I have always lived a fast pace life. The goal has always been to go from point A to point B as fast as possible, but having the consequence of not paying attention to the little things that life has to offer. Oaxca is different. In Oaxaca there is time to literally smell the roses, to stop and get a coconut, cut it open and drink the juice and still arrive on time to point B because there is no set time of when you should arrive to your destination. I may be exaggerating a bit but you get the point.

Being here has definitely made me live in the moment and part of it is due to having limited WiFi and cellular service for 90% of the time. One of the things you will find in Oaxaca is the fact that you will mainly get service if you are in a major city or if the place you are staying at has WiFi. Majority of the time you don’t have service and if you do, than you will be lucky to load a page by next year. It’s refreshing seeing nobody on their phones (locals included) and watching everyone walk with their head up having a conversation with one another, rather than with their head down on their phone.

By being disconnected we appreciate one another more. We are more connected not only with one another but with our surroundings as well. What might of seemed impossible (not using your phone) now becomes desirable to me. Although, the phone allows you to connect with a lot of people across the globe, it hinders your connection with the people right next to you (most of the time being the people you love and care about). What was once missed or overlooked, due to being stuck on my phone, is now appreciated and valued. Oaxaca has showed me what it means to sit at a dinner table and have a genuine conversation. What it means to give someone my undivided attention and what it means to truly bond with people you care about. I am constantly surprised by the fact that I keep learning new things about everyone every day. There is always something new to learn, all we have to do is listen and pay attention.

On a side note, today I spent my birthday in Oaxaca. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect but what I received was way more than what I could of asked for. I was blessed with amazing people that I have the honor to work with and tons of sweets (kit Kat’s and cake of tres leches). By the end of the day I’m pretty sure I turned pre-diabetic, so you know I celebrated it pretty well. I can honestly say that this birthday will definitely be one I will remember and one I will cherish for as long as I live.

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This was the first new year’s I have spent without my family. I can’t deny that I was feeling homesick, but I wouldn’t have asked for a better group to start off the new year with. After the bonfire and playing some card games we had such an intimate and personal discussion that I feel brought us all closer together. Being disconnected from my phone has definitely made me appreciate everyone in my group and the beautiful city a lot more. This trip has undoubtedly exceeded my expectation and I can’t wait to see what Oaxaca has in-store for us today.