With my bag finally checked, I gave mom and dad their good-bye hugs and then got in line for the security checkpoint. The line itself seems to move pretty fast, well, at least until it is your turn. It seemed like I was removing stuff from my pockets and carry-ons for five minutes before I was "randomly selected" to go through the new body scanning machines. After getting through the machine I had to wait for another TSA agent to pat me down and scan me again. I finally got through, packed my stuff into my bags and pockets, and headed to gate C5 to wait for my flight. The flight was on time, and departed right at 6:30. It was off to Detroit! I lucked out and sat next to a friendly gentleman who was travelling to New York with his wife and daughter. He was an ex-minor league ballplayer and a high school baseball coach from California, so naturally we had a nice conversation centering on baseball for pretty much the duration of the two hour flight.
After a safe landing in D-town, I had a 54 minute layover before my flight to Mexico City at 10:30. Detroit's airport is quite large, so I had a good little walk to get to my gate. Thankfully there were long conveyors to speed up the process. I arrived at the gate and waited for the boarding call. This flight marked the beginning of my cultural immersion, as the traveler information was given in both English and Spanish. After boarding the plane, I learned of the troubles this flight had just a day before. A volcano had erupted in Mexico City. Unable to safely land at the airport, the plane had to turn around and head back to Detroit after being airborne for two hours. Both of the young ladies seated next to me were on that flight, so they were more than ready to get this show on the road. Fortunately, the plane left on time and there were no complications as we flew. The four hour flight was relatively painless, and was made even better due to the fact that I spent about half of it staring at the backside of my eyelids.
The landing in Mexico City was also uneventful, and I was now officially in a foreign country for the first time! Which meant that a trip to immigration and customs was in my near future. After presenting a couple documents I filled out on the flight, an immigration officer stamped my passport with my tourist visa and sent me off to pick up my luggage before going through customs. At customs, I had my first opportunity to practice my Spanish with more than just yes or no, or short and simple answers like 29 or Oaxaca. The customs officer only spoke Spanish, so I did my best to hold a conversation. It was difficult, but a good experience at that, and something I should certainly get used to! The customs officers really dig through every nook and cranny of your stuff. I cleared customs and then headed to get my boarding pass and check-in my bag with AeroMéxico. I only had 4 hours between flights, so I felt so rushed...not!
While waiting to board my final flight to Oaxaca, I participated in some hardcore people watching. It was very interesting to see and hear many different cultures mesh together in the same place. Mexicans, Americans, Italians, you name it; they could all be found in this huge airport. After relaxing in a large seating area, I made my way to gate 53. After boarding, the plane left on time and arrived in Oaxaca at approximately 7 pm. The flight itself was short, but it was not short in great views. Oaxaca is set in a mountainous region, and the city itself is surrounded by mountains. It was a very sight to see. I picked up my checked bag and headed into the atrium to find my host family. My host mother, Inelva, was waiting near the entrance with a sign reading "Grand Liebe." Close enough! I introduced myself as we made our way out of the airport towards the car. My host father, Gilberto, was just rounding a corner to pick us up. They are both very, very kind, understanding, and easy to talk to. Inelva is basically a Mexican version of my Grandma Chalupa, and Gilberto is your stereotypical awesome grandpa!
The journey from Oaxaca to mi casa was about a half hour. During that time, they told me a little about the city, things to do, places to see, etc. One thing I immediately noticed was the way everyone drives. I'm not talking India crazy, but it is certainly not as orderly as driving in America. Traffic laws are more like silly guidelines than actual ordinances to obey. Have a red light coming up? No worries, just plow on through and don't think twice about it! Mopeds and motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, and it is not uncommon to see three or four people on them.
The city of Oaxaca is beautiful in its' own ways. Each building is painted in a vibrant color, and many walls lining the streets are covered with colorful murals or tasteful graffiti. El centro de la cuidad (city center) is very historic, with cobblestone streets and magnificent iglesias (churches). Numerous plazas are popular spots to meet with friends, and street vendors are heavily concentrated in these areas. Every night is a fiesta at these locations. El zócalo and La Plaza de Santo Domingo are the most popular spots. After getting home, I dropped my stuff in my room and headed off on una camina (a walk) with my family and their dog, Tomás. We walked by the Becari Language School, where I will be taking classes, and the Santo Domingo Plaza, as well as the zócalo. Many groups were out performing, including mariachi bands and dancing groups. Fireworks went off every few minutes, sending a loud boom throughout the oaxaqueño streets. Nighttime in Oaxaca is a celebration, and is essentially a huge party in the streets! Well, at least on Saturday nights. Regardless, it is truly a sight to see, and I would encourage anyone taking the time to read this post to put a trip to Oaxaca in their plans.
The people of Oaxaca are very friendly, and are also extremely proud of their heritage. Oaxaca is one of the more traditional states in Mexico, and has the largest population of indigenous peoples. Many cultures intersect in Oaxaca, creating an environment unlike any I've previously experienced. There is definitely a greater sense of community down here, and the focus is certainly on the family as opposed to the individual. Even my house reflects this vision. My house is in a family compound of three houses. My host parents have a home, as do Inelva's aunt and sister. I'm actually staying in her sister's house, but like they always say, mi casa es su casa! The homes are beautiful as well. Large, with tiled floors, elegant staircases, and homey decor make these houses ideal for hosting.
After walking, I was exhausted from long day of travel. We came back and had a dinner consisting of bread and fried potato cakes with some homemade tea (it was the best tea I've ever had!). Inelva boiled some water then threw some fresh, homegrown hojas de límon (lemon leaves) into it. Then I headed to my room and decided to call it quits for my first night in Oaxaca.
Today (Sunday), I woke up at 9 to eat breakfast. Fresh fruit followed by some sort of tortilla covered with beans and cheese, and some bread. There are two other students staying at my house, both part of a group from Stanford participating in the CFHI program. Maddy joined us for breakfast. She invited me to go watch Despicable Me 2 with the rest of their group at a local theater. After breakfast, I met Avi as we headed for the movie. I haven't even seen the first Despicable Me, so I find it funny that I see the second one first, in Spanish, before I see the first. We walked to Santo Domingo, met up with the rest of the group, then hopped into taxis for a short trip across town. The movie itself was pretty good. I might not have understood a whole lot, but I had a basic understanding of what was going on, and I could still laugh at the behavior of the minions! After the movie finished, we piled back into taxis and came back for lunch at home. Two more students, Sara and Shannon, came right before lunch started. This house truly is a foreign student factory!
So far, my experience in Oaxaca has been phenomenal. The people here are extremely friendly, and I feel like I'm a part of their culture, even though I've only been here for about 24 hours. I'm excited for the start of my CFHI program tomorrow, and I look forward to learning each and every day I'm down here. I highly recommend for anyone reading this and looking for an awesome foreign location to visit to consider Oaxaca. It is a great place, from what I can tell, and has more than enough excitement to keep even the most easily bored people occupied. Hasta luego!
Glad you made it safely! It sounds like you will have a great experience!
ReplyDeleteThanks boy! It is sure to be memorable!
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