluent status. I spent the summer of 1976 in San Miguel and really enjoyed it. I became friends with a family that ran a restaurant called El Meson de las Bugambilias. How I loved Elena Arteaga and her sister Meche. Elena has sinced passed away. The family later opened a restaurant called Bugambilias that is stlll open today, I think. I feel very strongly that those expats who want to find themselves — or enrich their lives — become friends with the Mexicans living in San Miguel. Learning Spanish would be a plus but not obligatory if one’s attitudinal approach is nurturing, and I suspect most expats living in San Miguel are nurturing. But to learn Spanish well is a way to honor the people whose town you live in. And, really, you are honoring yourself, too. I understand most expats sort of want to live in San Miguel on their own terms; that is their right as citizens of the world! However, this ol’ Texan boy “found” himself when he started to study Spanish at age 10 in Dallas. Today, I have a good mix of Hispanic friends non-Hispanic friends, and I speak more Spanish than English on a daily basis because of my home life and professional life. I look forward to moving to Mexico and continuing to live a full and productive life where the majority of my day-to-day friends will be Mexican natives. My main “adjective” to describe Mexicans is authentic. La vida es buena. Un gran abrazo. Jody (and I go by Pepe, too.)

Sending kudos your way doesn’t seem to be enough! Thank you SO much for filming LOST AND FOUND IN MEXICO.

For a number of years now, my husband and I have been considering a retirement outside of the U.S. We have been “hearing” about San Miquel for about the past 5 years and I have been doing serious research on the town. And that is how I happened upon your wonderful documentary. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a transition to Mexico, or anywhere, for that matter. Because even though your film is specifically about San Miguel it could certainly be about anywhere in the world that sings to a person’s soul.

If you find yourself at this website, there is some reason why you were led here. The universe works in strange and magnificent ways. Buy this DVD and enjoy….let your soul speak instead of your mouth. See what happens to you.

Again, many thanks, Caren.

Best regards,

Sharon De Caria
Colorado Springs, CO

You did a great job! I really appreciate that it’s available. I’ve been interested in going to Mexico for some time. All the research and reading just can’t compare to seeing and hearing it…thank you!

Cecelia

We received the dvd and watched it immediately. It was fantastic. My partner, Richard choked up immediately upon hearing the comments of having found
“home”. He feels exactly the same way about San Miguel.

For me, the points of greatest connection were your own comments
about how much of your life you had dedicated to living up to
expectations and image, and the relief of stepping outside that world. Your words encourage me to follow in your footsteps as soon as possible.

It was also a beautiful film- the images, the colors, the music. I loved
all the footage of your walking, walking, walking…it’s a great metaphor for slowing down the journey.

Thank you so much for this work of art and heart.
Lori Rubin

Thanks!