Ya Residentes

Miercoles, 11 Julio 2012.  What a day this has been! We got our bones out of bed at 6:46 so that Carmen could do laundry by hand in our large kitchen sink. Dan helps with the ringing of the clothes and hanging the clothes up. We have a tight woven clothesline that hasn't loosened up yet and so requires both of us to get the clothes hung into it. A quick breakfast, then the 12 block walk to the closest stop where buses pass going into the city. Just missed the bus we wanted, after the ten minute walk. Another ten minutes before the correct bus arrived. Cost MXP18 for the two of us, or about about 50 cents US per fare. Pleasant ride today. Departed this bus and walked 2+ blocks to the INM office. Carmen of course likes to be everyplace at least 15 minutes early. Dan keeps telling her that is not the way things are done down here. Everything runs late. We were at the office five minutes early and true to Mexican form – no one showed up 'til ten minutes after the hour when the office was nominally to open. Another 10 minutes before the person that could help us arrived. At least we were the first patrons to arrive. We patiently waited in the outer office, then we were called into a small workroom equipped with desk, computer and copier. The young lady asked a few questions, typed in some data off the Formato Básico we had completed, pasted down our fotos in the proper places, got our signatures and thumb prints, and it was all complete. Luis, a licenciado, the office manager in charge (who arrived about 10:10am) signed our cards. Shortly thereafter, we were given our double sided plastic laminated visa cards. We also received our CURP, an ID number all residents of Mexico are supposed to obtain—we now are officially residentes of this beautiful county. We can now officially move our furniture here and can stay a year before we renew the visa for another year.

Now, about 10:20am, across the street to the Ofix store to get copies of our new cards made to take to IMSS (Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social) to sign up for health insurance coverage. We called Frank to meet us at IMSS since we were but ten blocks away and we would walk there. Turns out that Frank was already there waiting for us. This walk took us thru parts of Cordoba that we have not seen before. We have heard such horror stories of how long and complicated this process all takes, we were of course dreading the experience. Well let us correct this myth! We were treated very well. First of all one lady told us that our birth certificates would have to be translated into Spanish by an official at the SRE office downtown. This was disappointing to say the least. However a fellow around the corner asked to see our papers (two copies passport, two copies visa, two copies utility bill in one's name, two copies apostilled birth certificate). He asked us to have a seat outside while he went to talk to the supervisor about the situation. All our other papers were together in good order. No we did not have to have the translation done. Just had to walk across the patio to another office to another person and have our SS number assigned. This was the first step. Took all of maybe ten minutes. Unfortunately Frank did not have his birth certificate with him, so we suggested he not wait around for us and that we would get back to Fortín on our own by bus.

With our numbers in hand, we went back to the first office and each completed a little paperwork declaring our health situation. The only bad part of the process was that we now had to go to a bank to pay the annual fee for the coverage., and no banks anywhere near this office. Given minimal directions, off we happily go and we walk and we walk and we walk--------Oh my land, where is that Banamex office? Thought it was going to be but a couple blocks! We stopped at a fire station and asked directions. Firemen (bomberos) are always helpful. The fellow was surprised we were on foot, but assured us it was just ahead around a curve and past the traffic signal. Many blocks later of trudging along in the hot sun, getting thirsty and hungry, and past two traffic lights, Dan again asked directions. Back a street and down another road. Finally we see a Banamex bank in the far distance. This was at least 15 long city blocks from where we started. Upon arriving at the bank sign, it looked like only an ATM was there. We persevered and found the full teller area tucked behind a dark covered parking area. Parking lots here are a rarity, and banks normally sit full front on the street.

 We both agreed we were too exhausted to walk back to the IMMS to give them the receipts for the payments we made. Walked a couple blocks to a bus stop and caught a lucky bus heading back towards Fortín—Dan was sure the driver recognized us. He stopped exactly at 19^th street where the IMSS office was but a block away. Found that we needed one more copy each of the receipts, so Dan dashed right across the street where a tiny store made copias. Handed in our final paperwork, and got a copy that we could take to the new IMSS clinic in Fortín after August 3. Total office time, minus the trip to the bank, about 1.5 hours. Our benefit year will start on 01 August and will have to be renewed each year in July. For the first year we are covered for local clinic visits and emergencies. Full hospitalization coverage will start the following year. We will go the the local clinic after we drive down here in September, where we will turn in our fotos to get our ID card and get a physical to formally begin our coverage. Hopefully by then Frank will have had his physical and can tell us where this new clinic is. As of now, we have no idea where it is. The annual cost of USD267 is the highest rate since we are over 60 years of age.

Walked a block out to Avenida 11 to catch a bus to Walmart. We have certainly seen another part of Córdoba today. We needed to pick up a couple curtain rods, plus safety goggles and masks to protect faces for those who will paint the festermicide tomorrow. In Fortín we got off the bus right at the end of Calle 11 Sur, due north of our house. Actually the bus stop is a bit further on, but as we have noted – the bus drivers seem to know us already. It's a pleasant walk south to the house, which as mentioned before is kitty-corner from the new church, whose nave and transept are grass covered and mowed regularly, still open to the sky.  Here's a view from our front porch.  

Prepared and ate supper, or was it lunch, at 5PM. Dan fought with the bathroom sink some more. The drain problem seems to be solved, having built up the gaskets with liberal applications of silicone caulk—now the problem is the packing at the faucet handles, which will require a deep socket wrench to access (among the tools coming down with our furniture). Carmen called Ania and asked if we could spend a few hours at their house Friday, using their internet, in order to make air reservations home. We'd like to stop by San Jose, CA to visit friend Peggy for a couple days and then home again, if the flight times & fares work out. All in all a most satisfactory day, capped by a brief deluge of rain just before dark. All that worry about the hassle of getting our visa and IMSS coverage was for nought. Life is good.