In addition

Somewhat related is a conversation my girlfriend and I had with the day manager of the hotel we stay at in Tijuana when we visit.

We began by introducing to him a friend of mine from Gainesville, FL who is visiting us. The manager said that he liked that area of the U.S. and that he used to pick oranges and cucumbers in Ocala and Orlando. He had some amusing anecdotes about getting bitten by baby alligators (apparently with kitten-like force) which (much to my surprise) enjoy eating small, budding cucumbers. Risking gator bites does not sound like the type of work Jack in the Box or Taco Bell employees would do for $6.35/hr (less taxes).

When asked when we would be in town again (which he always asks as we are checking out), we told him that our return hinges on getting a passport as neither of us has one.

Then he said, (paraphrasing here as this was translated for me by my Spanish-speaking partner) 'I am going to tell you something about your country and I don't want you to be offended, OK? They are trying to keep the terrorists out by making nice folks like you get passports. But the terrorists are already inside. The worst one lives in the white house.'

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