06: Things I've Learned (Correction: Things I'm Learning)

Mexico has been beyond my expectations. I adore this country and the people. Mexico could not have been more wonderful and such a gift in easing into the transition into traveling the world. That said, you don't know what you don't know. And in the first 3 weeks, I feel like I don't know a lot. Everyday has been a wonderful and daunting "drink by the firehose" experience. I'm sure these first 10 lessons are just the beginning. 

01. Less is ALWAYS more

The "Great Purge" of week 2 did not help. In San Miguel de Allende I ditched a dress, 2 tank tops, 1 pair of shoes and a pair of shorts. So far, so good. I don't regret this at all but then again the weather in Mexico has been pretty easy. It has been warm but not unbearable so I'm not sure if I kept or got rid of the right things. 

Alas, my backpack is still too heavy. Packing for a trip with varying weather patterns is incredibly difficult. I bought a rain jacket in Mexico City (from the Colombia store no less. PDX Pride!) I haven't used it once. Was it worth it? To be seen. Looking to see what happens to my wardrobe and clothing choice as I head further south. For now, I know I have too much in my backpack but honestly, I have no idea what to get rid of! 

02. Please send shoes 

FACT: These 4 pairs of shoes are NOT enough to travel the world. (And as previously mentioned, I've already gotten rid of another pair.) I'm not sure if I buy more or just suffer through the fashion crisis. I most likely need 1 more pair of comfortable / versatile sandals that aren't rubber. I would never have in a million years thought I'd say this out loud but maybe I need a pair of Birkenstocks? *GASP* Or do I...?

03. Waiting on WiFi*

Having good WiFi is no joke. I couldn't launch this blog for almost 2 weeks because I could not find good (or even sufficient) wifi. It's a first world problem and privilege to be able to seamlessly and immediately access the internet on any and all devices. 

*Is it WiFi? Or wifi? It doesn't even matter. What matters is that you can use it. Amiright?

04. Laundry soap bars exist and they are magic   

I figured I'd have to wash a few things in the sink or shower while traveling and I was totally prepared for this reality. When I was in the grocery store I noticed that in addition to powdered soap there are these massive soap bars for hand washing laundry. WHAT!?! This is amazing and so, so helpful. 

05. Praise be. I figured out how to VPN 

One of the things I've lazily put off was figuring out  what / how / why to use a VPN. (Yes, I know this was important when we were all talking about net neutrality. I was just taking an extra long time to figure it out!) This is important in life but definitely became a necessity when extensively traveling. Let's be honest though, the real reason I finally figured it out was because I wanted to watch the rest of Handmaid's Tale and stupid Hulu blocks streaming content from Mexico. Joke's on them, welcome to VPN services. 

06. Direction with direction 

I know most people already know this but I've taught it to one other fellow traveler so it's worth repeating. Your location on Google maps has a little blue shadow that tells you what direction you're going. It's so obvious but one of those things you don't realize until you realize it. 

07. Life Savers

I love it when my roommate gets up at 6am to pack her bags.

- Said no one ever 

At first I thought, I'll never need an entire bag of earplugs. Lol. 

08. Damn you Google. You win again.

Google Translate y'all. For the win! You can download an entire language library and access it offline without any wifi or cell service. I have used this more times than I'd like to admit. 

09. Secrets

This is my everyday travel bag. It has just the right amount of storage, RFID pockets and all of the zippers have locks on them so I can keep pickpockets out and I can keep my secrets in! 

This was a super last minute purchase. Like my backpack I had purchased another bag but realized it was too small.

I've heard 2 stories of phones getting stolen. The first was on the Mexico City Metro (subway). Which, to be honest, was sort of his own fault. He put his phone in his pocket and when everyone crammed into the train someone took it. The second was a woman who kept all of her belongings in a loose canvas bag and her phone was stolen out of it in a bar. These have actually been good stories to hear because it keeps me on my toes.

10. Over budget and (at least) I know it 

Per another traveler's recommendation I purchased this app to keep track of my daily expenses. Was it worth $4.99? Definitely not. Did I do any other research on free apps? Nope. But meh, you when some you lose some. I'm pretty diligent at adding in my daily expenses so I have a good understanding of what I'm spending. We're running a little hot on the budget but I'm ok with it...for now.