My mom, "Hold on. We are taking 17 kids to Mexico?! That sounds impossible."
Me, "How in the world are we going to do this?!"
*sits there staring at each other until we realize we need sleep if we're really going to do this*
859 miles
17 teenagers
16 of my best friends
15 hour car ride
14 hours it should've taken if we didn't stop to pee so much
7 days
6 hour beach playlist
5 sharks
4 hammocks
3 cars
2 4Wheelers
1 stingray
endless flip flops
There couldn't have been a more perfect week. It started out with the longest carride, but we're teenagers who enjoy sleep, so sleeping the entire carride was easy. Crossing the border into Mexico had every kid's mouth open in surprise (or disgust). I don't think any of them were expecting the flower guys in the streets or the no lane roads or the many many tires on the side of the road. The change from America to Mexico is so dramatic, and our car started singing patriotic songs in thankful praise to the beauty of America. But America would have to wait because this week was all about Mexico.
Everyone took no time in getting down to the beach for night swimming, and I think everyone was incredibly grateful that our house looked nothing like the Mexico border town. And the "You're so salty" jokes started the second our eyes touched the water, nearly burning them out of their sockets. The ocean water in Mexico is so salty, but I guess us teenagers are too.
On Sunday we had the opportunity to go to church in the branch. We sang the EFY duet As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring the World His Truth. Even though most of the branch doesn't speak English, the spirit was so strong and it was a powerful song to sing. During second hour we had a testimony meeting with the people who spoke English. Testimony meetings are my favorite things, especially with future missionaries and funny old people from Texas.
That afternoon we explored the beach, shell collecting and playing with hermit crabs. A baby hammerhead shark was among the cool findings! That night I had a ping pong table collapse on me, and it hurt my knee pretty bad, so when everyone was upstairs having a dance party, I was laying on the couch passed out and wrapped in ice. That night Tristen snuck me an otterpop and we quietly ate them as I was laying on the floor, unable to move. That otterpop was the yummiest thing I've ever eaten at 1 in the morning.
That morning I couldn't really walk, I limped around everywhere. But I went down to the beach and suddenly the pain was gone! We all spent the day at the beach, paddleboarding, kayaking, sunbathing, swimming, 4wheeling, drinking pina colodas, having a fhe night and breaking open an authentic Mexican pinata with yummy Mexican candies. and having a legit burping contest.
Tuesday morning was rainy, which made swimming in the ocean so much cooler. We also played Kubb, a viking game that my team destroyed in. A few of us swam far out and we learned Van doesn't tread water very well. He had to give us lessons on saving someone from drowning in case he couldn't swim anymore. If anyone ever needs to be saved from drowning, I gotchu. :)
That afternoon we went into town, where many bracelets were bought. Town is always fun because the atmosphere is so different, everything is hot and dirty, but it's fun nonetheless.
For mutual we had the youth in the branch come to the beach for a bonfire. We could barely communicate (note to self: get better at charades), but we realized that you don't need to speak the same language to play games and have fun! We all laughed, danced, played games, swam, and ate a lot of hotdogs, even if the only Spanish word I know is queso. We ended the night singing "I am a Child of God" in our own languages, and it was touching to hear everyone come together as children of God. We are all God's children, the spirit speaks in all languages. Those kids in the branch will remain close to my heart forever, even if they all think Hayden and I are dating. :)
After everyone left, my friends stayed on the beach and chilled. Van and I did yoga out on an island until the water came too close. It was relaxing to hear real waves as I do yoga, instead of Pandora's wave sounds station :)
Wednesday was a day of chill, I spent most of it in the water. I also took like 10 naps in the hammocks. Can't complain, it was pretty nice! When I went back to the house a group of us played Nines, and I think Van and my mom cheated because they dominated every round. I don't think it was a fair game, but that's my competitive side!
That night we went into town and ate authentic Mexican dinner at a restaraunt on the beach under a full moon. A mariachi band sang Happy Birthday to Ali and there was a wonderful balloon guy that made all the girls balloon animals. There was a sweet old man with a guitar who claimed to know every CCR song, even if it was just the first line. He played for us and we took the chance to dance around the resturant and sing along. After lots of tacos and fanta strawberry, we cruised around town for ice cream and more bracelets. The way home we drove with the windows down and the beach music up. We then set up beds on the beach and Van and I did yoga once again. Sleeping on the beach was the most relaxing feeling in the world, especially watching the sunrise over the water.
On Thursday we decided to go shell hunting for keyhole sand dollars. It was so hot, but we found so many shells. Makenna got stung by a stingray, which is super painful! Since the car drove her back up, Megan and I hiked up the hill in the scorching sun and sand, dripping sweat. I've never been more grateful for air conditioned cars.
After that beach we went back to our beach and everyone went swimming. It was the perfect day to spend in the water. After swimming as far as we could with Van and my mom, Hayden and I decided to start the biggest dunking fight on earth. I don't know who the winner was, but I do know I'll be washing sand out of my hair for a month.
Dinner was taco night, and after that we went up to the roof to hang out. We then watched Space Jam (and being the movie sleeper I am, I was out cold in a few minutes).
The carride back started at 2am and was much longer than expected. With a lot of construction, a huge fire, a random terrible hailstorm and tired teenagers, it was exhausting. But we made it home after saying a thousand times, "let's just turn around and go back to the beach."
It was the most perfect week of beach.
#whatsupbeaches
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