Proverbs say good intentions are the building materials for the road to Hell. That got me wondering about how many folks have already ditched their New Year’s resolutions.

No need to despair over abandoning noble causes. 2025 is still young enough to reconsider and mend your ways. Here are a few ideas that resident expats could undertake to make life at lakeside more enjoyable and rewarding for themselves and our Mexican neighbors.

1. Brush up on Spanish. After all, It’s the national lingo. Por el Amor de Dios, make an effort to at least learn the basics. The burden of effective communication is on your shoulders. No one here expects flawless pronunciation and grammatical correctness. You can often substitute unknown words and phrases with pantomime, hand gestures or a scribbled sketch. Keep a smile on your face and take the plunge.

2.  Mind your manners. Los Mexicanos are extremely polite by nature. Don’t just barge into the store and rattle off a list of what

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