Acclimation to our new surroundings

We have been in Coatepec for a week now and with some ups & downs, are adjusting at a pretty good pace. These are the elements we are dealing with:

Weather

Coming from 100°+ temps in TX, the weather here has been absolute joy. The days have been sunny and breezy with highs in the 80's and 60's at night. We LOVE it!!! I especially like the no AC atmosphere. I have always had a strong aversion to the unnatural cold of the AC and kept my thermostat at 82°. If the temps in TX ever dipped below 90°, I would open all the windows and enjoy the flow of fresh air. Here, it's like that nearly all the time. The winters don't get too cold either with low temps in the 40's - 50's.

Higher Altitude (4100 ft)

The concentration of oxygen at sea level is about 21% and the barometric pressure averages 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, the concentration remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. This one has kicked our butts. Jack and I both felt winded, lightheaded, and had daily headaches for the past week. The reduced O2 intake also exacerbated my neuro symptoms especially the dizziness. Given time, the body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen molecules at a specific altitude. This process is known as acclimatization and generally takes 1-3 days. We are slowly acclimating and starting to feel better. 

Language 

I first learned Spanish when I was 12 and lived in Mexico. I studied Spanish in high school and

spent a month taking Spanish lessons in Guatemala during my post-college travels. I catch about 65% of what is said and need to practice my speaking. Jack also took Spanish in high school and spent years in Mexico in the late 90's. We get on fairly well and are going to make a concerted effort effort to improve our Spanish skills. 

Culture

Two words sum up the people here: Calor humano (human warmth). There is a genuine show of affection and thoughtfulness shared. I truly feel at home amongst the kind people. On the flipside, patience is key when dealing with them. Efficiency is not a strong suit here and though a job usually gets done, it often takes longer than we're used to.  Tranquilo....

Food

It took Jack a few days to connect with the local mercados and figure out who to buy from. But once he did, we have been eating so well. Papayas, mangos, pineapples, tangerines, and creamy baby naners have filled our days. We end the day with delicious red & gold bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado on a bed of lettuce.