Border Observations — Tijuana to San Ysidro

This post was originally written on the back of some directions given to us to help us find our way across the border from Baja to California.  I am going to try to read my chicken scratch now and share these thoughts with you here.

Friday, March 12, 2010: My husband pointed out to me an interesting observation at the TJ-SY border today:  How do you think you as a mother would be looked upon  if your child were found strolling through 25 border crossing auto lanes, begging for pesos (or in our case — dollars)?  How long do you think that practice would be allowed to go on in the United States and your child still be permitted to be with you?  This is what happens here, everyday, all day, just a footstep from U.S. soil.

What an incredibly different world it is here.  While waiting in line at the border — 2 hours to be exact — I watched a man washing his t-shirt in a huge concrete overflow culvert.  He was beating it against the cement and dunking it into the water — doing a pretty thorough job of it, I might add.

I watched two amputees stationed in the midst of the multi-lane  approach to the U.S. Customs– one in a wheel chair (he was actually applying sunscreen to his face) and one sitting on the asphalt (literally) having a congenial discussion (they were supposed to be begging but must have found each others’ company more satisfying).

I watched one soft drink vendor directing traffic, several women with small babies and a few ancient, unaccompanied women begging.

I saw vendors carrying all sorts of knickknacks, objects-d-art and even furniture up and down the lanes.  They were commissioned salesmen(women) for the little temporary shops by the side of the road.  All kinds of stuff, desks, candy, blankets, auto window shades and of course the ever popular Virgin de Guadalupe statues and pictures.

It is just the way they go to work everyday.  I am sure that there is a social network here.  If someone doesn’t show up to beg or work, I’ll bet the others start wondering what happened to them.  Interesting thought, huh?

Yes these people are poor and yes they appear to be pathetic but if they didn’t have this place to go everyday, I am pretty sure that they would just dry up and die.  They have no health insurance, no retirement savings, no vacation pay.  I’m not saying that this sight is humanly acceptable but it is their way of life.  It is HARD WORK!