Mexico Day Uno

We met at the Union Project at 4:30 and headed out to the airport at 5, the last time we would do something on time for a week! It was a little slow getting through the ticket line, I think they were overwhelmed by such a huge group trying to check in. No problem with security or getting to the gate. We did take a long time to get of the ground, which wouldn't have been a problem, except that we were already pressed for time for catching our connection in Houston.

We ended up getting to Houston at 10:15 and our next flight was leaving at 10:30. Half our our group tore through the airport to tell them we were coming and the rest of us made it on to the plane just in time, yay! We had just taken off and had been flying for about 20 minutes when a woman a few rows ahead of us asked for the flight attendant to get her daughter for her, and after a few minuets of talking to the woman with her daughter the flight attendant said he was going to ask if there was a doctor on board. Dana, Molly and Sarah to the rescue! With the help of the flight attendants they took care of this woman, who may have been having a heart attack. They got an iv going and told the captain that we should go back to Houston.

Once we finally left Houston and made it to Mexico City, we had to go through customs where Russ and Dana got held up for a very long time because of the medicine that they had packed. We finally got all packed into Arturo's van. And I do mean packed! 11 people and all of the luggage. Poor BJ had to sit on the floor between the front seats.

We got a little tour of Mexico City, home of 28 million people, and no apparent traffic laws. It was crazy! And most people seem to handle it fine, no honking or swearing (at least that I heard), and no accidents. We made it to the church where we were welcomed by lots of hugging and kissing and Spanish. I tried to learn some before I left, but about all I retained was let's go eat (vamos acomer), so I pretty much just stood around feeling cold, tired and uncomfortable.

The church is really cool. It's basically a pavilion with a building where there's a bathroom and office and kitchen. Once every one arrived at the church and dinner was done, we sang some songs, in Spanish of course, and Arturo introduced BJ, John, Dana, Sarah and Molly and told everyone what had happened on the plane on the way down. Once that was finished we finally had a chance to eat (it had been hours since the small lunch on the plane)

I was worried heading down about what we would have to eat (if you know me, you know about my eating habits.) Everything was so good though! The people of the church made us sit down and served us, which was a little different, but as I learned later in the week, ok. We had chicken soup with huge kernels of corn in it, and you could add vegetables and stuff to it if you wanted. The best thing though was tortillas with chicken stuff on it where you put on toppings such as lettuce, chille powder, cilantro, cheese and lime. Yum!! We also had this spicy potatoes and peppers dish, Sarah found it too spicy and there's a picture of her out there with her reaction to it.

While we were eating, people were going to meet the people they were staying with. Bekah, who I thought I was staying with asked Arturo if she could stay with a girl who's family she'd just met and he said she could, but didn't say anything to me. We weren't sure what was going on, but then Arturo told me to come with him to met the person I would stay with. Yup, someone different than who Bekah was staying with. I wasn't really okay with it. But that makes sense right? Who wants to get in a car alone with some strange person you just met in a strange city? It ended up being a good match for a 'family' for me. Chela and her entire family spoke English. I found on the ride to their house that she is a teacher too. I was pretty exhausted by the time they reached their house, and I pretty much was out as soon as they showed me to my room.

More later and pictures soon!