Guadalajara Reporter

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Written by GR Staff
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Dear Sir, Living in Mexico is for the most part a pleasant experience, marred only occasionally by the frustrations of the mañana lifestyle. These minor irritations were more than compensated recently by the kindness of a complete stranger. While returning from Guadalajara with three ladies and a car full of the inevitable shopping, we had a flat tire near the Chapala/Ajijic turn-off. The tire resisted all attempts at re-inflation, so there seemed no alternative but to install the spare. Having unloaded all the "must have" shopping items I was at a loss how to access the spare wheel. After consulting the fine print in the car manual in the then fading daylight, I managed to extract the jack, despite the gratuitous advice from the assembled passengers. At that moment, a car traveling in the opposite direction stopped nearby and out popped a nattily attired Mexican man. Without so much as a customary "are you in trouble," he relieved me of the mysterious jack handle, inserted it in the secret access panel and proceeded to change the wheel. After offering our combined thanks, Jorge (I won't embarrass him by using his full name) refused any payment for his time and trouble. We arrived home safely, if a little late, but with a heart-warming sense of having experienced yet another example of the unstinting kindness and help from the locals. After nearly 14 years in our adopted country we are feeling even more at home. Thank you again, Jorge. George Sibley, San Antonio Tlayacapan