After our first stop in Queretaro, Mexico we are already learning valuable lessons. This is how the journey went:
- We were still unloading clothes from our suitcases at the hotel where we stayed our last night in ATL. We were trying to make sure that each suitcase was under 50lb. The lightest packer prize goes to our 15-year-old boy!
- People can be awesome! As we only had 30 days between our decision to travel and leaving the house, we still had loose ends at T-0. The front desk lady offered to personally return our Xfinity Internet Router to the Xfinity store and mail a key to a dear friend.
- We didn’t make a plan on how to make it from the hotel to the airport with 10 suitcases. We thought we could just call an Uber XL, but the hotel rushed to help us and got us a large, very luxurious ride, which of course, also came with the luxurious price tag! oh well, we left ATL in style!
- When we arrived at the Atlanta Airport, we received an email that said porting our phone numbers to Google Voice had failed. So, we might be in trouble with that one. We have to figure out how to keep our numbers while abroad long term.
- Our time at the Atlanta airport was smooth, our flight had to circle the air for a while when we were close to Queretaro because of the weather, but we finally made it safe and sound to our first stop!
- IMMIGRATION: Ay ay ay 😬 During my research, I learned that you can stay in Mexico for 6 months with your American passport, so I planned for 6 months. We had our onward ticket to Colombia, proof of income, etc. I presented our passports, told them our plans to stay 6 months, and the immigration official said: I am sorry mam’ we are no longer allowing people to stay 6 months. Besides, you didn’t bring cash to last you 6 months, and the children’s passports are new. Who carries 6 months of cash with them?! that was my first question (internally, I didn’t want to offend the guy). I proceeded to reason with the man for what seemed an eternity. In the end, they did grant us the 6-month stay. Thank heavens!
At this point, it also dawned on me that I would be leading my family on this adventure since I am the Spanish-speaking person on the crew, and that stressed me out a little bit because I am used to my husband leading. If he is around, he drives, he pays, he negotiates, he makes sure we are safe. If you picture a line, he is the lead, and I am the caboose, the kids follow him, and I make sure we are not leaving anyone behind. During this adventure, I am the line leader 🤪
- CUSTOMS: Just picture this…5 people, 15 pieces of luggage… All 15 items had to be thoroughly checked. So, even though I packed and repacked my luggage to be able to “travel light” I am now convinced that this should be more of a backpacking experience 🤣 I am already a little hippie, I’m sure I can go two years with three outfits lol! I also brought some books and homeschool supplies with me, those will have to go and we’ll have to move to digital for the most part. There will be some things that we will have to buy and leave behind as well. For example, some Airbnbs offer towels, others don’t, same with blankets, and I imagine toiletries, and things the kids might want to get into temporarily like arts and crafts.
- As we had so much in our minds, we forgot to do the currency exchange in Atlanta, by the time we got to Mexico, the currency exchange office was closed. Now we have to rush and find a currency exchange office that is open on a Saturday.
That is it! Tell Mama we made it safe! 🎉
I leave you with Dana’s rant about learning Espanish: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jJiV7bwWDvsR7d1r7
