Boogie Woogieying the Border

A relaxed breakfast at Playa Saldamando in Mexico.
About 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of San Diego, USA.

The major event going to take place, crossing the Mexican-USA border in Tijuana/San Ysidro, was contemplated.
It was realized that it was a free choice how to go into that experience.
Beloved Osho is always recommending to be an observer of the events happening.
Psychotherapist William Paff, recently met at the bay of Ensenada Blanca, advocates in his most interesting book what he calls the “Mandala Process”. (See the posting “Life in a cage, part two”)
Having finished drinking the freshly squeezed orange juice and ready to eat the small portion of oat meals mixed with “Svelty” low fat and vitamin enriched powder milk and a thinly sliced almost overripe ecological banana, it was decided that the choice for crossing the border was going to be to sit and watch it like in a 3D movie theatre.
Comfortable in a chair and watching the screen.
Seeing the whole situation as a film.
The Tijuana/San Diego border crossing being the décor.
The officials being the actors.
Personally disconnecting from the event.
Deciding not to become a part or partner or participant of the situation.
It is the choice before an event is going to take place: of being the angel or being the bait.

Fervent and loyal blog readers may want to become interested in the teachings of Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff who also advocated this approach to the events in life.

Again a crazy situation in Tijuana.
A bottleneck.
Thousands of cars wishing to get into the USA.
Relatively few gates open to let them in.
The cars changing lanes quickly and vigorously to reach more quick a border patrol officer in his booth.
Meanwhile Mexican sales people walking in between the cars trying to sell huge turtles, blankets and fresh orange juice.
Cripples begging for money.
Men with large towels wanting to dust off cars for a few Pesos.
A cup of fresh tropical fruit? Five Dollares, Senor. OK, how about four Dollares? You can have it for three Dollares today. Gracias, Senor.

The official manning the booth that was approached by the Fuso Santek had spotted the expedition vehicle many cars before.
He showed that he was thinking: something special is coming to my booth.

When the official was reached, he was offered a warm “Good morning!”.
But he responded by saying: “What is this???”
Looking at the Fuso Santek in amazement and confusion.
He took the passport and from an old push button black telephone on the wall from his booth he called someone.
“Jim, you better come over because I don’t know what this is. It is European. He says it is some sort of motor home”.
Two custom officers came walking over.
Dressed in black uniforms.
One in shorts.
Wearing a gun because you never know.
They looked at the Fuso Santek with surprise but never in the eyes of the owner.
Obviously a new experience was happening in their career.
They had a long deliberation together.
“Yes, it is European. This is not an American motor home”.

They ordered to follow them to the secondary inspection area.
Parked there soon the Fuso Santek was surrounded by 5 custom officers who all wanted to know everything about the expedition vehicle.
How many gallons has the fresh water tank?
In between the chassis, eh?
And it has a Datastorm too?
All powered by solar energy so how many batteries are there?
You designed it yourself?
Did you bring it over from Europe?
Build in the USA, eh?
Final conclusion was: “We have never seen such a thing”
They were deeply impressed.
One by one they went inside and marvelled at the splendid interior.

It was like so frequently is happening since travelling with the Fuso Santek: people want to know more about it because they have never seen such an RV.
They are made curious, are impressed and have many questions.
This was not an inspection by custom officers looking for illegal substances.
This was a sales tour.
In a great atmosphere and the men enjoying very much seeing and visiting the Fuso Santek.

Send over to the office to get the visa, a friendly female officer discovered that the last visa issued, when returning from Japan to the USA last February, was still valid.
Expiring exactly one day after the departure to La Paz by plane this Sunday.
Therefore, a new visa didn’t need to be issued what saved 6 $.

Shortly after, saying goodbye to all the custom officers still surrounding and admiring the Fuso Santek, the wheels were turning on the American 805 highway.

Thanks to Gurdjieff, Osho, William Paff and most of all the Fuso Santek, it has never, ever been such a smooth, nice, friendly and easy border crossing.

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To learn more about Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff, click on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._I._Gurdjieff