Mexicali's Medical Tourism Lane

Mexicali is doing more to promote medical tourism by making it easier for medical tourists to reenter the U.S.

Starting April 30, medical tourists from the U.S. with the right documents will be able to avoid the approximate 1 ½ hour wait to cross back into the U.S.

The new lane is modeled on an established tourism lane at the San Ysidro Port of Entry linking Tijuana and San Diego.

However, because of some reported abuse when that a similar lane opened at the Tijuana-San Ysidro border crossing, Mexicali is requiring  doctors to sign a contract with the tourism board to ensure they only give passes to foreign patients who are crossing the border. Each pass will cost the doctors 50 pesos, or about $4.

With the cooperation of the U.S. Border Patrol, Mexicali has also set up a new lane on the Mexican side of the border for medical tourists. Using the medical tourist lane to reenter the U.S. will cut the waiting time down to around ten minutes.

This new lane is one part of the city’s plan to boost medical tourism by 50%.

The way the system works is that patients coming from the U.S. will be able to get a pass from Mexican doctors who are participating in the program. With the pass and the doctor’s receipt, a passport, and foreign license plates, there will be access to the medical tourist lane.

The reduction in border crossing time is only for those returning from Mexicali. There may still be delays from U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.

Now Americans can take advantage of the great medical services available in Mexicali.

Mexicali is where my back condition was correctly diagnosed as being due to a Tarlov cyst—in the U.S., they never discovered the cyst. In Mexicali, the MRI technician spotted it immediately.  When I saw the MRI, myself, it was glaringly easy to see the Tarlov cyst—a large white spot on the MRI.

The operation to drain the cysts (I had two of them) was done in Mexicali. It cost a fraction of what it would have cost in the U.S. More importantly, the results of my operation were successful, where, in the U.S., the operation frequently fails.

This is due, in part, to the fact that my surgeon told me to spend a month in bed to heal properly. In the U.S. the post-operative technique for the Tarlov cyst operation is to dope  the patient up on addictive narcotic drugs. The patient then is happy, feels that everything is okay and moves around as normal—usually leading to scar tissue and a second operation and more money for the surgeon.

Even if you are insured in the U.S., paying a Mexicali doctor is less than what your co-pay would be back in the good old USA—and prescription drugs are much cheaper in Mexicali pharmacies. Again, what is really important, believe it or not, the doctors in Mexicali are better than what I could find in the U.S.

A pretty rear garden with a guest house

The house had a huge sign, naming the real estate company and its contact information.  I was very excited. This was in a quiet neighborhood.  The street had a couple of small mansion-like homes, and some shacks, next to them. This is very common in Mexico—modest shacks and small mansions sitting next to each other. For us, this is a good thing, as it brings all types of people together.

“Jim pull over here. I want to take a look inside this house. See, there is no front gate; we can walk in and ask!”

“Maryann, if there’s no one, we’re leaving,” said Jim.

“The house looks big,” said Matthew, leaning up against the window of our truck.

“Let’s go in,” I said.

We entered through the front door, which was to the left side of the house. Thru’ the window, we could see a guard sitting inside. He came out. ‘Jim spoke to him in Spanish, gave him 50 pesos, and we were allowed to walk around the house.

“Lookee, there’s no garage door, looks like it was ripped off and taken away,” said Matthew, pointing to the top of the entrance roof.

“That’s interesting,” I answered.

“Inside now…” said Jim in a hushed tone.

We entered into the living room; the dining room was to the left of the house, and behind it was the kitchen. The kitchen was just an empty space. All the appliances had been ripped out.

The bedrooms were at the back of the house, two small bedrooms were lined up behind each other, to the right, just behind the small living room.  There were two bathrooms, with showers.  We noticed that the sinks were removed as well as all the kitchen appliances.

“Hmmmm… I guessed there was no time for them there folks to remove the toilets,” said a stern-faced Jim.

“Jim, look, this is where the washer and dryer is, inside this house, now I am excited,” I said, with a big grin.

“Now that’s an unusual feature eh, for Mexico,” answered Jim, walking into the tiny area. Most houses have the washers outside, not inside the house.

On a closer look, Jim noticed that the entire electrical panel had been torn out. “Guess someone wanted the metal,” he said.

We moved on and saw another room, which was meant to be the office. This was all on the left side of the house.

We saw a patio, with a beautiful green garden, and a small guesthouse right at the back. The three surrounding walls looked in good condition as well.

It is unusual to find a garden placed at the back of the house, instead of being in the front! I think it is pointless, especially in Mexico, to have your garden in front.

