Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

Bloviator

Jan 9, 2007, 6:02 AM

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Nogales to Lakeside Update

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Good news and bad news.

Friday afternoon the wait at the Nogales border was seven to eight hours according to people we met in Nogales who had gone through that day. Saturday morning early it was only about a half hour, but as we drove south, the northbound road looked like I-5 in LA during rush hour (which, of course lasts 24 hours a day) except instead of cute little Mercedes and Beemers, and Lexi there were thousands of big SUVs stacked three feet or higher with boxes, etc. - including a surprising number of Hummers and Lincoln Navigators. Many immigrants seem to have done quite well NoB. I'm sure that inside there were lots of little kids, whose parents were rushing them back to school in California - only a week late. I wouldn't be surprised if the border wait that day was as long as that on Friday.

Of course, we go through Lukeville, a quicker way to CA and no wait. Lonely George the Maytag man just stands there hoping for a customer to avoid boredom. We had to wait a couple of minutes for the one car in front of us to clear as the agent was having what was obviously just conversation with the driver.

Good news

The road from hell - Tepic to Mazatlan - is about to get a large new section of cuota on the part where that has not been one before. I expect that the portion from Esquinapa to Rosa Morada (I think that is the name of the town where the large hospital is) is about ready to open - perhaps within the week. Yesterday they were finishing the last 100 yards at the north end (Esquinapa) where it ties in to the already open cuota and on the south end at Rosa Morada the connection is already complete and only has orange cones blocking entry. Of course, there are millions of rocks placed on the pavement to prevent people using the road prematurely. This will complete 50+ miles of the 100 miles of non cuota road. The rest - south of RM - is coming along nicely and should be open sometime this millenium. Pavement is down on some sections, though how much I can't say as we only see a small section from the old road.

Bloviator

Jan 9, 2007, 11:13 AM

Post #2 of 6 (593 views)

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Re: [dlyman6500] Nogales to Lakeside Update

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Watching all the upscale SUVs driving north after the Christmas visit home got me thinking. It must be quite difficult for Jose to not consider going north when primo Juan, who is no smarter than Jose, returns home in his big Hummer or Navigator, with lots of expensive presents, his well dressed children, and tales of his big house in San Dimas, San Jose, San Antonio, or Albuquerque.

Jose, hoping that he won't starve if the corn crop fails or that some US conglomorate won't flood the corn market and wipe him out, must really think seriously about his future and the lure of the border.

moonfam5

Jan 13, 2007, 8:06 AM

Post #3 of 6 (488 views)

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Re: [dlyman6500] Nogales to Lakeside Update

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Sometimes, the tales of the big house in San dimas, etc... are just that, tales. I know of many people who have immigrated NOB who live in small apartments with three or four others and are up to their necks in debt (hey just living the American Dream!). Yes, they own big SUVs or sports cars (I've even seen a Ferrari with New York plates running through the streets of Cotija), but for the most part it is just an illusion (or drug money). I know of kids that come into the US with the intention of helping their families back home and the first thing they do when they get a job is to start doing the ear piercings, tattoos, buying the "cool" cell phones, etc... WHY? Because they have recieved a taste of something they have never had in their lives, and they don't know how to control it.
On the other hand, I know of families who have come into US and have worked their butts off in order to have a better house or better living conditions and to help out the families that stayed behind.
Perhaps it is in the FAMILY that immigrates together that the values that they want to hold on to stay with the families for a lot longer that if one or two come up by themselves.
Wink

The more I learn, I less I know.

Bloviator

Jan 13, 2007, 9:34 AM

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Re: [moonfam5] Nogales to Lakeside Update

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You're probably right about at least some of them, but with thousands of cars driving up that hiway just in the two days we were traveling south some must be the Jose (or is it Juan) that I'm talking about. Also, it doesn't matter whether the big house is real or not, if the big SUV is Juan (or is it Jose) will believe it is true and be tempted.

I've worked alongside many immigrants - to be honest they were working for me on my property in CA - and understand that life for them is very difficult. Probably most of those with the SUVs are second generation or have been NoB for a good many years - and probably started out with at least some education or other advantage.

moonfam5

Jan 13, 2007, 1:08 PM

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Re: [dlyman6500] Nogales to Lakeside Update

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It is true that many understand that life is difficult, and as far as having education or some other advantage, I can only speak from my wife's point of view. She had a secondary education when she came here, but when she tested for placement in the local high school, she placed so high that they had nowhere to put her. At that time she was already 17, so she would have been graduating had she been in school. All of her younger siblings finished high school here in California, but none went to college (although 2 were offered scholarships), but opted instead to go into the family business (Mexican Food) and all are very successful (one actually returned to the College of the Desert in Palm Springs to receive his degrees in Restaurant and Hotel Management and also in Culinary Arts...imagine that, a restaurant owner who is actually a chef!) Anyway, the point being is the family worked hard NOB and made alot of their own advantages.
Wink

The more I learn, I less I know.

Bloviator

Jan 14, 2007, 5:09 AM

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Re: [moonfam5] Nogales to Lakeside Update

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In no way was my comment about having some education or other advantage meant to denigrate the hard work than anyone has put in. It was just made to point out that if one came north totally ignorant, broke, with no family business to work in, and a large family at home to support, it would be quite difficult to advance in the US. Some have, and I admire them a great deal.

I also admire the man I hired who was still working as a day laborer after many years in CA, but was sending his children to high school in CA and providing them an opportunity for a better life through the really hard work and difficulties that he faced daily. The same with our maid, who was providing an education for her three daughters desite no English and a husband who had packed up and left her. I expect that the daughters will do well. They are intelligent, speak excellent English, and are doing well in school.

(This post was edited by dlyman6500 on Jan 14, 2007, 5:13 AM)