The first post

Since Facebook limits your post to 422 characters I have started this blog. I am starting this to chronicle some of my "adventures" working in Mexico. I started working in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico in January of 2009 as the plant I worked at in Haysville, Kansas, USA was transferring all machines and product to Mexico. I volunteered to help train the people in Matamoros with the thought that if I liked it and they liked me I might be able to get a job there. I spent the next 7 months traveling back and forth and living in a hotel in Brownsville, Texas. For the first three months I never had a car so all I really got to see was the road back and forth to work. After I got a car on weekends I began to explore the surrounding area of South Texas and Mexico.
I had basically zero Spanish when I started this and have had no formal teaching yet. I learn what I can from people I talk to. It’s slow going but I do feel like I am progressing.
I am now working full time in Matamoros but it is far from routine. From the beginning I kept telling myself "Remember - It's an adventure" My son told me the same thing, hence the name of this blog.
Mexico is a far different place from the good old USA; I will try to illuminate some of that in this blog from time to time.
Today: 26 de Abril, 2010
This morning before work one of the technicians, Isadoro, that came in early to start up was followed to work. He knew he was being followed but didn't think much of it but when he got ready to park the guy pulled in front of him. Two more vehicles pulled in behind him and blocked his escape. He was robbed at gunpoint, by guy with automatic weapons. They took his tools, Cd's and whatever else he had in his car that they wanted; he told me that he didn't have any money, probably true.
The security guard popped out of his guard house and was told to get back in, they told him that he saw nothing. He is unarmed. Another tech, Alfredo, pulled up as this was going on and was told to drive away.
This is another example of a corrupt government that will not protect its citizens, also proves out the adage that when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. The citizens of Mexico are not allowed to arm themselves. No one called the police….they would not help apparently. There are large groups of armed thugs that have the run of town right now. They drive openly down the streets brandishing weapons and terrorizing the honest citizens. The police are bought off by the cartels and the news reporters are told that if they report the activities of the cartel they will be killed. This is reminiscent of the lawless days of the American west except at this point there is no Wyatt Earp coming to the rescue. All that the people here have are the soldiers and they are not to be 100% trusted either. They have the authority to shoot to kill and have been known to accidentally take out some of the civilians.