Big First Steps: Landing in Mexico City

I was at the climbing gym with my brothers and a friend, trying to get some nervous energy out before my flight that evening.

"You gonna send it?" My friend asked, gesturing to the 5.10 top rope I was eyeing. I'd tried to get it before but slipped off every time. I wanted to top it before I left. I tied into the climbing end, and my friend clipped into the belay with a thumbs up.

I lost count of how many times I tried to get that route, but each time left me more frustrated than the last. My people were cheering for me, but I was upset and losing strength in my left arm. I knew I was about to cry, so I called it quits. I called it quits and hid in the stairway.

Screaming at trees is more de-stressing than pushing yourself to do a difficult thing, so I yelled at some trees.

It's funny how the anxiety can build up. I'll be drinking my morning coffee at the peaceful kitchen table when suddenly it feels like I'm hit with 12 espresso shots. A minute later, it's gone.

The drive to the airport wasn't stressful. I played some chill music, and we watched the giant pink moon rise in the dusty rosey sky. It was nice. We got to the airport, grabbed our bags, and said goodbye. As we approached the terminal doors, my heartbeat was a hummingbird, and my stomach was still belaying off a cliff.

Waiting is the worst thing for anxiety. Waiting in line, waiting to be dissected and scanned by security, waiting to board the plane, waiting to land. And still, like a sketchy Wi-Fi connection, it would come and go.

The overnight in Vancouver wasn't stressful. There was a shuttle to our predetermined hotel and the airport the next morning. Stress-free.

Standing in line to board the Aeromexico flight to Mexico City, it hit so hard that I felt like I was going to faint, which I'd never done before.

When we landed in Mexico City, we were immediately lost. My mom had screenshot directions to our Airbnb, but we didn't know which end of the airport we were at or how to get out of the maze of pick-ups and drop-offs and parking lots. When in doubt, follow the people, and they will lead you to a lovely covered pedestrian walkway that leads right out of the airport and into the city. But that didn't help because we still didn't know where we were.

I turned to my mom. "There was a Starbucks at the airport. Let's go back and see if we can get some Wi-fi."

Back we go.

When in doubt, just get a taxi. It relieves so much stress.

After finally making it to the Airbnb and settling in, it was time for some exploring and mostly food finding, which can be difficult if you're following your nose. The city has many smells, ranging from car fumes to pit toilets to delicious cooked meats. When in doubt, follow the locals. They know where the best cuisine is, and they never disappoint. Neither did El Burro de Moctezuma with their tacos, burritos, and limeade that tastes like cucumber.

When we got back to the room that night, I stood out on the balcony and stared at the moon. The same moon I would look at in Prince George. The same moon I knew my friends and family were looking at.

I cried. A lot.

It's my second night away, and I'm already homesick. It's like I moved out again for the first time.