We checked out the small guest house at the end of the garden, and Matthew got very excited. As we entered, we saw a nice size space for a bedroom set and a big walk-in closet space.

“I could live here. Fix it all up, I think this will work!” said Matthew.

The main house itself was about 900 square feet, and the guest house was 350 square feet—Jim’s estimates. Jim took photos of this house, and we quickly left.

When we arrived home, Jim telephoned the real estate agent immediately. We met him at the house the next day.

When we arrived, there was no guard to be found!

The agent discovered that there were five women with three children living in the house.  He was surprised, himself.  He told them to leave but the oldest of the women stood with her arm against the door, and began arguing with him. Didn’t want to let us in.

Finally after about ten minutes of squabbling, the people left the house, and all of them squatted by the entrance with frowns on their faces, waiting for us to leave.

Jim asked the agent the usual questions, none of which the agent could answer. He had his walkie-talkie, and the only answer he was able to get from his office was that there was 360 square meters of land.

The agent did nothing to show us the house, but, instead, stood by the space where the garage door used to be and lit a cigarette, waiting for our tour to end. The agent had no idea of the square footage of anything, but knew that the price of the home was US$70,000. In today’s depressed market, we thought the price was outrageous!

When we go back into our truck, Jim said, “I think the owners were foreclosed on, and some bank owns this house. An owner would have his house all locked up. Those folks in there are probably the missing guard’s kin folk. Maybe squatters—and Mexico has some pretty strong squatters rights, I heard.”

”Maybe the owners were murdered!” exclaimed Matthew, with his eyes wide-open.

“Maybe. Don’t pay, and heads do roll,” said Jim, calmly.

“We are lucky to have a nice landlord, and a beautiful home. This has been an experience,” I replied, sadly.

”I was so excited about us buying it Jim,” I sighed.

“I know. Well, now you have got it out of your system, Maryann. Who really knows what the real story is about the house?” said Jim.

“Coffee at Sinapsis anyone?” said Matthew, happily.

“Yeah, let’s go!” answer Jim, stepping on the accelerator.

We learnt a great deal about foreigners interested in buying houses in Mexico.

Squatters have rights in Mexico.  It took these people less than two days to move into this empty house. We would have to get the help of a lawyer, and it might take years to pry them out.  We even heard of one lady whose pigs squatted on this fellow’s lawn. He had a deuce of a time getting rid of them, as even pigs seem to have squatters’ rights.

We would have to fix up the house, but, in our opinion, there are many strange people who are waiting to move in. Strange people walk the sidewalks of every street looking for things to remove during garbage day.

If we wanted to buy this house, we would have to pay for a lawyer to do the entire transaction of the sale for us. We would have to set up a Bank Trust, to own property in Mexico. Even with all of the paperwork done, it might not prevent someone from popping up later to claim that it’s his house-we’ve heard of that happening.

We realized that buying a home in Mexico is like playing Russian roulette!  If you have purchased a home in Mexico and have encountered no problems, then you are very lucky.

For now, we are happy to rent.

Yahoo Group, Life in Mexico

There is an excellent Yahoo Group, Life in Mexico.  We consulted the group on what they think about buying a house in Mexico. Below are some excellent answers to our question. (We did a bit of editing to bring out the key points.) And thanks to the Yahoo Group, Life in Mexico!

…In the US, we expect a fiduciary relationship between Client and Agent.  You must be absolutely clear whether you are a Client or a Customer!!! This Symantec distinction is not always clear in Spanish.  Cliente = Client and/or Customer.  As a broker in Mexico, I recommend that you assume that each party is working for their own best interest.  Do NOT take any shortcuts and assume nothing without having made your own investigation of the facts.

All agents and brokers are NOT equal. The REALTOR designation in Mexico has little semblance to what it stands for in the US.  The strict licensing and practice laws for real estate practitioners in the US simply do not exist in Mexico.  YOU must take full responsibility for YOUR Consumer Protection. Interview and decide on a Mexican Notary (similar to an Escrow Company in the US).  Ask for a referral to a good Real Estate Attorney and the most knowledgeable brokers in the market.  Relationships and who you know is far more important in Mexico than professional designations and titles….

