My First International Adventure || Journey to Juarez, Mexico

On September of 2014, I was sent to Mexico to support a product build of a new product launched at our manufacturing site located at Juarez, Mexico. The duration of stay is two months and a half. I was scared at that time because this is my first international travel and the idea that this is not such a good destination according to my few research - but my experience at the place proves that I was all wrong.

Good Day fellow Steemians. First of all I would like to thank @fabio2164 for this contest that allows us to reminisce some interesting days of our lives.

Let me start by describing some details on my travel to Juarez. The total flight time is around 21 hours via 3 connecting flights. From Cebu to Japan, Japan to Mexico City and finally Mexico City to Juarez, Mexico.

Not to mention several long lay overs at the airports, the travel is very tiring. I arrived at destination at almost midnight with back pains and headaches and jet lag considering travelling at several time zones. I immediately knock out to bed.

My first day is adjusting to the local foods. For breakfast, the hotel serves breads and several breakfast foods such as bacon, ham and eggs.

Although I am a rice eater but I find it easy eliminating rice on my diet for the meantime because in Mexico rice is not a default meal requirement. At lunch, we have some burritos and several other Mexican foods such as tacos, frijoles and Enchiladas. I find them all palatable to my taste.

For dinner, we go to nearby mall to see what we can find mostly Chinese food or American food and when I say eliminate rice for the meantime, I mean eliminate on breakfast or lunch but I crave rice for dinner :).

I thought that Mexicans are not that friendly. I am all wrong. What I love about Mexico is Mexicans somehow have several similarities with Filipinos such as some of the language and some cultures. Mexicans are very kind people. They respect foreigners and fellow Mexicans. I did not look like foreigner at Mexico anyways because our physical features is similar to that of Mexicans lol.

Mexicans also loves music just like most of the Filipinos. Although I cannot understand the Mexican music but it is very pleasant to my ears.

I worked with Mexicans both the Engineers and the operators and the treatment between the two different workforce towards each other is equal and mutual. The operators are free to express their thoughts and the engineers listens and vice versa.

Mexico is somehow feels like home to me. The place is a lot like the Philippines in several aspects. The surroundings, the establishments and the culture.

Just like most of the Filipinos, Mexicans are also mostly Catholics. Every Sunday there is a mass at the mall in front of the hotel which I attended several masses but it is only a Spanish mass. We are lucky enough to visit several churches at Mexico.

I did enjoy my stay in Mexico. I enjoyed the friendly atmosphere, the friendship, the food and the entire stay. The journey is all worth it.

Bidding goodbye to the people who became my extended family in a faraway land is the hardest part of the journey. I left Mexico on December 14th of 2014 bringing with me the memories of friends and the learnings that I will cherish.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my first international travel adventure.

I am inviting my friends, @traderpaw, @steemitcebu and @georgie84 to share their travel memories.

#contest #travelmemory #philippines