Adela managed to get an ear infection the evening before our border crossing day! We figured we should take care of the doctor visit on the US side just in case it was something bigger…it wasn’t. At 10:45am we managed to pull away from the pharmacy with the right antibiotic and headed to the border!
Border crossings are always a high alert experience for me. Not because of safety but because language and food restrictions. We had one bad experience where we had to toss a lot of our provisions when crossing at a desolate border from Argentina to Chile….I was just tying to prepare for a long stretch of remote driving! So now I read them very strictly. Also forms- there’s always something to fill out. Luckily, and surprisingly, this crossing was one of the easiest we’ve done.
As we started to pull away from the vehicle check (2 boxes checked in the back and 1 kitchen drawer opened- with the border guard giving me a WOW and a smile) I felt my deep breaths were finally melting my stress away.
We are so fortunate to cross borders with ease and freedom. It is very difficult for me to explain to our children how we have more freedom than another human being, simply due to where we were born. It’s simply illogical. The United States is a beacon of hope and opportunity for many. I hope we can continue to offer refuge for those seeking better futures for their families.
For months I wondered- how will the transition from Portland to beautiful white sand beaches and clear water look? What will it look like to go from beautiful PNW peaks and rain to warm sand and a steady daily temperature?
Well Mexicali was not a beautiful city. We drove and did not stop. There is so much hardship and injustice in the world. Granted some people make bad choices that lead them towards a downward spiral, but most people living in poverty cannot break the generational cycle of hand to mouth finances. This is something I hope to work on directly, as my career path takes new turns. This is always so hard to see and I stop here to acknowledge how grateful I am for my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents’s hard work. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Thank you Mama. Thank you Tata.
After about a half hour of dusty industrial city buildings and many huge factories, we pondered- the factory industry must be developed to such a high level here. This country produces so much produce and product from raw materials.
1st Military check point-
Officer: Buenos Dias
Todd: Buenos Dias
Officer: You Speak Spanish?
Todd: Un poco.
Officer: De donde usted viennen? (Where are you coming from?)
Todd: Calexico a San Felipe.
Officer: Su familia? (Gesturing towards the girls)
Todd: Si.
Officer: Quantos Dias usted viajeron? (How many days will you be traveling?)
Todd: Ellas tienen 5 y 3 años. (They are 5 and 3)
Officer: Adelante. (Go on. Officer showed a barely noticeable smile and gestured us towards the road.)
LOL!
This is how most of our checkpoints go. I sit quietly and let Todd’s poor Spanish and friendly smile do the work. This was a very legitimate and safe checkpoint. But at the military checkpoints where guards were looking for a bribe (in Peru) Todd’s positive smile and attempts to understand the guards saved us MANY times. After Todd’s confusion with the guard’s question of how many days we were staying, I think the guard realized there was no point in trying to continue the questioning with us, we were just a family trying to bridge the language gap and here for a good time!
This is also a good time to let you know Todd is amazing and will go and talk to a stranger when we need help. I on the other hand will hang out in the van under the premise of “the girls need a snack.”
14:08 we have arrived at our campsite in San Felipe.
Adela: I need to pee.
Zosia: I need it go poop.
LOL!