Originally Posted by Karplus

Vilks,
I would not worry about small towns and gringos. Our clinicals for UAG are in some pretty dicey parts of the second largest city in Mexico. BUT, people are very respectful when they see you in all white. Everyone knows you are a doctor and are there for their benefit.

I remember walking freely in the evening markets during breaks in las oblatos portion of the city. We knocked on doors for house calls and were freely welcomed into peoples homes. We recieved deals from the sellers in the markets too. Later I told a girl from town I was dating about the market and she visibly shook in fear. She was from a nice family and was in Human resources for a national shoe chain. She was amazed that I would be so carefree in that part of town. BUT, we were doctors to all the people their and they respected that.

I imagine it would be even better in small towns. I have driven the length of Mexico form Guad to Texas many times and in every small town people are very nice when we are imagined to be tourists. This goes for every place from small cities to just dusty shanty towns. They are even nicer when they find out that we are studying medicine in UAG.

Relax about your safety. You are in far more danger in a US medical school. All of the teaching school in America serve the most dangerous parts of the cities. When I studied at UPENN Medical school (just a grad student) the guy who was at the research bench next to me was leaving campus at night with his wife and they were beaten with a metal pipe by someone who was just a little nuts (no robbery involved). There was a series of rapes near campus. And, a student felt he was being followed home so he walked into a pizza joint. The guy followed him in asked for his backpack and shot him in the chest. This is in a top ten US medical school.

At Johns Hopkins University there are armed gaurds on every corner and in the middle of every block at the medical campus. Still an esteemed professor was stabbed on the front entrance steps. When I interviewed there it was terrifying and I am from Baltimore City. It is just a dangerous part of town.

Mexicans Love Americans. The may talk bad about America, but they Love Americans. I would only feel leery about working at a clinic on the border at Laredo or Tijuana, because they are used to taking advantage of tourists. But with a white coat I feel safe anywhere in Mexico.