Susan Abeyta, the U.S. consul general in Guadalajara, packed her bags and left town with her husband Victor this week after a three-year stint in the city. Reflecting on her stay in an interview with the Reporter last week, she made an immediate point of praising the dedication of her staff, both U.S. and Mexican, whom she referred to as “the backbone of the organization.” Abeyta went on to talk about the richness of Mexican culture, the rewarding programs that the consulate has initiated, the security situation here, the American expatriate community, the rise of women in Mexico and the huge task the Consulate has in issuing thousands of visas to travelers to the United States.