getting the screws put on me

[Jzmackenzie]

#1. In the 12 years I lived on the AZ/Sonora border, I made some very good friends born in Mexico. They "enlightened" this idealist to the fact that salaries in Mexico are put into place based on assumed "morditas." It was suggested to me that I imagine how I would feel if my own paycheck had been withheld. I suspect that is why they are acting in the manner they are. If you don't pay up they don't meet their anticipated expenses - your cash is not a "tip" it is a part of their expected salary.

#2. A deceased expatriate, Max Sampson, also disliked what he called bribes. He was driving through Salacida one afternoon and a young boy ran into his car. Clearly the child was encouraged by his father to run across the road and hit the side of Max's car with his body. A police office saw the entire incident. Max refused to pay for the child to be seen by a doctor. Max's car was impounded for two weeks. Max paid a fine to get it back. $200 pesos at the time would avoided the entire incident that MAY have been the reason Max suffered yet another stroke and is no longer with us.

Sometimes, less stress is usually worth the cash outlay.