I have learned many lessons since I moved to Baja California, Mexico three years ago. This includes everything from driving my car through the many obstacles one faces, selecting a doctor, trying to understand the reasons behind manana, manana, manana, to selecting a dentist.

I chose a dentist that had been suggested to me by an American friend. This was based on the abilities of the owner and his staff, the cleanliness of the office, and the ability to communicate in English.

I stopped by on a Friday afternoon to make an appointment. However, the receptionist was eager to send me right in to meet with the dentist. Observing the difficulties in communication a lady (I later learned she was the owner's wife and also a dentist in the office) came to assist. She put my first name down on her paper and we agreed my appointment would be the following Monday.

I arrived punctually for my appointment. As is customary in the United States, I checked myself in and then sat down to wait my appointment. I watched the fish swimming around in a large aquarium. I also enjoyed seeing the employees walk from the dental office to the reception, talking, laughing, and then going about their business. I was also intrigued with the "playground" that had been built above the reception area. Inside the room I saw a merry-go-round, a slide, a swing, along with other toys. After a number of visits I learned that any employee, who had free time, would take the owner's child to the playground to be entertained.

I was called into the dentists' office. I noticed four chairs. The owner spoke his broken English to me while I tried to speak back in my fragmented Spanish. Still, we were able to communicate. He gave me an examination, totally through observation, and then cleaned my teeth. Following this I asked him about braces for my bottom teeth. He immediately had me stand and walked me into another area when he told me the cost, the number of months I could anticipate wearing them, and the possible "minor" pain they would initially cause. The next thing I knew he was installing braces on my lower teeth.

In my next blog I will explain what it is like for an adult to wear these wires and the "minor" pain involved. See you next time...