Arrival in Cuernavaca!

I have arrived safely in the beautiful city of Cuernavaca! When I landed in Mexico City, I realized how much I depend on language to understand everything around me. Already, being completely alone in a foreign country taught me a lot about myself.

I saw a few people from my flight wearing NC State t-shirts. I went up to them and asked if they could help me get to customs. They told me they were with a big group going to Cuernavaca to study at Universidad Internacional. What a small world! I was quite relieved to have met them until I saw the man holding a sign that said "Allison Byrd"- Private Pick-Up. The driver spoke no English except for one word- HEAVY... and he certainly used it when he was carrying my 3 suitcases. haha

On our 1.5 hour drive to Cuernavaca, I think I used every Spanish word I knew... which I could only put together a few sentences and phrases. We sat most of the time in silence. We drove through the gates of my neighborhood and I laughed to myself when I recognized everything from Google Earth. When my driver couldn't find my home, I could have helped him out and told him its right around the corner on the right, but I decided to let him find it himself. haha What an incredible feeling being in the place I've seen so many pictures of... it is so real now.

My host father, Jose, welcomed me with open arms and a kiss on the cheek. He immediately took my bags, showed me around the house saying "this is your home, this is your bedroom, here is your swimming pool, and this is your kitchen". I was amazed at how the interior was so beautiful.

My host sister, Daniela is 16 and very pretty. She is still in high school and spends most of her time in her sister's room. I sat with Jose on the back porch and ate watermelon until my host mother, Elsa and my host sister, Pamela came home from work. She prepared dinner which consisted of chicken, pasta, lettuce and tomatoes, and bread. After dinner, I met Adolfo and and his mother, Maria who had traveled from Mexico City to see me. Since I've known them since last July from the Mexico City mission trip, it was nice to see a familiar face. We took a trip to downtown Cuernavaca where I bought a Mexican cell phone, went to Oxxo to add more minutes, and back home where they met Mama Elsa. Pamela is 26 and has a boyfriend, Alejandro, from Mexico City who has been here all weekend.

The first night in Mexico was not an enjoyable experience, I got very little sleep because my body isn't used to a house with no air conditioning. I slept with the sliding glass door to my balcony open but woke up many times from it being so muggy or the birds chirping outside. I told myself I would buy a fan if it meant I had to walk to Walmart. Needless to say, I wasn't the only American buying a fan that day.

My host father drove me to Universidad Internacional for orientation at 10am on Saturday. I was one of 2 people who were "Indépendante". The rest were from a NC State study abroad program. We took a placement test, had a personal interview for our placement in our classes, and took a tour around campus. Most of the buildings are centered around a gorgeous courtyard with pools and gardens. Adolfo and Maria picked me up from school once I called my host father and told him what I was doing. Lunch in Mexico that day was amazing.... I had SUBWAY! Ordering in Spanish was a whole different story when I needed to convert in my head that a 6 inch sub is 15 cm in Mexico.

After lunch, I had a mini tour with my school en el Centro where we visited the Cathedral of Cuernavaca and its many chapels, Cortes Palace- home of the Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes (now the Museum of Diego Rivera artwork), the Head Government Building (City Hall), the home and Art Museum of Robert Brady (U.S. painter), Morelos and Juarez Gardens which makes up the "Zocalo" or the center square.

Today is Sunday, where I spent most of the day unpacking, eating a long breakfast with my family, studying by the pool and writing. Mama Elsa has cleaned the house, done laundry and ironed for the week. Tomorrow is my first day of classes starting at 8am. I am so excited because I know with every passing day I will know more Spanish than I did the day before! I am learning new things literally every minute I'm awake!