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25 expat voices: Joanie Barcal

In their own words

By Inside México Original Print Publication: February, 2009

For the “25 Mexicans You Should Know” edition of Inside México (November 2007) our editorial team sat in a room for hours, proposing and debating names of candidates, eventually whittling the list to a mix of well and less-well-known figures, each illuminating some aspect of this country.

For “25 Expats,” we decided to do something different. We put the word out. We invited you, our readers, to tell us who to highlight. E-mailed nominations poured in from around the country, and several of you even called. 

This inaugural group of 2009 finalists is a diverse bunch in terms of where they are from, where they live and what they do. You’ve helped us round up the expat equivalent of the “butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.” In this case, however, it is the activist, the developer and the expat filmmaker…and the dog rescuer, the theater founder, the birder, and the book store owner. The list goes on.

The common thread running through each selection is the effort these people make to build community between expats and Mexicans.  We think that by doing so, they are helping to expand the definition of Mexico. That is what immigrants do. 

Expat: Joanie Barcal

Organization: Hospice San Miguel

Website: hospicesma.org

Image:Holly Wilmeth

Hospice founders Lee Carter, Milou de Montferrier, and Joanie Barcal.

Related Multimedia

Ana Prado

We asked our 25 featured expats if they have a specific Mexico “moment” or memory—something that always makes them think, “Yep, this is home,” or “That’s what I love about this place.” View Slideshow >>

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Originally from: I am originally from Southern California, where I was born and spent most of my life prior to moving to Mexico.

Lives in: I live in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.

Living in Mexico: Eighteen years.

Why did you move to Mexico?

I first heard of San Miguel de Allende on National Public Radio in 1989. The program was so compelling that I took a leave of absence from my job so that I could go see for myself. That was a decision that changed my life forever. I was drawn to the colonial town with its cobblestone streets and historic center, the culture, art, its proximity to the US, and most of all, the people. The people here, both national and foreign, are extraordinary and provide a true sense of community.

Tell us about Hospice San Miguel. How did you get it get started, and how is it serving the people of San Miguel?

Hospice San Miguel was born out of a need within the community, a need experienced by both foreigners and nationals. In the past, many members of our expat community, when ill, may have felt the need to return to the US, even though San Miguel has become their home [and] is where they have roots and relationships.

Hospice San Miguel also began, in part, as a result of my own experience of loss, and the profound recognition of the degree to which everyone-patients and family members-need help, in every dimension of their life, when faced with one's life coming to an end. How does one spend the last phase of life in a way that can be both meaningful and satisfying? 

This project has taken on much more significance as we come to understand how it relates to the national population. Mexicans in the US do not use hospice services. Here, because of our unique community and our understanding of the cultural and familial components, we have been most successful in providing hospice services within the Mexican community. We have developed a multifaceted program that hopefully can be exported back to the United States.

For foreigners in San Miguel, life is very much about "giving back": that sentiment is palpable in the community. Many other expats here have formed organizations with the same motivation.

Are you involved in other organizations, activities, or hobbies here?

My prime activity is as the Owner Broker of Allende Properties, one of the most respected real estate sales companies in San Miguel.

Do you have a specific Mexico "moment" that makes you think, "That's what I love about this place"? 

The moments are truly ongoing. The magic remains, and I still cannot believe that I live here. The sights and sounds of celebration are everywhere, and that experience infuses my life.

What are both the best and the hardest things about being an expat in Mexico?

The best is the quality of my life.

The hardest? I know it sounds corny, but nothing really comes to mind.

 

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