individual podcast 2_mixdown

The speaker went on a three-day road trip to Mexico with their dad. They packed everything they needed for a comfortable trip but didn't anticipate the exhaustion and frustration that came with driving for three days. They built a house in Mexico and spent a week together. The trip made them appreciate their privileges and realize the differences in culture. They enjoyed the nature in Mexico and felt happy there. Coming back home was a reality check, but they were grateful for the experience and the lessons learned about their dad and themselves. I decided to go along with my dad last year to drive three days straight to Mexico, all the way from Illinois to Jalisco, Mexico. I didn't realize how much excitement I had in me until we started driving. I packed everything with snacks, pillows, blankets, everything that I could do to make this trip somewhat comfortable for me and my dad as well. But then I never realized how exhaustion, frustration, and tiredness comes with driving for three days. But overall, it was an experience I don't regret doing. We listened to music and learned a lot more than what I would have known for a while. And it was just me and him for a week straight in Mexico, building our house that we have over there, trying to contact people that were somewhat reliable to fix the house and overall just enjoy our time that we had together over there. I never realized that his age was showing while we were driving and when we were over there overall. I got to experience my dad another way where it felt intimate and something I'll never forget. Overall, it felt like I understood why my mom gets tired of him. I'm always having to take care of him, but at the same time, I do it so willingly because he's my dad and it's just me and him. Also, understanding that the culture over there in Mexico is so different. Whenever there's food presented to you, I wasn't picky at all. There was times that I learned that I had a lot of privilege coming from the U.S. I had my phone with me. I had a vehicle to drive around over there. I had a house. I had a bed. I had water. The trip just made me realize that I'm very fortunate enough to have the things that I have because it just humbles you so much when you're over there in Mexico. We barely had any water to even shower, but that's most than what others had in their ranch that we were at. We were fortunate enough to, if we didn't have food, that we would go to the city and buy some and have a little lunch together. The nature over there is just what brings me happiness. It was just exciting to wake up early and it just felt so amazing over there. Coming back, it was like a reality check. I mean, I was happy that I was in my own bed and I had a nice shower that was hot and not cold and that I could drive my own car and do whatever I want. But at the same time, I couldn't find the happiness that I found over there in just one week. So I'm grateful enough that I took the trip with my dad this last year and I learned so much about, not only about my dad, but about myself too.