All things happen for a reason…

So today I came to Oaxaca. Getting here was interesting, but I understand now why it happened. So it turns out I was right… a non-stop/direct flight to Oaxaca doesn’t exist. I called Mexicana Airlines before I left and they assured me that I would not have to get off the plane when I arrived in Mexico City. They said that I would be able to stay on the plane, and go through immigration in Oaxaca. That seemed fishy to me, but they guy said he was sure (do you see where I am going with this?). Thankfully I was able to get about 3 hours sleep on the plane (it was only a 3 ½ hours flight). I woke up upon landing, and sort of missed the announcement that all passengers going on to Oaxaca would have to get off the plane. When I was the last person, I rushed up to the front to talk to an attendant, and they basically called me an idiot (without saying those words). Very long story in a shorter version: Our flight had left LA about 30 minutes late and it made it even more impossible for us to get off the plane, go through immigration and then trek across the Mexico City airport in enough time to get to the connection to Oaxaca (you know, the one I was told I wouldn’t need to get). There was no way humanly possible to get through all of that even if our plane had been on time because the line through immigration took at least 30 minutes. During all this time, I met a woman named Ann from San Francisco who was also coming to Oaxaca to meet with some friends for a week. We ended up sticking together and sharing complaints about how stupid the airlines were for lying to us and even leading us to believe that we’d get to Oaxaca when they said we would.
I told her about how I was being picked up by the woman I would be staying with and I hoped that even though our new flight was going to be 3 hours later, I still hoped she’d show up. Ann told me that her friends were meeting her and should my ride not be there, she thought she’d be able to help out. SO, after a short flight to Oaxaca and a long line to pick up our early-arriving luggage, I found no one to meet me at the airport. No surprise there. BUT… waiting for me outside the front of the airport was Ann (who I had lost in the crowd), with her friends and an offer to take me to my house. Not only that, but they said it was VERY close (around the block-close) to where they were going. Lucky me… all things happen for a reason.
So they took me to the address I had and no one answered, so they took me to their place which is a bed and breakfast/ school owned by an American ex-patriat named Gary. We called, and left a note for Perla (the woman I would be staying with), but no answer. So I just hung out there with them, talked, took a tour of the cool place, and relaxed (on my heft 3 hours of sleep). Gary also had a vacant room in his B and B so I knew that if things didn’t work out tonight with Perla, I could stay at his place with the others. Sounded like a fine idea. Ultimately, after about an hour, Perla had received the note we left on her door and she came to pick me up. All things happen for a reason…
Then began the next part of my adventure. Perla and her aunt drove me the 2 blocks to her house. The front of her house has big wooden doors and on the front of the house reads “Casa Perla Mer”. Inside I walked into a hallway covered with artwork, which she explained was done by her ex husband, the artist. The courtyard in the middle contains a table with an umbrella and then I followed Perla up the small winding stairs to my room. She opened the door to my adorable room that contains all the necessities, a bed, a desk, an armoire, night table with lamp and a fan. The bed is comfortable and dainty, and I love the fish sculpture with a mirror in the middle that hangs on the wall. Even the bathroom that I will be sharing with my soon to come roommate was just fine. I knew that I would be comfortable here. Later on, Perla and spent the day together while her 2 daughters Paula (9) and Maria (4) were gone to their godmother’s house. Did I mention that Perla speaks pretty decent English? She does, and thank goodness. Probably not so great for my Spanish, but nonetheless, we had a wonderful day talking about our lives and her sharing Oaxacan cooking secrets. She explained about all the different kinds of mole`. We took a walk to the local Mercado and bought some fresh tortillas and “flor de calabaza” (pumpkin flower). YUM! Every so often I would attempt to answer or speak to her in Spanish and then she’d go off in Spanish and that would get out of control and I’d have to say “whoa!! Mas despacio, por favor”, (slow down).
Later it started torrentially raining so we moved into the hallway with the table. After we thought it had stopped raining, we went for a walk so that she could show me around me. Sadly it started pouring again while we were outside and that was a mess. I had my umbrella but that turned futile since it was sort of raining sideways. We were drenched when we got back, so we said goodbye and I went to my room to dry off, change and take a rest before dinner. Dinner at 8pm was some pasta noodles with some corn and flor de calabaza. Pretty good… rather flavorless and somewhat disappointing after the whole afternoon discussion of the rich food choices available in Oaxaca. During dinner, Mike arrived. He’s a friendly guy from Milwaukee here for about a week and going to the same school as I am. It was nice to converse in un-broken English, but and his spanish is better than mine. Now, off to bed soon. I have no internet connection at the home, but have discovered that listening to my iTunes and playing the backgammon game that came on my computer are a decent way to put off bed time, so that I don’t wake up too early. More tomorrow. SCHOOL!!!