oCT. 30, 2007 — Our good friend Peter recently flew down to Guadalajara from LA on a night flight, arriving at 5:30 AM. He stayed with us for a while, then went into the city for a month or so to take a course that will enable him to become a certified teacher of English as a Second Language. We’ve known him since he was 9 and he lived with us several times in Colorado, where he was our “teenage slave” when we built our house there. He’s now 24.
We had ordered books, dog toys, DVDs, clothing, and other miscellany for Peter to bring down for us. He got a small suitcase and checked all that through, taking Kelly’s new camera with him in the cabin.
Mexico has a red light — green light system at Customs, at airports and when you drive in. Peter got a red light.
The official asked him to open our suitcase, which Peter had also stuffed with some of his clothing. The man pulled the clothes back to reveal a row of books.
“Estudiante?” he asked Peter. (Student?)
“No, me gusta leer,” replied Peter. (No, I just like to read.)
That was all. I wondered if the dog toys had been revealed, just what Peter would have said.
Getting things down here does seem to be easier when people bring things in with them than if they come by mail (with unreliability) or even something like Fedex (reliable). It’s one of the challenges of living here. Usually it works out fine if you are patient enough and know enough people coming and going! That suitcase of ours is going back to Colorado today with a friend and likely coming back in January when some other friends are coming for a visit. I’m already making the shopping list for January. All-cotton turtlenecks and some other warm all-cotton clothing, toothpaste, some books…
Posted in Mexican Government Including Visas