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Article #16 BORDER CROSSING/LANGUAGE ISSUES - What About Them?

by Jim Jaillet - Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved

In Article #1, CENTRAL AMERICA: You Can Do It!, we discussed the importance of
planning. In previous articles I provided you with many tips that will assist you with
planning your trip. In this article I will share with you some tips for BORDER
CROSSING and LANGUAGE ISSUES.

BORDER CROSSINGS definitely belong to the cultural experiences realm! Most border
crossings do not staff enough Officials considering the number of people crossing a
border and most stations do not possess computers. You will meet and interface with
Border Officials just like in the movies. They still use the old-fashion method of hand
copying into entry ledgers and stamp numerous copies with 100 year old rubber stamps
with a resounding bang! In reality it can seem quite comical, but, unfortunately, you must
past through these portals of entry and they can also prove quite frustrating! Officials
take their jobs very seriously, typically move in an extremely slow manner and seem
unable to process more than one application at a time.

ARRIVE EARLY. There is always a jam-up of people and vehicles at any border crossing.
With several rigs we soon learned to put a full day aside to cross borders. Smiling,
simple-minded patience seems the best attitude in dealing with officials in Central
America. Avoid weekends as fees notoriously double or triple.

DRIVE TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE as many 18-wheelers will park alongside the road
while processing their documents. Just go around them and someone will show you where
to park.

ARMIES OF "GUIDES" descend upon you like a herd of locusts; between them and the
money-changers' assistance, they will besiege you! These guides will bring you to the
correct official in the correct order, for a tip; and although helpful, do not give them
your papers.

VEHICLE PERMITS get stamped into your passport in some countries and can take one
whole page. Make sure your passport includes enough blank pages. I used 22 of the 24
pages in my passport on my 343 day, eight country and return, trip.

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (VIN) are crucial! Make sure of the exactness
of the numbers entered on your paperwork or you could find yourself with a real
problem later at a checkpoint.

FEES. The official simply tells you the price and you pay as you will rarely see a sign. If
you feel the fee excessive, ask to speak to the boss and request he show you the printed
fee schedule.

HIDE YOUR FOOD such as uncooked eggs, meats, vegetables and the like unless you do
not mind them being confiscated. To time an empty refrigerator with a border crossing
becomes almost impossible. Most officials only do a routine, cursory inspection. I used to
put all those food stuffs into a black garbage bag and hid it under my dirty clothes. I
never got caught...not even once!

NEVER OFFER A BRIBE! If you believe an Official just suggested one, just keep saying
"NO"! Usually the Official will finally relent and send you on your way. Remember Article
#14? Keep repeating, "Lo siente, no entiende, habla poco espanol!"

With regards to language problems, speaking some basic Spanish definitely helps! I will
share a few tips:

* As we went further south and away from Mexico, I found more difficulty speaking my
Mexican Spanish. Accents, dialects and local words change just like in the United States.
We also encountered various mixtures of local Indian Languages and Spanish.

* Many times it simulates playing Charades in a foreign language. Lots of arm and finger
gesturing, drawing pictures and lots of laughter! Most people will go out of their way to
help.

* APPROXIMATELY 80 % of your language situations will be taken care of, if you know
how to say in Spanish:

* Do you have....? - ¿Tiene usted....? (Tee-n-ay ou-sted....?)

* Where is....? - ¿Donde esta....? (Don-day s-tah....?)

* I need....! - Yo necesito....! (Yo nes-ces-e-toe....!)

* I carried a small Berlitz English/Spanish Translator which also contained a calculator in
my fanny-pack and I used it all the time!

* Handy to own: Lonely Planet Latin America Spanish Phrasebook. Small in physical size,
but I consulted it frequently. ISBN 1-74059-170-4, price $7.99

* Learning Spanish. The best book I know, given to me by my Spanish teacher is:
MADRIGAL'S MAGIC KEY TO SPANISH - ISBN 0-385-41095-6, price $12.95.

Don't miss the next installment "MISCELLANEOUS (PART 1) ISSUES - What About
Them?" in which I'll provide you with additional tips to ease and enhance your journey!.
Stay tuned and remember my promise at the beginning of Article #1......................................
YOU CAN DO IT!
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Jim Jaillet is a full-time RVer, Adventurer and Author of PANAMA OR BUST - A 343
day adventure in a motorhome!

You can claim your copy of my book for only $19.95 at www.panamaorbust.com

I'd love to hear what you thought of this Article #1, BORDER CROSSING/LANGUAGE
ISSUES, What about them? Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for
upcoming articles to me at jimj@panamaorbust.com

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Disclaimer: The author in no way can guarantee your safety in Central America. After all
they are Third World countries and not without danger or the possibility of death. You go
at your own risk. The author is only suggesting that with some planning, common sense and
caution you may minimize your potential dangers and be rewarded with countless cultural
experiences. :)