I just had my first Corona. Finally. It cost me $2.50. Ja!

Sunday morning, Cara, Gab and I ventured to a small Baptist church that the woman from the bus went to. We were 10 mins early (which is worth about 30mins early for me), but, I could tell that this place was going to be good for me. At 10.50 the gates were locked, not a person in site…marvey.

 Anyway, by about 11 or so they showed up…and were so welcoming. They kept making announcements and prayers in the service for us…I didn’t understand the sermon so well, but enough. It’s exhausting concentrating so hard though. The songs were fun though, because you can participate and understand what’s going on cause its written.

Afterward, Rosalba’s husband drove us back to town and showed us round the uni and showed me where my house was. The people are so friendly.

We also tried to explain that our new phones weren’t sending and receiving messages from Australia to the phone man…(the moment when my confidence really failed). I think he understood what I meant but I was asking myself what tense I was talking in…(the answer: the wrong one)

Now the really fun part of the day was the supermarket expedition. woooow. It’s cooler than Australian supermarkets. A really yummy bakery section, cheese aisles galore. Much fruit and veg. Clothes. Heaps of imported American things. It was a fun expedition. I can’t wait to cook!

Also exciting was the pharmacy trip where I bought a 30cent avocado. (woohoo Mexican dreams fulfilled). Also I did appreciate the range they stocked at the pharmacy. If one type of drug doesn’t work, you can also buy beer at the pharmacy (as well as the avos).

It is ultra freezing here. Colder than I could ever have imagined. Ever. I’ve been wearing beanies and gloves and scarves and jumpers and layers. I couldn’t sleep with the cold last night.

Rosalía came and met me last night and walked me to our apartment. That was fun, and made me feel nervous. I just want to settle now but it’s a sort of scary thought to settle at the same time.

A few days ago I was feeling OK about this language thing. The past 2 days, I wonder if I’ll ever get it. On Saturday night we went out for dinner with this dude some of the chicas met, and he must have spoke slowly for us because I could speak and understand well. I even got to ask about Op Shops and second hand clothes (which by the way is a weird thing here).

Anyway, since then, my confidence has gone. I moved into my new house today, and Rosalía, one of the chicas who is lovely speaks so fast I can hardly understand a word. Anyway, it’s rather exciting that I have a room and a house and all that. It turned out I didn’t have to share a room, so anyway, Gab and I are going to share. It’s near the botanic garden and more importantly a vegetarian restaurant.

At some point us chicas arrived in Mexico City (D.F. el distrito federal). I started getting scared the last 1/2 hour of the trip, realising what was about to occur. And exactly How Little Spanish I Knew, well the thought mildly concerned me…

Once we’d landed my mega 22kg bag did appear, but on some levels was not happy to have remet it, as it did mean I must Lug it. Eventually my first Spanish interaction occurred when I ordered the taxi. That was fun. I don’t think I’d like to travel here with no Spanish. I think it would be difficult.

We found our way to the hostel overlooking the Zocalo in the centre of the city. The taxi trip let me fall in love with the city. It is so …marvey.

The lights and the bustle and the vibrance. It only took us 1 whole hour to check in. Goodness Knows Why. None of us could really deal with such things at that moment. Very tired and ..well tired. Eventually I tried to call home and had some rather convoluted conversations with Bec, and eventually Tom (less confusing). My tiredness and confusing phone lines made it rather difficult.

We went for an explore and found a mega cool colouful juice bar where I had a vegetarian torta which actually was not a cake. Yummy but so filling. And I got to try cactus. It’s actually really yummy. It tastes when its raw, like raw brocolli and cooked like yummy eggplant cross zucchini.

Such a beautiful city and I was surprised by how incredibly modern it is.

 They have a lot of shoe shops in México.

One of the nicest things is that people rarely treat you like tourists. And no one really cares for your business. Which is a fairly nice thing as a foreigner trying to fit in.

I kept getting excited on the plane because the Japanese hostesses kept saying (by which i mean once) ‘gracias’ instead of thanks because it was the flight that was bound for Mexico…And, even in Xalapa, last night I almost was mistaken for a shop keeper. Nicest thing ever!

But really, I think people know I’m a foreigner. Sadly.

Well. This is all a bit out of order, but I suppose is rather reflective of my mind and state at this present moment.

24th Jan I did hop on a plane with Gabbie, Cara, Jade and Ursula. Airport departure was sad although I think perhaps the day prior was more difficult. Because once I got on the plane the excitement I’d been waiting for hit (the keyboards here are so weird…as well as the ringing tone…it sounds like the engaged signal, which has been rather muddling I must say). Anyway, the excitement was good. And for those who are interested (which I know Emily is especially) the movies… were crap. Eso es todo.