…A previous post recommended that you get to know the neighborhood.  If you do not speak Spanish, get a friend and go visit the neighbors.  Once you break the ice, they will tell you way more than you may want to know about the property.  Rent before you buy can be a very viable option.  Remember, the real estate marketing systems, a powerful Multiple Listing Service (MLS), etc., are very lacking in most Mexican markets.  And, reselling the property may take months or even years.  I speak from experience…

…The office where you may find the real owner name is “registro publico de la propiedad.” But I agree that going with a notario that knows what problems have the properties of this area. Many times the house is registered with -example-,”Javier Gonzalez,” and in fact the broker shows all documents with that name, even so it results that Javier Gonzalez is only one of five sons of the father named too “Javier Gonzalez,” and that can result in a legal labyrinth…

…Other cases are homes invaded by squatters who get an “amparo” meaning a legal protection for an individual against acts of authorities. In this case it could take from few months to years to get the eviction order. Maybe you could hire a lawyer or demand the owner (whoever that may be) that he signs a “fianza de cumplimiento.” In which case if you cannot occupy the house, then you get your money back and compensation. Naturally, the owner must agree to deliver the keys and the empty property, but do not trust him if he refuses to sign the “fianza de cumplimiento.” Also the underwriting firm must check all documentation, conditions, pending mortgages, before accepting the deal…

…In Mexico, even houses that cost over one million pesos (currently about $80 thousand) are sold directly owner to seller without realtors brokers, or notarios! Many consider the money wasted that is spent on a commission, or that a professional asks for the service of checking the legality of the transaction, revising the status at public registry of properties, etc ,etc. I know of somebody who was very happy looking a little house for as a gift for his daughter–he  avoided all announcements in the local newspapers and by the realtors. Instead he preferred the very common ads that read “trato directo con el propietario” ( deal directly with owner). Of course, I think that profesionalization of brokerage services is needed in a modern economy, but I do coincide that a house sold owner to owner is cheaper–with some risks involved, of course too…

…I want to clarify too that people from all over the world can be the nasty renter that leaves without paying.  But I have been told my Mexican lawyers and others to never rent to a Mexican as they know their legal rights here as renters and will often unfortunately use their rights.  But with a very good contract it is difficult for them to take over a home and the landlord can get them out at lease.  Both my non-paid me ex-renters have their children in private schools but claim to have no money.  If you don’t know what private schools cost here it’s about 3 to 7 thousand pesos per month with inscription fees, books and materials being extra and almost every day they need things at the papeleria…  SO tell me when a couple has 2 children in a private school that equals or is more than the rent I charge.  Ummmm well I think if after paying rent one can afford to have their kids in private schools QUE BIEN!!!…

…My dad bought “terreno”, with only two rooms and a little bathroom, from a guy named Manuel.  But since Manuel didn’t have “escrituras” (certificates of ownership), my dad could buy it cheap.  Manuel, the seller, had not started the process of certification with a notario, because this was part of a big piece of land and never was regularized, and didn’t have the official number required by notarios.  Maybe some of newcomers noticed that many streets in México are not numbered in a conventional way, like “Calle Margarita Numero 25,” but something vague like “Manzana 22, lote 15, interior 4.” Manzana is the equivalent of a block.  In the beginning of a settlement this is the easiest way to identify a group of new neighbors.  Lote is the first divided piece of land that could remain as a single big family or is big enough to be subdivided.  So then, there is not an official number yet, which is one of the first requirements for the notario.  If you add the cost of the notario could amount to 15 % of the property and you know that we, Mexicans-even the upper middle classes-use to be “al dia”,..” a la ultima pregunta”,..” a ver que dios dice”,..at the moment this is a lot of money!  Further problems arise if the father dies without a will–then a son believes that he is entitled to get the house,”because I have more kids than Lupe or Maria or Margarita-and I’m a man!” Even the stepson, who lent money to build the place, and the new girlfriend of the dead man all feel entitled to ownership and then proper regularization of papers is more difficult!
This is precisely one of the reasons that both seller and buyer sometimes prefer “trato directo entre particulares.” Still, I do recognize the importance of a good broker that sells a property without debts, mortgages, free of angry heirs, and empty of renters, squatters, brothers-in-law, etc.  So, the first question should be when calling the seller about his house is “May I visit the house right now; is it empty; or still with persons living there?” ( or was it seized by a narco?)…

…And I might add, unless you are an expert in Mexican property law, never, never, never buy property from an Ejido…

…There is a couple who bought some beautiful property here in San Carlos, that was twelve years ago and they still do not have it.  BEWARE of Ejido (an agricultural commune) property!…

…The police do not have the legal right to get squatters out.  A Judge would have to place an order.
A friend of mine here in San Miguel had an experience with an American woman not wanting to leave her home after having lived in it for a long time.  This women threatened my friend with knowing the Mexican law and was not going to leave. So my friend bribed her by buying her some things and lost I think 2 months of rent. So yes of course if it’s the house you want to buy or rent and it has squatters in it you can try to bribe them yourself…

