Braving the Tijuana Border for Dental Work in Mexico
I have crossed the border at San Ysidro many times over the years. The first time I did so — I’m not going to lie — I was terrified. I had spent many hours researching the various local dental clinics online. I finally decided I found one I could trust, and made arrangement to take the plunge. My contact instructed me to walk over the bridge. I was then to cross through a specific gate, and my ride would be waiting for me. I crossed where I was supposed, but there was nobody waiting for me.
I was surrounded by utter chaos. In Mexico, traffic rules are more like recommendations. Cars and buses whirled around me. After a few minutes, a man walked up to, and asked if I was Mark. I said yes, and asked who he is. He said he was also waiting for a ride to the clinic. We exchanged brief pleasantries and continued to wait. Finally a car pulled up for us. But it wasn’t the car my contact had instructed me to expect. I freaked. Was I being kidnapped? How did this strange man know my name, did the clinic give it to him? Odd. This whole dental work in Mexico maybe wasn’t such a good idea.
I refused to get in the car. I called my contact and asked to confirm that this was the right car, and that I wasn’t going to be kidnapped. He assured me it was fine. I got into the car, had a laugh, apologized to the driver for thinking she was a kidnapper, and we were on our way.
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