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HOLA, BUENOS DIAS

Tuesday, May 5, 2020
 
For those who’ve not heard this term, visited Mexico, or read this term before, click this link: Cinco de Mayo , and you will learn about this celebration – the date in 1862 Battle of Puebla, when the Mexican Army defeated the French.
 
I have been to Mexico several times in vacation mode, and I’ve met people who’ve lived there and done business there. I even took a conversational Spanish class. I can ask for a menu, a bathroom, and instruct a cab driver – but beyond that, I’ve only retained a bit of vocabulary. And I can make a fantastic Paella. As for understanding Mexico, not so much.
 
For most Canadians, we are separated from Mexico by our large common neighbor. And we are joined by a massive trade agreement, the new-NAFTA treaty known as USMCA, which will soon come into being. Both NAFTA and its successor treaty were pre-COVID-19. My expectation, once the dust has settled, is that all three countries will have good reason to re-think who we buy from, who we sell to, and how we ensure the supply of critical things.
 
In the post-COVID-19 world, we may look the same, but we won’t be the same. What matters most will be things that were not previously on anyone’s radar. And what we thought was most important will slip down the list.
 
Happy Cinco de Mayo to everyone – to every Mexican everywhere, and to the bit of Mexico everyone has in them after they’ve spent any time there. Mexico is neighbor, trading-partner, and an essential part of our North American community – a community that will become increasingly important to us all.
 

 
Reader feedback:
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
Hi Mark. Great post today. There has been so much hype about this virus, good and bad. We are not out of the woods yet. I think personally as someone who has had 3 family members affected by this, my youngest Son who recovered from it and did not know he even had it until AHS did an antibody test, and my Aunt who didn't and my cousin in the UK fighting for her life. I have learned a valuable lesson. My hope is I wish many would take this seriously, stop socializing, and stay home. I would love nothing more than to see my Grandkids, have Family Dinners, go on a Date night with my husband, but I for one do not want to put myself at risk, nor my family or friends. None of us clearly knows how this Virus works, whether people are carriers or not. Life will never be the same for anyone, but Life is precious for everyone and I pray that when this City is re-opened, we do not have a major resurgence and spike because I definitely see it happening. Sad part will be, the innocent ones will be affected, and the ones who have to rush out and make up for lost time will be the reason it happens. I do not want to see Canada become another US, UK. I hope I am wrong but I haven’t been so far. Take Care. Stay safe, MJ, Calgary, AB
Hello Mark, Enjoy your emails. A close read of Nietzsche’s voluminous works will certainly put his words in proper context… , JM, Calgary, AB



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Mark Kolke, Realtor, MaxWell South Star Realty


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