…I bought a home in a Rancho that used to be Ejido land but now titles are available. Not all of my camposino neighbors have bothered to do that.  The woman I bought my house from had titles but there was an issue with a small piece of the property that is to be used for driving or walking on to enter and can not be built on. It’s shared with a neighbor. Well that took 2 1/2 years to resolve and then I finally had my title…

…The point of all of this is that, of all the legal enterprises foreigners can undertake in México, residential real estate renting is one of the, if not the, most problematic and risky. The law is not in their favor and the culture is a large negative factor as well. Few would condemn a local who “put one over” on an “extranjero.” Is that right or always the case? No, but more often than not. Another thing that is not often mentioned, if the landlord “forgot” to register as a business and pay the taxes on the rental income, he/she is wide-open to anyone who wants to notify Hacienda.  Now they have a real problem. If the landlord isn’t giving facturas (receipts) when he/she collects the rent, there is a good possibility he also “forgot” to register and pay the taxes due on the rental income. That is a violation of Mexican law and a possible deportation offense. This is especially true in areas like Chapala and San Miguel de Allende. Of course, it applies anywhere where there are foreign landlords who may not speak the language nor have a complete grasp of the laws that pertain to their new venture or choose to ignore them…

He will be performing here in Mexicali on Friday the 27th of April 2012 from 9:00pm.

The concert is part of the world tour Euphoria Tour, which is the name of his latest album, will be held at the Casas Geo Stadium also known as Estadio Nido de los Aguilas.

Tickets are now on sale from 8th march at the Hotel Ariza Inn and online at ticketmaster.com.

Enrique Iglesias will be singing “Tonight (I’m Lovin ‘You)”, “I Like It” and “I Like” and classics like “kiss”.

Prices:

• General: $ 350 pesos
• Preferred: $ 650 pesos
• Field: $ 700 pesos
• Allocated: $ 800 pesos
• Boxes (Preferred / Tier Central): $ 1000 pesos
• VIP box: $ 1500 pesos
• Zone Platinum: $ 1500 pesos
• Diamond Zone: $ 2350 pesos

I am a big fan of his dad, Julio, so Jim, Matthew, and I will be attending this concert as well.

“Hee Haw! I can’t wait!’ I said to Jim.

“He doesn’t come around often, and JLo wants him to do a tour with her Jim!”

“Simmer down, MaryAnn, you sound like a teenager!” answered Jim, looking up at me from his newspaper.

“Did I tell you both that I sang with his dad?” smiled Matthew.

“You never sung with his dad!” said Jim.

“Yes I did! You as well!” replied Matthew

“If you mean karaoke, Matthew, that doesn’t count!” I chipped in.

“Oh? Well, here goes…To all the girls I have before…” Matthew started singing.

“Who traveled in and out’a my door,” crooned Jim, sounding just like Willie Nelson.

“I’m glad they done come along, I dedicate this here song to all the girls I loved before…” continued Jim.

“Oh my goodness, you guys are good…Jim you sound just like Willie!” I said, startled at both of them.

“To all the girls I once caresses…” continued Matthew.

“OK, enough… but have you heard Enrique sing huh, huh???” I grinned.

“Oh he is just wonderful…” I continued.

Here folks, is Enrique Iglesias’s song, I know you want me. Enjoy!

Here’s how to get to the Estadio Nido de los Aguilas.

View Larger Map

Omnilife Stadium Guadalajara

Mexico’s most popular sport is what Americans call soccer. However, to Mexicans, and many other nations it is called “football.” Since we are writing about Mexico, out of deference we shall be international and will call it “football,” as well.

Football was introduced in Mexico by Cornish miners at the end of the 19th century. Like many things Mexican soccer was an import, much like the all-popular Mexican “Banda” music which is an overlapping of Mexican music with brass band German polka music.

This is a wonderful mixing of cultures, of which many are not aware. Even Mitt Romney is descended from Mexican Mormons who fled the United States to live in Mexico.

In Mexico, football became a professional sport in 1943. The top Mexican football clubs are Chivas of Guadalajara with 11 championships, followed by América, Toluca and Cruz Azul with 10 championships each.

Mexico has produced many legendary football players. Two of them have received widespread international recognition. They are Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal who played for León and was the first player to appear in five World Cups. Also universally recognized is Hugo Sánchez who played in Europe for Real Madrid is considered one of the best players ever.

Football is big time in Mexico, which has some very large stadiums such as Estadio Azteca (Aztec Stadium) in Mexico City, which seats well over one-hundred thousand and is the home of Club América.

The August 8, 2012, Easter Sunday football game in Omnilife Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico was a big day for nearly every of Mexican. The game between América and Chivas was a match-up which drew attention even from the non-fan.

