Me playing guitar in Zócalo Square in front of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, where construction began in 1573.
A lot of people may not be aware that I am semi-fluent in Spanish.
The reason why is because when I was a teenager, I went to a prep school and had a fantastic Spanish teacher.
She was really hard on us, but I am eternally grateful to her in my adult life.
This was before Google Translate, so we had to actually learn the language. And in my house, if I didn’t get good grades, there were consequences.
So, I learned.
Many years later, I understand the value of what she instilled in us.
I started traveling internationally in my 20s, and now, at 41, I have spent nearly 10 years traveling to and spending extended periods of time in countries like Mexico. Knowing Spanish has allowed me to explore and become part of the culture in a way that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Even when I am in Mexico, people constantly comment on how good my Spanish is.
I love visiting and spending extended periods of time in Mexico because it is only a short flight from Texas, where I am from, and there is so much to see and do.
Needless to say, the food is amazing. Pair that with a great beach or a picture-perfect city landscape, and it can be quite the retreat.
In my downtime when I am not performing, sometimes I go there to work and coordinate things for the program. I can do that from anywhere, so why not do it from Mexico?
The coolest thing is that when you “live like a local,” things can be about half the price of the United States. So, if you have flexibility, it can actually be a more economical lifestyle.
For example, at my grocery store in Austin, Texas, one single avocado costs $1.85. In Mexico, you can get an entire kilo—which is basically a bag of avocados that actually taste better—for about that same price in pesos.
I could go on and on.
But in a way, this is also the essence of my Mr. Blue Shoes program.
I have simply taken an old art form and put it into a new package, so to speak, and placed it in an environment where it can thrive.
Schools need presentations. Kids are starved for connection. So why not provide them with an opportunity to see something cool at a cost that makes sense for schools?
That’s really what Mr. Blue Shoes has always been about: taking something valuable and finding a way to make it relevant and accessible to a new generation.
I just thought I would share that.
But reply back and let me know your stories about Mexico or any other foreign country you have visited. I’d love to hear them!
Have a great week, and always keep me in mind if you’re looking for a great program for your students.