Dia Numbero 1

Hola Amigos!

I arrived in Mexico late Saturday night. My flight was long and exhausting and upon arriving in Mexico City I made the very poor decision to switch my flight. Within 2 seconds the airline representative had printed me a new boarding pass before I could even ask about my bags. I was quickly informed that although I may be able to get on an earlier flight...my bags would not follow me. The airport in Mexico city is super confusing and daunting to someone unfamiliar with the language (I was still feeling shy). I arrived in Oaxaca, via a very small airplane, without my bags. I decided to wait in the airport to see if my bags would arrive on my original flight. After a tough spanish conversation with the Mexicana airine attendant (who i later learned spoke perfect English) I was able to collect my bags and head to my hotel. While waiting for my bags there were many Mexican families holding signs waiting for their "guests" to arrive. I learned how common it is for travelers to come for stays in Oaxaca. I was slightly regretting my decision to have my family pick me up from my hotel the following day. One woman saw that I was anxious about my bags and offered to take me home with her. She was so inviting I truly considered going! I could tell that everyone was excited to meet their new guests and this put me at ease about meeting my family. After retrieving my bags I grabbed a taxi from the airport. This taxi was so typically "Mexican" it was not even funny. They crammed about 15 of us in a van including all our luggage and went jaunting down the unevenly paved Mexican streets. No joke--people were staring at the van filled to the brim with "gringos". I made it to my hotel and found it to be a literal paradise with flowers and trees growing everywhere. My room was small but quaint, and I would be sure to return if I came back to Oaxaca. It was a unique experience traveling somewhere where you feel so unsure of yourself...however, I know I can do it now! My next adventure is sure to be far less frightening!