In Mexico, even those who are not ardent football fans, take sides between being either a Chiva (goat) or an Aguila (eagle), which can be more important than identifying themselves as being for one of Mexico’s political parties, the PRI, PAN or PRD; or even being Catholic or whatever.

Chiva refers to the “Chivas del Guadalajara” or fans of the Guadalajara team—a group which represents “the people,” the poor, the oppressed; as Guadalajara is formed ONLY by Mexicans.

It makes no difference that Guadalahara’s owner it’s one of the richest Mexican—movie producer and entrepreneur, Jorge Vergara. Vergara (no relation to Sofia Vergara, a Columbian) is a man of the people who rose from selling tacos on the streets of Guadalajara to making a fortune selling Herbalife products in Mexico.

On the other hand, the “Aguilas del América” represent the powerful, and the rich. The team even includes non-Mexicans in their lineup.

América is owned by Emilio Azcarraga III, a Forbes billionaire, and the owner of Mexico’s main television network, Televisa.

Every time these two teams play against each other, the streets are deserted, the sports bars are crowded, and entire families enjoy a carne asada with beer at home watching the game on television.

There are only two of these games each year, called “El Clasico.” The lowest-paid workers and employees from every economic level look forward to these Clasicos impatiently for an opportunity to show their allegiance.

The game on Sunday was the first “El Clasico” of 2012.

It was a thrilling game, worthy of their supporters’ rivalry.

América had the better of the first half, but both teams had goals disallowed under suspicious circumstances.

América came out after halftime aggressively pushing for an opening goal, but didn’t create many chances with the game being played out mainly at midfield.

With unbearable tension mounting for the supporters of both sides, América’s Paul Aguilar finally scored in the 85th minute, with an assist from 20-year-old rising star Raul Jimenez, who had come on as a substitute just four minutes before the goal.

Like the incomparable Diego Maradona before him, super-talented Jimenez dribbled through intense and unbelievable traffic towards the Chivas goal before deftly passing off to Aguilar.

Everyone expected a cross from Aguilar, but, in a moment of absolute and incredible genius, Aguilar opted to shoot. In a split second, he noticed that Chivas goalie’s line of sight was blocked by two defenders. Unbelievable!

Miraculously Aguilar’s shot, unseen by the goalie, passed through two Chivas defenders, slamming into the back of the net for the winning goal.

Gooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

Mi Calexico

Jim and I were at Sinapsis, one Friday night, quietly having our usual cappuccinos, when a good-looking couple walked in, carrying with them some impressive camera equipment. The lady owner of Sinapsis immediately introduced us to them.

The couple, Angel Esparza and Dallana Munguia, were both born in Imperial Valley, California. They were in Mexicali to tour the various restaurants and cafes for a story.

The first thing you notice about Dallana is her dazzling smile, her twinkling bright eyes and her cheerful disposition. She made everyone feel at ease immediately.

Angel is a serious quiet confident young man, whose razor sharp cheekbones could give the US TV personality, Conan O’ Brien a run for his money. Dallana attended the well-known cooking school, Le Corden Bleu, and Angel studied business administration.

Angel Esparza is also the founder of Mi Calexico, an informative guidebook on how to “Discover the best of Calexico!” Angel Esparza’s Mi Calexico guidebook came out in the autumn of 2011. The Mi Calexico guidebook comes out four times a year, coinciding with each season. Calexico, California is the small quaint town just across the border from Mexicali.

Angel, a computer genius and a photography buff, felt that Calexico had a great deal to offer with festivities, bands and social events, school friend get-togethers, re-unions of every kind, but no one was putting all this great information out there for Calexico’s people and visitors.

Angel & Dallana

Angel’s Mi Calexico is the ultimate guidebook for anyone wanting information of what’s happening, or where’s the party being held, the band playing, or where to go in Calexico. Mi Calexico is just full of updated information on social events, from high schools, bands, university get-togethers, birthday parties, quinceneras, community events, to mariachi festivals.

The guidebook also covers the wide range of affordable restaurants that Calexico has to offer, shopping, gyms for workouts, hotel information and much much more.

For a guidebook which started in 2011, Mi Calexico already has a following of 9,000 and growing. One great feature of Mi Calexico is the color photographs, interviews and social events for visitors to see and follow. Mi Calexico is also on Facebook, for all those who like inter-active social networking and making new friends!

With an increase of tourism and business in Calexico, the guidebook, Mi Calexico is a must have!  Jim and I were very impressed with Angel who has also been a recipient of the 2011 Young Entrepreneur Lava Lamp Award, an award given to young people in Calexico who were committed to give back to their community. Angel is also the founder Esparza Advertising.

