![\"John](\"http:\/\/www.criplomats.com\/wp-content\/Cancun-john.jpg\")
<\/a>John on the beach<\/p><\/div>John enjoyed Vallarta so much that he made reservations for a quick trip to Cancun during this three-day weekend (the Mexicans are celebrating the Day of the Dead, so we are off today). We flew there on Saturday afternoon; that night we saw a Cirque du Soleil show, “Joya.” It was lots of fun, as Cirque shows always are. The venue is small, so you’re very close-up – very cool!<\/p>\n Sunday we got our gym workout in, then we laid on the beach all day, reading and listening to the waves – so pleasant! It wasn’t nearly as hot as Vallarta, and there was a constant breeze blowing.<\/p>\n This morning we worked out, had a great breakfast, then made our way back to the airport – before we knew it, we were back home! <\/p>\n The work week prior to this little jaunt was interesting. I had several interesting cases, plus I volunteered to help teach English classes to our local guard force at the Consulate. They are fun students – so eager to learn. The classes are after work – I helped with a beginner’s class on Wednesday and intermediate on Thursday.<\/p>\n Friday I went to the court in Chapala to check in on a case. There was a lot of standing around, trying not to get wet from the gloomy skies. After a few hours, things got resolved more or less and we headed back to the office in time for employees’ children to come trick or treating. The different offices within the Consulate really go all out with spookiness – the kids and the adults had a blast!<\/p>\n At the beach, I read a book called “The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss.” I found it very interesting. In addition to discussing how non-Western cultures handle death and bereavement, he talks about his research into the topic. In short, he disagrees with Freud’s “grief work” or Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of mourning (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). He feels that people are much more resilient and more often than not are able to carry on just fine after a loss of a loved one (often coming out stronger or even happier than before). <\/p>\n