I'M IN MEXICO!!! So I think this blog is going to be like an open journal for me and my friends and family that want to see what I'm up to and how things are going in "la ciudad mas grande del mundo" (the biggest city in the world in population size or some other demographic, not necessarily cooler than let's say Provo, UT or Live Oak, CA for example ;)).

Tuesday - Man I wish I had more sleep, I got to say goodbye to all of my friends Monday that were in town and close to me like Hellen, SQuebe, Sunhee, Calista and others in the ward an not. The days leading up to my departure from the US were so awesome, hanging out with friends and family. It was also tight to graduate with Steve Dutcher and getting to hang with Mckenna and their families. I also got to spend time with my parents and many of my brothers and some cousins and Aunt Dianne and Uncle Tiger.I really appreciate all of your love and support. I´m really sorry about Chance. It was sad and unexpected, but he´s in a better place.

Anyway I played hard on Monday night I guess, saying goodbye to all and then waking up at like 3:45 in the morning to catch my 7am international flight. Wow, was it a long day.

The flu epidemic scare:
On Sunday I started hearing about some wierd pig flu that's killing people in Mexico. I was told and advised to wait it out a week or so for my safety, but I didn't really feel strongly about not going so I decided to go through with it.

Additionally, I had given up my car to Gary-my brother and my cell phone (doesn't work in mexico unless I pay like $1.50 USD a minute - what a freakin' rip off). So I had sold my contract, practically moved out, had no job, no school, no cell phone, no car, no job, and no job....so I figured postponing it, did not make sense.

I'll admit though, that leaving was a bit nervous for me. I think that the first time that I actually got nervous was when I was walking mi amiga Hellen home and saying goodbye, or later that morning (5am) at the airport, realizing that I had not made a whole lot of plans for the trip.

Anyway, Steve Quebe you are a stud, thanks for alleviating some arrival concerns for me. It really meant (means) a lot to me. You are a true friend. So the plane ride was actually pretty normal until I got to Houston for my lay over. We had this huge jet, but only like 12 people got on, me being one of maybe 2 or 3 gringos (they were probably just white mexicans lol). Sure I was a bit nervous ;), but I am a bit loquito (loco for the gringos) and I was sure that if I practiced good hygiene, ate and slept well, that I would be just fine.

I made friends with a Mexican named David. buena gente. We ended up getting to know eachother quite a bit and he ended up helping me use the pay phones at the Mexico City airport to contact Ericka Garza, a friend that has been extremely helpful along with her family thus far. Arturo Morales was so kind enough to introduce me to her the week of graduation when she was visiting from Mexico to support him in his accomplishments.

Tuesday was a very crazy day. I stayed up till like 2 in the morning which was 3 in the morning from Utah time, and had slept next to nothing. Antonio Garza (Ericka's dad) is a really good guy. He's a high councilor in one of the 40 stakes (i think) in mexico city. He has let me stay in one of his apartments the last couple of nights and will rent to me for like $160 US a month. Its pretty nice, big as my room in condo row, but bigger bed. Also I'm up a metal (skinny) spiral staircase and the bathrooms are shared and downstairs. They are a little ghetto, but a lot nicer than average down here. The shower is best in class at least in one of the bathrooms. One I have avoided--bathrooms are just not the same :).

Anyway Antonio Garza is business guy that employs some freelance people to teach workshops that he creates (along with videos) for self improvement in the work place. So these workshops are taught to companies that are his clients. I think he teaches like leadership and other stuff. Anyway he is also trying to work on a project where he is using church materials and others to teach family principles courses. He wants it to be doctrine neutral so he can teach these courses to people of all faiths-as he has contacts in other religions as well.

So Tuesday I learned a ton, almost went on a vacation with their family to Acapulco in their summer home on a whim, but Antonio is being stubborn ;) --his family (Ericka, Antonio jr, and the mom, Luz Maria all would like to go, but he doesn't, not sure why exactly. At first I thought it was because of the safety issue---but there are way more influenza cases and deaths in Mexico city than anywhere else.

Today (thursday) I got to sleep in! Heck yes! and I went to a small super(market) and got some necessities. I feel pretty safe where I live. It's pretty sweet and there is a panaderia -mexican bakery- close to where I live! It's great, I had breakfast for like 60 cents!

The exchange rate right now is pretty good, which means that I get like a 30% discount on top of what the normal is, which is already pretty economical. But that also means that when I get a job and they pay me in Pesos, that I'll spend it all pretty quickly.

Today I get to go to the LDS employment services and have an appointment at 3pm.
FYI time here is Central (Texas) in the U.S.

Until the next post. Love you all. PEACE

Feel free to Facebook me anyone. Don't feel bad if it takes me a couple of days to respond. I hope to be able to get on the internet almost everyday.

Also my cell phone number is 55-59-40-52-66 --you have to dial either 001 or 011 to get out of the country then, 52- for mexico's country number first though.