Our First Vacation

*Here's the deal.  I have tried for two days now to upload the video.  So I'm just going to post this because just words is better than nothing right?  And I'll try to upload the video again later.  So ignore the part that tells you to watch the video.

We arrived in Mexico on the 28^th/30^th.  We began teaching on the 2^nd.  And we had our first vacation on the 5^th.  Weird, but that’s just how it went.  And I’m not gonna lie, I kind of needed that break after just 3 days of teaching.

On Thursday, May 5^th, we teachers and one van driver began our trek to Oaxaca at 4 a.m.  Or maybe it was 5.  I honestly don’t remember.  Anyway, we got to Oaxaca (sounds like wuh haw kuh) at 9ish and saw the ruins.  I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I just don’t appreciate history.  I mean, the ruins were cool, but I would really rather spend my time at the beach or something.  Don’t judge me.

In fact, the part I was most fascinated with was not the ancient buildings; it was the insane bugs.  As we were hiking up the trail to get to the ruins, we were hearing this crazy sound that none of us have ever heard before.  Turns out it was these weird bugs that live in the trees.  They all make this sound in unison and they never stop!  It was the coolest thing.  So I recorded it.  Try to listen to the background sound, not the talking from Kelly, okay?  It’s awesome.

And then there were the ants carrying little green things that are three times bigger than the ant itself.  Again:  awesome. 

Thus Oaxaca was checked off our list.  So it was back into the van for another jillion hours to get to Huatulco (wah tool co). 

But before we get there, much happens. 

1.  At one point, we were stopped by a bunch of army dudes.  They seriously looked like what you see in pictures of the war in Iraq.  They were wearing all green and had the hard, round hat things on, and carried these ginormous guns, and had a glare on their faces at all times.  It was freaky.  Every car was expected to pull over to be searched when they passed these army guys.  So the van pulled over.  The driver got out and talked to the army dudes.  The army dudes looked in all the windows, opened the trunk, searched all the bags, closed the trunk, and told us all to get out and bring the bags we had in our hands.  So we teachers filed off the bus to see the following:  Two steps off the bus was a table with an army guy standing behind it.  To the right and left of this army guy, were two more army guys, all big and manly, with guns up and ready for war, I swear.  And then all up and down the street on both sides there was a periodic army dude.  So you put your bag on the table, and the army dude opens it up and looks through EVERYTHING.  Even my glasses case.  And the whole time he just looks angry.  When he finds nothing bad, he zips up the bag, looks at you, smiles, and says, “Gracias.”  It was awesome!

Then we all got back on the van and went on our way.

2.  We stopped at a big supermarket that was like the Mexican version of Walmart.  Speaking of Walmart, I have not seen one of those here, nor have a seen a McDonald’s.  I’ve only seen a Dominos and Office Depot.  Weird.  Anyway, this supermarket was paranoid about people stealing or something because listen to this.  At the entrance there is a freaky officer guy wearing all black with the hat and gun and everything.  He stands there next to this little tiny metal half door thing, like Lagoon or something.  Anyway, he stares you down as you walk through the little pass right next to him, and the whole time he is doing a little half smile.  What the heck.  So then you do your shopping and what not and you are ready to pay.  The lines to pay are so tiny. 

You know how in America, you can easily pass someone in line to check out, right?  Well not here, people.  There is barely room for the cart to pass between one register and the next.  AND it’s the only way you can get out of the store.  They do this on purpose, and I’m assuming it’s so you won’t steal.  You know, because you are forced through a tiny opening with a cash register right next to it.  So you pay for your stuff and find yourself on the other side of the registers, with only one way to go, and that’s out.  Oh, wait, listen to this.  Jill bought a swimsuit and it had one of those little metal detector things on it, which the register lady did not take off.  So we asked a worker and he took us on a 2 minute journey to some back desk thing with a lady there who removes metal detector things.  But not right away.  No.  First you must show your receipt and she must stare at it for 3 minutes to be sure you really did buy it, even though you clearly just made it through the insanely skinny register lines so how could you have NOT bought it?!?!?  Whatever. 

So then, there really is only one way to go and it’s out of the store.  And guess what.  To get out, you pass six or seven guard dudes staring at you (partially because you are walking out of the store, and partially because you are the only white person they have seen in a month) and they all have their guns diagonally in front of them.  At the door there is another guard dude, but his gun is seriously ready to shoot.  And it’s a big gun.  I’m so glad I don’t have criminal tendencies.

But guess what.  It’s not over.  It was Jill, Siciley, and me who had just exited the store, when we realized that the rest of our group was still inside, getting something to eat from the deli place.  So we go back to entrance to find that friendly guard, still doing his guardly duties.  As soon as he sees the bags in our hands from the items we just purchased, his little half smile is gone, and he closes the metal door passage thing.  Oh no.  So I hand Jill my bag and say, “We can’t go in with our stuff.  I’ll go get Brian so he can open the van for us.”  As soon as I hand my bags over, his half smile is back, the door is open, and he does the little hand gesture like, “After you.” 

That’s basically the end of that.  I found Brian, we got into the van, nobody was shot, all was well, and eventually we were back on the road, headed toward Huatulco.

To be continued…