Me and Mexico Don't Mix

I was awakened suddenly. One of my golf buddies was screaming my name. I ran down the villa steps in a panic. There he was with a bloodied leg and in a state of panic. The cab driver was harassing him because he had no money.

Welcome to Mexico. I have always felt uncomfortable in Mexico. “Sketchy” is a word that comes to my mind a lot. No one trusts anyone else. Kinda like the wild West.

Last year just as we arrived for the first Can Tour event, H1N1 broke out. We spent most of our time figuring out how to get out of the country. All but one tournament was cancelled. The airlines were in overload as so many were fleeing the country.

This year, no H1N1 but me and my Canadian buddies had our radar up.

It took only two days in Mexico before I went down with a bad case of “travellers’ flu”. I haven’t a clue how I got it as I try to be careful. Couldn’t shake it. People were telling me I looked yellow. So, forget golf and off to L.A. for treatment.

My buddy? He fled the country before me. He’d been mugged walking through a hotel as he headed to our villa. Lost his way a bit in the hotel. Next thing he knew, some guys were jumping on him.

I think I’ll pass on Mexico next time.

Decisionmaking in the Eye of the Mexico Storm: Major Can Tour Headaches and Player Anxiety

When I left for Mexico on April 21, there was no swine flu problem in the news. My plan was to play in three of the four Mexican tournaments. Skip the second one in San Luis Potosi. If only I’d stuck to that plan!

I changed my mind once I got to Mazatlan. Decided to play in the San Luis Potosi tournament, not the last one. Changed my flight and hotel plans. Then, the news of a problem with sickness in Mexico started to come in.

The hardest part has been what decisions to make. Leave now? Stick it out? Maybe it’s gonna be OK? Just a scare that goes away?

It’s been tough on the Can Tour staff and the players. What do you do when this has never happened before? Like those weird surprises you have on the golf course sometimes. Trying to figure things out when you have no idea what to do. Take a stab at it and see what happens.

Well, it’s been a roller coaster ride. Anyway, we’re getting outa here now. Tournament in San Luis Potosi cancelled.

Right away a rumor circulated among the players that they were going to close the border. Our anxiety went through the roof. Scrambling to change our flights was scary….at one point, it looked like there were no seats available for six days. We went wild with thoughts of not being able to get out.

We’re still worried. I don’t think we’ll relax until we’re on the airplane.

Dodging the Swine Flu in Mexico

“Wash your hands!” “Don’t share the same glass!” “Cover your cough!” So my mother goes on. She can’t help herself because of her public health background. But, now that I’m in Mexico with the Canadian Tour, her pleas for keeping out of harm’s way are getting my attention.

This swine flu scare makes it tougher for travelling in Mexico. But, if we follow some of the basics, we should be alright. Today, my family doc added a few more preventive measures:
-use a saline nasal spray. Viruses and bacteria don’t like that kind of environment;
-avoid food and beverages at airports (bring my own from the resort);
-use a mask on an airplane when travelling around Mexico and when I leave Mexico. The air circulation system spreads the “bugs’ around;
-if you have to cough, do it in your sleeve.

After having a bad case of food poisoning earlier this year, I’m a convert to these simple ideas. But, easier said than done.