Our First Week in 🇲🇽

What a whirlwind it has been to finally make our move abroad! The journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs, but I’m so glad we took the leap. This week has been an emotional rollercoaster, but every moment has made us more connected as a family.

Arrival in Mexico City

After a grueling 9-hour delay in CLT, we were overjoyed to finally land in Mexico City at 10:30 PM. Our incredible driver, who graciously picked us up 9 hours past our original landing time, and our kind Airbnb host, who met us at 1:30 AM to let us in and give us a tour, were lifesavers. The kids, exhausted from a day that started at 5:30 AM, were in tears by the time we reached baggage claim. I completely understood their frustration and wanted to cry right along with them. Despite the late hour and our tiredness, we felt an overwhelming sense of relief and excitement to finally be here.

Settling In

Our first week was all about acclimating to our new surroundings. We spent a lot of time exploring the city, finding local shops and parks, and just getting a feel for our new environment. Scheduling school tours for the kids would have been impossible without the help of Susie, a wonderful friend I met in a local expat Facebook group. She has been instrumental in easing our transition, providing invaluable tips and food recommendations.

Adventures and Misadventures

Attempting to find a nail salon turned into quite the adventure. I booked an Uber for myself while Michael took the kids to a nearby nature park. After wandering around the colonia for almost two hours and finding none of the three nail salons open, I felt so defeated. It was a reminder of how different things can be in a new country, and how much we still have to get acclimated to. However, reuniting with the family and enjoying the park made up for it. The kids even bravely held a Python, which I didn’t quite understand would be placed on their shoulders until it was too late to back out. Watching their excitement and bravery made me proud and reminded me why we embarked on this journey in the first place.

On Tuesday, while Michael worked, I took the kids to the Children’s Museum. For only $3 USD per person, we experienced an incredible day of exploration and learning. The museum was filled with interactive exhibits that the kids couldn't get enough of. Afterward, we treated ourselves to what I believe was the nicest IHOP I’ve ever been in. The kids enjoyed pancakes while I reflected on how quickly they were adapting and how resilient they were proving to be.

Week 1 Highlights

- Making it to our destination safe and sound

- We discovered a small sit in eatery that served the best enchiladas we’ve ever had along with a pitcher of fresh fruit juice, all for $7 USD.

Week 1 Lessons Learned

- Nail salon search reminded me that I must be flexible and patient on this journey. Also, while I felt completely safe it’s probably not a good idea to roam unfamiliar streets alone.

- I was unprepared for the inability to access some US-specific websites. Thank goodness for VPNs! 😩

New Spanish Words/Phrases We’ve Learned

- Disfruta (greeting meaning “enjoy yourself”): We noticed people saying this to us at restaurants but didn’t understand what it meant until we Googled it.

- En serio? (Are you serious?)

Did you know?

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in Latin America and the sixth largest city in the world with a population over 20 million, larger than NYC.

We are outside of Mexico City as we were seeking a much slower paced and close knit community.

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I will be sharing more updates and photos as we continue to explore and settle into our new home. 💖✨