”They sure are a nice couple!” said Jim. ”Yes…and the next issue of Mi Calexico will be out this April, and we should get a copy of it…to see what’s happening. Some of the functions would be fun to attend”, I said.

So folks, for more information on what’s happening in Calexico, just go to go to Mi Calexico’s website, www.micalexico.com, or Mi Calexico on Facebook!

Mexicali's Kim Kardashian Billboard

We were waiting in line to cross the Mexicali border into US-Calexico, when Jim noticed a huge billboard with the reality star, Kim Kardashian wearing a bikini, in it.

“Well lookie here, MaryAnn, here’s your favorite gal!” grinned Jim.

“Who? What? where?…” I said, anxiously.

“Right there, on your left!” Jim’s smile was getting bigger.

“Kim Kardashian?… she’s not my favorite gal,” I puffed.

“You watch The Kadashians all the time on the television,” said Jim.

“Yes you do, yes you do, MaryAnn!” chimed in Matthew from the back seat of the truck.

“So what? There’s nothing else to watch on TV, except sports,” I answered.

“I read that Kim Kardashian is going to sue this plastic surgeon for taking her photo and using it on his poster,” said Matthew.

“It translates from Spanish to English, “Don’t risk your beauty or your health,” said Jim starring at the billboard.

You can’t help but stare at Kim Kardarshian’s breasts, I thought.

“Stop staring at the billboard, Jim!” I said.

Since we were in line for the U.S. border and the truck was stopped, Matthew jumped out of the truck, climbed up into the back to take a picture of the poster.

“Matthew! You get back into this truck,” I yelled out the window. Matthew scrambled back into the truck, saying, “Got it!”

“If you ask me that’s the best advertisement for Dr. Victor Ramirez, if Kim Kardashian wants to sue him, he’s gotta be good!” laughed Matthew.

“Yeah,” added Jim, “That there Kim Kardashian is giving away millions of dollars in publicity to that doctor by suing him—wish she would sue me, right Matthew?”

“You betchem,” answered Matthew.

“I don’t know what Kim Kardashian is complaining about, it’s not like Kimmy hasn’t had any plastic surgery. She had that huge nose of her chopped down to size, her hairline lasered further up her head, and her breasts done,” I said.

“MaryAnn, your fangs are showing, honey. And how do you know all these things anyway?” said Jim, with his eyes twinkling.

“I read them somewhere. Hummmm.” I replied.

”MaryAnn’s just having a bad hair day, more like many more bad hair weeks, since that babbling hairstylist lopped off her fringe last week,” laughed Matthew.

“You know Dr. Victor Ramirez’s plastic surgery office is so convenient for people to visit. Just walk right across the border for a little nip and tuck.” I said, as Jim inched along the truck up, getting us a little closer to the US border.

“Did you know that Kim Kardashian says she doesn’t worry about ageing MaryAnn?” nudged on Matthew.

“Boy, that’s a stupid thing to say! Good for Dr. Ramirez, I am sure he will get a lot of business.” I said.

“Well, good luck to Kim Kardashian suing Dr. Ramirez-this here is Mexico, she ain’t gonna get a cent. All she done it for was get attention to that sign showing she ain’t no better lookin’ than a street hooker,” laughed Jim.

“Yeah,” answered Matthew, “She better sue somebody, because I heard the guy she married is suing her for seven million. She said she is donating $200,000 to charity to make it up to all those who gave her wedding presents—says it’s going to the Dream Foundation—dream on.”

“Matthew, where do you come up with this stuff?” I asked.

“C’mon MaryAnn, you know I was in show biz, and was on the cover of Digg Magazine.”

“Yeah, about 50 years ago,” cracked Jim.

“Forty,” answered Matthew. “I have been following the Kardashians for years. Kim’s dad, Robert, was a great friend of O. J. Simpson—as was her mom-heh heh. They say Kim Kardashian’s dad helped by hiding O. J.’s briefcase the night of the murder—walked right by the cops.”

“Folks, I heard just about all I can take about these here Kardashian folks. Get enough of them from you, MaryAnn, watchin’ em on TV and all that,” said Jim.

With that, the traffic inched forward and we waved good-bye to the billboard with Kim Kardashian pasted all over it. Little did we know at the time that the billboard would be taken down the next day.

Wonder if Kim Kardashian paid Dr. Ramirez for the whole thing.

March 31, 2012 update: We understand that not only has the billboard with Kim Kardashian been moved to another site in Mexicali, but that others are springing up, as well.

TEDx Mexicali

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, is a nonprofit group which draws thinkers from all over the world to its conferences.

