week one

new friends in the idyllic city

Jan 08, 2023

I made it! To La Universidad de Las Americas Puebla in Cholula, el estado de Puebla, Mexico. I provided a map below for our visual learners:

UDLAP is in Cholula, Popocatepetl is a large, active volcano.

The first few days here have been both more stressful and more rewarding than expected. If my first few experiences have any indication of what the rest of the semester will be like, it is going to be one wonderful wild ride.

I was supposed to take two flights and one quick Uber ride to arrive at UDLAP by around 3pm on Tuesday, January 3rd. Unfortunately for me, both my flights were cancelled around thirty minutes before take off leaving me scrambling with United Airlines to find other flights. I ended up flying into Mexico City and taking a three hour bus ride to Puebla and then an Uber to my dorm. I wasn’t sure I was actually going to make it to Mexico, but thankfully I made it in just after midnight, in time for orientation the next day.

On my plane ride from Houston, TX to Mexico City, I sat next to the kindest father and son duo. They were returning home to Mexico after Christmas in the states, and we ended up chatting in Spanish for the entire two hour plane ride. I heard all about their life and work in Morelos and was invited to stay with them for the weekend whenever I wanted. Gracias a Dios - this was exactly what I needed. The two things that worried me the most going in to this experience were making friends and speaking in Spanish. I felt relieved and was reminded that I am capable of doing both. What a wonderful introduction to the warm and hospitable Mexican culture.

International student orientation! Highlights included meeting many friends, filling out even more migratory documents, and a walking tour of the campus. WOW this place is even more beautiful than the photos. The campus is so green and perfectly manicured. Anywhere you look there are beautiful views of the volcano Popocatepetl and the surrounding mountains. The academic buildings are ornately tiled and brilliantly colorful. Dreamy.

I finally met my roommate! Valentina is a freshman starting her first semester at UDLAP. She is from Tabasco, Mexico, about six hours away by car. We are happy to start our experience at UDLAP together, and have been helping each other out. I showed Valentina how to work the laundry machines and Valentina gave me a pillow.

After the first day of orientation, I got dinner with my new friends and roommate. We attempted to go to the school cafeteria, but it was closed as the hours were shortened before the start of classes. We were too tired and hungry and jet lagged (well, not me) to go anywhere than the Papa Johns across the street from campus. Not exactly what I would call authentic Mexican food… Here’s a picture of three tired international students with a bottle of Cholula hot sauce in Cholula, Puebla. Did you know that that Cholula hot sauce isn’t from or made in the city of Cholula? The hot sauce was created by a family from Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico where it is also manufactured. The companies headquarters are in Samford, Connecticut.

Thursday, January 5th, included a very eventful trip to Walmart. I went with eight European international students who had never been to a supermarket as large as a Walmart. I walked the aisles with Anais, who is French, and we discussed any cultural differences we noticed. I was surprised to see milk and eggs not refrigerated, and Anais was surprised to see tires in a grocery store. I promised that Walmart has everything you could ever need!

I also was very excited to buy a copy of Vogue Mexico and found some local-looking Mexican coffee that I’m excited to try.

Don’t worry, I have also been getting out and having more authentic cultural experiences than Papa Johns and Walmart, but it just goes to show how widespread and inescapable American culture really is. Yes, I have heard reggaeton music while out, but I hear plenty of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles over the speakers too.

Other adventures on Thursday included going to a rooftop restaurant/bar with views of Popocatpetl and the famous church atop the largest pyramid in the world: Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, and exploring the zocalo (main city square) of Cholula San Andres during the día de los tres reyes festival. El día de los tres reyes is a bigger celebration than Christmas, and commemorates the three Kings visiting and giving gifts to Baby Jesus. Children receive presents from the three kings, and we celebrated alongside local people with parades, lights and people in costumes in the city square. Generous restaurant owners let us taste the traditional cake rosca de reyes and hot chocolate. Both were delicious.

Otherwise, I have been exploring the streets and many cathedrals of Cholula and Puebla with my fellow international students, trying restaurants and bars in the area, meeting lots of people at international student housing gatherings, and enjoying cheap and quite tasty dining hall food. Saturday, my iPhone reported that I walked 39,000 steps around Cholula (my feet hurt), and I am still blown away by the beauty of this place. Thankful for kind friends who are ready for adventure, perfect weather, and brightly colored buildings.