So some big, big news here in the Cefalo household. WE ARE MOVING! I know I already said this on facebook but maybe some didn't hear.
During the first week of October Jake saw a posting at one of Barricks mines. This past year a former coworker that he had really liked transferred there. So while he was at work he saw that his friend was online and he asked him what position was open. His response was pretty much "You would be perfect for this job. You should send your resume. I would be your boss." That evening Jake came home and asked what I thought and I told hem "Sure. Why not? It's a long shot."
He sent his resume in a day or so later and the next day he got a call. They wanted us to come down and check out the location that next week! Luckly I had gotten my passport this past spring because the mine is in Dominica Republic! Unluckily Jakes passport would expire on THAT WEEK...what the... After we rush ordered a new passport for him tickets were bought and by the 28th we were there.
We flew into Santo Domingo on the south side of the island. It was really fun to see Santo Domingo. We got to see a friend I had met when we first moved to Elko. We toured apartments and schools. They took us all around town to show us what life would be like. It was amazing and crazy. Santo Domingo is a city of about 2 million people and the main thing I can say is that the traffic was unreal. I liked a lot of things about the city but the reality of living in such a busy place with crazy traffic and not knowing the language was really stressful to me.
By this point Jake and I had been praying about this and we felt good about the move...that was until I saw the traffic. I loved the school that Nathan would go to and I knew my friend would be such a help to me as I adjusted but I just had this anxious feeling and I was starting to worry that I was talking myself into things. Midway through the week Jake went up to the mine for his tour and official interview. That afternoon I took a taxi ride to the mine (this was an hour and a half ride). It was beautiful scenery and also interesting and humbling to see how people lived and what life was like.
Once I picked up Jake we headed to the north coast of the island. This was another option for us. You can choose to live in Santo Domingo which is 1 1/2 hours away from the mine (that is the same as Jake's current job) or you can live in Cabarete which in 2 1/2 hours away. In either situation Jake would stay onsite during the week. In Santo Domingo he could come home in the evenings if needed but it is recommended to stay at the mine on work days.
When we first went down I had planned on Santo Domingo because I knew I might see Jake a little more plus I had a friend that I could get together with. It turns out though that this was not meant to be. The north just felt right to me. Cabarete is a tourist town with beautiful beaches and places to live. As soon as we got there I realized that this was a place I would feel comfortable with the kids and being alone for a good portion of the time. I kept thinking about how the kids and I spent so much time together outside. In Santo Domingo I was in a concrete jungle where as in Cabarete I was literally in paradise. It was a struggle to come to that decision for me because I had counted on having a friend when I went down there. Being in Cabarete means I will be totally alone. It was kind of overwhelming but I knew I have received and answer and I also know that you can make friends anywhere. Plus having the church I know that I will have somewhere to go if I need someone.
Currently we are excited, scared, overwhelmed and comforted. The way things have fallen into place has really been a big comfort. This move will be a sacrifice for our family but we feel like it will benefit us in the long run. The kids will get a little less time with Jake. Right now Jake leaves at 3:30 a.m. and gets home at 6:00 p.m. Andy goes down at 7:00 and Nathan follows about 30 minutes later. That adds up to 5-6 hours a week. Jake gets more time off over the year and we plan on making our weekends count. This will be a good move for Jake's career so we are willing to do this for a couple of years. I say better in paradise than Elko (No offense Elko friends...but really I would rather do this while living on a beach that in Elko).
The good news is we will have extra bedrooms and we will welcome visitors anytime. Jake starts work on January 21st so we are frantically trying to get paperwork done and to sell our house. So if any of you know someone send them on over. I love my little house with the pretty tree.
