The serene view of clouds and the hum of the airplane were suddenly interrupted by the tone of the captain. “We are approaching Mexico City, prepare for landing,” he said. Curiously occupying the window, I eagerly started to look outside, excited yet terrified of the first glimpse of my new home for the next six months. As the clouds parted and the plane descended, I began to see something I couldn’t fathom — houses stacked upon houses and mountains in the distance. The mammoth of a city overtook me at that moment.
After arriving at my apartment and settling in, I was introduced to an Italian and French exchange student. Eager to explore, we walked to a market and tried our first tacos in Mexico City. We were not sure what was in them, but they were amazing. From there we took an Uber to Centro Histórico, the historic downtown center filled with bustling streets, markets and the famous national monument of independence.
That weekend, I decided I wanted to master the metro system. The public subway and bus transit system only costs 10 pesos (less than one U.S. dollar) to ride. I love that Mexico City has a separate cart on the metro for women and children. I gathered a group of exchange students and one native student to go on an adventure through town using the metro.
Despite missing my family, The University of Texas at Austin and my friends back home, the students and people here have welcomed me with open arms. Not to mention, the culture is something I really enjoy. In a big city full of markets, art, fashion, history and gastronomy, there is never a dull moment.
This post was contributed by Isabel Aldrete, a Global Ambassador for Spring 2024. Isabel is a junior international relations and global studies major studying abroad in Mexico City, Mexico.
Very well done