From Mexico City to Medellin– Baby’s First Flight Experience
Miya turned four months on December 19th. Two days after, we took her for the first time out of Mexico. After speaking to a couple of friends, we decided this would be the easiest time to travel with her. She wasn’t yet on solid foods, and we had developed somewhat of a routine. We also bought an apartment in Mexico City, which was set to be finished by May.
So, for the next four months, before returning home, we decided to explore South America with her – specifically Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and possibly Paraguay.
Even though she wouldn’t remember this journey, we hoped that she would at least soak in the colours, the voices, and the patterns of her surroundings. We hoped she would absorb enough to make her coo and stare at everything with wide eyes like she does every time she experiences something new.
While we knew it wouldn’t be easy, we wanted her to feel alive with travel, a feeling that Matt and I both know too well and often savour. One day, we know these are still places we will return to with her when she is older.
The night of the 21st was chaotic since we had to wake up at 2 AM for the airport. Matt and I spent days packing and moving our belongings back and forth between our temporary rental in Polanco and a storage locker in Roma.
Despite our nomadic lifestyle, we always end up accumulating too much. We were still packing until we put her down for a few hours of sleep.
At 2 AM, I heard Matt rustle in the next room. He slept in our second bedroom because we had packed away her crib and allowed Miya to sleep in our bed with me.
I only slept a few hours because Miya woke up for a feeding an hour earlier. I was disoriented and exhausted, feelings compounded by some recent depression. I admittedly wasn’t feeling like myself lately. I felt feelings and thoughts that I hadn’t experienced in years – anxiety, panic, and worse.
I hoped deep down that us leaving for a while with Miya might help me feel like myself again. I also promised Matt – and to some degree Miya - that I would seek professional help again in the new year.
For the many months we lived in Mexico City before and after Miya’s birth, we have never had an Uber arrive quickly. So, when Matt ordered the Uber to the airport, I didn’t reasonably expect it to arrive in three minutes.
We both felt a swift moment of panic for different reasons. Matt had to lug all the luggage downstairs and lock up the apartment. I had to break Miya from her peaceful sleep. We panicked a little more because, at first, the security desk seemed dark, as if no one was there. We needed our concierge to let us out. It turns out he was there but just asleep.
Matt piled everything into the van while we climbed into the back. Miya was slightly disoriented. This was not what she was used to waking up to in the middle of the night.
She started crying a bit. I had to hold my tongue from lashing out at our driver, who decided it was cool to play loud, obnoxious 80s club music knowing there was a baby in the back. I just didn’t have the energy. I admittedly freaked out with a few tears of my own but managed to rock Miya to sleep until we arrived at the airport.
Matt was our rock at the airport, especially since he could speak Spanish fluently. He checked us in, took care of the documentation and luggage, and helped us move quickly through security. I barely had to think, and I was grateful for this so I could focus on Miya.
She woke up when we entered the bright lights of the airport. While tired, she looked around at everything curiously still. That’s what I love about her. Miya is so clearly our daughter – thirsty for knowledge and experiences.
Every moment she awakens, I believe she is soaking everything up about her surroundings. She stares at everything with such wide, intense eyes – and these days, we have to hold her hand just to keep it from touching every dirty surface. Matt and I have discussed our little girl’s appetite for life. This is Miya’s world, and we are just living in it.
I changed her diaper once and fed her at the check-in line, and then shortly after, she fell asleep in my arms. We walked her through security, through the long halls of the airport to a lounge, and then to a gate, and she still didn’t wake up.
Our plane was packed, and we couldn’t get our own row. But, with Miya, we were able to board quickly. She ended up waking up as soon as we sat down. I felt a little bit of panic as she started to cry.
For the longest time, I have never wanted to be those parents with the screaming baby. I have travelled so often in the last few years that, admittedly, I have been annoyed at children who have kicked the back of my seat.
I need to build patience and empathy with this, as one day, Miya will likely kick the back of someone’s chair. I only hope that the person in front of her will have enough empathy to understand that she is just a child.
Over my travels, I have never felt that annoyed at parents with babies. I would drown the sound out most of the time by using earphones and listening to music or watching movies.
I know it’s tough – babies can’t help it. I have seen many parents walk their babies up and down aisles. I have also observed many parents rock their babies with panic because they feel guilty and embarrassed. Yesterday, I felt those feelings, and so did Matt.