Individuals like Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Stephen Hawkins, Mrs. Bill Gates and Karla Macedo of Mexicali have spoken their minds at TED.

Now TED is coming to Mexicali!

Actually it is TEDx, which is an independent franchise of TED.

In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, TED is conducting a new experiment to support TEDx organizers who are using TEDx events to spread ideas in the developing world and unprivileged communities. Any community that does not have access to TED and TED.com qualifies; however, only those who’ve hosted at least four TEDx events will be considered for TEDx Activator Managers roles.

After just a few more conferences, TEDx Mexicali will qualify for consideration as TEDx Activator Managers with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation!

The theme of TEDx in Mexicali is “transformation, reality and the future of Mexicali,” according to Enrique De La Rosa, director of TEDx in Mexicali.

Mexicali, along with other major cities like Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo, is one of the few to organize these types of events. TEDx was held in Mexicali in November with three speakers making fascinating presentations.

TEDx in Mexicali has grown since then, and eight speakers are scheduled to give presentations at the next conference.

One of the speakers at the conference is Karla Macedo, 33, an engineer who illustrates how geography and climate affect people perception of the world around them. During the summer when Mexicali residents stay mainly indoors to avoid the heat, they lose what Macedo calls “visual stimulation” and their senses are stifled. Even though there is money for investment in Mexicali, she said, the city is somewhat stagnant when it comes to change.

Macedo suggests that the evolution of Mexicali may come once its residents start enjoying different pleasures from the better things in life. Even though Mexicali residents drink wine on a regular basis many do not know how to recognize good wine. This is in spite of the fact that Mexico produces some great wines-the best of which come from the Guadalupe Valley in Baja California—an easy drive from Mexicali!

Cities that evolve are those who have residents who’ve learned to appreciate their environment and take notice of such visual pleasures of painting, photography and architecture.

TEDx has limited seating capacity and only about 100 people are expected to attend—not many for a Mexicali’s size of close to 700 thousand inhabitants. Still, it’s a start.

The next TEDx to be held in Mexicali is on March 22, 2012 at 9:00am at the Centro Estatal de las Artes in Mexicali.

Don’t worry, if you miss TEDx in person, you can always catch it on TEDx’s Mexicali YouTube channel. We will keep you posted.

You can reach TEDxMexicali and make your reservation to attend on the Internet at http://www.tedxmexicali.com/.

Thanks for the information from ALEJANDRO DAVILA and the Imperial Valley Press. (I sure appreciate his reading our blog!)

Warning: It’s not as easy as it looks.

In fact, if you get more than 5 out of ten correct, you’ll be doing well.

How many of these very common Spanish phrases do you know? Grab a pen and translate these ten phrases:

1. cuando mucho
2. quiere decir
3. más bien
4. como no
5. más alla
6. no tiene que ver
7. todo el mundo
8. cuanto antes
9. costar mucho trabajo
10. de nuevo

It’s a good bet that you know every individual word on the list, but the meanings of the phrases will surprise you

Let’s see how you did?

Remember your target is to get more than five out of ten correct.

So, if you get 6 or more correct, bien hecho (well done).

Ok, you didn’t peek right?

Here are the answers:

1. at the most
2. it means
3. rather
4. of course
5. beyond
6. it’s got nothing to do with
7. everyone
8. As soon as possible
9. to be hard to do
10. once again

Sure, in context, literal translations will work. But the translations I just gave you are the ones you’ll hear the most.

You’ll hear them, when you chat with your Spanish speaking friends, go to shops or
talk to the locals when you travel.

But it’s not casual Spanish or a slang Spanish or regional Spanish.

This is just as real as any Spanish you’ll find in a dictionary. From the man in the local store to the president, from a farm worker to a PHD graduate, they’ll all use these phrases.

And they use them very often. Very often!

It’s everyday Spanish

Yet, there it’s rarely taught.

A while back I started tracking the use of these types of phrases. It was part of my research for the Spanish Ear Training Masterclass series. You see, even if I train your ears, it won’t do you much good if you don’t understand what people are saying anyway.

Article courtesy of Marcus Santamaria. For more on his excellent course, please click on the Synergy Spanish banner in the left column.

Hospital Fray Bernardino in Mexico City

Health-tourism.com estimates the number of medical tourists thronging Mexico to vary between 150,000 and 500,000 every year. If you are considering medical treatments in Mexico, you may have a few questions and concerns. This is not only completely normal, but also wise. Whenever you are making a major decision regarding your personal health, you should take the time to understand all of the dynamics and possible risks of your desired surgery.

