Maybe things have improved since the early or maybe I got smarter but my path got smoother toward the end of my 18 year stay. I became very good friends with a Mexican lawyer who could get things done in a snap so I left the details to Memo. As my Castellano improved so did my ability to swing doors open and avert hurdles. When I return in January 2010 I anticipate smooth sailing do to colmillo (wisdom). I have learned when to hold the cards and when to pass them to Memo.