Joanna’s 50-Year Journey of Love and Life in Yucatán

Fifty years ago, what began as a work assignment became a life-defining decision. In January 1976, Joanna van der Gracht, a young Canadian woman, arrived in Mérida, Yucatán. She never imagined that this vibrant colonial city would become her permanent home — and the place where she would find love, build a family, and create a lasting legacy.

Before coming to Mexico, Joanna had already indulged her taste for adventure. After finishing school, she spent two years traveling in Peru, where she learned Spanish. That experience opened doors when she returned to her hometown of Vancouver and secured a position with a Canadian airline that was expanding into Latin America. One of her earliest assignments involved escorting travel agents to destinations including Cuba and Mérida.

It was during that stop in Mérida that everything changed for Joanna. One evening in the main plaza, surrounded by warm air, music, and the hum of local life, she felt an immediate connection to the city. 

“I fell in love with Mérida just like that, it was like no place I had ever experienced,” she recalls. The next day brought an even bigger surprise: she met Jorge, the local guide who would later become her husband. The spark was instant. Over the following months, she returned repeatedly for work trips, allowing their relationship to grow. By the end of that year, they had decided to marry.

Leaving Canada behind was not without challenges. Joanna sold her belongings, including her car, and moved permanently to Mérida in May — just in time to experience the region’s intense heat for the first time. But youth, optimism, and love carried her through the adjustment. Together, she and Jorge created a home, slowly furnishing it and making it their own. Within a year, she knew she was staying for good.

Life in Mérida in the 1970s was vastly different from what it is today. The city was smaller and simpler, with limited dining options and few modern conveniences. Yet there was charm in that simplicity. Movie theaters showed English-language films with Spanish subtitles, local music scenes flourished, and festivals filled nearby towns with color and tradition. Beach trips were frequent, archaeological sites were abundant, and cultural life was rich and immersive.

Living in Yucatán also meant opportunities to explore the countryside and venture outside the Peninsula to Mexico City, Guanajuato, Puebla, Oaxaca, and countless other picturesque cities and towns. 

After three years, Joanna and Jorge began raising a family. Their son, Carlos — the author of this post — was born in 1981, followed by their daughter, Anna Margarita, in 1985 — on the anniversary of her parents’ first meeting. As their children grew, so did Mérida. The signing of NAFTA in 1994 brought imported goods and international brands, transforming daily life. Despite these changes, the family chose local schools, embracing cultural integration while maintaining bilingualism by spending summers in Canada.

Over the decades, she became deeply involved in building community. In 1984, she founded Mérida’s International Women’s Club to help expats connect, build friendships, and feel supported. What began as a small gathering evolved into an organization that has lasted more than four decades, becoming one of her proudest accomplishments. Later, she and Jorge founded a college offering programs in tourism, languages, and technology. Together, they educated thousands of students and hosted international exchange programs, further strengthening cultural bridges.

Today, after five decades in Mexico, she reflects on both the beauty of progress and the importance of preservation. While modern services and infrastructure have improved the quality of life, she emphasizes that Yucatán’s actual value lies in its identity — its Maya heritage, colonial architecture, natural landscapes, warm climate, and the genuine friendliness of its people.

Joanna has also published books about her experience moving to Mexico, most notably, Magic Made in Mexico. She has also published books about her family’s wartime experiences in Canada and the Netherlands, as well as a couple of novels. Over the years, Joanna has also developed a love for painting, which these days takes up much of her time. 

Joanna’s advice to newcomers is rooted in experience. She cautions against trying to recreate life precisely as it was back home. Instead, she encourages people to embrace local culture, form genuine friendships with Mexicans, and approach the move with openness and humility. Most importantly, she strongly recommends learning Spanish. “You miss so much if you don’t,” she says. 

In 2003, she became a naturalized Mexican citizen — a milestone that symbolized her full integration into the country she chose as home. Looking back, she has no doubts about her decision. 

Joanna and Jorge today continue to live in the house she first moved into when she arrived in Mexico, in García Gineres, and love to fill their days with cooking, music, art, and their beloved dog, Buddy. 

Fifty years later, she tells us that she remains grateful for the leap she took — and hopeful for many more years enjoying the place that changed her life forever.