Lucky for us, Miya calmed down quickly. She was scared, and I understood why. We woke her up and took her into a chaotic environment in the middle of the night for the first time. Of course, she was going to be scared. But she was also so brave.
She cried, of course, but her cries lasted only a few minutes. After rocking and sucking on her pacifier, she fell asleep. She stayed asleep as the plane took off and slept through most of the flight. I was worried the pressure changes would alarm her further, but she sucked her pacifier and continued sleeping.
She woke up mid-flight and cried again because she needed changing. Because this was our first flight experience with her – and one at a complicated time of day - Matt and I learned a few things.
We had to get up frequently to grab items from her diaper bag in the upper compartment. For the next flight, we took a few of her change items and stuffed them in my handbag under the seat, so they were more accessible.
The diaper-changing experience itself was not as challenging as I thought it might be. Mexico City restaurants have not always been equipped with change tables. I became so used to changing Miya in toilet stalls and park benches on our portable mat that a bit of airline turbulence did not throw me off balance. I only cared about ensuring she didn’t use her curious little hands to grab onto dirty walls.
Next time, I would probably choose seats near a bathroom. We were stuck behind a food cart for some time, and she became more aggravated. Luckily again, she fell asleep when I returned to my seat. After a little while, I managed to close my eyes as well.
Three hours passed, and we started to descend into Panama City. Miya woke up, and I worried again she would panic with the pressure change. We bought her some earmuffs, but Matt had difficulty putting them on because she moved so much.
I held Miya tight and rocked her as she sucked on her pacifier. She would toss a bit every time she felt uncomfortable, but she managed to equalize her ears every time I equalized my ears. After we had calmed a bit, Matt managed to put the earmuffs on successfully. Miya didn’t cry once during the landing. We were so proud of her.
As we were parting the plane, the other passengers around us were exceptionally kind. I received some smiles, and many people gestured for us to go first. They know “we tried”, and that Miya was a champion throughout the flight. We let everyone go first because we arrived an hour early and had to wait to pick up our stroller from the gate check.
Matt found us a lounge. We changed Miya, fed her, and rested for a little bit. She didn’t eat much. I pumped one bottle after her last feeding in Mexico City and carried two refrigerated bottles in her backpack. She only ended up drinking two bottles. I think she was too tired.
After her feeding, she ended up falling asleep again. I worried about our next flight, even though it was only a 45-minute flight to Medellin. I wished we were flying directly to Medellin, so she didn’t have to go through the ordeal of piling onto a crowded plane again.
We were blessed with more luck. She slept through the entire second flight. This allowed me the time to people-watch [Medellin is unfortunately known for some sex tourism…] and just kind of decompress with Matt. I was grateful for a little pillow I brought for her, which I used to support my arm instead.
We needed the rest because Medellin airport was a chaotic mess. Because of Miya, we were able to jump the immigration line. Otherwise, we might have stood in a crowded line for at least an hour. Our experience was cut short to probably 15 minutes.
We waited a long time though for our suitcases. But we knew everything had arrived because Matt had clipped AirTags on all our luggage.
The final task was to find our driver. I stayed with the luggage while Matt went to exchange money. Miya was still asleep. I tried to focus on her and the luggage but couldn’t help people watching. I felt a little sad inside watching people running out to reunite with family members – and to see their tears of happiness.
Deep down, I missed the idea of big family Christmas dinners. But I also knew I would soon be celebrating Christmas with my own family – my husband and my baby. Last year, Matt and I were separated. Long story short, he was in Jordan while I was in Syria. This year, I am glad we are together.
Over time, we will make our own traditions. One day, we will have a tree, bake Christmas cookies, and sing Christmas carols. And truthfully, I don’t need these cliché things. I’m travelling the world with my baby and husband, which is a unique experience. I’m grateful. I know Matt is very grateful.
The day started at 2 AM, and we arrived at Medellin proper to our new apartment over 12 hours later. Driving into Medellin, the chaotic atmosphere faded as we pulled into an atmospheric setting of vivid green valleys, mild sunshine, and a dramatic skyline of high-rise buildings and cascading barrios, all set against a backdrop of mountains.
As we got out of the car, I felt a bit of heat with humidity. We arrived in a new place with so much exploration ahead. Matt and I felt tired but exhilarated, and as I looked into Miya’s eyes, I sensed she felt the same.
For the next while, I know we will continue to discover beautiful new places with Miya. She will meet the world that we have fallen in love with. She will see the good and the bad – and we are excited for her journey to continue.
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