Our journey began at the Camionera (Central Bus Station) in Tijuana with Kavitha and Abeja on their way to Baja California and Shawn and I heading to Mexico City. While we were at the ticket counter, Kavitha and Abeja wandered off to check on their bus. With just ten minutes before our 5:00 PM bus, Shawn and I went looking for our missing teammates. It was at this point that the Odyssey World Trek became a real adventure. We boarded the bus and were off to Mexico City within minutes. Two minutes out of the terminal parking lot the bus broke down! We quickly boarded another bus and were on our way again. What an exciting beginning!

After hours of walking up and down the bus aisle for the restroom, I became familiar with many faces of others heading to Mexico City. While stopping in the city of Hermosillo, I met Manuel, who was returning from a two-week visit with his in Tijuana over the Christmas vacation. He was traveling home to Ixtapalapa with his mother and younger sister. I enjoyed talking to Manuel who has a great sense of humor! His favorite subject in ninth grade is World History. Manuel first thought I was going to Mexico City to see the Pope (who is visiting on Friday). When I told him about the Odyssey World Trek and my interest in the histories of indigenous people, he suggested that I visit Palenque to get a glimpse of Pre-Columbian Mayan culture.

Throughout the ride I felt sick. I asked the bus-driver Ramon if I could sit up front in the comfortable passenger seat that also had a view. Seeing the beautiful desert scenery helped to ease my nausea. While up front, I also got to listen to his collection of cassette tapes, mainly songs in Spanish but a few in English, too.

After two long days of traveling, we finally arrived in Mexico City, where we will spend a couple of days with the Marroquin family. With open arms they gave me a traditional Mexican greeting: a hug and a kiss on the cheek. By that point I was starving and ready to chow down on my dinner of tacos al pastor. Que ricos!!!

I feel much more confident now. During the Mexico Trek I had so many fears about being in a culture I did not understand, potentially getting sick, not knowing the language or even what to eat (I am a vegetarian). Now my Spanish is mucho mejor (much better) and I am less worried about food or getting sick. More than anything, I am excited to finally be out on the road making new friends and learning all kinds of interesting things.

The last week of preparations really took a toll on the whole team. With so many details to work out and last minute problems, I never thought we would actually get going. Computers had to be fixed, equipment organized, travel logistics figured out, not to mention that we all had to move out of our houses and say goodbye to friends and family. I think we were all very nervous and overwhelmed with the idea of leaving our lives in the U.S. for two years. Now the planning and preparation are finally over and we are really out here traveling around the world!

I will spend the next few days resting from the long journey that brought me here. I love Mexico City and can't wait to re-visit some of my favorite places like, Chapultapec Park, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Mama Rumba Nightclub. After a few days of rest I will be ready to head down through Chiapas to Guatemala, where the Trek really begins.