Some television shows have depicted the ugliest side of medical tourism in countries like Mexico, thus leaving potential medical tourists fearful. While it is good to consider things, it must also be taken into account that these shows are dramatized versions of reality. Almost all concerns regarding medical tourism in Mexico have solutions. Here are some of the most common hesitations:

How Do I Ensure That I Will Get Quality Care?  

Whether you are going for breast augmentation in Cancun or dental implants in Tijuana, the most common way to ensure you get the best possible care is to do your homework.

• Read up about the doctor who will be treating you.
• Check the credentials of the medical facility where you will get your treatment.
• Try to get testimonies from patients who have had the same treatment at the same facility.

If you do the aforementioned research, your chances of getting quality care while in Mexico go up exponentially.

How Will I Get Follow-up Care?

It is a good idea to make sure that your general physician in the US knows that you are about to undergo medical treatment abroad. You should fill your local doctor in on all of the details so that when you come home you have a doctor familiar with your case on hand should you need it.

Mexico – Safety Tips

Every day we keep on reading about the safety issues in Mexico. However, following the travel advice issued by the government of your country and being vigilant can help ward off the likelihood of any untoward incidents. When you are a tourist in a foreign country you should take certain precautions. Some of those include:

• Don’t venture out alone with people you have just met.
• Don’t stay out late while alone.
• Don’t walk around in places with few people, even if with a friend.
• Don’t carry large sums of cash around with you.
• Don’t accept drinks from unknown persons in bars.

And

• Do be alert and attentive.
• Do travel with a friend or companion if possible.
• Do build a good relationship with the front desk reception of the hotel where you are staying.

Can I Go Back to the US Right After My Procedure?  

The one mistake many medical tourists make, is rushing back to the US immediately after their surgery. If you are getting a treatment such as cancer treatment or IVF in Mexico, you may be required to stay for a few days, so you can get the required follow-up care and recuperate well in order for the procedure to be a success.

Listen to the advice of your doctor. Give yourself ample time to recover in Mexico. You have to remember that you just underwent surgery! Rest and relaxation are required for at least a few days. If this seems impossible to fit into your schedule, just remember that failure to recover properly could lead to complications later, which could result in months of recovery

Our guest author Bio:

Dr. Deepika Garg – Dentist, Internet Enthusiast, now involved in Medical Tourism Mexico.

Jessica with her daughters

We seldom come across companies that have such great products, but The Honest Company is exceptional, and here is its sponsored post.

The Honest Company was founded by Jessica Alba, a Golden Globe-nominated actress who starred in such films as An Invisible Sign and Little Fockers.

What you may not know about Jessica, who is a California native, is that she comes from modest beginnings, which have influenced her.

She is involved with a number of charities, including Habitat for Humanity and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Jessica has been an activist for many years-it is a major part of her life.

According to Jessica, “When I became a mom, I finally became the person I am, that I always should have been. It’s the most satisfying job in the world. But, it can also be overwhelming and confusing. I created The Honest Company to help moms and to give all children a better, safer start.”

Like all parents, having children has had a strong effect on Jessica. To ease the raising of a new baby as well as to help the family in general, Jessica founded The Honest Company—a company which provides a monthly service to deliver diapers and other items that are non-toxic, on a set schedule.

The Honest Company’s products, both for adults and for children, contain no harmful ingredients. All the products are made from natural substances.

The products, all of which are made in America, are not only safe and non-toxic, but are also very affordable.

The Honest Company even follows eco-friendly and green rules in the manufacture of its products. The company tracks all the materials, ingredients used in its products and in its packaging. All its products and packaging use 100% renewable and/or recycled materials. Even the packing materials are safe for the recipients.

All this achieves Jessica’s goal of delivering the best, safest, and most affordable products to its clients. Her product line includes:

Diapers Bundle

• Honest Diapers
• Honest Wipes

Family Essentials Bundle

• Bath & Body
• Honest Shampoo
• Honest Conditioner
• Honest Lotion
• Honest Healing Balm
• Honest Hand Soap
• Honest Bubble Bath
• Honest Body Oil
• Honest Sunscreen
• Honest Hand Sanitizer

Cleaning

• Honest Laundry Detergent
• Honest Dish Soap
• Honest Auto Dish Detergent
• Honest Surface Cleaner

These products are all made from 100% non-toxic, chlorine-free, sustainable, and plant-based materials—ensuring that the entire family is safe and not exposed to any harsh or synthetic chemicals.

The Honest Company proves that its products are affordable, by providing a product price comparison on its website.

You should visit The Honest Company website to check out its products, including their ingredients, on-time delivery, and price comparisons.

You will be doing yourself and your entire family a big favor.