Do you commute? From where?

This is usually how the conversation starts. Flight attendants are constantly digging into each others lives, looking for that common bond. Over half of flight attendants commute so after we have learned that someone on the crew commutes we have to find out from where. I really think that this is because we are looking for someone that has a worse commute than us, so we can feel better about our situation.
For those who are not up on airline lingo, commute means that you live in one city, or country and work in another and that you HAVE to take an airplane to get to work. Luckily, if you work for the airlines you fly for free domestic and just pay the taxes for international travel, BUT you fly standby and get to compete with all of the other airline employees that live where you live and are trying to get to where you are going so they too can be to work on time, and all this while the flights are already full with paying passengers.
When flight attendants ask me where I commute from either asking because they want to feel better about their situation, they are looking for small talk, or they actually care, a conversation that could last for one second has suddenly turned into a longer conversation when I tell them where I commute from.

So, this is usually how the conversation goes and my answers depend on my mood, whether I am tired or not, etc...

Where do you live, commute from?
Mexico

New Mexico?
No, Mexico, the country.
After the blank look goes away and they have processed this information they stop what they are doing and actually pay attention to the conversation.

Why?
Because I want to. Because I can. I want a better, simpler life.

How is the commute?
I usually say, it is great, three flights a week, as they immediately spit up what they are eating or drinking and say, " a week"? Then I immediately become the girl who makes them feel so much better about their commute, since most of them have at least five flights a DAY if they are commuting within the US. At this point I become respected and interesting as opposed to just another flight attendant. I already have a reputation in Atlanta as the one who commutes from Puerto Vallarta.

So... Back to the conversation, usually the next question is....

Are you married?
Yes

Or

This is the funny part...
Pilots always ask, "did you follow a man down there?"
Yes, my husband and I didn't follow him, we decided this together.
While Flight attendants always ask, "is your husband Mexican?
No, once again I get a blank stare and a "oh".
Funny how the two groups think so differently

Oh, did your husbands job take you there?
No

What does he do?
He owns his own business working with decorative concrete, mainly in kitchens and bathrooms.

Why Mexico?
Because we have been visiting there for six years and really like the area where we live. It is inexpensive and the commute is easy (masa manos). Or used to be.

Do you speak Spanish?
No, with embarrassment, but I am trying

Does your husband?
With pride I explain how he is doing really well with Spanish and how I make him do all of the talking when I am there.

Do you have children?
Yes

Are they in a private school?
No, they went to the public kindergarten last year, 100% emersion, no electricity, etc
This one usually gets a WOW as well

Do your kids speak spanish?
They are learning very fast

How do you get to the airport?
I take the bus. It's just an hour to get there.

Then they are usually comment with another "wow", that is awesome, I have always wanted to do that but am afraid, wow, what an exciting life, I really admire you for following your dreams, etc.. I don't say it but I am really proud of us too.

If there is time the conversation turns to safety

Is it safe?
Yes, we feel safe. Do you really think that we would take our children to a place where we were afraid? Seriously? But I understand, they have to ask because of all the press.
Then I explain that we are much more aware of our surroundings there, we lock our doors we aren't galavanting around town drunk and stupid late at night. And that actually I am more afraid of leaving the hotel I stay in in Atlanta, in between trips, where the night manager had to shoot a robber the other night, than I am at any time where I live in Mexico.

Are you worried about kidnappings?
Once again, do you think I would take my kids to a place where I thought they were in even more danger of being kidnapped than in the US?

Can you drink the water? What is the cost of living? How is the food? Do you have a car? Etc..

What gets me is that we are flight attendants, we travel all over the world. I have talked to people who commute from Chile to Atlanta, Australlia to New York, Paris to Salt Lake City, we have people that commute from all over the world to work for Delta out of the United States, people that are very well traveled, but they are always amazed, in an inspiring way, that I would pick up my family and move to Mexico for a better life because I wanted to and because I can!