On a balmy afternoon in March 1973 Dale Hoyt and her spunky 83-year-old grandmother stepped down from a second class bus for a weekend visit to Lake Chapala. Now 50 years later, Dale is still here. She will speak at Open Circle on March 19 to share the story of why she ended up as an accidental expat, observations on how the lakeside area has changed over time and anecdotes about the people, historical events and experiences that have enriched her life. She will delve into her perspective on language hurdles, attitude adjustments and involvement in community activities that are crucial to overcoming the challenges of adapting to life as a foreign settler in this unparalleled spot on Mexico’s map.

Dale Hoyt Palfrey unexpectedly found her calling as a bilingual journalist within a few years of putting down roots on Lake Chapala’s shores. In addition to contributing articles on Mexican history and culture to MexConnect.com and various print publications, she has made a mark over a quarter of a century as lakeside’s veteran news correspondent for the Guadalajara Reporter.