We did arrive in Tokyo at some 9 horas later and were shuttled to a swank Japanese Hotel where we had Kimonos. So bizarre being somewhere where no one speaks English and I understood nothing. My instinct told me to speak Spanish to get by, but it didn’t seem to work.

Everything had a tinge of weird to it there. The food, my noodles with no pork had pork, which was then removed. Really though, the supermarket was the funniest place. I totally understand why Japanese tourists take photos in Sydney. We must seem so weird. It’s sort of frustrating speaking none of the language, because you can’t engage with the culture. It just seems really weird.

It was real icy there. We caught the bus into Narita town and walked about and went to a temple. A nice little adventure. It’s so quiet and peaceful there. And I did have to say, “I just don’t know where they put their noise”. I don’t understand, there is no whir of traffic or nothing. It’s so quiet and there is elevator music that plays all down the main streets.

It’s also teapot heaven. But I refrained. It’s also basket heaven.  I shed a tear now because I remember all my cool basket photos that I’ve lost. But also, again with the baskets, I refrained…

Once we left the hotel, we caught a plane for Vancouver. There I slept. Poor Cara had a Migraine for that whole 7 hour flight. The hostesses got her a spot where she could sleep on the floor luckily. Gabbie, who’s scared of flying wasn’t which was fantastic. I did my ususal no sleeping stint. And the other 2 girls I think did sleep.  

Today I found Soy milk. Hoorah! And not only did I find soy milk I also found powdered soy milk which is non-existent in Australia. I think I might stock up on it for those long bushwalks.

The other thing Xalapa stocks that Sydney does not is truely universal adaptor plugs. they take any input and make any output. These do not exist in Australia. ¿What a cool place eh?

I have been in Mexico for 2 1/2 days and had no Corona’s. That is bad. And I think they cost about $1.50-$2. Wow. They also have Sol which fortunately I know already is not as good.

Well I´ve begun to weather the foreign language storm. Today I walked the town with mis amigas looking for an adaptor to charge our electricals. And eventually found success.

Also, I bought a phone. That was easy though because the chica spoke English. I was feeling all confident until I realised I couldn’t have done that in Spanish. But the real hit came when I had to register my details over the phone in Spanish. But…it obviously worked because my phone now works. Hoorah! But I have no phone numbers from Oz alas and have been trying all morning to remember them, but with out happy outcomes. I think I remembered either Dad’s or Tom’s. Who knows!

The keyboards here are all weird also.

But…this is a very beautiful city. And the people are so lovely. They treat you with so much respect, and are so helpful to my stupid questions.

I’m feeling rather annoyed at myself for losing my camera so early in the trip. It means I can’t publish any which is really rather annoying. And I’m pretty sad about losing all those photos.

Life is pretty tasks based at the moment and I haven’t really had any time to reflect on much. There isn’t much normality. I am like a traveller. I think there is something about travelling which prevents reflections on the normality of life which I don’t really like. Sometimes, in dire situations I get out the lonely planet book and hide in a corner to save the embarrassment of being a tourist.

I’m looking forward to going to church in the morning. I would really like to meet some locals.

Well today I have arrived in my new home. Xalapa and me have met.

 After a very long flight and trip I am glad to finally have arrived. Although, I must admit its daunting now I actually must face my new world.

I´ve already most likely lost my camera. Dumb dumb. My own doing too. Dropped it in the taxi without realizing. The nice, man at the hostel has been most helpful, but I am dubious as to its returning.

My travelling companions are goodo! Feel very blessed to have such a support network.

Arriving in Mexico City last night, I did have to use my Spanish (which was scary and exciting) and feel in love with it immediately. It is so incredibly magic. Xalapa seems to have a similar magic.

Tokyo is a strange place. I arrived an went to the loo. I found the neatest trick, a button that re-plays the flushing noise to muffle the going to the Loo noise. And if that wasn´t good enough we proceeded to find the “homo-sausage” which was a packet of two fish sausages.

I´m really hoping I pick up Spanish soon. Luckily people haven´t seemed to notice how little I know and understand when they talk to me…

This morning I pottered to the mailbox as the mail arrived.

I received a letter from UAC, and thought to myself (Why am I receiving a letter from UAC?)

I proceeded to open the letter and found out I got a scholarship. Which is rather bizarre really. I think many people must not know about it, because I don’t see why I am any more eligible than many others. But kind of a lovely surprise. Ha.